alicat613

Ewww to the last few posts!! Hey thanks for that link on dremeling! Parker was dremeled at the breeders so hopefully will be ok with it, as we just got one for Christmas! Wish me luck! He's still just a baby, but he is a 60+ lb baby!

Great advice Mary's Mama! I have done a lot of kibble research, and have found that per pound many great foods are tons less than the fake premiums like Iams or Euk. Pricing it out, I believe it was the Wysong or Innova Anergen that came out to something like 60 CENTS a pound! Unbelievable! Although I believe the anergen is a lamb based, so I'd want to get taurine and l-carnitine supplements. Another food I like that is a good price is the Natural Balance. My cats insist on kibble and eat their cat line, and I know many dogs who eat the dog line. Great ingredients and price, easy to get - at Petco. The dry is great, but the rolls and canned food have added junk to them. As for researching food, you're in a great place. I find it really hard to do at the store. On the net though, you can search google for things like "reading pet food labels" etc to educate yourself, and also through websites of pet food companies or retailers, find prices and labels so you can do comparisons before you go out.

I refuse to support the killing of puppies to test dog food. I do not feed kibble but once a month I buy a 50 lb bag of food I support and give it to a shelter. I know that is not affordable to many, but I feel if I can afford to spoil my dog like he is than I owe it to the many dogs who are not so lucky to help them out a bit. And I use that opportunity as a consumer to show my preference, for a food that does not use pet carcasses as an ingredient, and a food that does not kill puppies to see how the food works. Imagine if a baby formula company did that to test their new formula?

[quote name='HazelNutMeg']Deepseasnake wrote: [quote]maybe Im more upset that we as people are ruining these breeds that for so long were so good at what we are taking away from them. if that makes any sense[/quote] I agree about that Deep. My mom and I were talking about if in the future, once my "doggy career" gets goin, and if I ever decide to breeds dogs (probably the BC, or maybe a breed that REALLY needs it, like the Great Dane or something), to get two puppies from a good breeder, and start them on the BARF diet right away. Then their next litter, and so on. by the time say the... 5th litter they would be SO HEALTHY! Although if someone bought them, I would have to convince them to keep the puppy on the BARD diet of course. The way we feed our dogs now have really given them a lot of problems... so many dog food companies clam there's Real Beef and such in their products, when really, your lucky if there's ANY in there! I deeply believe that nutrition is the biggest link to doggy (and human) problems. My dog has improved SO much since I've started her on the diet, and that was just in the summer!! If everyone fed their dogs like this, I'm sure they wouldn't have so many joint problems and such.[/quote] ????? A breed that really needs it? What do you have to offer the Dane breed? There are plenty of wonderful reputable breeders improving the breed through years and years of hard work, research, and yes, many do BARF. How you can help stop the "downing" of any breed, is not to support bad breeders, not to support puppy mills, not to support the pet shops that sell puppies. Support the good breeders, and if you really want to breed, breed for love of the breed. But first, find a mentor, learn the breed, learn lines, learn genetics, show, etc etc etc. As far as joint problems, very few from a good breeder have joint problems. The dogs you are talking about come from bad breedings, mostly.

Ooh I am sooo sick of people talking about breeds they don't know, passing themselves off as "experts" while spouting nonsense. Mastiffs, overly agressive? What? They are big giant sweeties. The giant breeds are my favorites, with their big hearts they have more love than all the little breeds combined! LOL ok ok that's just my opinion, my very very biased opinion. NOT saying anyone should just get a giant dog cause they are loves, they require a LOT of time and training, because if you let them develop bad habits as a pup, you're in for BIG trouble when they are 200 lbs!

:cry: Poor doggie.

No thanks. Iams and Eukanuba kill puppies to test their food. [url]http://www.iamskills.com[/url]

Great Danes were bred for boar hunting, not fighting lions. From this, they get the cropped ear, so the boars could not grab the ears, the thick neck and tough neck skin, size/height. The changes you see in the breed come from individual breeders interpretations of the standard and personal tastes. The Euro Danes have a definite more "mastiff-y" appearance, much more jowl and head. In Europe the overall preference is to breed for the heads and other aspects which are highly valued here in the US/Canada are less important to them, topline, etc. Here typically Danes are more graceful, although you will still see a wide variety among lines, from Danes that to me even the males look "bitchy", very slender and more greyhoundey, even ranging to more Euro looking. FYI the lion fighting dog is the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

I would recommend finding out how and where you can spend some time with them. A reputable breeder should be open to having you and your family over so you can see their beagles, also look to see if you have a beagle rescue in your area. I meet many beagles at our local off-leash dog park (the beagles are always on leash though!). My hubby really really wants a beagle, and if it weren't for the fact that I know I'd be stuck with all the training, we'd probably have one. For now, I'll stick with my Dane - much easier to train! I admit though, as much as I say they are barkers, they usually make the cutest little roo roo barks. I love it. But then, I've never lived next door to one!

I haven't taken the test, but I think I will look for it. Just on observation though I'd have to say Parker is 100 flight and 0 fight! He is such a chicken baby! Runs right under mama's legs if he's even startled. Sounds like an interesting test!

AACK! These people should not keep a puppy! The mom is having to steal food and she's still thin? Who shot the rottie? I've a mind to drive myself down there and find these people. I sure hope ALL the animals, mom, dad, and all 8 pups find GOOD homes.

They are pack dogs, more boisterous and loud than some other breeds. I wouldn't call them thick, they are actually very intelligent, but stubborn. They are more difficult to train as they are not eagar to please as much as a lab. They bark. And bark and bark and roo roo and howl. A lot. Especially if you aren't there. They are scent hounds so not very trustworthy off-leash and need a very secure yard. Also depending on prior home life, a rescue beagle MAY not be good with cats or other small critters, depending on whether or not they knew any in their previous home. And oddly, they have the highest propensity among all breeds for umm...eating poop, all poop, theirs and that of others. However, these are of course simple breed generalizations. I have met at a show a breeder who had a bunch of pups with her, and there among them was the sweetest, cuddliest, quietest little girl, who very well may have come home with us had she not been spoken for. I think with all breeds you should research and be prepared, but also meet the dog and see for yourself, and especially with a rescue you may be able to find out a lot about the individual dog's personality and history. Good luck!

[quote name='Anonymous']Than u all guys for evey single advise u made, they all helped much i got a better back-ground now, i will buy the dog as a family dog, any dog can do bark against a burgular if found, and this more than enough, i will buy a dog mainly as family dog, and i will buy a German sepherd from a well known breeder as u all advised mr, thank u :D[/quote] You've just made my day! :D It's wonderful to have someone seek advice, and really listen, rather than seek advice but only hear the answers they want. A dog as a family member will enrich your lives greatly, and as an added bonus you'll have someone to bark at the door! My dog is a total wuss, the best I could hope for is him to lick an intruder but thankfully they don't know that (he does bark, more because he doesn't understand what the knocking noise is) but I do admit I feel safer walking out in the woods with him than I would alone.

As far as I understand it, this seems like a great idea. I have to admit that as a former pit bull owner (as a young child) and one who has never encountered a mean dog in her life, I like this more for the well-being of the dog than protection of society. I suppose I live in a sheltered world, I have never lived or been anywhere that vicious dogs have been an issue, but this proposal seems to have good intentions, won't require any ridiculous rules and IMO would benefit all dog owners.

[img]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL127/742526/1483480/17344009.jpg[/img] As you can see, these dogs care much more about sitting on their bums than the hundreds (really) of dogs and people around them. And that, by the way, is what a 200 lb mastiff looks like. 180 pounds in the above post was not an exaggeration. The largest mastiff of all time weighed somewhere around 330 pounds. And that is what a baby Dane looks like. He's already 60 lbs, which is quite a lot when you consider feeding, lifting, getting pounced on, etc. Rather than look for a "guard" dog, evaluate what real traits you want in a dog, hair length, activity level, etc. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to checking things out, like the Great Pyrenees will often consider his family his herd and make routine walkabouts to make sure everyone is ok! I've met a few, very nice dogs, but I don't know that much about them. So if you want a dog for other reasons, as a family member, than pick one that is right for you, not one for guarding!

Atlanta, I haven't been able to find an experienced vet in your area yet. Have you checked out [url]http://www.danesonline.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi[/url] yet? It's a great site, the best Great Dane forum there is. I wouldn't give up on the vitamin C, it's one of the best things to supplement with because you can't overdose it and the absolute worst effect is it can give them a little diarrhea. Wasn't there a blood test Jill Swedlow talked about that can determine if it is septicemia? I thought I recalled something she or the author of that article had to get done through a vet school? I know Hazel Gregory says use Chloramphenicol at 25 mg per pound of body weight, three times a day. You might ask almostafarm for a referral ([email protected]) or Carol Elwood of the GDC of the midsouth - [email][email protected][/email] Good luck. Please keep us updated! And great job for caring when others would have given up. [/url]

Well then, maybe a Dane would be a good idea. If you are interested in resuce, that's great, because generally they know so much about the dogs. That way you wouldn't end up with a wuss like my baby! You really should come on down to Marymoor (in Redmond) on a Sunday afternoon. There are usually about 20 Danes there and the local rescue (Dane Outreach) usually brings one or two rescuable dogs down as well. The only real way to know if a breed is for you is to meet them!

Sounds like what's known as "puppy pimples". So long as they are only on the chin, you can use Listerine on them. Also is your dog eating out of a stainless steel bowl? These are usually better for the chin pimples. And make sure you wipe off his face if he gets his muzzle dirty while eating. Puppy pimples are actually caused by staph, which is normally on your skin and his skin too, it's just gotten a little rampant in an area, from being too wet, etc. It's also a good idea to bring up your boys immune system. Work him up to 1000 mg vitamin C (human pills are fine) and you can also give him garlic in his food if he'll eat it.

heavy socialization work and back to obedience school This is not acceptable behavior

Aha! I get it...I was so confused! Thanks

[quote name='Hobbit'][quote name='alicat613'] Three you can't roughhouse with them because they are generally asleep on the couch. [/quote] NOT true!! Deep is normally on the couch..... :lol: :lol: :lol: [/quote] I'm confused...how do your statement and my statement not agree? I say they are generally on the couch...then you say not true, "Deep" is normally on the couch? I'm confused!! [quote name='laduenda']First Apbt's and American Staffordshire terriers(staffs) have that tail lashing problem too. They do take a lot of punishment as well they are not protective like a Dane(I have heard this about Danes) They are not as big and they eat less,they have less problems with Hip dysplasia . .... (regarding staffs and APBTs) if you board your dogs or take them from the groomer or rent your house you may have trouble finding a place that will accept them. So stick to Danes or something else. [/quote] First, please, if you are going to advise someone regarding a breed, make sure you have accurate info!! Danes are NOT protective animals. They make terrible watch dogs other than the fact that generally no one would approach someone with such a large dog. The Dane tail issue IS different than with other dogs who have a strong tail wag. Their tails are higher, so they knock things off tables, but the worst part is the tail is at a very frightening height for male humans, if you catch my drift. Also as far as food, a grown Dane eats less than an active full grown lab. You will have just as much trouble with boarding, grooming, and renting with a Dane. Many people do not have the facilities to care for or groom such a large dog, many rentals won't accept such a large dog. Whatever breed you are interested in it is important to get accurate information from people who own the breed as well as spend time with the breed, both indoors and out. It's one thing to see a Dane in the park, a whole nother story having one in your living room. Also learn how to find a reputable breeder or shelter.

A little bit registered?? LOL that's like a little pregnant! You are or you aren't. I bet he was talking about the pups' pedigrees, saying they had some that were registered through ADBA (who?) and a few with UKC, not knowing the resulting litter is registered only one place depending on locale and parents. $2000 sure...geez. I wonder if anyone actually paid that. That whole story is weird. Beware any breeder who would meet you somewhere. I want to see their home and where the pups are being raised. And not having a phone?

Yes, that's how I meant that (thanks StarGaze), it was in no way intended as a personal issue. I just would rather people take their dogs to the shelter than sell them at a garage sale. You, a person who loves and cares for dogs, might come along or then a 4-D seller might buy the dogs up for testing or whatnot. Who knows? Anyways...

Well I advise you to spend some time around Danes and see their personalities. On Sundays around 1 there is an unofficial little Dane meeting at Marymoor, but I haven't been going lately because it has been raining. I got a puppy who is just what I wanted, like most boy Danes he's a total cuddly couch potato Momma's boy. You would not wrestle with him. He screams if he thinks you are doing anything to him other than petting. On the other hand there are always more active ones. Getting a rescue would allow you to know more about their personality and how they do with other dogs. Dane Outreach, the local rescue is often at Marymoor at that time as well with some of the dogs.

well I think with all the large and giant breeds the main areas of focus as far as health are bloat, and bone and joint problems, which as a Dane owner you are familiar with. Good info [url]http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/bloodhounds.html[/url] [url]http://bloodhounds.com/bhb/bldhnd4u.html[/url]