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by smarties on August 14th, 2007

smarties

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Do you have a great dane? If yes, are they really calm? Or are they a really hyper-active dog.?
My parents are thinking of getting a great dane, and I'm scared of really big, hyper- active dogs.

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  • by Redhawk on August 15th, 2007

    Redhawk

    I don't own a Great Dane, but I do have about 30 years experience training all types of dogs and horses.

    Pretty much without exception, ALL of the GIANT breeds are very CALM dogs. Of course they go though a silly puppy stage, but they tend to be much, much more mellow over all than just about any other sized dog.

    There is always the possible exception to the rule but I honestly have not see it happen with regards to YOUR question! lmao

    Most Giants, if given reasonable play time, a good walk, a bit of a run and romp...are very content to just flop down and watch tv with you when evening falls.

    Gray Hounds, who are considered LARGE not Giant, but, who are known for their excessive speed...are about the most quiet and LAZY dogs on the planet...yes they will run like fury when playing, but when you go in, all the ones I've known were most likely to head for the nearest COUCH or chair large enough to lay comfortably on and just plop with a bit of a wag (well, THAT was jolly good fun) and a "look" at their owners, (lets just take a little nap now, shall we...3 or 4 hours would do nicely don'tcha think?)

    The draw back with the Giants is not likely to ever be Hyperactivity...its that they do not live as long as smaller breeds....I LOVE Irish Wolfhounds and would love to have one, but I know they are OLD at 7 to 8 years of age. Once in a great while I'll meet one that is 10 and once one that was 12...but usually they do not live so long...9 years is common for them, and that is simply NOT LONG ENOUGH for me.

    Even my Vet warned me off of the idea when I was considering it..."I don't think you should do this, you can't cope with the life span. It will tear you apart!" and since I knew he knew me pretty darned well after 20 years of helping me keep my animals healthy and helping me to "set them free" when they could no longer enjoy life...I had to defer to HIS WISDOM!

    Dane's especially seem to have very good Stable temperaments, their breeding has been fairly well controlled and they have NOT been popularized enough for the puppy mills to get a strong influence on breeding them. Back yard breeders don't gravitate to this breed as much as some others, because they can be more expensive to feed (!) and require more space than other, smaller breeds!

    Be SURE that your folks know to ask a lot of questions and to insist on seeing HIP CERTIFICATION PAPERS on the Dam and Sire (Mother and Father) of the puppies they are looking to consider buying from! THIS is important, you don't want a puppy where there have been a lot or any hip problems in the bloodline!

    Comments

    • A friend of mine has a Great Dane that's about 7 years old. It is the laziest most vegetative dog I've ever met. They did have some troubles when it was young, but they neutered him and that calmed him greatly.

      Old School

      by Old School on August 15th, 2007

    • lol yeah cutting back the old hormone levels is a wonderment! I was once pet sitting for a lady she had one elderly 8 year old bitch, very, very sweet girl, and two youngsters...one just a year old and the other only about 2 years...a big male that 2 yr old...omg...the first time outside that they came charging up to me...tails whipping the air...I thought..."oh chit, I'm going down here!" (it's not like you can wave your arms and turn them like I would a couple of frisky horses...different mentality altogether!) roflmao...I felt like a Bull fighter trying to avoid the bull...in tandem! Needless to say, they DID split around me, and galloped about a few minutes more before settling for lovies and "me, pet me, don't pet him/her, I'm the good doggie!" lmao...total love buckets! Puppies will be Puppies...but they do settle nicely!

      Redhawk

      by Redhawk on August 15th, 2007

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