Lazy morning

[Geira]

Okay. I know this site is more about fowl but I just couldn’t resist posting this. My 11 yo Great Dane, Sophie, just had to snuggle up in bed on this rainy, yucky morning.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Same here. Been raining a lot today.

 

[Squawkers]

BYC is for everything that’s adorable!! The thing that caught my attention about your post is an eleven year old Great Dane!!! That’s insane!! You are very lucky to a Great Dane for so long. Anything special you are doing or is she just healthy?

 

[Geira]

Started her off right. Fed her a large breed puppy food that had an appropriate amount of fat and protein. Most actually have too much but the Canidae brand is lower (my cousin told me about it and her Dane is also almost 11). This allowed for an appropriate growth rate which made her more graceful and her bones and joints healthier. We also let her have one heat cycle which allowed the hormones to do their job on her development particularly with regard to her bone and joints health. We don’t over feed her so she has maintained a healthy weight. She gets real protein as part of her dog food, roasted chicken, grilled hamburger, steak even occasionally. She loves a white fish which we’ll give her as a treat. No scraps. If we won’t eat it neither does she. We walk her 1.5 miles a day. Helps we live in a hiking trail. Other than that, it’s just lots of love

 

[Geira]

Here’s a shot of her while she’s awake. Still bounds around like a puppy, just not for as long.

 

[Squawkers]

Sounds like you’ve done your research! That’s great! I wanted a Great Dane for a little bit but the life span was just so off putting. Though now that I understand more about temperaments and drives they aren’t for me. She is pretty! Is she your first Dane or have you had others?

 

[Geira]

Sounds like you’ve done your research! That’s great! I wanted a Great Dane for a little bit but the life span was just so off putting. Though now that I understand more about temperaments and drives they aren’t for me. She is pretty! Is she your first Dane or have you had others?

She is the only dog I have ever had actually but we really loved the breed so when we decided to get a dog a Dane is what we got. They are not hard to train. She knows all of the commands, sit, down, stay, come, speak, shake, etc. However, Danes are notoriously stubborn so she chooses when to actually obey commands. Most of the time, it's fine but every now and then the zooms take over and the ears stop working. She has an incredible prey drive. If it runs, she's gonna chase it. Took a bit for the cat to finally figure that one out. He now does not run and therefor she no longer chases. It's the reason she is not allowed in the yard if the chickens are out free ranging. That would probably not end well for the chickens. She is polite. Dinner time, she will not eat her dinner until we have sat down to ours. She is protective but is a gentle giant if you are not a threat. She has not been around little kids much but when she has been it has not been an issue. They can pretty much do whatever to her and she does not care. If she gets tired of being a jungle gym, she just finds a quiet spot to lay down away from the kids. She has been a great dog.

 

[Squawkers]

She is the only dog I have ever had actually but we really loved the breed so when we decided to get a dog a Dane is what we got. They are not hard to train. She knows all of the commands, sit, down, stay, come, speak, shake, etc. However, Danes are notoriously stubborn so she chooses when to actually obey commands. Most of the time, it's fine but every now and then the zooms take over and the ears stop working. She has an incredible prey drive. If it runs, she's gonna chase it. Took a bit for the cat to finally figure that one out. He now does not run and therefor she no longer chases. It's the reason she is not allowed in the yard if the chickens are out free ranging. That would probably not end well for the chickens. She is polite. Dinner time, she will not eat her dinner until we have sat down to ours. She is protective but is a gentle giant if you are not a threat. She has not been around little kids much but when she has been it has not been an issue. They can pretty much do whatever to her and she does not care. If she gets tired of being a jungle gym, she just finds a quiet spot to lay down away from the kids. She has been a great dog.

She sounds amazing! I don’t doubt Great Danes are good dogs just not the quite the temperament I want!! Dobermans are my favorite. How much does she weigh and how tall is she? Did you get her from a breeder or rescue?