Great danes

[LWArchery]

Who has one and can anyone point me in the direction to find a Merle or Blue Merle Female pup? What are the pros and cons besides their size.

[Texas007]

Hips, possible eye cherries, friends just passed from Addison's disease at 2 and with most large breeds after eating if they get active could twist their stomach

[Roy D Mercer]

con is a 6-8 year life span

[Boss Buck]

Call Tom At 972-442-7900 I think he can help you out. Tell him Ron told you to call. Really great guy.

[nursejenn]

We have one....

As far as where to get one, I can check with a friend and see when they are planning another litter. They usually have a blue or two.

As far as pros and cons.

Ours has separation anxiety. We HAVE to crate her if we leave her home alone or she will go bat-#$%& crazy. She will get her mouth on anything she can. The separation anxiety comes from my hubby works from home and has since before we got her. She's 3 years old now. She goes with us to the lease for the weekend always.

When she was a puppy, we had issues with her nipping but that was a puppy thing that took some time to break.

She barks loud and obnoxious but when it comes right down to it, she will hide behind me or my hubby.

She does NOT like strangers and is very high strung. If she so much as hears a noise outside she is pacing, whining and barking.

Sensitive stomach... Lamb and rice food only when she was a puppy or she had HORRIBLE diarrhea.

HUGE land mines in the backyard...

Honestly, she's probably the most high-maintenance dog we've ever had... but also the smartest. It was nothing to housetrain her, she's awesome with the kids (once the nipping stopped), she is a great house alarm.

[LWArchery]

My wife is going to kill me but I want to get one for my daughters birthday this August.

[Smart]

My neighbor's destroyed our shared back fence....If I could have shot it, I would have. Loud barking, hell raising and bounced off the back fence trying to look over and "bark" at us. What a useless animal that one was. I am a dog person too but I was glad when he passed at 6..

[bsimpson]

yep, the life span would keep me away. I think until any dog is about 1 year old you haven't trained them to be the dog you want. Then be 5 it is a senior dog. Not to many good years to go through all the effort of raising a dog. Of course every one has their own preference.

[twobanger]

My sisters first one died of torsion at 7.5. Her second is super smart, he won't cross an ornamental 10 inch fence separating her front/back yard because he knows he's not supposed to. They're couch potatos. After 10 minutes outside they're ready to come back in. They like to lean on you and if you're not expecting it, it'll put you off balance.

[BrandonH]

con is a 6-8 year life span

This is the biggest con for me. Most dogs have a life expectancy twice that.

[Deer Tracks]

You need to send an email to our friend, JP Yousha. She's a champion Dane breeder located in Midland. She's an AKC breeder of merit, breeder, owner and handler of the first ever Great Dane to be ranked in conformation, agility, obedience and rally. Breeder of multiple titled AKC Champions, including the first Great Dane ever to achieve the Canine Health Foundation's "Champion of Health" award. The accolades to on and on. These dogs are her life. She's like a Dane encyclopedia...literally.

I'm sure she can answer all your questions and point you to the best breeders. Tell her Courtney referred you.
Here's her website http://www.chromadane.com/

Whatever you decide, please beware of double merle pups that are born when both of the parents are merle. It doesn't matter what color merle, how much merle the parents have, how little (or how much) white trim, what breed they are, or even that the parents are the same breed. Statistically, 25% of the pups from two merle parents will be double merles and double merles will often have hearing deficiencies, partial blindness, and a whole host of other problems. Many of these dogs come from disreputable breeders.

[Deer Tracks]

And, for what it's worth, a healthy Dane from a reputable breeder should have a lifespan of 10-12 years.

[TradHunter]

Get gastropexy done. They can still bloat but the stomach will not twist.

[LWArchery]

Thanks Sika!

[BigFoot]

Huge amounts of medical issues, eat a crap load, loud, expensive to begin with, short life span..

But they are pretty..