I Am Getting A Great Dane Puppy!!!

[galeogirl]

I had a Great Dane/Pitbull mix for many years and loved him dearly. Smart, smart dog. He'd get cans of soda out of the fridge and bring them to you. Unfortunately, he was almost Dane-sized and had to be put to sleep fairly young because of joint and back problems.

 

[Whiskeypunk]

I'm not trying to jump down your throat like some people here, but can you not post 4 or 5 times in a row replying to everyone who replied to you? Can't you simply say what you want to in one post to ALL the posters asking you questions?

 

[Lorgakor]

My goodness. I'm pretty surprised at the responses here.

Gooty, congrats on your soon to be new dog, I hope you have many years of happiness with him. He is very adorable!

 

[JPD]

Hey John, glad to hear you are getting a pup. What breeder did you get her from? There are several very good breeders here in WA.
Unfortunately, when we bought ours many years ago, we didn't do our homework and learn what exactly is involved in researching a breeder.
We thought "AKC" meant a solid, healthy, dog.....not true.
We only seriously consider breeders if they show as well. The breed that best fits our lifestyle is the French Bulldog.....R.I.P Penelope. Anway....I have been to many different breeder sites recently in search of our next pup and really get nervous when I see places that seem to have a never ending supply of puppies.
As others have mentioned, Danes, (as well as most purebreds), can be subject to a great number of health issues. Cherry eye, Demodix (sp?), Bloat, VWD, etc.
They do eat alot. They have a tendency to "lean" which is something that must be corrected immediately.
Many breeders won't sell to people unless they have a fenced yard. They are well suited for apartment living as long as they are exercised properly. And with regard to exercise.......not a good dog to take on long runs, however, long walks are fine.
Anyway, with regard to the payment comment.....not sure what that was about, but it is pretty much the standard to put a deposit down on a dog with the balance due when they are ready to go home. Glad to hear that the breeder is willing to take him back...that is always a good sign.

Things that I loved about the breed....... they like to try and sit like humans on the couch. They think they are lap dogs. They are very loving and protective of their family. Just their size alone is enough to make many would be predators stay away....(little do the predators know that they would simply be licked to death if they did break into your place).

Things that I didn't care for.........big dog = big accidents. The tail........it knocks over everything.......including my children when they were younger. They have no problem with claiming their portion of the bed, which, as they grow, ends up always being right between you and your significant other.

Anyway......here is a good site.... http://www.daneoutreach.org/

Post many pics when the day arrives!

 

[GootySapphire]

I'm not trying to jump down your throat like some people here, but can you not post 4 or 5 times in a row replying to everyone who replied to you? Can't you simply say what you want to in one post to ALL the posters asking you questions?

Uh, haha okay.

 

[GootySapphire]

My goodness. I'm pretty surprised at the responses here.

Gooty, congrats on your soon to be new dog, I hope you have many years of happiness with him. He is very adorable!

Thank you Lorg, I appreciate you understanding what this thread is about and responding to it in the way it should have been. I hope it goes well with little Thor, he should be a good dog.

 

[GootySapphire]

Hey John, glad to hear you are getting a pup. What breeder did you get her from? There are several very good breeders here in WA.
Unfortunately, when we bought ours many years ago, we didn't do our homework and learn what exactly is involved in researching a breeder.
We thought "AKC" meant a solid, healthy, dog.....not true.
We only seriously consider breeders if they show as well. The breed that best fits our lifestyle is the French Bulldog.....R.I.P Penelope. Anway....I have been to many different breeder sites recently in search of our next pup and really get nervous when I see places that seem to have a never ending supply of puppies.
As others have mentioned, Danes, (as well as most purebreds), can be subject to a great number of health issues. Cherry eye, Demodix (sp?), Bloat, VWD, etc.
They do eat alot. They have a tendency to "lean" which is something that must be corrected immediately.
Many breeders won't sell to people unless they have a fenced yard. They are well suited for apartment living as long as they are exercised properly. And with regard to exercise.......not a good dog to take on long runs, however, long walks are fine.
Anyway, with regard to the payment comment.....not sure what that was about, but it is pretty much the standard to put a deposit down on a dog with the balance due when they are ready to go home. Glad to hear that the breeder is willing to take him back...that is always a good sign.

Things that I loved about the breed....... they like to try and sit like humans on the couch. They think they are lap dogs. They are very loving and protective of their family. Just their size alone is enough to make many would be predators stay away....(little do the predators know that they would simply be licked to death if they did break into your place).

Things that I didn't care for.........big dog = big accidents. The tail........it knocks over everything.......including my children when they were younger. They have no problem with claiming their portion of the bed, which, as they grow, ends up always being right between you and your significant other.

Anyway......here is a good site.... http://www.daneoutreach.org/

Post many pics when the day arrives!

Thanks JPD, good words...good words indeed. I actually am getting a pup from this lady who rescued the mother, and ended up getting the surprise of puppies. I figure its better since she's a rescue. I am not worried about papers or any of that stuff. You start lookin at 1000 dollars for a dog. Ah the good ol French Bulldogs...I love any kind of Bulldog...english, american, french...they are all great dogs. As far as bloat issues, I have read you should raise the dish to lower the chance of bloat, and also I have heard to NOT raise it...so I get mixed stories. I have read you should do small increments of food instead of one big dish, so it doesnt gulp it all down at once in a hurry and suck in so much air. I definitely will be taking him out for long walks. Do you have any suggestions as far as hard kibble food for puppies I should start him out on? I have gotten the most mixed answers to that question out of any of them. I will get a kick out of seeing thor sitting on the couch next to me, like a human. We dont mind if he sleeps in the bed our little teacup chihuahua always sleeps in the bed. Im glad you understand the payment thing. I was kind of confused as to how people didnt understand that part lol. I shall post many pics when I get Thor. I think he's going to be ready for pick up on March 22nd. I am looking forward to bringing him home.

 

[JPD]

Thanks JPD, good words...good words indeed. I actually am getting a pup from this lady who rescued the mother, and ended up getting the surprise of puppies. I figure its better since she's a rescue. I am not worried about papers or any of that stuff. You start lookin at 1000 dollars for a dog. Ah the good ol French Bulldogs...I love any kind of Bulldog...english, american, french...they are all great dogs. As far as bloat issues, I have read you should raise the dish to lower the chance of bloat, and also I have heard to NOT raise it...so I get mixed stories. I have read you should do small increments of food instead of one big dish, so it doesnt gulp it all down at once in a hurry and suck in so much air. I definitely will be taking him out for long walks. Do you have any suggestions as far as hard kibble food for puppies I should start him out on? I have gotten the most mixed answers to that question out of any of them. I will get a kick out of seeing thor sitting on the couch next to me, like a human. We dont mind if he sleeps in the bed our little teacup chihuahua always sleeps in the bed. Im glad you understand the payment thing. I was kind of confused as to how people didnt understand that part lol. I shall post many pics when I get Thor. I think he's going to be ready for pick up on March 22nd. I am looking forward to bringing him home.

That's even better that mom was a rescue. I'm not sure what the current consensus is on feeding with regard to bloat. Last I heard, the raised dish seemed to be the appropriate method. The smaller, more frequent meals, would be better.
I think any quality brand of kibble such as Iams or Eukanuba are good. You may want to ask a vet on this, however, I read somewhere that you should avoid higher protein foods, (even though it seems to make sense), due to the extra stress exerted on the kidneys. Another word of warning........watch-out for the GAS! You may have to try a few different brands of food to find one that is easier on the stomach and your noses. Trust me....when it comes to a Great Dane with gas, you would be better off standing in an elevator with a bunch of longshoremen who just left the all you can eat burrito bar! It is really bad. My wife had to endure this gas while combating morning sickness! Yikes! (Probably the real reason she was screaming at me in the delivery room!)
What did you pay for the dog? (PM me if you want on this...and, only if you wish to divulge )
For our new Frenchie, we will likely be coughing-up around 2500.00 They are so expensive but so darn cute!
I can tell you from first hand experience on the Vet bills. With Penelope, we were not prepared. By this I mean it wasn't available immediately....in a day or two yes, but........all of the emergency vet clinics in and around Bellevue, Issaquah, etc. require payment at the time of service.
For us, this translates as: Opening up a savings account solely for Vet expenses with a minimum of 2000.00 in the account ready to go.
When all was said and done with Penelope, we ended up paying around 1000.00 for her vet bills and she still passed away. Kind of hard to swallow when the end result is death
I like the name you picked out. We always had females though...our first was Mrs. Beesley and our second was Sala.
I am very excited for you. Nothing beats having a big lug of a dog passed out on the couch like they own the place.
They are great money makers as well. Once he is full grown, simply put a sign around him that says "Free Dane Rides" and watch the kids come running...j/k. Perhaps "Free Dame Rides" would be even better.....(did I say that out loud?)
Anyway......look forward to seeing more pics and again....congrats!


Ooops......didn't notice the "teacup chihuahua" comment on your last reply......Thor better watch himself! I'd put my money on the chihuahua any day

 

[MicahHall]

http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/musculoskeletal/wobblers.htm

This is the Wobbler's Syndrome link..there are many more so if your curiousity is aroused, then put it right in your search bar and you will have lots to choose from. The hard part is Wobbler's in basically a genetic disorder, so you will need to know if Mom or Dad carry the gene in them. With our dog is was actually thrown out from four generations back, and ironically we had the only puppy who inherited this out of a litter of 14, AND she was the only black in a litter of blues.

Bloat is alot like colic in horses, and can be easy to avoid, but also good to know the warning signs. Lifting bowls is more for the dogs back than for colic, but can still help. There is also feeding as little as possible to keep your dog at its ideal weight, which is easy when feeding the best possible dog food that one can realistically afford. Protein levels need to be kept fairly low ( this also will help avoid the growth plate disorder). Exercise directly after eating is a serious nono.. think of it as "not swimming for an hour after meals".

Links for the growth plate issue:
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/saortho/chapter_50/50mast.htm
http://www.hhdane.com/medical/hypertrophicosteodystrophy.htm

I would also like to commend you for purchasing a puppy from a breeder who is responsible enough to offer the buy back. Not enough of them around!! Responsible breeding helps keeps dogs in homes, instead of locked up in a pound because nobody wants them. As for putting a deposit down on a dog.. also another smart choice. When you breed a large litter, and you arent interested in showing, just in having a pet, finding homes for them can take time.. so starting early by letting people pick there dog gives everyone a head start. This will also give you the time to run out and get all the little items that your puppy will need- and the big!!

As for vet bills, there is also the option of getting veterinary insurance.. it can be well worth the premium to have it just in case of emergencies.

 

[LPacker79]

As has been said already, with any of the "Giant" breeds, a high protein food isn't good for puppies. Most breeders don't feed any puppy food to their pups, just a good adult food such as Canidae. Check the protein levels! These breeds have a tendency to grow so quickly that they can really harm their skeletal structure by growing too fast!
You're getting so many mixed messages regarding GDV (Bloat) because people aren't exactly sure how to prevent it. Raising/lowering the food dish doesn't seem to make that much of a difference. Some say that limiting exercise after the dog eats helps, some say it doesn't (I'd recommend it regardless). Small meals won't hurt. Others seem to think some dogs are genetically predisposed to GDV, and won't buy a pup from lines that have been shown to bloat more frequently. Obviously, that won't help you as you don't know the lineage of your pup. Good for you in getting a pup from a poor rescued girl.
My favorite dogs have always been English Mastiffs, and I've spent the past 5 years researching them. I don't have one yet, but I will someday. Like Danes, they also have many health issues due to their size, along with a tragically short lifespan.
Normally I would say only go to a reputable breeder, i.e. one that does all of the appropriate genetic testing, but you've done a good thing here. I just hope your pup turns out to be one of the healthier danes.
I personally won't buy a dog from a breeder who doesn't show, but that's because I was raised in a show dog environment. If a judge hasn't given validation to the dog's quality, it wasn't bred. In my opinion, that's the way it should be. Dogs (and horses, since I also showed and bred Arabian horses all of my life) should be bred for one thing - for the improvement of the breed.There are so many unwanted pets out there that breeding just for the sake of breeding is so irresponsible.

Good luck! And start that separate bank account NOW!

 

[GootySapphire]

As far as affording my vet bills. Im putting the Dane on VPI...Veterinary Pet Insurance. I pay 25 bucks a month and if there is any emergency surgery or anything at all, I pay a 50 dollar flat fee and they pay the rest of the emergency bill.

 

[JPD]

As far as affording my vet bills. Im putting the Dane on VPI...Veterinary Pet Insurance. I pay 25 bucks a month and if there is any emergency surgery or anything at all, I pay a 50 dollar flat fee and they pay the rest of the emergency bill.

Nice. That will really help if ever needed...let's hope not!

 

[Lorgakor]

My sister has a purebred pug, she's not quite two yet. They have pet insurance, and they have used it many times already. They are a bit paranoid so they take her to the vet at the drop of a hat, but I must say, for an expensive dog the insurance is a great idea.

 

[Mister Internet]

As far as affording my vet bills. Im putting the Dane on VPI...Veterinary Pet Insurance. I pay 25 bucks a month and if there is any emergency surgery or anything at all, I pay a 50 dollar flat fee and they pay the rest of the emergency bill.

That's a cool program... I was wondering just the other day if such a thing as "health insurance" existed for pets. I should have known someone else would have thought of it already...

 

[GootySapphire]

Nice. That will really help if ever needed...let's hope not!

Yeah hopefully not, but its better to be prepared in case he gets bloat or something, and i cant front up 1,400 bucks ya know?

 

[GootySapphire]

My sister has a purebred pug, she's not quite two yet. They have pet insurance, and they have used it many times already. They are a bit paranoid so they take her to the vet at the drop of a hat, but I must say, for an expensive dog the insurance is a great idea.

Yeah definitely good to have it on a pug. Pugs have many health issues, lots of respitory issues and what not. I love those dogs though!!!

 

[GootySapphire]

That's a cool program... I was wondering just the other day if such a thing as "health insurance" existed for pets. I should have known someone else would have thought of it already...

Yeah I had no idea they even had such a program, but I am glad they do. Its super helpful to canine owners. Especially with emergency incidents.