I want to get a great dane.?

Question

I want to get a harlquin colored great dane. Does anyone have advice about them, I know a lot about dogs.. But, I have never owned a great dane before. I have had a irish wolfhoud, so I can deal with huge dogs. Is there anything I should know about them? Also, how much do they cost on average?

Answer 1

Price goes by breeder. The better the breeder, the higher the price. For a purebred large breed dog, spend the extra money on a good breeder. They test their dogs in every medical way possible, and can guarantee the animal to be clear of specific hereditary diseases. Ask about the parents hips, with large breed dogs hips can cause problems with age.

If you get a male, and don't plan to breed, please neuter his as early as possible. You don't want a dog that size to be dominant or agressive. I have met some pretty nasty danes.

Answer 2

Health problems:-

Not a long lived breed. Be careful to buy from a conscientious breeder, as some very poor specimens are being sold to the unsuspecting public. Beware of hip dysplasia; buy only from OFA certified stock. Also prone to bloat, tumors, heart disease, and tail injuries. Do not jog with this dog until it is at least one year old.

Life Expectances:-

The average is under 10 years, however some can live to be 12-13 years old.

Answer 3

I would do as much research on the breed as you can.

The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature; the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant. Great Danes are generally well-disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets, wild animals, and humans (including strangers and children). Some Great Danes — as with dogs of any breed — may have dominance issues, may be aggressive with other dogs of the same s*x, or chase small animals; however, this is quite rare.

Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. Bloat (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach formally known as Gastric volvulus) is a critical condition that can affect Great Danes and results rapidly in death if not quickly addressed. It is a commonly recommended practice for Great Danes to have their stomachs tacked (Gastropexy) to the right abdominal wall during routine surgery such as spaying or neutering if the dog or its relatives have a history of bloat, though some veterinary surgeons will not do the operation if the actual sickness has not occurred. Elevated food dishes are often believed to help prevent bloat by regulating the amount of air that is inhaled while eating, although one study suggests that they may increase the risk.[9] Refraining from exercise or activity immediately before and after meals may also reduce risk,although this has not been validated with research.

Another problem common to the breed is hip dysplasia. Typically an x-ray of the parents can certify whether their hips are healthy and can serve as a guideline for whether the animals should be bred and are likely to have healthy pups.

Great Danes generally live 8-10 years, but with responsible breeding and improved nutrition they can live to be 12-14.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and many congenital heart diseases are also commonly found in the Great Dane.

Great Danes also suffer from several genetic disorders that are specific to the breed. For example, if a Great Dane lacks color (is white) near its eyes or ears then that organ does not develop and usually the dog will either be blind or deaf.

Answer 4

Tiny life span 4-8 Years  

Answer 5

Harlequin great danes are the most expensive, they usually cost on average a £1000 to £1500. They suffer greatly with their heart and joints form being so big. You would save yourself a fortune if you insured it.

Answer 6

Please  Please don't pay for a dog. There are so many millions in shelters waiting for someone like you to rescue them. Many people aren't aware but most shelters allow you to put your name and dog preference on a list. That's how I got my black female purebred labrador puppy. You can be that specific

Answer 7

Great Danes are huge dogs and the food will probably cost more then a smaller dog.  Great Danes are nice friendly dogs.  The only advice I have is, train him or her and socialize and you'll end up with a hopefully great dog.

Answer 8

Try a Great Dane rescue organization.  With dogs that big there is a lot of people who think they can handle them but can't.  Then you'll be able to get one that's a little older and have a better idea if it's going to be healthier as danes can have a LOT of problems though they do have wonderful personalities.