Cost of Having a Great Dane

everything gos by pounds!! Just had the vet here this week because Shyla had a rash, thinking mange I freaked out. Not mange but allergy, any ways it cost me 327.00 for one house call!! Not her fault, but the more a dog weight the higher the price for meds.

Hmm....I guess I didn't ask the right question...um. . i understand that dogs will be dogs, some go to the vet more often than others big or small, but with Danes in general, are they more prone to health issues than say a Newf or Rottie? I read somewhere that they were, so I figured I'd ask ya'll. 

I have 2 danes now and don't think they have had any more health problems than the labs I used to have. I do think breeding is very important to their health tho.

That's alot of help, thanks.  Any aggressive traits I should be concerned about? They are generally friendly right? I can have friends and family over and not worry about having to put the dane outside? My son can have his friends over and they'll be ok? I've had dogs before, so I know to watch the kids..etc. 

 
We have had our 5yo rescued Dane, Star, for a few months, so this is my warning for prospective owners.

Don't get a Dane if you don't like:
constant gentle attention-seeking
adorable dog faces encouraging you to stop whatever you're doing and play
large dogs leaning/sitting on you, just to try to get a little bit closer to you
licks on any exposed body part
drool (although Star really doesn't drool much)
dog hair (though less shedding than my Akita/chow mix)


My son (6 years old) says he doesn't like Star because... she licks him. However, Star loves my son because he leaves a food trail behind him. No wonder she tries to lick him!

Hope this helps!

To know a dane is to love a dane! You should be excited!
Remember that some danes are "only" 100lbs too, and females can even can be a little smaller. They range in size quite a bit. You'll see once you go meet a few different ones. And prepare to be leaned upon!
Seriously, I think if your heart is open for a big dog, you will find that the dane's heart is open even more!  Make sure and tell us how it goes with the one you're gonna meet!!!

Spend as much time around Danes as you possibly can.  IN A HOUSE!  (I'm kind of negative sometimes because I work in Dane rescue and see alot of people dump off their Dane's because they didn't really think it through).  Seeing a 160 pound dog in the dog park is one thing, seeing it in your house is another.  I love my baby, but he's constantly knocking things over with his big butt, not to mention the lethal tail.  And you can't stop suddenly ever because you'll be prying a big blocky head out of your bum.  They're the world's worst tailgaters, they won't leave you alone for a second.  They are SOOOOOO sensitive so be very careful with their feelings.  They do all have different personalities though.  I saw you asked if they were all friendly.  Some are.  Some aren't.  My boy is stand offish with strangers.  Usually he'll warm up in about 15-30 minutes, sometimes not.  Some Danes just want nothing to do with strangers.  They're a very high maintanance breed emotionally. 

If you have a Great Dane, you don't have a dog, you have a Dane, and there's no other way I can explain it.  No other breed can prepare you for this one.  best thing to do is research, research, research (I can give you a bunch of links if you're interested), and then after thinking about ALL the pros and cons, figure out if a Dane will fit with your family, and then take the plunge.    Where do you live?  Maybe you're close enough to someone around here that you can meet their baby!