hey, I'm anoobie with a question

[poodlesmom]

It's great that you are doing research and asking questions.

I have had two Great Danes in the past and they are an absolutely wonderful breed. However there are some possible downsides to having a Great Dane or any other large breed.

One deterrent to large breeds is the extra expense - many things cost more: food, vet bills, medication, flea & heart worm treatments.

Any deep chested dog, such as a Great Dane, Standard Poodle, etc. are more prevalent to bloat and their stomach twisting. One main component to trying to alleviate the potential is no extreme exercise right before or after eating. There are many other things such feeding using raised dishes but none are proven to completely solve the issue. I lost 1 Great Dane to it many years ago and about 3 yrs ago almost lost my Standard Poodle. Emergency surgery at a hefty price tag was able to save Farley.

One other thing as a general guide line is the larger the breed, the shorter the average life span. Great Danes are usually 7-9 yrs although I had my 2 until 10 & 11.

It is wise to stay away from anyone who breeds "giant" or even "teacup" sized dogs as they are outside of breed standards and these "breeders" most times are breeding strictly for size and feel they are thereby able to claim they are "rare" and worthy of their high price tag. They don't usually do the medical testing and their breeding pairs may not be physically or psychologically worthy to produce healthy pups.

I would like to suggest that check out a few of the threads that we have here on how to find a good breeder. Then contact a few, check them out and let them know you are looking for a pet. All reputable breeders do breed hoping for show quality pups but they always have some that while healthy & happy aren't of show and breeding quality that they will sell with a spay/neuter contract at a lower price but they are. You have a better chance of getting a healthy pup that will be with you many years without huge medical bills if you go to a breeder like this.

Since you have a few months before you'll be in a position to have a furpal you've got time to find the perfect one for you. Best of luck!

[shandoggy1]

Where do you live in the USA? Because some countries have banned ear and tail cropping obviously the US hasn't done so. i'm not to sure how much it costs I would assume $300 to $500 but that is just a guess. Just to warn you, you will pay a pretty penny for a well bred dog with a great lineage, Danes can be pretty exspensive at least $1000 or any dog for that matter. And if your dog is just going to be a pet sometimes breeders have a pet price and a show dog price meaning if that is your intentions to show then you will pay more for a dog. But if it is just a companion animal then some breeders let them go at a cheaper price because you will have to have the dog spayed or neutered and sign a contract. As far as the age for cropping ears a neighbor on my street who has a brother and sister pair of great danes had there ears done at the same time they were being neutered and spayed around 5 months. I believe most breeders who breed dogs that have ears and tails docked usually do it before the dog is purchased.

[Want a Doberman]

any other great dane owners have anything to add. I've pretty much decided on a great dane, I wanna get a big black one. How much food do they eat, like how much does it cost for you to feed one fully grown dane each week? How much excersise do they need? I'm sure I'll find a lot of this on the web, but I'd just like to know what some of you actual great dane owners have to add. If introduced a lot to other dogs as a pup, do you think it will grow up to be OK with other dogs? Also, if I get a pup, should I have people introduced and have it handled with people as much as possible, so that he learns that people are OK, and doesn't become sggressive in any way? Thanks a ton. Man I can't wait to move and get somethin.

[Pippinislove]

Doberman bitches are ideal at 25 1/2 inches at the whithers, with males being 27 1/2 inches. Depending on your perception, this may be big or simply "medium". I consider Dobermans medium, but many people think they are HUGE dogs! My Doberman mix is 26" at the shoulder and I constantly get a ton of comments about how huge he is, and how he must be mixed with Great Dane he is so big. You may very well be thinking that Dobermans are smaller than they really are!

I would suggest going to a local all breed dog show and comparing the size of dogs, as well as meeting them and gauging which breed temperaments you like best. Even if size is just right, a dog won't be compatible you don't enjoy his or her temperament!

Continue doing research and asking questions. =) It's a great way to learn.

[Want a Doberman]

just another random question. If you where to pick up a dog like a great dane, how would you pick him up? I would think it would be easy to hurt them cuz they are so big..maybe I'm wrong? LOL, I know, quite a big dog to be liftin around, but I'm thinking, if I get one, and take him in my truck with me a lot, my truck is very lifted, so I was thinking of pulling the passenger seat out, putting alittle bed in for him, and just puttin him up there whenever I go drivin. Keep in mind this is just thinking, nothing will actually be happening for another few months.

[bigdoglover]

Ok, I'm gonna take a stab at things here. I breed Giant Schnauzers. And although they aren't as big as a Great Dane, they do eat a lot. Depending on the food you buy, you can plan on spending anywhere from $30-$50 a month. (that is approximate, depending on food quality, and where you live).

As for picking up a Great Dane....lol...good luck!! If your truck is that high, you would need to make or invest in a ramp or stairs. You can find them in places like PetSmart.

Please don't take this wrong, but I want to ask....why do you want a big dog? I'm not saying "get something small" by any means....you were just very adiment about getting a "giant" breed....just curious as to why. Not meant to be rude or nosey, just curious!

As for your question about the pup....socialize the heck out of it!! Take it everywhere with you. Parks, pet stores, anywhere that people can touch, talk, and even where there are "strange" noises. Trust me, you will be glad you did!

[Dog Tired]

Big dogs are great...and I was brought up around a lab/rottie mix...that was a big fella. But our Boomer is even bigger than he was. Hes about 86lbs (still gonna fill out since he is still young)...and I havent measured him anytime lately...but his head touches my hips...and Im about 5'10".

Big dogs are a lot more work than smaller ones. You will DEFINATELY need to socialize any dog that you get...but when they are gonna be a big one...its essential. Training from the moment you get him is essential. They get big FAST...and before you know it, your dog will be able to drag you down the street if you dont have them under pretty good control.

Boomers not too expensive to feed overall. We probably spend around $45-$55 a month to feed him. A really large bag of food will last him two weeks. But we also spend on chew toys, and treats, etc....keep those things in mind. And a crate for a dog that large will be a little more expensive. They make really nice ones that 'grow' with your dog..so you only have to buy the one crate...and not a new one everytime they outgrow the old one.

I agree about going to some shows..or meeting some folks who have the Danes and Dobies. Check out Petfinder for some adult Danes and Dobies...you could always visit a shelter to see the diff. in size.

We just adopted a dog a few weeks ago..and there were quite a few adult Dobies there...I was very impressed with the two males that were there. They were a nice 'big' dog. Probably a little over two years old..and they had nice height, and gorgeous builds. (having a big dog...I usually tend to think that med. sized dogs are sort of small..but these dobies were nice) And there is a lady here in our neighborhood that has a gorgeous fawn Dane....I laugh everytime she comes over to talk with us....he is such a big dog! But very well behaved...he is the perfect example of a well trained dog....he makes Boomer look like some goofy love struck teenager...

Good luck in your search! As soon as you move, and find that right pup...find the right puppy class!!

[Dog Tired]

Also wanted to add a quick note that you may want to check Petfinder.com for Dane pups...you may find a nice Dane or Dane mix pup that you can rescue. I have seen some gorgeous Dane/Lab mixes, and my Uncle adopted a Dane/Boxer mix...that would knock your socks off!

Good luck!

[srat37]

Hi and welcome to GP. I have a few things to answer for you. I have a 7 mth old female doberman. Wow it has been so much work!
And it has cost a lot of money! Ear cropping for my girl was $320 dollars and that was to have it done with a laser. Most reputable breeders will have this done for you and I would recommend that. I just felt horrible the day we brought her home! If you are looking for a dobe you should be paying a good 1000 dollars for one already cropped probably more like 1200. About the bloat and stomache torsion, this is also common in dobermans, and I would think could be even more possible in a dobe mixed with a Dane. When I got my girls spayed my vet offered to tack her stomach to her body wall so that if she got bloat her stomach couldn't twist. This cost me about 350 additional to her 180 dollar spay. The vet told me the surgery they get if they do get a twisted stomach is $3000! As far as food costs. I would say I easily spend 100 a month on my dog. I buy her a premium dog food wich is about $25 for a 20 pound bag and that's only lasting 2 to 3 weeks now so we will be moving to the huge bag next purchase. I also have to constantly buy her toys and bones for her to chew. Indestructable toys for larger dogs seem to cost about 15 to 20 bucks a piece! Anything of lesser quality only lasts a few days now. Of course there's always treats too. There's also the cost of training and classes. We are paying 65 for 8 week classes at the local kennel club. I got my dog last July and I have been saving receipts for most everything. Next July I will add them up, but I am pretty sure I am allready darn close to $4,000, and that's not counting the fence that we put up in our back yard. I'm sure there are a few places you could cut some corners here but I don't think you could shave that much off of what I've payed so far.
I hope this helps....and good luck with your puppy whatever you decide. They are sure a lot of work, but a lot of happy times!

[mulroony]

If price is important look for some doberman rescues. If you are not looking for show quality this sounds right for you. Do not think rescues do not have puppies, and even a dog at a year will be a bit more difficult, but not impossible to train. Go on petfinder.com and search for whatever you are looking for. Do not pass up a medium size dog. They can have the attitudes of a large breed w/out some of the inconviences of a large breed. If you do get a large breed do not skimp on the quality of the food. With all the growing they do it is extremely important to make sure thier bodies get everything they need. Good luck.

[Carrie]

So much good advice from the others. But being a Doberman owner, I must say that a Doberman is NOT a breed for everyone....not recommended for first time dog owners. They're a lot of dog and not social butterflies, normally. They were bred to protect their master and are tending toward suspicion of strangers. They are a very high energy working breed and need a lot of training, oodles of socializing and an experienced dog owner.

They are classified as a medium sized dog. An oversized Doberman, outside of the standards is not able to do as well, what they're bred to do. They lose some of their agility and speed. They encounter more health problems and heaven knows, they have an awful lot of those as it is. An oversized, giant Doberman is bred by someone who is disreguarding the standards set forth. In doing so, you can be quite certain that they are also disreguarding the health and temperament of the dogs they are breeding, disreguarding who they sell their dogs to....not caring about their puppies or the breed's integrity. The average life span for a Doberman is 9 years. Some die very pre-maturely from cardio dilated myopathy, cancers and other things. Some of the lucky few (usually from careful breeders who are striving to erradicate some of these diseases) make it to 13 yrs. old and a very rare few, longer.

Reputable breeders are a must and they do extensive genetic health testing, temperament testing and their breeding with other dogs is an explicit science. Reputable breeders have the ears cropped and healed before their puppies go to their new homes and are very choosy who they sell their pups to and will have lots of questions for prospective owners. There are places online and stickies on this forum describing what a reputable breeder is and how to look for one.

It is good that you're looking into this ahead of time. But I caution you to not get a dog for it's looks. Find out all you can about the breed, visit shows, talk to breeders, spend time with some dogs of the breed you're interested in and don't be in a hurry.

Dobermans are not prone to getting along with other dogs and can be quite dog aggressive. Some are, some not and in spite of lots of socialization as pups with other pups, often Dobes will be very reactive toward other dogs.

If you read everything about them that you can get your hands on, get aquainted with the people I mentioned, some visits with these dogs, learn a lot about training and dog behavior, plan on enrolling in obedience classes and practicing every day, taking good walks and runs every day, you may find that a Doberman fits into your life. They are active and need an active owner. They are not a couch potato, generally, or at least not till they're older. They need to be doing something much of the time, very very alert and busy. They aren't happy to stay lounging around if they hear the slightest noise outside. They're up in a flash checking it out. You can't go to the bathroom without them following you. They are really glued to you. They take to obedience training well....naturals at it....very intelligent and quick on the trigger. But they are incredibly distractable, high prey drive and need someone who is willing and able to devote most of their waking moments with them. These dogs are not outside dogs or dogs who will thrive spending large amounts of time alone. They are family dogs and dependent. They have to be with their people a good deal of the time, or they're not going to be well adjusted.

When looking for a breed, always understand what they were bred to do and compare that with your life style. You are smart to be researching before rushing out head long into a decision. You're right...Dobermans are very handsome dogs to look at, very wonderful companions. There are not a lot of breeds as loyal to their family as a Doberman. I've had several breeds and I can say this. They're terribly affectionate anc demanding and can, in fact make pests out of themselves. LOL. You have to like that sort of thing and be able to temper it.....not squelch it, but not let it get out of hand either. There are so many aspects about a Doberman where you find yourself walking on a thin line....they're so very sensative and aware of everything in their enviornment. They're very playful, humorous and goofy dogs....quite terrier like, in fact, hence the "Pincher" in their name, pinscher meaning terrier. So, they can be serious protectors one minute and terrific goof balls the next.

Well, there's some low down on what I can think of about Dobermans.

Good for you for checking it all out first. It would be a shame to get a dog which turns out to be too much and then have to turn it in to a shelter.

A rescue is another idea. Just be careful that they evaluate the dog carefully that it matches your personality and your lifestyle. Keep us posted.

I'm going to move this thread from the misc. forum to somewhere where you will get more responses. I hesitate to put it in the working dog forum because, although you are starting out the thread, thinking Doberman or Dane,(they are working dogs too and can also be a handful) this may well evolve into a discussion of other breeds and you may find that some other breed will suit you better. So, I think I'll stick it in Global Paw where a wider range of viewers will notice this thread to help you out. It may indeed turn out that a working dog is the type for you, but it's good to toss around all kinds of ideas first.

[Want a Doberman]

**Edit - Please do not post breeder web sites within your posts.** They seem like a good bunch of people, and the guy wrote me a very informative e-mail. He said both of his stud males were 180lbs and 200lbs, both about 38 inches at shoulder, so these are some big sonofaguns. lol. That's about what I'm looking for. He said he never crops his dogs ears, so I would have to get it done.

What is your opinions on doing what somebody said a few posts up, and getting the dogs stomach stapled to it's body or whatever so it can't twist? I kinda like that idea, does that on it's own cause any more problems? What bothers me about that, is if the dog is out running around, and stretches weird, wouldn't it be possible to like rip where it was stapled? I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid.

for those of you are weary as to why I want such a big dog, all I can tell you is, because I do. Just like anybody who wants a miniature dachsaund because they're cute, I want a great dane because I'm obsessed with really big dogs. They are awesome, and I love the goofy personality of great danes. It's soo funny, my friend has a great dane, and you could sit down on the sofe, and he'd come over and plop his but on your lap, and keep his front paws on the floor, he thought he was a person. LOL. anyways, back to the subject, Big dogs have just always been my favorite, and I love the appearance of dobes and great danes.

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by Want a Doberman

What is your opinions on doing what somebody said a few posts up, and getting the dogs stomach stapled to it's body or whatever so it can't twist? I kinda like that idea, does that on it's own cause any more problems? What bothers me about that, is if the dog is out running around, and stretches weird, wouldn't it be possible to like rip where it was stapled? I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid.

I havent seen anyone mention getting a dogs stomach stapled to its body. I may have missed it, but can you please point it out for me? That certainly doesnt sound like common practice...or safe practice at that.

[Shalva]

I have heard of this surgery in response to bloat and know a person whose dog has bloated several times (labrador) who has had this done... .I have not heard of it being done in a preventative manner.
S

[Want a Doberman]

originally posted by strat37

" About the bloat and stomache torsion, this is also common in dobermans, and I would think could be even more possible in a dobe mixed with a Dane. When I got my girls spayed my vet offered to tack her stomach to her body wall so that if she got bloat her stomach couldn't twist. This cost me about 350 additional to her 180 dollar spay. "