1. Adult Great Danes are 28" to 38" tall at the withers (top of the shoulder). Think about that for a moment. That's 2'4" to 3'2" tall-before you add the neck and head. Do you really think food is safe on your kitchen countertops? Lifestyle changes may be in order!
2. Adult Great Danes weigh from 110 lbs. to 180 lbs., depending on their height and build, and they are very strong (and sometimes very willful) doggies. Untrained Great Danes can be a real handful. This is a dog that requires serious commitment on the part of the family.
3. Great Danes eat a lot of food. If you feed a quality kibble, you will be giving your dog between 4 and 12 cups per day, depending on age, build, and activity level. Those 40 lb. bags of large breed premium kibble disappear very quickly.
4. Your vet will tell you that bigger dogs require bigger vet bills. Many veterinarian service costs are weight based, such as the anesthesia needed for surgery, and antibiotics or other medications. Great Danes are more expensive to care for than smaller dogs.
5. Despite their size, Great Danes are really house dogs. Once they were working dogs, but are now companion dogs. They want only to be with you. They do not respond well to being left out in the yard when everyone else is inside. They will become depressed, bored, and surly. Believe us, a bored Great Dane can damage your yard to a much greater extent than a surly Chihuahua. There are breeds who are more solitary in nature, and if your white carpet is more important than your dog, a Great Dane is not the choice for you!
If everyone who adopts a Great Dane understood these 5 points, Great Dane rescue would become unnecessary. Of course, that goes for any breed of dog.
What you might want to know
before owning a Great Dane
Southwest Great Dane Rescue, Inc. is registered with the Florida Department of Consumer Services to solicit contributions.
Registration Number: CH25130
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
