Life with Danes!▼・ᴥ・▼

Hey Ya'll !!

I am going to be talking about my life with Danes (For those who are interested or curious)... Also, this is a long one!

✰ Backstory

I got my first Great Dane when I was 8 years old (I'm now 22, 23 in a couple of months). Of course, like all Danes, Kikyo (Mantle) was a gentle giant, emotional support, and friend for 12 years. Before she passed away, I got her a companion. The day after my high school graduation, I brought Malikah (Fawn). A six-month-old Dane. They cuddled and loved each other until Kikyo passed away in 2021. Recently I had to ask my mom to take care of Malikah due to the situation where I'm currently living. I still visit her and provide the necessary expenses there are into care for her.

✰ Experience

Kikyo was my first go-around. As a young kid learning responsibilities, it was a bit hard, but I think getting a Dane was the right choice. The reason is that although they need a lot of attention they don't require a lot like dogs with hair or super active dogs. I was always taking them to the vets for check-ups, going out in public with them, taking them to training once in a while, and of course, lazing around with them. Basically, this was my schedule (Also a guide for those who need step by step): 

     Daily:

     - Feed (X2) (Make sure you have joint supplements, they are prone to getting arthritis when they are older)

     - 30 min walk or play (Don't be afraid to push their limits but also set boundaries)

     - Teeth Treats (Of course, so they can have nice breath)

     - Quick Training (can be 5 minutes or an hour, it depends on how much time you want to invest and what you want them to learn)

     Weekly:

     - Socialize them (As much as you can, take them to dog parks or places where they allow pets. This will make them non-aggressive and less anxious with overwhelming situations *Remember it's not the breed of dog but how they are raised*)

     - Mini Spa (Clean their ears and moisturize  *If ears are not cropped they can crack* moisturize paws, buff down nails, de-shedding, and a bath *recommend every 2- 3 weeks not weekly*)

     - Clean (Wash and deodarize their toys, beds, blankets ... anything they are on or use. No matter how much they are inside or bathe them, they slobber and unfortunately ~fart~. So try to maintain that before it stays in the furniture)

     Monthly(ish):

     - Vet (Danes have a lot of medical problems, even if you acquire from an AKC champion line *Although it is a lot less with them* so make sure you take them to the vets for their regular check-ups or if you see unusual signs *some vets offer "subscription" plans that covers a lot)

✰ Great Danes Character

Danes are lazy! They will walk with you for 30 minutes and start dragging their feet a second later. Don't be fooled though, they can get their zoomies and it creates such a mess sometimes. But it creates memories you can laugh at later so don't worry. Another note is that they are whiny babies, they cry for everything but that makes them cuter. From my experience, they are great around adults to babies (I have noticed they are much more careful with children, but maybe that has been a coincidence for me). Dogs can be a bit more difficult, again just socialize them young and often and they should be good. However, you need to keep an eye out when they play because they can cause harm to smaller animals (unintentionally)

✰ Overview

All in all, I would do it all again when given the chance. Great Danes are gentle giants, silly, and loving. Like any animal, they require a lot of care. It all depends on what kind of care you can provide and the training you give as a pup. 

This article was long I know, but I hope you learned something from this! I know I'm missing many points so if you have more questions, or if you want to talk about your babies let me know :)