Great Danes are another dog breed the Bossyboots of Britain want to render extinct. They're another large dog that, though usually gentle and mellow, are kept to intimidate intruders. They're not America's favorite breed, but they're popular enough that most people have probably known one. At least most Americans are familiar with one on television: Apart from his cartoon superhero talents for saying words in English and unmasking criminals disguised as ghosts, Scooby-Doo was a fairly typical Great Dane.
Should people breed more Great Danes? Arguably not. They certainly don't fit into the apartments the Socialists want to herd everyone into. They're not the smartest or most interesting canine companions, too big to be easily transported or bathed but not nearly big enough to win any size records, not very long livers. They've been called "the heartbreak breed" because they age fast and normally live less than ten years. They are vulnerable to several medical conditions, including a tendency to swell up and die from indigestion as well as heart, bone, joint, glandular, and neuromuscular diseases, and may be more likely than other dogs to develop cancer. They seldom bite, but often intimidate people--often enough that some landlords won't rent to people who live with Danes.
"Gawrsh," you say. "Why would anybody want one?"
Because they're there, and they need loving homes, and for a few years they love you back. With a minimum weight of 100 pounds for females, 120 pounds for males, and a rangy body that may stand 7 feet tall when the dog stands on its hind legs, Great Danes are often bigger than their humans--as are many of their humans' humans friends, the Great Danes' humans tell us. You don't mind dating a person who is taller than you are if person is otherwise pleasant to be around, you don't disown your children if they grow up bigger and taller than you, so why would you mind living with a dog who stands taller than you do? Anyway there's something to be said for a dog who will prowl through mean streets with you, guard your house at night, and, if anyone suspicious approaches, knock the person over and lick his face unmercifully. Person is neutralized as a danger to you but, unless he went down unusually hard, in no danger while you flee and/or summon help. Great Danes aren't aggressive but an intruder who gets aggressive with one deserved what he got. They can bite when provoked. They are strong.
Great Danes like to walk with their humans, and they like to sit and lie close to their humans. They can be trained not to rest right on top of you if it affects the circulation when they do, but that is a typical Dane's preference. They're one of the lighter breeds in the mastiff group; they still eat a lot. They need grooming, normally, just once a week (except in spring); there is still a lot of dog to groom. They usually need more visits to the vet than smaller dogs do, and they're no treat to load in and out of cars. But they are patient, kind dogs who offer unconditional love.
Because some Great Danes have heart disease, advice about activity for this breed can seem schizophrenic. Exercise just before or, worse, after meals may precipitate fatal indgestion. Letting a young Dane trot beside you on pavement may damage its growing bones. On the other hand healthy Danes like a good brisk walk, and some Danes thrive on an "athletic dog" lifestyle and participate in competitions. Ask your vet about your dog!
Great Danes and crossbreeds aren't the most common breed in shelters but, because they are just more dog than some people can deal with, they are fairly easy to find in shelters. People are always suffering financial reversals, injuries, opportunities in cities, and so on, and leaving dogs behind. Big dogs are more often left behind than small dogs.
Along with this photo contest for adorable adoptable Danes, why not a contest for extra-large cats?
Zipcode 10101: Dredd from NYC
Dredd is a crossbreed; he weighs only 52 poounds. You can get to know him as a foster dog before making the commitment to adopt him. Foster families place dogs more effectively and humanely than shelters can, but you do have to agree to meet new people who are interested in adopting the dog if you don't.
Cheeta from NYC
Not fat, just big, Cheeta gives audiences to potential adopters right in town. You need to be over age 18 and have an extra-large carrying cage and litter box. Cats like him usually behave like ordinary house cats; they were born as ordinary house cats but, for no obvious reason, they just kept growing back to the size that was typical of their ancestors. They startle strangers. They purr and cuddle just as normal house cats do.
Zipcode 20202: Duke from Silver Spring
This one's also undersize for a Great Dane at only eighty pounds. He is known to behave especially well with toddlers and cats. The object inthe foreground is another dog's tail. That other dog would be his brother Cash, who was also available for adoption when the web page was set up.
Baby Mr Grey from Alexandria
His web page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/baby-mr-grey-e084418e-9e55-47ee-a52a-ac6bcc52767b/va/alexandria/marlees-misfits-va935/details/
He's a "misfit" because he's one of those giant cats who started out as normal-looking kittens and just kept growing to the size of their ancestors. Our house cats have been intentionally bred down to the midget end of the size range for their species. Norwegian Forest, Maine Coon, and Manx cats often revert to the full size; even Domestic Short Hair cats ocasionally do, and this one apparently has. Through no fault of his own his head comes up, when he's sitting down, to a level most cats have to be standing on their hind legs to reach. These extra-large cats typically behave like other house cats and don't give much extra trouble, as long as the litter box, carrying cage, etc., provided for them are big enough for them to use comfortably.
Zipcode 30303: Bearon from Alpharetta
Bearon may be in the clutches of control freaks; they mention wanting to visit your home, or if you're further away communicate with another animal rescue organiztion from which someone has visited your home. They do reasonably want to make sure they're not sending this 65-pound dog to live in a flat where the terms of the lease prohibit large dogs, although Bearon is only half the size of a show-quality pedigreed Great Dane. Bearon generally behaves well around other animals and children, but he can be a little too protective of his space and toys, so they recommend him only for homes where he'd be the only pet.
Azula from Decatur
Being in a shelter for months, facing daily rejection, has made this great big fluffy cat a little wary of strangers, but she does like being brushed and admired. Her web page doesn't say whether her "secret crush" was on another cat. I'm guessing that means it was--and he's already been adopted.
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