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Anonymous
Hola, /an/. Perhaps you dog-lovers can help me out.

I've had German Shepherds for years, and they're absolutely my favourite breed.

However, I can't take my Shepherd with me when I move out after college-she's too attatched to my family. And so, I'm thinking of getting a Great Dane.

How much different are Danes from Shepherds? (Besides size, obviously, and the massive amounts of fur shepherds shed.) Have any of you ever owned a Dane?
>> Anonymous
they are really big and have kinda short life spans and are prone to heath issues but they are incredibly sweet.
>> Anonymous
>>261051

Maybe I should rephrase. How different is /owning/ a Great Dane?

I've done research on the breed, and know about their complications and overall personality, but are there quirks and such that a book won't tlel me about?
>> Anonymous
HUGE beasts. Friend's family bred them for a while - they escaped often (even though they were quite happy with the huge yard they had, they loved the thrill of being on the run).
The buggers never got tired, no matter how much they ran around. Constantly full of energy... and its not cute little puppy dog energy, its gigantic massive obnoxious dog energy. The Dad in the family finally took the dogs on long leads and drove the car around fields. Dogs loved it, I always thought it was a bit dangerous.

(They were also horny as heck. Stupid things always humped everything and everyone. Incredibly awkward to drag one of a neighbor.)
>> Anonymous
have fun paying shitloads for dog food on top of college expenses
>> Anonymous
Great Danes are classified as CLOWNY. Make sure you can handle putting up with a clumsy dog who doesn't really know his own size.
>> Anonymous
Great Danes are probably one of the greatest breeds to own. You don't need a lot of space (they have low metabolisms and over exercising them with big yards brings on bone/joint problems a lot sooner than normal). They are not as obnoxious and overly energetic as German Shepherds (nothing towards GS owners, they are great dogs) they're also not as prone to aggression towards strangers. So you can bring friends over and have it be friendly, but to anyone else, their sheer size and stature make them look like dogs you don't want to fuck with.
>> Anonymous
>>261796

I've heard two different things: That they're lazy as hell, and that they're hyperactive. Does the hyperactivity dwindle with age or something?

>>261801
I don't have a problem with that. I already pay a hell of a lot for my Shepherd, so I'm not too worried.

>>261834

I'm used to the German Shepherd level of the constant thud of squeaky balls in my lap and knocking things over with their tails, so if what you're saying is true for most Danes, exercise won't be a problem.

>>261818

I can handle clumsy. The shepherd in the picture trips over her own feet and onto mine, knocks over chairs, etc. That's no issue.
>> Anonymous
>>261045
Danes are shorter lived.
>> Anonymous
I've had two. One died at 9 the other died a 8. They aren't as lazy as you'd think. They are, after all, working-class dogs which means you'll have to provide them with plenty of exercise (I'd jog mine for 1 mile every morning). If you give them exercise regularly than they take on that mellowness you hear about.. if you don't they tend to use up their energy elsewhere (like chewing up your couches). If you want a super mellow dog I'd look into Greyhounds. My sister has two and they're so damn cool!
>> Anonymous
>>261837

You wouldn't believe how calm, collected and elegant a German Shepherd is compared to some of the worse examples of the Great Dane.
>> Anonymous
>>262024


Seconding Greyhound. Or if you want a smaller variation of them, get a Whippet.
>> Anonymous
The thing is I'm NOT worried about energy. I can handle a bundle of pure energy easily. I want a Dane, not a greyhound, mainly BECAUSE of that matter-greyhounds are too mellow for me.
>> Anonymous
Have had two Danes, parents have one now. First was 10 (had to be put to sleep), second 9 (massive stroke...;_;), and current is 5. So yes, Danes are amazing, wonderful, loving dogs that are great for many people (if you can deal with their huge size and their tendency to think they really can fit into small spaces). But be aware it hurts to lose a family member every 9-10 years.
>> Anonymous
>>262234

just get one, you came here for justification to get one not advice