hey, I'm anoobie with a question

[mrsgrubby]

I know a vet that routinely does the stomach stapling when he spays a dog, as a preventative measure. He doesn't actually use staples but a thread and sews a few stitches to keep it from turning. However another vet I asked about this said he never does it as a preventative measure. So it depends on the vet.

I also know that for a first time dog owner I would suggest a great dane rather than a doberman or rottie. As Carrie said, Dobes and rotties are not known to be really social and are more difficult to train and socialize.

I have a friend who has a great dane as his first dog and it is going well.

You will still have to socialize the heck out of it if you want to take it everywhere, and you will for sure have to take it to obed. class. Nothing is worse than a huge dog that is not properly trained. The better trained your dog is, the more places people will alow you to bring it.

You will also need to be committed to exercising your dog each day. Great Danes were originally bred in Germany for Wild Boar hunting. So they do need exercise to be happy, healthy and stable minded. AlsoGreat Danes can make great family dogs but require a lot of companionship and attention. So you will need to make an effort to spend alot of time with it so it feels like it is part of your family.

Great job in seeking out information before actually buying your dog. I wish more people were like you and did their homework first, and bought second.

Please, keep your questions coming and we will all try to help you.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by 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

Every one of my bullies going in for c-section, spay or when the vet has to go in for any other reason does this as a preventive measure. It's something I've requested and something that he always brings up to owners with breeds more prone to it if their dog is going in for a surgery.

[Want a Doberman]

lol, thanks. Yea it's a shame when people just buy a dog on a whim without any researching. Will it bother a Dane to be going up and down stairs alot? When I move I'll prob have to go up a flight of stairs to get into my house, so everytime he had to go out or somewhere it'd be going down the stairs and back up when comin home...Would this be a problem? I wouldn't think it would be seeing as they were designed for hunting wild boar, so that's a lot of running over rough terrain, so I wouldn't think stairs would be a problem, but what are your thoughts? O, and by the way, I'm just thinking ahead, my names I'm thinking about are bruno, bandit, hound (kind of an inside family thing) or any other suggestions? lol, I'm just kind of anxious to get one, but I have to wait a few months Thanks for all your help everybody!

[mrsgrubby]

Narrow stairs would be hard because they are so big, but a few regular stairs should be ok, at least while it is young. As it gets to be an old dog stairs could be hard, especially if it ends up with hip or elbow issues.

Obviously if you could avoid stairs it would be better, but if you can't, it shouldn't change your decision to get the dog. Maybe the building will have an elevator.

Sounds like you want a male? If so, just be sure to get it neutured. A male dog can smell a female in heat two miles away, you'd hate to have a dog that big dragging you two miles to go find the source of the "smell", also a dog that big could go right through a door or window to find that female. (just a word of caution).

I like the name bandit. I knew a Dane named Ogema once. It is an indian word for Chief.

[Want a Doberman]

well it isn't an apartment, it's a house that we're splitting the upper floor and lower floor into 2 apartments, and I'm probably getting the upper floors. But I will be building the stairway leading up their most likely, so what if I built a stair way, it could be like 5 stairs up one way, then a platform, then another 5 stairs the rest of the way, do you think that wuld be ok? I could take the downstairs if i HAD to but I would much rather not. I dunno, any suggestions?

[Cassiepeia]

That ** danes site you posted looks like a backyard breeder. They don't show and there is no mention of health/genetic testing. They say they breed for "companion" dogs which is a red flag. It says to me that they don't care about the great dane breed. If they did care, they'd want to compare their dogs to others of the same breed (by showing/working the dogs) to assist them in selecting the best breeding stock to continue their line.

Cass.

[Want a Doberman]

here is directly from the site, and I know I remember reading about them doing joint checks and flexibility and stuff like that a few times before they're sold.

" **Edit - Please do not post breeder web sites within your posts.** Great Danes makes every effort to offer a healthy, sound companion that is free of genetic anomolies - we have been exhaustive in doing our genetic homework, but the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

We take our responsibility as Great Dane breeders very seriously and carefully place our special puppies only in homes where they will be cherished family members. We are also aware that circumstances force unwanted change at times and we ask that if at any time during the life of your companion, you can not provide a proper home for any reason, that the dog be returned to the breeder. This is extremely important to us as we are also involved with Dane rescue and have been heartbroken to see the results of improper care.

We, at ** Danes, believe that the nutrition that a puppy receives is one of the best influences in development and that proper nutrition paves the way for a much longer and healthier life. We emphasize this and educate all of our puppies' families about proper nutrition and appropriate kinds of exercise for a developing Dane puppy. I do respect Linda Arndt (Blackwatch Feeding Program) and her work enormously, but am I having such wonderful results with the BARF diet, that I am going to continue to use it for now.

We will ship in the continental U.S. if necessary. We do not crop ears, but you are free to do this if you wish. We do have a contract that new puppy owners are obliged to sign. In a condensed form, it reads:

All of our Danes that are sold as pets are sold on a spay/neuter contract and a limited registration (which means the dog cannot be bred). There is a very good reason for this type of contract. I don't feel that any breed of dog should be bred indiscriminately by inexperienced people who don't have extensive knowledge of the breed and are not committed to improving it. I do, however, occasionally make arrangements on an individually selected basis for breeding rights and placement of show pups. " What does everybody think about them...**Edit - Please do not post breeder web sites within your posts.** if anybody else wants to look it over for me.. From what they have written everywhere, to me it seems like they do care about the dogs, but I don't know, as you know I'm new to this whole deal.

[Cassiepeia]

Hmm..I missed that bit, couldn't find it on the site.

They still don't say what testing they do. Only that they do their "genetic homework" which could mean anything. I'd ask them specifically what tests they do.
It still concerns me that they don't show. There are plenty of dogs who are simply 'companions' and nothing more, no one needs to breed them. You can find them in shelters anywhere you go.

As far as I'm concerned breeding only puppies that (you know from the start) will never contribute anything to their breed is as bad as breeding designer mutts. I would never buy from them. JMO of course.

Cass.

[shandoggy1]

I think they seem like good breeders. It seems as though they do a good job of caring for the breed and doing right by them. They have new owners sign a spay/neuter contract because they don't want irresponsible breeding going on and they also ask that if anyone can no longer keep the dog that it be returned to them because they are also involved with GD rescue. I would make sure they test there breeding stock for hips, elbows, etc.
I mean anyone can post a nice website and pictures and makeup stuff that is why when I was researching Australian Cattle dogs I searched for a reputable breeder in my town so I could drive their and see the facilities myself. I wanted to see the mom and dad, the place they were kept and I wanted to make sure it was clean and the dogs were well cared for. I also didn't want to buy a pup out of state somewhere seen only on a website and have it shipped to me, but that was my own personal choice, I just felt better being able to drive and see things for myself.

[Pugdawg1]

They are very vague. Ask them for SPECIFICS on exactly what health testing they do.

[poodlesmom]

After Farley had his emergency surgery for bloat the vet did stitch his stomach so that it couldn't twist again. He can, however, still have a bloat episode and need medical care but it isn't as life threatening as a torsion. My vet did explain that occasionally there is a possibility of the tacking letting loose after an injury or something but that it is rare. I have planned in the future having the tacking done on any pup whose breed is prone to bloat when I have them spayed/neutered.

As far as stairs and a Great Dane, I lived on the 2nd floor when I had my first one until he was about 5 yrs old and he was fine with them. I did put carpet on them though to make them safer for him. I would be very careful with a puppy as they are very clumsy trying to get used to those long legs. However, I am glad that when he was older we had already moved to a 1 story house as the stairs would have been a definite problem for him.

Your friend's Dane sounds just like the 2 I had. They definitely think they are 10 lb. lap dogs!

[Novel]

I am also concerned that they ship their puppies. That is always a red flag, especially with the large breeds. If you just watched the Eukanuba show, they had like a pre-show program that did a small piece on Danes. It said that danes have always been very regional because no breeder would ship their dog, because of the many problems and dangers associated with that size dog being shipped. The program said that with the use of AI they have finally been able to bring in lines from distant locales.
I don't agree with shipping personally because any person that wants a dog that badly from me, can come to me to get it. I want someone that is that devoted to the dog before they ever even get it. They are not products to be shipped!

[mrsgrubby]

Novel, that shipping thing is a good point.
Just yesterday we had a volunteer in our office who came back from Florida. She said that there were dog in the cargo hold of the plane that barked the entire flight. She said everyone could hear the dogs in the cabin barking and crying. she was really worried that the dogs were going to freeze to death in that cargo hold.

[Want a Doberman]

well I don't know, just because they have a different opinion on shipping doesn't neccessarily make them a bad breeder. Maybe the are sure that the way they ship the dog will be safe and all that. But anyway, here is what he said to me about the testing they do...."It is our experience and belief that proper nutrition is the key to long
life in danes. Our concentration is on the care and appropriate nutrition of
all our dogs as sound, healthy and happy dogs produce puppies who are off to
the best possible start they can get in life-and that is one of the main
goals of our breeding program.

All of our mommies and daddies have been raised here and are strong and
healthy-free of any known genetic defects.All of the dogs that are being
bred are given a comprehensive checkup once a year that includes a complete
blood screen for thyroid, liver function, etc. They are checked on a regular
basis for mobility function, joints, heart, etc.
All the pups are vet checked at least twice before they go home for heart,
joint range of motion and flexibility and general overall health."

I dunno, I could always maybe go and check the place out someday to see it in person, and talk to the person. In my opinion you can get a better perspective of somebody's thoughts on something by talking to them in person.

[mrsgrubby]

yep, you are right, face to face is the way to go. Just another example: We rescued a litter of puppies last night and on the phone the lady told quite a story, but face to face I could see by the way she was acting that she was lying. I would never have known if I hadn't seen her face.

Keep up the good work!