Dog's Name & Age:
Dixie, our Great Dane, is now three years old.
In a Word, My Great Dane Is…
Sweet
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Gentle, loyal, mild mannered, lazy.
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
They can be lazy and, because of their size, a bit hard to control.
When, Where and How I Got My Great Dane
I stopped in to the local PetSmart to buy cat food. On that day, they were having a pet adoption day and this huge, white Great Dane lumbered over and nuzzled her head in my arms. At that point, I knew I couldn't go home without her. I left with 10 pounds of cat food and 120 pounds of dog. My cat, The World Famous Mister Biggers, wasn't too crazy about our new addition to the family, but they get along famously now and even curl up on the same bed together. Of course, that bed is mine, too.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
She's almost all white and totally deaf as a result of a breeder mating two harlequin danes together. We live in the city, so the deafness can be somewhat handy -- she doesn't notice the fire trucks or people coming down the hallway. She was abused in her past, so she had/has some severe separation anxiety. With a great deal of training and a little medication, she's pretty well balanced now. It was a challenge getting her to the great state she's in now, but I wouldn't trade a minute with her. She's a wonderful companion and a joy to have in our lives.
Advice
- Get a Great Dane if you want a large, mellow dog -- they're not great runners and they're fairly lazy, so don't plan on too much exercise with a Dane.
- Because they're so mellow, they actually make great apartment dogs or small house dogs -- under no circumstances should a Great Dane be kept outdoors.
- They are very short lived (about 8 years), but can live a good deal longer with proper care and feeding.
- Knowing what (and how) to feed a Dane is absolutely essential, so read up on it and be prepared to buy the good stuff.
