All About Danes!

Hello!

2009-11-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

Wow...it's been way too long since I've blogged! I'm so bad at this! LOL...but here's a quick update for everyone! My Great Dane Meetup group has grown to almost 80 members now and we have had some pretty fun meetups! It's been so great to have met so many Dane lovers, and to have met so many great new friends!

My Danes are doing good! Diesel is a year old now, I can't even believe it! Russia is pushing 11 and still doing so great! Roxy is still her usual "black" Dane reclusive self, and Turbo is almost 8 months old and is FINALLY calming down! LOL!

My most exciting news from the last two months is we got horses!!!! I have wanted horses forever, and we finally got the barn and corral fixed up so we could get some! We got a 15 year old Thoroughbred gelding named Deesyl (he came with that name and responds to it, so we have 2 Diesel's now! lol) and we also got a 1 year old Belgian filly that we named Fiona. After Fiona Apple, not Shrek! LOL...She loves apples and is an ornery girl, so I thought it fit! LOL ;)

So our farm has grown...now we have the 4 Danes, 1 Cat, 1 Macaw, 1 Cockatiel, and 2 horses! Life is good!!!

Our first official Great Dane Meetup!

2009-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

So our first official meetup for the Great Dane group I just started was last Saturday, and even though it was rainy and cold...22 Danes showed up! That was amazing! We had so much fun and it was so great to meet other Dane owners and their beautiful dogs! I seriously encourage anyone who doesn't have a play date going for their Dane to get one started. They are so fun to see running around together, and they truly enjoy the company of other Danes. Not one fight broke out, and that was with a group of mixed age, and sex Danes. It was awesome!!!

The trouble with Turbo!

2009-08-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

First off, I'm sorry I haven't been posting as often the last 2 weeks. It's been a crazy month, and I also started a Meetup group for local Great Dane owners, that takes up some time I wasn't used to! ANYWAYS...

So the trouble with Turbo is he has the strangest potty issues! First off Great Danes by nature are super easy to potty train! I have never had a Great Dane act like Turbo, and I think it has a bit to do with the breeding that threw his color. He really just isn't all there....seriously! He is GREAT in his kennel, and will hold it overnight for 10-11 hours sometimes! He has slept through the night since he was 10 weeks old. He is REALLY great at potty commands! When he goes outside, I tell him to potty and he potties immediately, I tell him to go "poopies" and he goes right away. So in that respect he is pretty smart. So where's the problem? When he's distracted, i.e. when he's sniffing out something down the hall, kitchen, etc. he will pee as he walks!!!! He NEVER stops and pees a huge puddle, just a trail as he's walking! It's crazy and I've never seen anything like it! My vet is a bit perplexed too. I do the usual going out after eating, playing, etc...but it's not like he's actually needing to pee, so he pees a lake...it's more like he can't multitask and when he's distracted doing something he deems important he just starts to pee as he walks! When I yell his name he quickly stops and then runs to his kennel. Seriously the weirdest thing ever, and I've been raising puppies for 15 years!

Outside Fun!

2009-07-31T18:57:00.001-07:00

So we used to have our sheep and goats out in our corral, and then with the addition of Turbo, we decided to move the sheep and goats to the back yard, and open up the corral for doggie playtime! That was the original plan, and then Dan decided to put a track in complete with jumps for his RC cars. Every night he gets so frustrated because the dogs will run and jump up on the jumps he's made and completely destroy them, so every night he re grooms his track in hopes the next day will somehow be different! LOL...makes me laugh. So tonight he decided to share his run time with the dogs, and it was hilarious! Turbo and Diesel tried to follow Dan's truck all over! Dan basically had to play keep away with the dogs! It was great exercise for the dogs and a great exercise of Dan's patience! LOL...B even came out to enjoy the time with his little RC! All in all a great corral space that was shared tonight and enjoyed by all! :)

Bed potatoes!

2009-07-22T18:38:00.001-07:00

So I was chatting with some people about my Danes today and they asked if they were big couch potatoes. And I said "Of course, but mostly they are bed potatoes!" I tell you what, they love the couches, but if they can get up on a bed, they are stoked! Our bed is pretty high, so the older ones can't get on it very well anymore, but B's bed is just right. So if bedroom doors are left open the beds are up for grabs! And how can you say "Off!" when you have these two looking up at you!!! :D

New Great Dane Meetup Group!!!

2009-07-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

So I decided that since our meetup on Saturday went so well, I would start an official Great Dane Meetup Group! It is a site that will not only post information about future meetups, but will also have a forum that is open for any stories, comments, questions, etc. that can be available to the other members to comment on. There is also a place to start a photo album for your Danes! I hope to make this a positive connection for Great Dane owners, and a place to get questions answered, or advice in general.

Now I know a lot of you that read this do not live in Salt Lake City, however, it's not limited to those in this area. Like I said there is more available to members than just meetup information! So I would love to have you stop by and join!

www.meetup.com/the-salt-lake-city-great-dane-meetup-group

Playdate!

2009-07-14T12:49:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to have put together a playdate for some local Dane owners! I know this post won't apply to a lot of the readers, but I just wanted to put it out there for other people in the Salt Lake Area that I might not have gotten in contact with. We are meeting at Tanner Park on Saturday at the East Pavilion at 11am. For those of you who might not know where that is, just leave a comment and I will get right back to you!

And for those of you who don't live here in Salt Lake, you should think about getting a fun group together if you already haven't. Great Danes LOVE to play, and they are so much fun to watch when they are romping around in a big group. It was really easy for me to set this up. I just posted an ad on our local Craigslist, and our Channel 5 news website in the classifieds, and went from there. You will be amazed at how many people live right by you that have Danes! I was a least! It's something fun for you to do for your Dane and a great way to meet new people that share your love of the breed! So I hope if you don't already have a playgroup set up, that you will try and get one together!

I will post pictures of our get together next week, and would love to hear your success stories of playdates you already attend, or plan to start! I hope everyone is having a great week!

Summer Safety!

2009-07-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

So it's summer and we all want to get out and enjoy the sun with our families and that includes our Great Danes. But let's talk about heat stroke for a moment. Your Great Dane has a short coat that is not very dense, leaving it very susceptible to hyper and hypothermia. So for this, they do not make a good outside dog. But since it's summer let's talk about hyperthermia, or heat stroke.

Unfortunately our Danes and all dogs in general, don't know when enough is enough outside in the hot sun, at least not until it's too late. So as the owner, we are responsible to monitor their exercise and fun in the sun. And being a larger dog, heat stroke can come on even faster than a smaller dog. Even in 80 degree weather, your Dane could suffer heat stroke. Signs include excessive panting, wide eyes, a thick "glue" like drool, rapid heart rate, staggering, and even vomiting. If any of these signs are displayed it's time to cool your dog off! Avoid using really cold water, as this will close capillaries necessary to vent heat from your dog, so hose them or sponge them down with cool water, and get cool water to the mouth and throat area. Take them into shade immediately or an air conditioned house or car. Do not allow them to drink too much water as this can cause stomach discomfort and vomiting, and even bloat. Small amounts of cool water every few minutes is fine. If your dog still seems in distress take his temperature rectally. It's always good to have one of these thermometers handy if you intend to be outdoors a lot with your Dane, and always remember to take one camping or hiking. Normal temperature is between 101 and 102 degrees..even 2 or 3 degrees higher than this can be serious, so if efforts to cool your Dane down are not working, take him to the vet immediately.

Remember too that it is never a good decision to leave any dog in a car while you run in somewhere, even if it's just for a few minutes. This is really a no no for Danes because of their size. Their large body mass adds to the heat of the small surroundings of a car and can actually help to raise the temperature even faster. Leaving windows down is not going to help your Dane stay cool either, so just don't take your dog with you in the summer to run errands. Your Dane will thank you!

So I hope everyone will be safe out there this summer and enjoy some fun with your Danes while keeping them comfortable and safe too! If you have any questions, or any concerns with your Dane after signs of heat stroke, please make sure you call your vet.

Colors!

2009-06-26T13:26:00.001-07:00

Now people ask me if there is any difference in the color of the Dane and oh yes there is! Now this is my opinion and observation from owning a wide range of colors and working in Dane rescue, nothing that is EXACT truth for every Dane...they all have their own personalities. :)

Harls- Clowns! Total clowns and not the brightest in my opinion. Definitely not the Apollo of Dogs, more like the Court Jester!

Fawns- PERFECT example of the breed's temperament and personality! Absolutely regal and definitely an "Apollo"! I think this is why we seem them most often as best in breed winners in dog shows! I recommend them and the Brindles, since they are pretty close in my opinion in temperament, to first time Dane owners! Look at Russia in this picture...you wouldn't know it but there is chaos going on around her and she isn't bothered one single bit! Now it's not her age...she has always been even keel like this, same with our Cowboy (fawn) that we lost to cancer earlier this year...I just LOVE the fawns! :)

Blacks- A little "odd", seem to have a bit more problems with being skittish, or reclusive...my Roxy is a little of both...she LOVES people, but at the same time she enjoys spending most of her time by herself at home. Example...the picture above is Roxy with Diesel when he was 3 months old...look at her ears...she is not happy about having him lay so close...she likes her space! LOL...And she "spooks" really easily! Haven't met a completely "stable" Black before...but then again this is just from my observations and experience! No offense! LOL :D

Mantles- Haven't honestly been around too many...the ones I have were in rescue...but they seem more like the Blacks to me, but that could be they were in a rescue though, so please correct me in the comments if I am way off on this one!

Blue- Now I can honestly say I haven't been around but 2 of these dogs, so again, not much to report here from me! Seem really outgoing though, and stoic, so I'm leaning not so much toward the Black side, but a more stable Fawn in personality? Don't really know.

And lets just say something about my Fawnequin...totally dumb! He really is! He has been the hardest puppy to potty train and I have done my fair share of that!!! Danes are usually really quick learners...him...not so much! I was HOPING he would have more Fawn in him than Harl, but he just seems to be a really dorky dog...Harl to the extreme! But he's really cute!!!!

So this is just a generalization...nothing in stone here folks! Just an opinion from me! So no hate comments! Remember...I own one of all of these beside the Mantle or Blue! :D

You Know You're a Great Dane Owner When...

2009-06-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

This was a post from about a year ago that I just love, so I figured I would repost! Hope you get a laugh! LOL :D

So, you know you're a Great Dane owner when...

# the sound of running water makes you jump up and yell, "OUTSIDE!" (thankfully I don't have this problem...mine are very much potty trained!)

# you tell your dog to sit, and he backs up until he finds a chair (or couch in my house!)

# it takes 3 people to get your dog on the scale at the vets!

# you walk your dog and everyone knows him by name, but you have no idea who these people are.

# you can carry on a conversation with a dog's muzzle firmly in your crotch.

# your dog can hide an entire tennis ball (among other things) fully inside his lips and give you that innocent look that says, "What? I'm not eating anything!"

# you carry a tape measure with you when shopping for a new vehicle (done this!)

# you keep at least one color-coded "drool towel" in every room of your house.

# after banishing your husband, the snoring in your bedroom still keeps you awake (LOL...every nite it seems!)

# you are hiking with a friend who later suggests that you ought to have an environmental impact statement done on your dog!

# visitors enter the house holding their privates protectively.

# you toss your dog a ball and cringe when he almost hits his head on the top of the doorway!

# you take your dog for a ride and he rests his head on your arm, causing you to make random right turns.

# you have given up on water dishes and you just use the bathtub (or sink in our case)

# your two dogs decide to play in the house, and they end up pulling the ceiling fan down -- for the second time!

# you have to move over when brushing your teeth because your dog wants a drink. (Been here!)

# you show a picture of your dogs and kids together, and the first person you point out is your dog. (I might have done this once or twice)

# while stopped at a stop light, everyone stares as your car rocks back and forth because the dog is panting out the window. (People stare no matter what when I have my dogs in the car!)

# you go to vacuum your car and most of the fur is up on the ceiling.

# you avoid the dogs on your way out the door, so they won't smear your makeup.

# you've learned to force a smile when asked "do you have a saddle for that thing?"

# the monthly dog budget exceeds your home mortgage payment.

# Your veterinarian has been able to put in a swimming pool, build a large home, buy jet skis and a personal plane!

# you have had to train your dog not to lick dishes, and the dishes are in the sink.

# the donuts you put on top of the refrigerator are gone when you get home and your dog has powdered sugar on his nose (nothing is safe on the fridge at our house!)

# your dog can see what you're cooking, and he tries to assist you in the preparation. (ALL the time!!!)

# you're holding him straddled between your legs when the doorbell rings, you take a short (but fast!) ride straight to the door! LOL

# the pizza delivery people tell you to meet them at the end of the sidewalk. (hehe...they do!)

# your dog stands in your lap and reaches over you to stick his head in the drive-through window at McDonald's and nearly gives the cashier a heart attack when she turns around to give you your change!

# you purchase a large screen TV and you still can't see the program when he stands in front of the television. (Sooooo true! Down in front! LOL)

# after surgery, your bored pup decides to get up and cruise around the vet's office-- pulling the rolling IV stand behind him.

What's in a name?

2009-06-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

So someone asked me how we came up with Turbo's name. And it got me thinking...there always seems to be a good story behind how you name your dog. So let me start by telling you the story behind my Dane's names and then I would love to hear yours! :D

Roxy 6 1/2 year old Black Female- She was my first Dane puppy and when we were walking back to my car after picking her up at the breeder, I saw my Roxy sticker in my back window, and being from San Diego, it just was perfect.

Russia 10 1/2 year old Fawn Female- She actually was a rescue when she was 6, so she already had that name and was used to it, but I absolutely LOVE her name!!! Her previous owners suck because they abandoned her at the kennel I was grooming at, however, they did good with her name! :)

Diesel 8 month old Harl Male- When I worked for the animal hospital we had a client who had a beautiful male Dane named Diesel and I just loved it and swore I would name my next male Dane that,...so I actually copied that one! :D

Turbo 2 1/2 month old Fawnequin Male- Well we already had Diesel...so Turbo just worked perfect! Now we have Turbo Diesel! Perfect for Danes I think! LOL :D

Puppy Cuteness!!!!!

2009-06-15T10:38:00.001-07:00

Just some cute pics of Turbo on my bed I took this morning! Everyone have a great Monday!!!! :)

Don't judge a book by it's cover...

2009-06-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Should you buy a dog based solely on what it looks like? The answer is obviously no, yet it seems like time and time again I see people (family members) buying dogs on the basis of how cute they are, and nothing else. For example...

My mother-in-law thought Westies were just so cute! She loved everything about they way the looked, their size, the color of the coat, big brown eyes. So she bought one. Well, now she can't stop talking about how "crazy" the puppy is and how much energy he has, and all the trouble he gets into. She asked me when this puppy stage would be over, and I told her never! It's a terrier...what did you expect! Their brains are always going, and they have unlimited amounts of energy! "I didn't realize" was her response. Don't get me wrong terriers are great and make the best pets for the right kind of people. But you need to make sure the dog you are looking to buy fits you and your lifestyle. Someone who likes to have a quiet lap dog that obediently listens, and just sleeps the day away while their gone shouldn't have bought a terrier! LOL :D

And then there's my sister-in-law...her and her boyfriend wanted to get a dog for themselves, and they live in an apartment. The breed they decided to get? A Boston Terrier. I love Boston's, but for a first time dog owner living in a small apartment, this was the wrong choice!!!

Working at the animal hospital we would hear these same stories over and over. "I didn't realize that Labs have such a long crazy puppy stage!" or "No one told me my Jack Russel wasn't going to be calm act like "Eddie" on Fraiser." We would just laugh!

So when looking for a dog, don't base your decision on the size or look of the breed, but the actual temperament and personality of the breed. Look at Great Danes for example...I hear time and time again, I can't believe you have dogs that big in your house! Well what's that supposed to mean? If it was a big dog with the attitude of a terrier, us Dane owners would be in trouble! But people don't realize what couch potatoes they are and how the just want to be where ever you are in the house. For my lifestyle I would rather have 10 Danes in my house than one Terrier!!! LOL :D

Anyone else know someone who got their dog based on looks and nothing else? I'd like to hear. :)

Potty Training! Uggggh!

2009-06-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Since I have a puppy and have started potty training again, I thought it fitting to blog about! LOL...It's been so long since I've had to do this, since Diesel was already potty trained at 3 months when we got him and our last puppy before him was 4 years ago!

Anyways, I completely forgot how much time it takes to watch a puppy going through potty training...it's like having a 2 year old kid all over again!!! The method I use is what we recommended at the vets office. Basically it goes like this...

Make sure you always are able to watch your puppy, so you can catch them in the act, as finding a mess later is not a good opportunity to discipline the puppy and they won't catch on to what they are doing wrong. If you can't watch the puppy, like when you're cleaning, tending to kids, etc...put the puppy in his kennel. Always let the puppy out at regular intervals. An easy way to know when it's time for puppy to go out is take his age in months, and that's how many hours they can hold it. So a 2 month old puppy will need to go out at least every 2 hours and so on. But then of course they need to go out after eating, sleeping, getting out of the kennel, and playing. So you could actually be taking them out every 15 minutes! LOL...the joys of potty training!

Try to make a point of waiting for the puppy to "go" outside so you can praise them for a "job" well done. They will catch on quicker than you just letting them out and then going back 5 minutes later to let them back in. Overall it is a tedious process, but one that works well. I have been using this process for my new puppy and at 10 weeks he is already pretty much done potty training!

So good luck and don't forget to have a handy bottle of carpet cleaner to get those accidents cleaned up well! And just as a side note...I've used the ShamWows to dab up the potty and they are AWESOME! Waaaay better than using a towel, or paper towels to get it soaked up.

Do you have some helpful tips that have worked for you? Let me know! I love getting new information to share! Thanks for reading!!!

To Feed or Not To Feed....

2009-06-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

First off I just had to show this adorable picture of Turbo and Diesel on the couch! We were having a thunderstorm at the time, and Diesel had already curled up on the couch to ride out the storm...Turbo decided to join him! They are already the best of buds!!!

ANYWAYS...back to the topic. The decision what to feed your Great Dane puppy. Some people will feed a large breed puppy food and stick to their guns that it's not bad. However, no Dane puppy should be fed Puppy Food! Here are some of the reasons why...

Giant breed puppies grow way too fast and most puppy foods have way too much calcium and other mineral supplements. A high intake of calcium is associated with many bone diseases in Great Danes, one of those being OCD (osteochodrosis). Growth regions will tend to be overgrown, and cartilage replaced with bone too early. This will cause temporary to permanent lameness in the dog. The least worrisome of the bone diseases, but still very uncomfortable for your Dane. It effects the long bones in the breed and can be very painful. Therefore no mineral or vitamin supplements should be given to your growing Dane either, (they take up to 2 years to grow) other than a Vitamin C supplement.

Puppy foods also contain a higher caloric and protein amount than is appropriate for a growing Great Dane. HOD (Hypertrophid Osteodystrophy) is a disease attributed to a high calorie diet, where more calories are taken in than being expended. This can be seen when the wrist joints become swollen, (more so than normal), they can even be hot to the touch. This will effect the growth of the dog all over. They tend to develop a "funny" gate as the rear end grows abnormally due to compensation in the gate from the tenderness of the front legs. Protein levels in a Dane puppies food should stay between 20-25%. Closer to 20% is my recommendation.

Remember a slow steady growth is best for you Dane, and never feed puppy foods even those formulated for "giant" breeds. Talk to your vet or do your research about foods that are best for your Dane. I was fortunate enough to have a vet that knew the effects of puppy food on Dane puppies and corrected me when I started my first Dane on puppy food at the recommendation of the breeder and another vet. I'm so grateful that I decided to ask another vet who was experienced with large and giant breeds, and did my research!

And one more thing about feeding your Dane. Make sure you are feeding from elevated dishes. This helps prevent bloating in your Dane. The level of the bowls should be high enough so as your Dane is eating his/her neck is paralleled to the ground. I have elevated dishes and every couple of days I have to raise the height of them for my 10 week old puppy. We have also had to custom make platforms to feed our adult Danes as the highest elevated dishes we could find were not high enough. It can be tedious but worth it! Bloat is caused when too much air is ingested and with the combination of that air in the stomach and their deep chests the stomach will flip cutting off the blood flow to your Dane's stomach. This is fatal if not taken care of immediately! Never feed your Dane just before or directly after exercise and ALWAYS feed from elevated dishes! :)

So here's to the health of your puppy and good growth! Here are a couple of good links to visit for more detailed information and suggestions for your Dane puppy!

http://www.heartlandgdr.org/why_we_dont_feed_puppy_food.htm
http://www.daneoutreach.org/Files/Care_of_Your_Dane_Puppy.pdf
http://www.mydog8it.com/puppy_care.htm
http://www.all-about-great-danes.com/feeding-great-danes.html

Traveling Man!

2009-06-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

So I had someone ask about traveling tips with your Dane and I thought that was a great question, so here's the post about traveling!

Most of these tips will go for just about any breed, but have been modified to fit the needs of your big puppy!

1. First of all, and this is an obvious one, make sure your vehicle is large enough for your Great Dane to be comfortable on a long drive. They should be able to completely stand up, turn around, and lay stretched out if they are going to be in a car for longer than an hour or so. The more comfortable your Dane is the better he/she will ride. If you don't have the space needed, you will need to plan on making more frequent stops so your Dane can get up, walk around and stretch.

2. If you haven't already had your Dane riding around town with you frequently to get used to the car, make sure you try to do this often before you leave on a long trip. Some dogs get car sick, and others get very anxious. It's good to have your pooch figured out and know what his/her needs are going to be on a trip. So if you haven't already adjusted your dog to riding in the car, take some time to do this before your journey. It is for both of your benefits!

3. Make sure you have all of your supplies for your Dane's trip handy. The obvious bowl for water, a gallon container of water, a leash, and a towel for cleaning up any messes or heavy drooling should be handy, so you are ready at your stops to give your Dane a short walk and some water. Giving food should be avoided, as it might upset your Danes tummy and then you'll be sorry later! LOL...if you are traveling for a few days, plan to feed your dog when you arrive at your destination for the night, and feed again in the morning a good hour or so before you plan on heading out again.

4. Pack for your dog like you would your child. Make sure you have his/her favorite toys, chews, and blankets/bed, so they can feel at home. My puppy Diesel loves his stuffed rabbit, so we take that with us when we head out for the weekend, and also his favorite rawhides to keep him busy. He tends to get anxious after about an hour or so, so I will switch out his rawhide and toy, to distract him just a little longer until our next stop.

5. Never leave your Dane in the car! You need to plan around your dog when you are traveling, so eating in a restaurant while on your road trop is out unless it's dog friendly. Danes do not cool off very easily and are extremely prone to overheating. Even with the car windows cracked your dog could be in serious trouble if you leave him/her in the car. So don't take the risk and plan on hitting the drive through, or packing food with you in the car.

6. If your dog has bad anxiety or gets car sick, make sure to talk to your vet before a long road trip as there are several options in medication to help ease your Dane and make his/her trip more enjoyable. Most of these medications need to be given and hour or so before you leave and then on a regular basis. So make sure you understand the instructions on the label before you leave so they work as they should. I worked for a vet and was surprised how many owners failed to give the medication properly and then were disappointed when it didn't work! LOL :P

These are just some of the basic tips that I use and we would recommend at the vet's office. Not all dogs are the same, so you will need to adapt them to fit your pooch. Use common sense and always try to plan for everything, so you aren't caught off guard! Have fun out there and be safe this summer!

Total Destruction!

2009-06-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about the destructive side of the Great Dane! The only thing bad really that I can say about the breed is their capability to completely destroy things! I will never forget when we got our first Dane Roxy, 7 years ago. We came home from dinner one night to find our king sized bed completely destroyed! She was about 8 months old and had managed to flip the top mattress off and completely dig it out...the box springs weren't spared either, they had been chewed down to kindling! This all took place in a matter of 1 1/2 hours!

Well as you can see in the picture above, Diesel, our 7 month old Harl, didn't disappoint our expectations when we came home from breakfast to find the wall in the dog room completely chewed! It's not like he doesn't have toys and a large cow femur, or a giant rawhide to chew on...it's obviously just not as fun as the wall! Now the red in the picture isn't blood, so don't worry, it's our great remedy for this type of stuff...Habenero sauce! One sniff and they don't even think about returning to the scene of the crime. It does stain, but we figured since the wall has to be redone anyways, we might as well keep our up and coming 2 month old Dane detoured!

So anyways, that's the fun of owning a Dane and something you just might want to expect! LOL ;P

Going Dane!

2009-06-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

So my blog is going Dane! I decided that I needed to blog about something I love and that is Great Danes, and all stuff Dane! I hope I don't loose some of my old readers and I will definitely still be coming by your blogs!

And I also wanted to introduce our newest Dane in the family....Turbo! He is an 8 week old Fawnequin Dane that we just got about 2 weeks ago. I swore I wouldn't get another Dane until one of our old ones passed, but this color is so rare and is actually and accident. So when I saw this puppy I just had to get him! I think I seriously have a Dane problem!!! LOL :D

So here are some pictures introducing Turbo!

Some Fun Pics! :)

2009-02-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

These two pics are of Diesel and Russia. Diesel is now 14 weeks and pushing past 70#!!!! He is going to be a big boy. Since he is a Dane and there is a huge risk for bloat he has elevated food dishes...well I have already had to move them up 5 inches from where I had put them when we got him if that tells you anything! Well in these pics you will see just how much he loves Russia and how patient Russia is! They really are buddy buddy and it will be sad when Russia goes...I don't know what Diesel will do then...however, she's 10 and is still going strong, so I won't worry about that now! :)

So I hope you like the pictures and I hope you all had a good week!

Puppy Pics! :)

2009-01-30T10:43:00.001-08:00

So here they are!

Here I am! The cutest puppy ever with one blue eye and one brown one!

Ahhh, my rawhide and stuffed bear...life could not be better! :)

I love Roxy and will squeeze into any space to try to be next to her...I don't think she likes me as much though...she usually gets up and leaves...huh.

Nice bed mom!

Oh I'm sorry....did you want to sleep too? There might be some space next to Dad if you want to try over there.

Did you want to sit here? There's some room next to me...just make sure you don't sit on my bear.

Don't forget about me up here! And just for the record...you can tell the puppy I was here first! :)

You Know You're A Great Dane Owner When....

2008-07-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

You can tell when I don't have anything to blog about these days when I force feed Dane stuff down your blogger throats....sorry! :D

# the sound of running water makes you jump up and yell, "OUTSIDE!" (thankfully I don't have this problem...mine are very much potty trained!)

# you tell your dog to sit, and he backs up until he finds a chair (or couch in my house!)

# it takes 3 people to get your dog on the scale at the vets

# you walk your dog and everyone knows him by name, but you have no idea who these people are

# you can carry on a conversation with a dog's muzzle firmly in your crotch

# your dog can hide an entire tennis ball (among other things) fully inside his lips and give you that innocent look that says, "What? I'm not eating anything!"

# you carry a tape measure with you when shopping for a new vehicle (done this!)

# you keep at least one color-coded "drool towel" in every room of your house

# after banishing your husband, the snoring in your bedroom still keeps you awake (LOL...every nite it seems!)

# you are hiking with a friend who later suggests that you ought to have an environmental impact statement done on your dog

# visitors enter the house holding their privates protectively

# you toss your dog a ball and cringe when he almost hits his head on the top of the doorway

# you take your dog for a ride and he rests his head on your arm, causing you to make random right turns

# you have given up on water dishes and you just use the bathtub (or sink in our case)

# your two dogs decide to play in the house, and they end up pulling the ceiling fan down -- for the second time

# you have to move over when brushing your teeth because your dog wants a drink

# you show a picture of your dogs and kids together, and the first person you point out is your dog (I might have done this once or twice)

# while stopped at a stop light, everyone stares as your car rocks back and forth because the dog is panting out the window

# you go to vacuum your car and most of the fur is up there on the ceiling

# you avoid the dogs on your way out the door, so they won't smear your makeup

# you've learned to force a smile when asked "do you have a saddle for that thing?"

# the monthly dog budget exceeds your home mortgage payment

# Your veterinarian has been able to put in a swimming pool, build a large home, buy jet skis and a personal plane

# you have had to train your dog not to lick dishes, and the dishes are in the sink

# the donuts you put on top of the refrigerator are gone when you get home and your dog has powdered sugar on his nose (nothing is safe on the fridge at our house!)

# your dog can see what you're cooking, and he tries to assist you in the preparation

# you're holding him straddled between your legs when the doorbell rings, you take a short (but fast!) ride straight to the door

# the pizza delivery people tell you to meet them at the end of the sidewalk (hehe...they do!)

# your dog stands in your lap and reaches over you to stick his head in the drive-through window at MacDonald's and nearly gives the cashier a heart attack when she turns around to give you your change

# you purchase a large screen TV and you still can't see the program when he stands in front of the television

# after surgery, your bored pup decides to get up and cruise around the vet's office-- pulling the rolling IV stand behind him

Answers Every Great Dane Owner Know....

2008-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this on a website and just about peed my pants! So funny!

Q: "How did he get soooo big?"
A: "We put Miracle Grow in his water."

Q: "Do you have a saddle for that thing?"
A: "Oh no, he's been trained to carry me in his mouth."

Q: "What kind of dog is that?"
A: "It's not really a dog, it's a Holstien. He's just a little confused."

Q: "How much does he eat?"
A: "Two kids a week"

Q: "Why is he so big?"
A: "We live near a nuclear power plant."

Q: "Does he bite?"
A: "Only on Tuesdays. Oops, that's today, isn't it?"

Q: "How much does he eat?"
A: "How much do you weigh?"

Q: "Can I ride him?"
A: "No, he charges too much"

Q: "What do you feed a 150-pound dog?"
A: "Anything he wants."

Q: "Have you fed that thing today?"
A: "Why? Are are you missing a kid?"

Q: "Why does he have one blue eye and one brown eye?"
A: "He had two different fathers.

Pets....

2008-07-08T11:31:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge animal lover as most of you know, and I can't even imagine life without pets....especially my dogs! They are such a great addition to the family. We always have so much fun with the dogs and I worry about any of them passing away as B has known nothing but the Great Danes ever since he was born. They are his partners in crime, his playtime pals, his horses when he's playing cowboy, and his pillow when he's chillin' out. For me they are my bestest best friends, (They don't care if I'm in a foul mood...they still give me kisses!) they are my security system, (I haven't locked my house in years!), and they are my companions that give my life that little extra smile and warmth! What more could you want! (Actually I want them to eat less and poop smaller...but I think that's stretching it! LOL)

Besides the dogs we have the coolest cat known to man named Brighton! I am not a cat person at all, but this cat acts like a dog! He greets everyone at the door...including complete strangers, wants love and affection 24/7, and comes when he's called! :D We also have 2 goats that are a complete riot to hang out with, and 2 sheep that are the cliche "dumb" sheep, but super sweet and super cute!

Anyways, we have fun here on the Riddle farm and I wouldn't want it any other way! The only thing I feel we're lacking is a horse, and a Cockatoo! :D

So do any of you have pets?

A short story about what can happen in 10 minutes at the Riddle house!.....

2008-04-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

The sun is out finally, and B has been bouncing off the walls, so outside he goes, rocket launcher in hand, and dogs by his side, for a little fun in the sun. This is going to be great....

Back and forth B runs across the yard shooting off his rocket and retrieving it, having a great time.

B thinks this is just the best day ever until.........

Ooopps! But do you think this is the end of B's fun?! No way, because right behind him are 2 of his Danes, unsuspectingly enjoying the day themselves....

Until B decides he's not done playing, and breaks up their party with the business end of his rocket launcher...Cowboy does not look amused....

And Roxy decides to just walk away....
But in the end it looks like everyone had a good time.... :)

All's fair in love and war... :D