Hi Everyone, I'm new here and I've been reading the forums and there seems to be a lot of solid information - thank you for that! I need some advice from someone who has more experience than I do. I've had animals all my life, and my husband grew up with great danes but we haven't gotten a dog in the 15 years we've been married because we've had too many other animals. Growing up I had small dogs and a large 80lb lab/rottweiler/something mix, so the size of a great dane won't be an issue. We are finally in a place where we can have a dog, and we want a great dane.
I've also had my share of animals with heath problems - a blind dog, two diabetics with 2x a day blood sugar testing and shots, one 19 y o cat with kidney disease to whom we had to give IV fluids at home 3x a week, a ferret who had to be hand fed and nursed for weeks - caring for sick pets is not a big deal in my house. We have a separate savings account just for vet bills.
But I have had horrible experiences with animal rescue and puppies from city animal shelters. As a teenager we had three puppies in a row that didn't live more than a few months and weren't treatable that came from those places, and while I would rather save a life, I need some advice. That being said, we do have a great general rescue group locally, but.
What we need in a dog is a trainable temperament that will be safe with neighborhood kids, cats and my elderly father who has some mobility issues. I also live in a pretty rural area and dog fighting rings way out in the country are a problem here and while the sheriff's office is trying, I know some of the poor dogs that have been subjected to that will end up in local rescue/shelters. There's also a very local great dane by breeder who has parvo and other health problems whose dogs I'm sure will also end up in the shelter here.
So here's my question - if we ended up with a great dane from a rescue who had a scary past, is the breed generally trainable to overcome that? I really feel like training is so important in a dog so large, and if we had a dog that couldn't be around my father it would be heartbreaking. I don't mind doing extra training classes or work with a dog - that's part of having a dog anyway I think - but I don't want to end up with a dog who can't safely interact with the public or my dad.
Given all that, my husband thinks we have to start with a puppy. My vet also thinks a puppy is a good idea, but she also says she is not a great dane expert and I should ask the experts. All the dane rescues around here have dogs with descriptions like "strong prey drive/ not with kids/not with small animals" and that doesn't sound like what I've read the personality of a great dane is normally. What do you guys think? I tend to think love can fix anything, but I'm a sucker for any animal and you guys know more than I do about these animals.
I've also had my share of animals with heath problems - a blind dog, two diabetics with 2x a day blood sugar testing and shots, one 19 y o cat with kidney disease to whom we had to give IV fluids at home 3x a week, a ferret who had to be hand fed and nursed for weeks - caring for sick pets is not a big deal in my house. We have a separate savings account just for vet bills.
But I have had horrible experiences with animal rescue and puppies from city animal shelters. As a teenager we had three puppies in a row that didn't live more than a few months and weren't treatable that came from those places, and while I would rather save a life, I need some advice. That being said, we do have a great general rescue group locally, but.
What we need in a dog is a trainable temperament that will be safe with neighborhood kids, cats and my elderly father who has some mobility issues. I also live in a pretty rural area and dog fighting rings way out in the country are a problem here and while the sheriff's office is trying, I know some of the poor dogs that have been subjected to that will end up in local rescue/shelters. There's also a very local great dane by breeder who has parvo and other health problems whose dogs I'm sure will also end up in the shelter here.
So here's my question - if we ended up with a great dane from a rescue who had a scary past, is the breed generally trainable to overcome that? I really feel like training is so important in a dog so large, and if we had a dog that couldn't be around my father it would be heartbreaking. I don't mind doing extra training classes or work with a dog - that's part of having a dog anyway I think - but I don't want to end up with a dog who can't safely interact with the public or my dad.
Given all that, my husband thinks we have to start with a puppy. My vet also thinks a puppy is a good idea, but she also says she is not a great dane expert and I should ask the experts. All the dane rescues around here have dogs with descriptions like "strong prey drive/ not with kids/not with small animals" and that doesn't sound like what I've read the personality of a great dane is normally. What do you guys think? I tend to think love can fix anything, but I'm a sucker for any animal and you guys know more than I do about these animals.
Comment