Kennedy Morgan PDXDanes.com
Vegas and Leo
You don’t own the Great Dane as much as he or she owns you. Take Vegas for example. Who needs an alarm clock? She tells me when it’s time to get up. Of course it’s with a slapstick paw across the body or a wet tongue washcloth to the face. Oh, and there’s no snooze button on a Great Dane, in case you’re wondering. Typical of owning a dog, yes, then there’s the usual rush to get him or her outside for the morning ritual. But while some dogs are happy to meander about the yard, securing their territory, and sniffing every blade of grass while basking in the morning dew or sunshine, the Great Dane wants right back in – NOW. And they’re not subtle about telling you. Many a paw print on the sliding glass door tells the tale of a demanding Great Dane. In fact, those muddy paw prints cleverly disguise the scratches that can’t help but to have formed in the glass after several years of such behavior.
Just when you’re thinking, “Ah, so that’s not so bad,” or “I could live with that,” you better get started on breakfast. Used to just tossing a cup or so of kibble in a bowl? Well get over it because you just might need a second job to afford the food bill on these guys. True, Great Dane metabolisms slow as they get older and they don’t eat as much as people think. But you still may be forking out – or rather, dishing up – six to nine cups a day of premium kibble. Of course, what goes in must come out….
Murphy had fun
If your current dog goes and chills on the couch after breakfast as you head off to work, beware that your Dane may want to do the same but you best hang out for a couple hours. Bloat is incredibly common in Great Danes and vigilance becomes as imperative as breathing. A moment’s lapse in attention can and often does result in the end of your love affair with your Great Dane, who really does become a part of your heart. Of course if you catch the bloating symptoms soon enough there is always the possibility that a $5,000 plus vet bill will save his or her life. So be prepared to have a credit card on stand by or able to put another mortgage on your house…these critters are incredible but they’re not cheap.
I mentioned premium food. Your run of the mill kibble is nowhere near acceptable for the Great Dane. They have delicate systems and unique nutritional needs. Compromising on food can cause permanent damage to their growth patterns, joints, and even gastrointestinal and immune related issues. Premium kibble can run anywhere from $2 per pound to more than twice that, resulting in daily feedings costing $10 or more. During high growth times, many Great Dane puppies will eat even more. I knew Great Dane owners who fed 18 cups on a really active day.
It goes without saying that the Great Dane will be large. Often people don’t realize how large that actually means. Picture an animal living in your house whose back is at the height of your dining table and whose is a head above your counters. That cute, cuddly, 20-pound puppy you brought home at 10 weeks will go through growth spurts resulting in pound-a-day gains. Before you know it, Fido is towering over your toddlers, knocking down Grandma and strangers, loosening your carpet with the “zoomies,” and shoplifting candy and dog treats while you’re at the pet store.
Having a Great Dane in your life isn’t all bad. In fact, it can be quite amazing. They truly are gentle giants. In my experience they can quickly switch from whirling dervish to adorable cuddly puppy in the blink of an eye, transitioning from roughhousing with the kids to reverently nuzzling a newborn. This kind of behavior takes time, effort, vigilance, and training though. The potential for tiny dogs to bite is much greater than a lot of large dogs, but the damage to be done is much greater by the latter. Failing to train your Dane properly means you’re setting yourself up for a lawsuit.
As a Great Dane owner myself, I can tell you I’ve been through nearly all of it with my girl. There were times I was desperate to find her a new home. I was stressed beyond belief with the damage, destruction, dirt, food bill, slobber, and odd-shaped shadow that followed me everywhere. And I had done all of my homework before adding her to our household. Marmaduke, the movie, is undoubtedly adorable and charming. Indisputably Great Danes are regal and charming, gentle and endearing. But they are not the dog for everyone. There are so many considerations that should go into adding a new family member and making what should be a lifetime commitment. Do this breed a favor and be 100% certain you can handle everything they are going to throw at you. I can guarantee you will have moments of such pure joy, love, and enjoyment you won’t be able to remember life before your Great Dane. But at the same time, you will experience trials and tribulations beyond any you have fathomed before and beyond what Hollywood could possible capture on screen. Do your homework. The Great Dane Club of America provides and excellent resource on information regarding this breed as does the AKC. Further, Portland has a local resource both online and out and about. Get in touch with the Portland Great Dane Community (www.pdxdanes.com) and come meet some of our big guys and girls. Maybe hanging out with us will satisfy your curiosity in the Great Dane. If it does not and you choose to add one to your family, consider all of the available adoption routes. Many a Dane still needs a good and loving home having been discarded when their first (or second or third) home was ill-prepared for the effort, work, and cost associated with being owned by one.
Tagged with: Great Danes
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