What's Your Great Dane Potential?

What's Your Great Dane Potential?

Find your Great Dane Potential and Donate, Foster or Rescue a Great Dane or Great Dane Organization in your local area. It will undoubtably be a great decision for you and your new furry family member.

Woof Woof

Trailers, Beds and Kennels

If your bringing a Great Dane Pup into your home something you must consider is the size of his or hers kennel, if your going to “crate” train and also where your puppy will sleep if not in his or her kennel.  There are many many options for dog beds but finding something for a Great Dane I have personally found it be a very interesting search.  Presently I am using a double futon mattress on the floor one small side folded up against the wall.  Charlie seems to like leaning up on one side of things and this gives him a good option for laying both ways I find, or he can still lye flat out on the bed.  I would think as Charlie grows a little more, in2-3 years he’ll need a full bed.  Great Dane Beds are not something I have seen in any pet store.  Largest one I found lasted Charlie about 8 months, a 2 seater couch with low arm rests works great for lounging if you have the space for a spare two seater couch that is! I wonder about one of those giant bean bag sacks? Does anyone have one of those for their Great Dane Beds?

Charlie 3 milk crates to his left on the deck railing

Great Dane Kennels or “crates” have also been something of great discussion since becoming a Great Dane owner.  We opted for crate training, as it is a natural comfort for your furry little friend.  Really now I am thankful we did as everything in the house can pretty much be reached.  No closet door stands a chance to those “raptor claws” if a Great Dane feels determined.  Last week Charlie was standing up against a 6 foot wall looking over the top of it.  Then is the time you realize you have a Giant Breed Dog, smacks you right in the face.  Often I find myself forgetting how big he really is.  The largest crate we found at a Pet S has been really good in size, not too small but on the verge now, I have found something suitable as a “Great Dane Crate” but shipping is equal the cage or no delivery to my p.o. so still I search. 

Great Dane Kennels can also be a soft, tented shape style of kennel.  They are used mainly for Great Dane Dog Shows so my feeling on it is that until your Dane can be out alone in the house he or she would just shred the soft kennel in no time.  I will be attempting to go camping with the little man this summer.  I hope he does not shred my tent, if so I guess training will follow until the whole tent is shredded and Brian Griffin recovers from all those bee stings he received on “Episode VI”

Just kidding. But I am serious.

I would like to touch a little bit on the importance of car safety with your Great Dane or any other dog breed.  Summer is coming and we all know, especially for us Canadians that that means windows down. Cruizin the strip, scenic drives, hard tops off and soft tops down and above all else distractions and distracted drivers.  Your furry loved one can become a very large projectile in the result of an unexpected maneuver or excessive braking or with Charlie I am pretty paranoid of him toppling over or blowing a knee or something trying to struggle for balance.  A seat belt harness we purchased online XXL works really well with our big boy and room for him to grow into it.  Heavy buckles and clips, metal rings, locking carabiner, leather strap for his chest plate.  It clips into the strap of the seat belt itself, either shoulder or lap sections.  Charlie can maneuver wherever he likes across the back seat, or sit on the front seat and use the strap to keep his balance whenever leaning on the corners.  All in all it has been an excellent purchase and I feel much better in my vehicle knowing my Great Dane will be with me the entire ride no matter what the outcome. Please be sure to secure your pet when traveling in a vehicle.  It could save both your lives.

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Lets Talk About the ..it Link to a nice little Article on Dane Rescue and one Bonus Tail...

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Evening of Calmness

Rescue Your Newest Family Member.

If you are thinking about adding a Great Dane to your home and family it can often be more rewarding to rescue one. There are many reasons why Great Danes are put up for adoption and/or rescue. Many times buyers are unaware of the additional costs and responsibilities that come with owning such a large breed. This misunderstanding can often lead to a Dane needing a new loving home. Many times young puppies are rescued from mills and or illegitimate breeders. Some are retrieved from abusive homes and owners, or from those who do not have the time and space to house these beautiful giants. The reasons are diverse and always vary. Many times people can and are turned off of Great Dane rescue because of the assumption that most, if not all, rescue animals have behavioral problems. While rescue animals do come with challenges not all those challenges are behavioral. It is true that some Great Dane rescue cases may have temperament issues but always remember that no dog is beyond help and often the need for rescue has nothing to do with behavior.

Great Dane rescue can be one of the most rewarding things you do. Often Great Dane rescue cases are in desperate need of one thing, love. The Great Dane has an enormous bond with their families. Many sources state that the Great Dane will defend their family’s to the death and many times when in need of a new loving home the only thing a rescue case needs to rehabilitate is love and a new family to form a bond with. It is important for all potential owners to bear in mind that there are thousands of unwanted and homeless dogs in our very own neighborhoods. This should be reason enough to look into and consider Great Dane rescue. If you are looking to get a pup, remember, not all Great Dane rescue cases are mature adults there are lots of Great Dane pups that are in need of rescue as well.

The cost of buying a Great Dane pup from a commercial breeder can often range from $1000 to $2000 plus dollars. It goes without saying that Great Dane rescue is much more cost efficient then buying a pup. Most often rescue centers operate as none profit organizations that only desire one thing, finding Great Dane rescue cases a new loving home. There are many centers that will work with their Danes to help rehabilitate them before they are homed out, helping to ease some of the potential challenges that come with adoption. There are plenty of organizations to choose from all of which have different criteria that must be met before they will be willing to home out a Great Dane rescue to you. Some may find this process unnecessary, however, it is so important for the Dane to make sure their new home is the right home. I urge you to look past this red tape process to the checkered flag finish line. If you meet the right profile you can end up with not only an amazing animal but also, the best most loyal friend you could ever ask for.

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Insure to be Sure

       As dog owners we all, from time to time, find ourselves at the Veterinarian. Weather the problem is large, medium or small, a simple check up or a major surgery it all cost money. Many of us would contest that no cost is too great for our four legged furry friends, however, this does not mean that it doesn’t hurt the pocket book. For giant breed owners these vet visits can do more then just hurt the pocket book, they can cripple it. Anyone choosing to own a dog should most certainly be financially prepared. A great way to start is by preparing a pet insurance comparison and looking into a pet insurance plan.
With numerous companies out there it can be hard to choose which pet insurance plan and company are right for you, your family and your bank account. Often there are many different options within one company. These options can include but aren’t limited to; monthly cost, dollar amount covered, deductibles, including or excluding specialized procedures, and how often claims can be made. All of these factors, plus many more, make it very helpful to prepare a pet insurance comparison. To do this simply select five to ten companies that you feel could work for you. Prepare a chart that documents price, percentage of cost covered, and specialty procedures. Looking at price remember that the most inexpencive plans might be a great deal per month but may not have the coverage you want for your dog. Typically the more you spend on your pet insurance plan the more specialty procedures are covered. This may not matter for some dog owners, however, giant breed dogs and some pure breads are prone to less common conditions leading to expensive treatments and procedures. Depending on your dogs needs choosing a pet insurance plan could be the most important decision you make in relation to your furry family member.
It can be very helpful to talk to your Veterinarian about your pet insurance options. Many times vets will deal with one particular company. If you decide to choose the pet insurance plan that your vet recomends or the company they deal with then be sure to find out if they can take care of the paper work for you. Having your Veterinarian able to file claims for you is so handy. It means you will never forget to file and therefore never missing out on getting your money back. Many companies will give a time frame for which claims can be made after the visit. This time frame can range from three months, to a year, or in some case no time limitations at all. Obviously having no time frame is ideal, however, if the pet insurance plan you do choose has these limitations having your vet file for you is so convenient.
Remember to take your time. As stated above, choosing the right pet insurance plan for your dog might be the most important decision you make. Generally the cost of your insurance will seem insignificant when weighed against the peace of mind and security it will provide you and your dog with. Never having to worry if you can afford the very best for your best friend is priceless.
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