alicat613

Get something else then LOL. One you can't roughhouse with them especially young as you can hurt their joints and limbs while they are growing. Two you can't roughhouse with them because that teaches them habits you don't want a 200 lb dog having. Three you can't roughhouse with them because they are generally asleep on the couch. Four you can't roughhouse with them because it hurts. Really. You are not a real dane owner until your Dane has inadvertently injured you enough that there is obvious physical evidence. (I don't mean Danes are mean, they are usually very careful but sometimes you are both moving and before you know it you're socked in the eye)

*sigh* I know. I hate that. In real life I can chase people down when they run away from my lectures LOL. Darn the internet. It just really upsets me this poor Dane, all the Danes out there being bred irresponsibly, handed over with no instructions, no guidance.

Ear cropping is really not the issue here. The issue is this person is obviously getting a purebred dog from a less than reputable breeder who is not helping them learn about these issues, whether it is about ear cropping, feeding a Great Dane, necessary health testing, common health problems, the issue is the breeder has obviously not discussed these things with the potential owner. What sort of breeder does not care about what happens to the puppies or how the pups, who need specific care and informed owners, are taken care of? A breeder you should not buy from, both for your own sake, and the greater good - do not support people like this if you love the breed and you love dogs and animals at all. BTW since I am new here, let me just add I have a natural eared baby from a natural eared mom, with natural eared siblings. I do not support ear cropping, but I think we should focus on helping this person find a reputable breeder and doing this the right way before we go off on tangents. Having an argument about ear cropping assumes it's ok for this person to have this puppy. It's not. This person is not ready for a Dane and the breeder should not be breeding.

A really really big stocking?? I have no idea. Just sickening. YellowLabLover, I'd rather a dog go to a shelter than be sold privately. A shelter evaluates the home and makes sure the animal is fixed and going to be cared for.

I'm sure some of you read the awful "for sale" ads in the paper too. I don't know why I do it, self-torture I guess. Well last weekend I thought I had seen the worst ad ever. Great Dane pups 15 weeks old $300 or trade for firewood. Yes, you read that right. They are open to trading living creatures for dead wood. So we were discussing this at a Dane site when another woman finds an ad for Dane pups....will trade for ANYTHING. Is there a club somewhere for BYBs where they try to out do eachother with the most disgusting heartless shallow ads? Do they get awards? How else can you explain (and yes, this is another real ad) "Moving sale beds, couch, patio furniture, lamps, black lab, rottweiler. " Ummm... :o :x :evil:

[quote name='Kiwi']Heh, Sorry Alicat I didn't mean to imply you were a dog, I misunderstood what Koolie said :oops: . Anyway, Welcome to the Board :B-fly:[/quote] Why would you apologize for me being a dog? LOL Aren't we dog lovers here? :D I took no offense and thought it was funny. Actually Koolie was saying hi from "mydogsite" but just said my dog, that's what she meant and I understood but thought it was funny. Still wouldn't mind being a dog though! [quote name='sashagirl'] Welcome Alicat. So far I have found your posts to be very informative and factual! Glad to have you here![/quote] Uh-oh! I must be making far too much sense! Somethings wrong! Time to get silly! LOL :D Thanks Sashagirl. I like this place. It seems to have room and need for my soapbox(es) LOL. I can't seem to change the world but hey if we can all inform some newbies and help dogs out a bit, well I guess that'll work!

I strongly advise you not to get this Dane. The fact that the breeder has not discussed both the ears and the countless intricacies of owning and caring for a Dane makes me seriously doubt the quality of this breeder. Buying a Dane from a less than reputable breeder is a very very bad idea. The vet bills from the potential health problems can take you down fast. You may think you are financially prepared, but problems can last a lifetime and it costs a lot to do things on a 170 pound dog. Are you ready for temperament issues from a less than reputable breeder? How about when he bites your kids? Please stick around, there are some Dane owners here (including me) who'd love to help you do this the right way.

I've never heard that but then I am on my first (although certainly not last!) Dane and have nowhere near your experience. Absolutely no supplements like pet tabs or calcium etc! Atlanta Danes I haven't gotten any referrals yet to an experienced vet in your area, but you might want to contact Linda Arndt at [email]grdanelady@aol.com[/email] She is very experienced and helpful and if she isn't able to advise you can put you in touch with Jill Swedlow or the Grays, all very knowledgeable Dane people. Good luck and keep us updated please!

Oh no! Mega doses of Vitamin C right away! Where are you? (Duh, I bt you're in Atlanta) Maybe I can help find an experienced vet in your area. How are things so far? Very important info - HOD and septicemia have the same symptoms, different treatment. [url]http://www.netpets.org/~sunny/dane_health.html#HOD[/url] [url]http://www.daneworld.com/LindaArndt4k.htm[/url]

See! Here I am and just look how well I can type!!! :D How I ended up being a dog, I don't know...LOL. Thank you for the welcome!

You [i]should[/i] get a Dal if you are energetic, have time to spend with it (for the whole of it's lifespan), intend to train it, and love it! People who are right for the breed should get them, otherwise all the Dals end up with the wrong homes and stuck in shelters waiting for the right people. And no worries yellowlablover, I wasn't miffed, just wanted to make sure you understood what I was saying was not a negative thing. Have you spent much time around them?

Great thread, lots of great points!! Koolie, I bet your ret/lab is a blast!! (Although not the dog for me!) There is a dog we meet at the park that is a lab retriever border collie mix and she is just amzing to watch. Her owner hits a tennis ball with a racquet about 100 yards it seems, and she's always there in time to catch it right in midair! She has nooo interest in the other dogs although she is friendly, she keeps her eye on the ball!! Like a lot of you I love labs and know they are not for me! I prefer less active dogs LOL.

Well shoot. I tried to say all that well, but obviously I didn't. In no way did I mean to say Dals are dumb. Dals and Beagles are very very intelligent. Honestly I can't think of a breed of dog I would consider dumb. Anyways, simply due to genetics, typical temperament and what some breeds are bred to do now or historically, some are more difficult to train. Dals have high energy, get bored easily, do not do well left alone - they get bored, mischievious, do things to "get back at you". I'm sorry you feel offended, but as I said, I think people need to look into breeds very carefully before they get one, including mixed breeds. Don't get a retriever lab mix if you hate getting off the couch. And vice versa, don't get an English Mastiff if you want a dog to go running with. I simply meant to give my personal impression of Dals as well as include my little soap box about knowing what you are getting into. People who don't do their research often end up not prepared and even giving the dog up. Like I said, this is my opinion. I personally don't like to do a lot of running and obedience work, so for me, a more laid back goofy and eager to please dog is a better choice. A Dalmation is a good choice for someone who plans to do training and obedience classes, has time to spend with the dog (as all dog owners should!), has a yard and plans to exercise the dog. Also like I said about getting fat..that's more the owner's fault than the dog's. Well I don't think this is offensive, but then I didn't think my last post was either, so here's hoping you read this for what it is, and not read things I didn't say into it (like your previous thought that I am implying Dals are stupid).

Well...no Dal owners yet. I'm sure this post will bring them out of the wood work LOL. I personally do not care for them. I see they have a tendency to get fat (although I suppose maybe that is more Damalation owner's problem than the dogs), and I find them to be hyper and difficult to train and resistant to continued obedience. Not that I think dogs must be perfect but they just seem to have a problem being good doggies IMO and experience. Read the info here at The Dalmation Club of America site [url] [url]http://www.thedca.org/[/url] [/url]. More good info [url]http://www.rescueeverydog.org/Dalmation_breed.html[/url] Please don't take what I have said wrong. I love so many breeds, but I think you must know which are best for you. I think Beagles are adorable. Would I ever get one? NOOOOO! They're just way too much dog for me! So what do I have? A Great Dane. People need to take into consideration the human and other pet personalities in the house, lifestyle, what sort of pet personality would go with both of those. I am not a person who wishes to have to handle a disobedient and difficult to train dog. I do not appreciate stubborness. I lean towards breeds with a tendency towards obedience and an eagerness to please. People getting dogs for looks or general impressions without researching the breed(s) of the dog is a big reason there are so many dogs in shelters today. [/url]

Well hey there Dog Lady, fancy running into you at a dog site! LOL I have one dog, a gorgeous adorable lovable sweetheart of a Dane named Parker. He's a beautiful fawn with full black mask, just hitting 4 months (and 60 lbs) now. As far as pros and cons of the breed, you have to go to a reputable breeder who does health testing for eyes, thyroid, elbows, heart and hips as these are areas where Danes have problems. You need to learn about their specific dietary needs and how to care for them properly. They require training of course, as all dogs do, especially giant ones. They have a shorter life span. Those are the cons...the pros are just too much to list LOL. Oh yeah, and I too am in the NW, but near Seattle.