Gentle Giants Rescue- question about their dog food

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/ou...ne_cuisine.htm

My Gpa. happened to tape Huel Houser (sp?) visiting this rescue- Gentle Giants Rescue. I've seen their website before, when looking for Great Danes or Greyhounds for adoption. They say because of their diet they're getting these large breed dogs to live an average of 14 to 18 years- excellent for the large breeds! I was wondering you guy's opinions on their dog food (ingredients and all that good stuff are listed on the page- link above). I would LOVE to have a large breed dog someday, and thinking of that kind of diet increasing the lifespan would be awesome... I'd kill to visit their house, too! But as Mom stated after we watched the program... We can't visit unless we're prepared to bring one home with us afterwards. Someday! Thanks for all thoughts and input.

[gaddylovesdogs]

Oh, I love giant dogs! I'd love to have a dane someday....anyways...

Is this it?

Our Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine - Chicken, Rice, Oatmeal, Fish, Eggs, Vegetables, Fruits, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Glucosamine and Chrondroitin for All Breeds and for All Life Stages

[Novel]

I don't see that the food is any better or worse than some of the other premium grade foods out there like Solid Gold and Eagle Pack. It's still a processed, stored dog food.
I'm happy that they're getting their dogs to live so long, that is quite the accomplishment, but I was a little put off by the site. How can a rescue concentrate on so many different types of dogs and always have some available. I haven't seen this program you mentioned and have never heard of them before, but I have to say red flags are going off in my head at just a first look. After some further research I may be proven wrong, but it just feels funny.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

Gaddy, there's more specific ingredients and such farther down the page- keep looking, if you would.

Novel, they are or were allegedly the only Great Dane rescue in Southern CA. You'll notice a large percentage of the dogs in their "herd" pictures are Danes. They also mentioned on TV that they take in dogs breeders no longer want- previous studs, brood bitches, and even retired show champions. So I think to a degree them always having dogs available (coupled with how picky they are about adoptive homes) makes sense.

The area that turns me off to them is the ego behind it. On TV you see them introducing previous show champions, and "rare" breeds. I don't see how their rare breeds fit into the Gentle Giants scheme, and that's kind of annoying. But when you get right down to it, they love these dogs. You can't own 45 giant dogs and care for them every day for your ego. Burt and Tracy can afford it, and all their dogs look healthy and happy. They're adoption rate is also high, and that's a good thing. In the end, the dogs are being well cared for and loved, and placed in loving homes if possible. For that I'm grateful, and I don't think I'd hesitate to adopt from them (understanding that taking on someone's no-longer-wanted show dog is no rescue!).

[poodlesmom]

After having had the pleasure of sharing my home with 2 Great Danes I really enjoyed looking at all the pics. You have to go to the Individual Gentle Giants for Adoption, click on Great Danes and then go to page 6. There is a video there that is precious!

[ROARS]

They never have been the only Dane rescue. In fact there are several other Dane rescue in SoCal alone. And there are more Dane resuces in NorCal, AZ, and Las Vegas.

As for the Howser show, read what Howser himself has said about doing that show. It's available here

For more on this rescue in general, go here

And if you are looking for a reputable Dane rescue, try looking here

[elegy]

i was just at their site yesterday and to be honest i'd never want a dog from them.

they require that you feed ONLY their food? no thanks. i can find better foods available for less money than theirs.

[richnrissa]

In less than 6 hours, after submitting a partially filled out application i was approved for adoption through gentle giants
some things that caught my eye.

"Our adoption fees normally range from $400.00 to $950.00 "
"Occasionally, we have dogs that we feel need to get into a home sooner In that instance, we will reduce our adoption fees to between $250.00 to $350.00"
"We ask that you bring the first $400.00 in cash"
"We also offer our optional semi-annual Gentle Giant Total Wellness Program for $495.00 twice a year"
"Remember that your bonding process with your Gentle Giant requires you to take your Gentle Giant directly home from your adoption appointment and not to introduce or expose your adopted dog to anyone for two full weeks."

they require you to set up "auto billing and shipping" on their dog food.
On their website, a description of the adoption process states that
1. you contact them the day before you wish to be there,
2.you can only come at 3pm,
they will not tell you where they are (address) until the day before, when you arrive
3.you are taken to the back of the property and told to wait for someone to come get you. You have to sign a release waiver before you are allowed to see a single dog
4 YOU ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR! it says "just roll down the windows some". (but you also are required to bring him w/you!)
5 You and whomever else, as a group, is taken to a benched off area.
6Tracy then brings "all the dogs available" (based on what people say they are there for, danes, rotts, etc) She then returns them to the "housing area" and brings them out one by one.

It does not sound like you EVER have any chance to inspect your new dogs living situation, and from their own description of the property, these dogs DO NOT live in their house as claimed on the website and in the media.
And, they talk about "doodles" (a dane/poodle) "labradoodles", etc as RARE breeds.

Sorry, Burt and Tracy, you lost my support by your own actions, not that of the media

[Novel]

richnrissa -

I think you've made a very clear case that this is not a rescue but a pet store fronting as a rescue. That is my opinion, and I would loved to be proven wrong, but there are just too many things going on here that you just don't see from other rescues, especially the food thing. It's obviously a financial thing. If it wasn't they would be able to reduce the cost of their food by about $20 a bag, and then require you to feed it because they felt it was the best.

It's just a pet store that's feeding on people's sympathies and the positive connotation with the word "rescue"! Unbelievable!

[GreenleafGreyhound]

Thank you ROAR!!!!

The word Gentle Giants gives me visions of a false "rescue" taking in the results of BAD BREEDERS and toting those dogs as "retired champions" or "pedigreed pups". To my knowledge, the "Doodle" (Great Dane/Poodle mix) has been their creation and not that of an irresponsible breeder. Many sighthound people know of the real truth behind GG, already, and GG is nothing more than a WOC. I can't even type regularly because I would surely get myself banned and I'm seeing red right now. If you'd like more info on this "adoption group" (gags), PM me. Other than that, please visit ROAR's website.

[vonissk]

Another thing too is they have been having some kind of legal problems over their claims and some GSD rescue people in that area I know said they are trying to place dogs left and right. Another thing is if you look at the caption under that Dane/poodle mix they say it is the only one. Hmmmm--now how would they know that? Yep I have been hearing many bad things about them for quite a while and I was just appalled when I went to their website and saw all the PUPPIES. Minta

[vonissk]

The other thing is a reputable show breeder would NEVER place a retired champion in rescue--they search for loving pet homes for their retirees and usually people who get these types of dogs are required to sign a contract that if it doesn't work out the dog goes back to the owner/breeder. Minta

[linnie]

Ohhh just another sad story where the animals are the losers.

Whats that saying....if wishes were horses beggars would ride.

Well my wish is that humans could learn to love all of our beautiful creatures and stop exploiting them

[milo's mate]

to be honest i have seen better foods on the market but i have also seen worse

[savebernards]

Originally Posted by richnrissa

In less than 6 hours, after submitting a partially filled out application i was approved for adoption through gentle giants
some things that caught my eye.

"Our adoption fees normally range from $400.00 to $950.00 "
"Occasionally, we have dogs that we feel need to get into a home sooner In that instance, we will reduce our adoption fees to between $250.00 to $350.00"
"We ask that you bring the first $400.00 in cash"
"We also offer our optional semi-annual Gentle Giant Total Wellness Program for $495.00 twice a year"
"Remember that your bonding process with your Gentle Giant requires you to take your Gentle Giant directly home from your adoption appointment and not to introduce or expose your adopted dog to anyone for two full weeks."

they require you to set up "auto billing and shipping" on their dog food.
On their website, a description of the adoption process states that
1. you contact them the day before you wish to be there,
2.you can only come at 3pm,
they will not tell you where they are (address) until the day before, when you arrive
3.you are taken to the back of the property and told to wait for someone to come get you. You have to sign a release waiver before you are allowed to see a single dog
4 YOU ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR! it says "just roll down the windows some". (but you also are required to bring him w/you!)
5 You and whomever else, as a group, is taken to a benched off area.
6Tracy then brings "all the dogs available" (based on what people say they are there for, danes, rotts, etc) She then returns them to the "housing area" and brings them out one by one.

It does not sound like you EVER have any chance to inspect your new dogs living situation, and from their own description of the property, these dogs DO NOT live in their house as claimed on the website and in the media.
And, they talk about "doodles" (a dane/poodle) "labradoodles", etc as RARE breeds.

Sorry, Burt and Tracy, you lost my support by your own actions, not that of the media

I hope people read your post and realize that this is not the way a reputable rescue works.