Upsides and Downsides to Taking Care of Your Great Dane
What do you think of a Great Dane staying in your own home? Definitely, this has its own disadvantages and advantages. To take care of a Great Dane requires relatively larger portions of care and attention, since the Dane refuses to literally be some small laughing matter! If you can picture raising a new baby in your household, then you are close to imagining what is needed of a responsible Great Dane owner.
Con – expensive maintenance
The most significant cost items for a dog are shelter, grooming, food, veterinary care and water. This applies also to the Great Dane, but its remarkable size calls for bigger proportions, and consequently, bigger spending. This is one important downside to expect in taking care of the dog breed. Any committed Great Dane owner is ready to face the breathtaking medicine costs, health care expenses, and visibly bigger spending on food. Getting a dog insurance enables you to have more confidence when spending for medical costs.
Con – needs higher fences
After giving a thought to the extensive costs of keeping a Great Dane, the next important thing is the fencing to keep your dog safely within the yard. How tall must the fence be? A four-foot one is not enough, since an excited Dane can do much with its big strides and long legs.
Con – needs huge crate
A crate may be a neat idea, but you will need to get one that allows your great dane to comfortably stand and to turn around. A huge crate will come in handy when, say, you need to keep the dog somewhere each night, or you need to keep it as you spend time outside town. A crate is also what you will need when you need to bring along your dog, and travel by plane, or by car. The benefits therefore of giving your dog great dane training so it can manage in a crate will go a long way.
Pro – can live in small houses or apartments
While the dog understands its needs in terms of much bigger proportions, this happily does not apply to the dog’s living quarters. The breed will instantly feel it belongs to a small home or apartment, in the same way that it will also fit in a huge sprawling bungalow. Living conditions are definitely no problem, as the Great Dane will also be content simply curled up on your sofa.
Pro and Con – they need time and affection
Is the dog’s craving for your attention a pro or a con to you? In any case, the breed wants human interaction badly! If you are able to fill the need (also by using great dane training), you can be sure of a house pet that is dedicated and loving beyond question. But if you are already being hounded by other needs, then the breed is not for you since it always looks to its owners or humans for guidance. In fact, the dog takes in not only verbal commands but also the body language, facial expression and moods as well. And whatever general trait their owner impresses on them is the trait they will carry for life. All this explains the need for patience and responsibility in training this dog breed.
