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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Pet Board => Topic started by: dizzleman06 on July 07, 2007, 01:22:30 PM
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I am a fire fighter, so i work 1 day on 2 days off and was looking for a big dog to fill my space in the bed on the nights that i am working and also help my wife feel safe. I grew up with boxers but I think Great Danes are the sexiest looking dogs and I heard they are real sweet...any advices?
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Get metal furniture
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great dogs but lots of problems and short lives, back and hip problems but yes very nice and a gentle gant for sure.
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Can't go wrong with a pitbull
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Can't go wrong with a pitbull
I've got to agree with Andre. Pits make great pets. Very smart, affectionate dogs.
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i agree i have one as well
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Can't go wrong with a pitbull
haha bastard will probably steall your spot like mine does >:(
I have to kick the little whore out of my bed almost every night(the dog not my wife :-*)
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Pits attack people..
For real, most people that own pits are wannabe gangsters and probably have no right owning anything. Nothing against responsible owners or anything like that.
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Pits attack people..
For real, most people that own pits are wannabe gangsters and probably have no right owning anything. Nothing against responsible owners or anything like that.
:-\ I guess I should expect nothing less from a Camel Jockey ::)
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:-\ I guess I should expect nothing less from a Camel Jockey ::)
I have had bad experiences with these animals, which were owned by wannabe gangsters.
Living in the city, I hear of so many incidents with these animals and have seen them up front..
Like I said, I have nothing against responsible owners. You didn't catch that part and had a meltdown.. Not a surprise considering these animals are most commonly associated with idiots.
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I have had bad experiences with these animals, which were owned by wannabe gangsters.
Living in the city, I hear of so many incidents with these animals and have seen them up front..
Like I said, I have nothing against responsible owners. You didn't catch that part and had a meltdown.. Not a surprise considering these animals are most commonly associated with idiots.
I've had bad experiences with camel fuckers, does that mean I get to eterminate you :D besides that's what you get for hanging out with wannabe gangsters.
I've been around pits for 12+ years and never once have I had one of them even growl at me, aggressively. These animals are only associated with idiots by the media and morons like you that believe the media.
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I've had bad experiences with camel fuckers, does that mean I get to eterminate you :D besides that's what you get for hanging out with wannabe gangsters.
I've been around pits for 12+ years and never once have I had one of them even growl at me, aggressively. These animals are only associated with idiots by the media and morons like you that believe the media.
Dude I said I don't mind responsible owners.. I go out to Long Island to fish and I don't see anything bad there.
I'm saying, since this breed is popular because wannabe gangsters love them, they've developed a bad rep. That's my point.
Another racist meltdown.. lol Anyways, my demographic has the highest rates of education, per household income and the lowest rates of crime. Guess my point struck a nerve with you, a lower common denominator of society. Hence at you getting so riled up and defensive at my point.
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Dude I said I don't mind responsible owners.. I go out to Long Island to fish and I don't see anything bad there.
I'm saying, since this breed is popular because wannabe gangsters love them, they've developed a bad rep. That's my point.
Another racist meltdown.. lol Anyways, my demographic has the highest rates of education, per household income and the lowest rates of crime. Guess my point struck a nerve with you, a lower common denominator of society. Hence at you getting so riled up and defensive at my point.
my point is you are blaming a breed of dog because of it's association with wannabes, I just translated that into people, how is it any different?
I would trust my pitbull with my life before I ever trusted one of you darkies.
That was a racist meltdown, keep up, Mohammed.
By the way, what the hell does fishing in Long Island have to do with your ignorance of a breed of dog? ???
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How about a American bull dog!? I also recommend a pit. Don't let the bad rep fool you. You would be hard pressed to find a more loyal / affectionate breed ( if raised correctly of course).
(http://www.psidogs.com/PSIRedMachine22moP040med1.jpg)
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My boy would never bite anyone. And he too is a bed hog ;D
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Nice railroading this thread guys ::) .................
Great Danes are great dogs, and usually very sweet tempered. Big couch potatos!
I would recommend checking local rescues and seeing if their is a Dane rescue nearby. Go check out the breed in person.
You mentioned in your other post letting the dog in your bed I believe? That is up to you, I personally do not let them sleep in my bed ('cept for my Chi sometimes) because once you allow the dog in your bed, you better accept that he will be in your bed! That is true for any breed of dog, so think carefully about house rules. Same thing for furniture, I do allow mine on the furniture, but it is very hard to break a dog of that if you decide in the future they now are not allowed on the new couch or on the new bed comforter. And a dane can take up a good amount of the couch!
If you want a puppy remember big puppies, bigger stuff they chew up. They also are great at counter surfing, tales are a good height to knock things of end tables, so dog proofing a house entails a bit more than with average size dogs.
Bigger dog, bigger food bill. I feed all my dogs a raw diet and have a freezer just for them.
Lifespan is shorter for any of the giant breeds. That is the downfall to the gentle giants. I am striving for a longer quantity of life as well as quality of life by natural rearing all my dogs.
Danes are short coated dogs, so they are not outside dogs, so they can't be left outside in the snow. They do need to be walked and exercised, but a huge back yard is not a requirement as long as they do get regular walks.
Big paws can leave big paw marks, something to consider if you have light furniture or rugs. ;)
Depending on their "lippage" they can be minimal drooly or big time droolers. My female is not as lippy as my male and never drools. Emmett my male on the other hand, you do not want to get within range after he drinks water or shakes his head on a walk!! I have to clean my ceiling from drool slingers!! :P
Something else to consider with any dog, but may be more problematic with giant breeds, is what to do if you go on vacation? Will someone be willing to watch a giant dog for you? Cost to board, etc.
I'm just tossing stuff out here, feel free to ask specific questions. :)
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Nice railroading this thread guys ::) .................
Great Danes are great dogs, and usually very sweet tempered. Big couch potatos!
I would recommend checking local rescues and seeing if their is a Dane rescue nearby. Go check out the breed in person.
You mentioned in your other post letting the dog in your bed I believe? That is up to you, I personally do not let them sleep in my bed ('cept for my Chi sometimes) because once you allow the dog in your bed, you better accept that he will be in your bed! That is true for any breed of dog, so think carefully about house rules. Same thing for furniture, I do allow mine on the furniture, but it is very hard to break a dog of that if you decide in the future they now are not allowed on the new couch or on the new bed comforter. And a dane can take up a good amount of the couch!
If you want a puppy remember big puppies, bigger stuff they chew up. They also are great at counter surfing, tales are a good height to knock things of end tables, so dog proofing a house entails a bit more than with average size dogs.
Bigger dog, bigger food bill. I feed all my dogs a raw diet and have a freezer just for them.
Lifespan is shorter for any of the giant breeds. That is the downfall to the gentle giants. I am striving for a longer quantity of life as well as quality of life by natural rearing all my dogs.
Danes are short coated dogs, so they are not outside dogs, so they can't be left outside in the snow. They do need to be walked and exercised, but a huge back yard is not a requirement as long as they do get regular walks.
Big paws can leave big paw marks, something to consider if you have light furniture or rugs. ;)
Depending on their "lippage" they can be minimal drooly or big time droolers. My female is not as lippy as my male and never drools. Emmett my male on the other hand, you do not want to get within range after he drinks water or shakes his head on a walk!! I have to clean my ceiling from drool slingers!! :P
Something else to consider with any dog, but may be more problematic with giant breeds, is what to do if you go on vacation? Will someone be willing to watch a giant dog for you? Cost to board, etc.
I'm just tossing stuff out here, feel free to ask specific questions. :)
I have been a Dane lover for years and years. We have had several of them in our family and even more in the extended family.
I agree, they are wonderful dogs...I would never go with any other breed. They are gentle giants for sure, and for the most part very well-tempered and very good with kids. I have only seen one dane in my life that was aggressive with other people, and I am not sure what caused it, but it is definitely the exception rather than the norm with these dogs. They are MAJOR couch potatoes!!
All of the things that flower said are important to consider when deciding on whether to get a great dane.
Their size makes them a little more "high maintenance" than most dogs. It's almost like having a child LOL.
Everything costs about double because you are dealing with double the dog. Food, medicine, all of it...so be prepared. My dane needed an x-ray once to see what was going on with his digestive system, and it actually took TWO x-rays to cover the entire area. :o
They can reach countertops and table tops and have been known to clean food right off of them if you are not careful! One of our danes took an entire pork loin off the kitchen counter and ate it before Christmas dinner one year... :-\
They are totally worth it IMO, even though they are expensive and short-lived. They are sweet, loving, fun, and entertaining dogs to have, and I would never consider any other kind of dog. 8)
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I forgot about the X-rays! Yup, usually one is not going to cut it, and the cost is more because you need the "large" x-rays.
Did you let yours sleep in the bed Rip? As much as I let my guys "run the house" I drew the line at that. I do know people with multiple dane houses too and they do let them in the bed. My bedroom is upstairs which is another reason I don't allow them up there, Emmett with his knee and size has a hard time getting down the stairs so it is better that he does not have access to them.
What about zoomies? ;D There is nothing funnier than a dane with the zoomies!
Most are great with kids, but because of their size they don't always realize they are so big, so can knock a kid over. ::) And I have read reasons that people have gotten rid of their dane was because "the tail hurt the kids when they wagged it". I have only gotten "whacked" a few times by a tail, but it can hurt!!!
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Another thing - fencing. Minimum 6ft high. They can hop a 4ft one, especially in the winter and it snows, then they can practically step over a 4ft one.
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I forgot about the X-rays! Yup, usually one is not going to cut it, and the cost is more because you need the "large" x-rays.
Did you let yours sleep in the bed Rip? As much as I let my guys "run the house" I drew the line at that. I do know people with multiple dane houses too and they do let them in the bed. My bedroom is upstairs which is another reason I don't allow them up there, Emmett with his knee and size has a hard time getting down the stairs so it is better that he does not have access to them.
What about zoomies? ;D There is nothing funnier than a dane with the zoomies!
Most are great with kids, but because of their size they don't always realize they are so big, so can knock a kid over. ::) And I have read reasons that people have gotten rid of their dane was because "the tail hurt the kids when they wagged it". I have only gotten "whacked" a few times by a tail, but it can hurt!!!
Holy cow, the tail can become a dangerous weapon sometimes! :D
Our last dane was incredibly agile...his tail never knocked anything over. It was amazing, it was like he could sense when he was close to a vase or something on a table with that chair, and he never knocked things over. But damn that thing can hurt when it whips around!
We did actually let our last one sleep in the bed with us LOL. We have a king size bed and even at 180 pounds, he managed to find himself a space on it. It's amazing how strong they can be even in their sleep, when you try to kick them off the bed....and how they can manage to bundle themselves up so tightly to hold on to just the smallest corner of the bed. It's also quite funny when they are in bed with you and start having a dream that clearly involves chasing something...they start running in place and sometimes barking too! :D
Now, what are the zoomies?
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Zoomies!! When they start running around like maniacs, like bats out of hell all goofy. You can almost see them laughing as they do it! All dogs can get the zoomies, but big danes running around are pretty funny. ;D
If I ask Emmett if he is a silly boy outside he will usually get the zoomies. :D
They are great to do in the snow too!
I don't even bother with end tables and knick knacks at dane level. I figure they will either get knocked over or chewed up. They have already broken 2 windows. I think one someone over shot the back of the couch as a springboard, and the other I think a rope toy got whacked into it. :-X
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Dont be so stingy Red you let everyone else sleep in your bed!
Ta da!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
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I set that right up didn't I!!! :-*
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I set that right up didn't I!!! :-*
Yup ;D
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Nothing like having a big dog where he can sit down & rest his head on the dinner table.
When I was growing up...we had a tall black lab (no where as tall as a dane) but the comic strip "Marmaduke" used to make us all laugh.
He used to do that same thing.
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Pits attack people..
i have noticed that everytime the subject of pitbulls comes up in a thread someone has to come out with a ignorant remark.
i have read everything from pits attack people to pits are worthless and should be banned.
i really dont understand why the mods here allow this.
it is bad enough how pitbulls are treated today in our society. i would think a place like this, devoted to pets, would not tolerate
such things.
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LOVE the marmaduke cartoons, they make me miss my dane!!
FLOWER, have you seen the famous black great dane/chihuahua photograph?
It's adorable and I know you would appreciate it. I have it on my bulletin board and I can scan it for you if you haven't seen it.
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LOVE the marmaduke cartoons, they make me miss my dane!!
FLOWER, have you seen the famous black great dane/chihuahua photograph?
It's adorable and I know you would appreciate it. I have it on my bulletin board and I can scan it for you if you haven't seen it.
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WOW, good job Kenny. 8)
I have the black one on my bulletin board but I had never seen the harlequin ones before...cute!
:)
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I have the harlequin one on the other computer but the chi is saying 'Fuck You' in it, lolz
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My personal version, and then when Chi's get annoying and you are a dane, you just squish them, lol~!
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loloz!! I love it knny!! ;D
wachu lookin at? ;D
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My personal version, and then when Chi's get annoying and you are a dane, you just squish them, lol~!
OMG too cute!! Your danes are adorable flower, as is your chi! :D
I love black danes the most, I think, followed by the blues. I like the harlequins too, as they get so big and the coloring can be pretty cool, but I am still partial to the blacks and I always have been.
I dug around on my computer for a pic of the love of my life - Harley - but I only have like one picture of him on this computer for some reason. He died in 2005, so I will add him to the RIP thread when I can find the right pics.
This is a pic of him at nine years old....OLD MAN!!!
He was a looker, indeed...we've had aboout 6-7 danes in my family since I've been around, and Harley was BY FAR the most amazing of them, in looks and personality.
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Thanks Rip!! Emmett has no great lineage to speak of and Addie was a shelter dump, so I try and tell people they are not great examples of the breed standard, but I love them, they both have great personalities! People think Briona my dane mix is full dane, that always surprises me because she is about 85# and only 27" at the shoulder. But she has a great stance, stacks naturally, I always tell her she is a show dog despite being a mixed breed. ;)
Harley was handsome Rip! Post some more pics when you find them. :D I have never been a fan of harle's myself, I do like the mantles, but you are right about blues, they are gorgeous!! I had always wanted a fawn or brindle but somehow got 3 black danes dane/mixes!! ;D So Tad is my brindle, which is odd because brindles are not common in chi's.
9 years old is old. Emmett will be 6 in November, I hope he makes it to 9 and longer.
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Here's all of them on our walks:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=641280 (http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=641280)
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=641262 (http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=641262)
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OMG too cute!! Your danes are adorable flower, as is your chi! :D
I love black danes the most, I think, followed by the blues. I like the harlequins too, as they get so big and the coloring can be pretty cool, but I am still partial to the blacks and I always have been.
I dug around on my computer for a pic of the love of my life - Harley - but I only have like one picture of him on this computer for some reason. He died in 2005, so I will add him to the RIP thread when I can find the right pics.
This is a pic of him at nine years old....OLD MAN!!!
He was a looker, indeed...we've had aboout 6-7 danes in my family since I've been around, and Harley was BY FAR the most amazing of them, in looks and personality.
Rip...great picture of Harley. Please put Harley on our RIP thread & maybe tell a story or two about how he was like.
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Rip...great picture of Harley. Please put Harley on our RIP thread & maybe tell a story or two about how he was like.
Will do kenny....I just need to dig up the older pics of when he was in his prime, around 3-5 years old.
I don't seem to have any of them on this computer for some reason. :-\
One more I found today, this was when he was about seven years old.
FLOWER, holy shit, those videos crack me up! :D
I honestly don't know how you do it...I have walked two danes at the same time before, and it was not an easy task...one leash in each hand. Harley took me down and dragged me ONCE when he was younger and I wasn't paying close attention to what was going on around me.
My mother-in-law was walking two at one time, and they saw a little dog across the street they wanted a piece of LOL, and they took off and dragged my MIL across the street and almost killed her!!
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Once the girls started using prong collars it got soooooo much easier!! The dane mix (Briona) is the top dog in the house and her and Addie both like to lead on the walks, so I tandem them together. I used to tandem Addie with Emmett because if Addie got out of line with Emmett's weight I could control her, lol!! The prong collars keep them in line and Emmett is very obedient, he would probably stay by me without a leash on, and Tad is small so I can control him fine. We have gotten a system down and I think they realize the overall walk experience is better for all of us if they behave themselves. The girls are out in front, Emmett stays by me or next to the girls on the left and Tad is on my right. I keep the tandem leash and Emmett's in my left hand, and Tad's in my right! My calves have gotten quite the workout though in the beginning from planting myself and getting them to slow down or get back into formation. ::) Sometimes I will carry Tad for part of the way if he gets tired, and a few times we came across an off leash dog and I scoop Tad up and hold the other 3. I might have to reverse Tad and Emmett so my right arm gets a workout holding the 3 big dogs. ;D
Here's a pic of me, Emmett and my niece 'Smilie'. For those that are keeping tabs, yes, this another pic from the "Go Kart Series". ::)
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I have been reading all kinds of stuff on the internet about danes...I am almost completely convinced this is the right breed for me and my wife! I Like the merle and mantle colored ones the best!
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;D
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:D
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;D
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I have been reading all kinds of stuff on the internet about danes...I am almost completely convinced this is the right breed for me and my wife! I Like the merle and mantle colored ones the best!
Nothing wrong with merles, but they are not an AKC recognized color for danes. Just in case someone tells you they are "rare" or something. I have seen ads for "rare colored fawnequins" and they were charging more for them! I would stay away from any breeder that misrepresents the breed (in any breed for that matter)
Good luck! :)
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dizzleman those pics are great!
Flower, that first video had me laughing. No need for an ab workout w/Tad around.
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Tad likes to jump up and down in the other dog's faces, and he was doing that to Addie last week and he was trying to bite her lip, but he jumped up once and tried to bite her but then landed on his back!! He was fine, so I stood there laughing cause it served him right for being a pain!!
I give the big guys credit for their patience when he is climbing all over them like they are rugs. ;D
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The pics really are GREAT, as well as the stories....they make me want another dane RIGHT NOW!! :-[
I like the merles too, esp the silver/black ones. My friend has one, and he is adorable. But like flower said, they are not recognized by the AKC, which is something to think about if you have any intentions of showing the dog.
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I like the merles too, esp the silver/black ones. My friend has one, and he is adorable. But like flower said, they are not recognized by the AKC, which is something to think about if you have any intentions of showing the dog.
Most won't even breed with merles but I think their was one merle that was excellent conformation wise that was being used in a show line I heard about, I want to say it was a Michael Chile's (Michaeldane) line but I am not sure. I did see a pic of him and he was a stunning dog (too bad he was a merle and couldn't be shown in conformation).
Yup, it was Michaeldane, "Veto":
http://www.dakotacom.net/~jbdanes/stud.htm (http://www.dakotacom.net/~jbdanes/stud.htm)
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I have no intentions of showing, but I do enjoy the unusual look...But my wife is the boss and she will probably want a mantle colored Dane... Either way, I am in heaven!
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We expect pics when you get him or her dizzleman. :D
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Once the girls started using prong collars it got soooooo much easier!! The dane mix (Briona) is the top dog in the house and her and Addie both like to lead on the walks, so I tandem them together. I used to tandem Addie with Emmett because if Addie got out of line with Emmett's weight I could control her, lol!! The prong collars keep them in line and Emmett is very obedient, he would probably stay by me without a leash on, and Tad is small so I can control him fine. We have gotten a system down and I think they realize the overall walk experience is better for all of us if they behave themselves. The girls are out in front, Emmett stays by me or next to the girls on the left and Tad is on my right. I keep the tandem leash and Emmett's in my left hand, and Tad's in my right! My calves have gotten quite the workout though in the beginning from planting myself and getting them to slow down or get back into formation. ::) Sometimes I will carry Tad for part of the way if he gets tired, and a few times we came across an off leash dog and I scoop Tad up and hold the other 3. I might have to reverse Tad and Emmett so my right arm gets a workout holding the 3 big dogs. ;D
Here's a pic of me, Emmett and my niece 'Smilie'. For those that are keeping tabs, yes, this another pic from the "Go Kart Series". ::)
flower, do you look the same in any two pics? you're quite the shapeshifter.
P.S. Emmett doesn't look 11" taller than briona in the videos. maybe you could post one in which we can appreciate the difference better?
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flower, do you look the same in any two pics? you're quite the shapeshifter.
P.S. Emmett doesn't look 11" taller than briona in the videos. maybe you could post one in which we can appreciate the difference better?
I think I always look like me. ::)
Maybe I can get them all to line up next to each other. :-\
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I just tried measuring them which is difficult because Emmett doesn't like the tape measurer and sits down when I try, so I never can get an accurate measurement. Bri is around 27", Emmett may actually be 36" or so, so they have about 8-9" difference at the shoulder. Since I can't get them to stand straight and measure them, I could be measuring at slightly different spots on the shoulder.
This is about as good a pic that I will ever get where they are all standing.
L-R Emmett, Briona, Addie:
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flower, do you look the same in any two pics? you're quite the shapeshifter.
Al-Gebra, go here for more of Flower ;D
Rollerskating:
First Panties:
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lol STella!! ;D
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In that pic I posted of the 3 of them, you can see how wide Addie's stance is!! That dog is built like a brick shit house!! That is why I call her sow dog! ;D
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In that pic I posted of the 3 of them, you can see how wide Addie's stance is!! That dog is built like a brick shit house!! That is why I call her sow dog! ;D
haha, yeah. that's the first thing I noticed. looks like she's been working out. How'd you get them to line up like that?
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haha, yeah. that's the first thing I noticed. looks like she's been working out. How'd you get them to line up like that?
I was down at the end of the driveway so they were watching me.
Addie is just wide chested. She was a shelter dump, so she could possibly be a dane mix, possibly a bully breed, but that is the only feature that makes me think that so who knows. She is strong as hell too, she knows how to use her weight and build!!
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We expect pics when you get him or her dizzleman. :D
No Doubt! I am sure I will be like any other proud new father and will be taking pictures everyday!
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Great Danes are AMAZING dogs! I have a 2 year old female and she is a little on the small side. She is only 105lbs and 30in at the shoulder but she has an amazing structure and build (her vet actually has several pics of her on the walls of the clinic). She does stand about 5'7 on her hind legs though!
She is the funniest dog I have ever encountered and is quite the couch potatoe! My wife and I think it's hilarious when she tries to "talk" and the zoomies are funny too! She likes to sit on the couch with her ass in the seat and her front paws on the ground.
She has had no major problems but has had a few skin related problems. She knocks less stuff over than my cat does and has a real grace to her insanity. Her tail is only a problem if she manages to hit a fingertip (or a testicle ha ha) with it and damn does that hurt!
I will never own another breed period!
EDIT: Check out this great dane
Video: http://www.videovat.com/videos/648/t...og-gibson.aspx
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Hey bigal, welcome to the Pet Board. :)
Post some pics of your girl please. :D
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Tad's brothers:
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Flower, why do your dogs walk you?
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Flower, why do your dogs walk you?
You are going to have to expand on that question, I am not sure what you mean?
I am not someone who believes dogs have to be in a heel for walks. They are dogs, and want to sniff and explore, a walk is as much for mental stimulation as it is for exercise. Also it is not practical when walking more than one large dog to all be heeled. Too much width, IMO, and I am not no "Cesar Millan" that could get 4 dogs to heel and stay heeled for a walk. ::)
As long as they aren't pulling and dragging and are behaving fine and generally moving forward, they can go and sniff and explore side to side in our path. They have to sit before crossing the street, and sit off the sidewalk if we come across people on our walks until the people have passed us. That and staying in a general formation is all that I ask.
Does that answer your "loaded" question? ::)
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Flower, why do your dogs walk you?
Lololzolzozz see Flower...I told you... :D
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So a dog walking ahead of you is walking you? :-\ I can live with that. Just put it on the pile of all the other decisions I make for my dogs I can live with. :D
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:)
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Once again, although that comes off as assholish, it wasn't. Something I've learned since I got my dog 17mo ago and met alot of people through obedience school, is most questions involving your dog can't really be put any way that sounds polite. People VIEW dogs as their children so they take any comment as a potential insult.
I asked because normally when I see someone walking their dog and the dog is out in front of them, it is an immediate sign that I should get as far away from the person as I can. Unless your dog is ultra ultra submissive, when a dog is walking in front of someone the dog almost 100% of the time believes it is in charge, or at least above the human in the pecking order, and I avoid people like that because it is almost a sure sign that if there was some kind of an altercation they could not control the dog/their dog would not listen.
As far as the stuff about Cesar, he isn't god of canines. You could definitely get your dogs to walk any way you wanted to :) I guess if they aren't pulling and kind of just strolling to each his own, but I hate when I see idiots walking pitbulls down the street and their arm is actually bouncing as the dog is out in front because there is so much tension on the leash.
I should be posting here alot so I don't mean to sound like a dick. Most questions about dogs people take as "my kid is better than your kid", or "you dont know how to raise your kids" and that is absolutely not where I am going or what I meant.
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I only see that as a problem if the person lets the dog have a long lead and doesn't choke up on the lead when coming near people etc.
I would have better chance of "controlling" my dogs in front of me because I would be behind them and could hold them back. If they are all fanned out to the sides, then that could be a good distance they could go forward if they wanted to.
If I see a person, or we get to a street corner, or maybe they are starting to "stray out of formation" I shorten up their leads.
The way my dogs walk IS the way I want them to. I do not want them at my side, head up. Where is any stimulation in that?
I don't have to prove I am in charge by making walks as boring as I can. And I really don't think that they think they are in charge if they walk in front of me. At least I do not think my dogs think that because they are not dragging me down the street.
I try not to generalize because I see something, but rather see the whole picture. Is that dog out front? OK. Did the person call the dog back and it came? Ok. Is the dog out front but not dragging? Ok. Then that is an enjoyable walk that works for everyone involved and not a SURE SIGN that dog would not listen.
;)
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For those that are keeping tabs, yes, this another pic from the "Go Kart Series". ::)
I think you were havin' a "bad hair day" that day or somethin'. :-\
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Rollerskating:
she was even having a hard time keepin her legs together back then !!
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Stimulation? When wolves migrate miles and miles per day, it is because they have to. A part of life. Genetically imposed into their brains. When you walk your dog it shouldn't be for THEIR stimulation. You are walking, and you are taking them with you. If your dogs walked next to you, focused on the walk and weren't allowed to stop to sniff/pee/poop until you told them they could, they would be happier because it is closer to what they were born to do...follow.
I am not saying your dogs are not happy or they do not think you are in charge because they walk in front, it all depends on the dog.
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Stimulation? When wolves migrate miles and miles per day, it is because they have to. A part of life. Genetically imposed into their brains. When you walk your dog it shouldn't be for THEIR stimulation. You are walking, and you are taking them with you. If your dogs walked next to you, focused on the walk and weren't allowed to stop to sniff/pee/poop until you told them they could, they would be happier because it is closer to what they were born to do...follow.
I am not saying your dogs are not happy or they do not think you are in charge because they walk in front, it all depends on the dog.
Go read some works by Mech on hierarchy. It is not as rigid as people like to think. You do not have to "dominate" and "control" your dog every second to be the "Alpha". Here's just one quick reference:
Mech (1999) disagrees somewhat though, because he says that in natural wolf packs, the alpha male and female are merely the breeding pair. Most research relies on wolves in captivity, and Mech's observations in the wild have noted several contradictions, such as the one mentioned here. His problem with the term dominance is that it falsely implies "a rigid, force-based dominance hierarchy" (p.98), when there is nothing forced-based about the hierarchy at all. The only consistent demonstration of rank in natural packs is the animals' postures during social interactions. Dominant wolves assume the classic canid standing posture with tail horizontal, and subordinate individuals lower themselves and put their nose under the nose of the alpha individual. He points out that regardless of what it is called, dominance is not terribly important to the everyday lives of the wolves. Unlike some animals, the wolf dominance hierarchy does not equate to a pecking order, and so dominance has been over-emphasized in the literature. He points out that all pups are potential breeders, and so all have the potential to obtain alpha status.
Walks are for my dogs and my stimulation. They'd be happier if I told them when the could sniff, pee and poop and walked head up, at my side, towing the line.
In your learning about wolves ::), you did happen to also learn how to feed a carnivore I hope too? 8)
::)
http://www.mnforsustain.org/wolf_mech_dominance_alpha_status.htm (http://www.mnforsustain.org/wolf_mech_dominance_alpha_status.htm)
and please provide something to back up this statement:
If your dogs walked next to you, focused on the walk and weren't allowed to stop to sniff/pee/poop until you told them they could, they would be happier because it is closer to what they were born to do...follow.
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Works by Mech? Who? Lol... Google is wonderful. I will take the info from the Minnesotans for Sustainability website and cherish it.
What goes on in an actual wolf pack and the way THEY interact with each other is alot different since I am going to go out on a limb and say it is a little easier for a dog to communicate with another dog than it is for you or I to communicate with a dog. For a human to observe wolves in the wild and count corrections dished out and put it into a table is hilarious.
I don't need to read works by anyone to prove what I am saying is accurate, I've read enough, and most of my knowledge is from word of mouth and what I've been told and shown by extremely intelligent and experienced people. One of the reasons that it is so important that a dog know how to properly walk, and knows his role ON a walk is because the same people who let their dogs walk in front of them, and/or pull them, are the people who feed them table food for no reason, let them sleep on the bed/couch, leave food in their bowls all day long, let them enter and leave buildings before them, and etc etc etc. Those people are also the same people that during the life of their dog if they happen to get bitten, it is the dogs fault. It has nothing to do with the fact that they worried about the dogs happiness instead of giving it structure and balance from the moment it was born. The dog didn't bite you, it corrected you. It was right when it corrected you as well, because in it's mind, it owns you. The moral of the story is, there is no structure to the dogs life. It has developed its own structure and in it, it doesn't take orders from you.
As far as the statement about happiness and how they are walked that you are requiring a google search with a link to back up. I'll pass on finding a meaningless link. Just like we are born to listen to our parents, dogs are born with certain inherent behaviors. Natural bodily functions, the desire to explore, sexual desires, are some. Most important to a dog owner is the fact that dogs are born to follow. No one said it had to be "rigid" or "force-based". I didn't tell you that if your dog doesn't walk next to you that you should beat it. When wolves migrate, the alpha is out in front almost all of the time unless it lets a subordinate take the place, which almost never happens especially while hunting. Do you think ALL FOUR of your dogs would be happier owning you rather than living a laid back life where they chill in the house, with no responsibilities/burdens of guarding/gathering and all they really have to worry about is to do what they are told, and just can't wait until their alpha decides to go for a walk because they'd love to go along with them?
To reiterate, I never said you have to "DOMINATE" and "CONTROL" your dog. What you may view as those two things are simple little rules that 95% of Americans who own dogs consider being "mean", where in actuality you'd just be establishing guidelines that you dogs would have to follow if they were wild and in a pack.
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You know all about wolves and never heard of L. David Mech? Okay dude. ::)
So what do you feed them?
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You can roll your eyes at my advice/knowledge all you want, but it is accurate and being that I own a dominant breed and for anyone who does, invaluable. Being passive ends up in tragedy.
And what do I feed what?
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What do you feed your dogs?
If it is so accurate I would think you could post a link or recommend a book, author, trainer, something so that one may educate themselves too. :)
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I also never stated I was a wolf expert. And no, I have never heard of Mech. I don't need to be a wolf expert. Dogs are basically wolves and pretty damn similar. The important info to you and I is that referring to a DOMESTICATED DOG, not a WILD WOLF. What David Mech has to say about wolf packs is irrelevant to someone who lives with two Chihuahua's and a Cocker Spaniel. Big difference between a pack of four, 3 DOMESTICATED ANIMALS TOTALING MAYBE 40LBS and a pack of WILD WOLVES, considering the fact that a HUMAN is involved with the former.
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I have one dog. He eats Eagle Pack Holistic Select Chicken and Rice. He has been on Canidae and Evo in the past, the EP seems to agree with him the best. If you are getting at feeding a raw diet, or 'BARF", it is just not economically practical for me/
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So I ask yet again, to direct me to someplace that I may learn and study these "revelations".
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I have read pretty much every dog psychology book I can find. I think about 16 in total looking at my shelf, not counting what is lent out.
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I have one dog. He eats Eagle Pack Holistic Select Chicken and Rice. He has been on Canidae and Evo in the past, the EP seems to agree with him the best. If you are getting at feeding a raw diet, or 'BARF", it is just not economically practical for me/
So you are going to tell me it is best for my dogs to ask to sniff, pee, poop, and pretty much anything else should only be allowed with first getting permission from ME, their All Powerful Master, yet you feed your dogs like omivores.
tsk tsk. :)
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I have read pretty much every dog psychology book I can find. I think about 16 in total looking at my shelf, not counting what is lent out.
go find the one that says "your dog will be happiest if it can only sniff if you tell it it can"
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Let me run out and by raw food for my dog because he knows the difference between an extremely high quality dry food, with no grain at all, mind you, and raw food, right? It may taste better, but it has nothing to do with his mental stability. He gets marrowbones at least twice a week after training anyway, that raw enough for you?
As I stated, if you didn't hear me, I have ONE dog, not dogs, and it is NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE to feed him a raw diet for me. If it was, I still probably wouldn't. You can take shots all you want, but it is still startling that someone who owns two giant breeds, from what I can tell, that you could simply sit here and act like what I am saying is false, whether or not you choose to follow it.
Your dogs don't have to ask to do anything. They should earn it. You should walk and keep them in line for a while, and then let them release and do what they do. It is a reward, and they'll look forward to it. I hate to keep referring to wolves because I am no Mech and all, but no one shows up to a pack of wolves and drops steak in front of them. They earn it.
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I hate to turn to this, because I am not a huge fan of him although I liked the guy, and hes especially nice in person and at his seminars, but read Cesar's Way since it is the last book I read regarding dog psychology as just one example of a source you are looking for. Shit, even if you watched the show you'd know your comment is pretty ignorant. I am pretty sure they touch on this issue in "Leader of the Pack" by Baer and Duno, as well.
go find the one that says "your dog will be happiest if it can only sniff if you tell it it can"
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Let me run out and by raw food for my dog because he knows the difference between an extremely high quality dry food, with no grain at all, mind you, and raw food, right? It may taste better, but it has nothing to do with his mental stability. He gets marrowbones at least twice a week after training anyway, that raw enough for you?
So you are only concerned with how thoroughly he OBEYS you, not with his health. Interesting. No that is not raw enough, dogs are carnivores, not omnivores. If you are so concerned with what makes a dog happiest because it is a dog, then feeding it the way it is designed to be fed should be a no brainer.
BTW, rice is a grain. ;)
As I stated, if you didn't hear me, I have ONE dog, not dogs, and it is NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE to feed him a raw diet for me. If it was, I still probably wouldn't. You can take shots all you want, but it is still startling that someone who owns two giant breeds, from what I can tell, that you could simply sit here and act like what I am saying is false, whether or not you choose to follow it.
You have some truth to what you say, but you have taken it to the extreme and made judgments on people that you think are not doing it your way, which you think is the only way. ::)
Your dogs don't have to ask to do anything. They should earn it. You should walk and keep them in line for a while, and then let them release and do what they do. It is a reward, and they'll look forward to it. I hate to keep referring to wolves because I am no Mech and all, but no one shows up to a pack of wolves and drops steak in front of them. They earn it.
Is that you following us on our walks? I really need to get that pepper spray. ;D
I never knew shitting was a privilege that must be earned.
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My dog is as healthy as a horse, lol. There is a big diff between IAMS, which is pure dogshit dogfood, and high quality kibble, such as Evo, which is as I stated, grain free. Eagle Pack seems to be the best fit for him in alot of ways. But I am sure he'd be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound if I was feeding him a raw diet, right? Lmao.
I am done with this thread, you can think what you will, they are your dogs after all. Besides, I have NO idea what I am talking about :)
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You are the one that is saying you know it all. :)
Just pointing out that for one who knows it all you ignore the actual biology of the dog.
HHHmmmmmm.... or maybe you are doing what works for you and your dog?
Naw, that can't be it, their can only be one right way to do everything according to you. And you ARE feeding your dog against both it's biology and nature. :)
Oh, btw Evo ingredients, sure does look like carnivore fare!:
Ingredients:
Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Egg, Garlic, Apples, Carrots, Tomatoes, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dried Chicory Root, Taurine, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Vitamins/Minerals, Viable Naturally Occurring Microorganisms
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From "guest"
The reporter has made the following comment:
I have a 2yr. old ,Vinny.He is the best!!He will definetly fill your space in the bed...you will have to sleep on the couch!!As for your wife being safe ,no need to worry anymore!!Their bark alone will keep strangers away.And they are VERY protective of their mommys!!I would choose a male.And if you ever plan on walking him...teach him early,or else he will walk you!!
To the person that wrote the above: You need to register to have your replies post on the board. Normally we don't copy comments in a "report to mod" on the board but I figured you may have thought you were posting? You need to hit "register" at the top of the Forums screen and follow the steps. Then after you are approved your posts will show up on the board :) You will also be able to post pics of Vinny if you so choose :)