Great Dane ~ The Gentle Giant

This week I am going to highlight the Great Dane.  They are Avery's favorite dog and I have to say, I love them too!

They are also know as the woulds biggest lap dog!  They love to love!

Great Danes are people dogs. They don't do well if left outside or if they aren't an integral part of their human's lives. They are among the most loyal of dog breeds and absolutely adore their humans. And all they want -need- in return, is to be loved back.

The Great Dane is not the heaviest of dogs -mastiffs are generally heavier.

Gibson, a Harlequin Great Dane, is certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest living dog at 42.2 inches. Standing on his hind legs, the 170-pound dog is over 7 feet tall.

But Danes have a very distinctive anatomy and it is a wonderful blend of size, muscle and bearing that make the Great Dane the "dog of dogs".

The smooth short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush and dry shampoo when necessary. Bathing this giant is a major chore, so it pays to avoid the need by daily grooming. The nails must be kept trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.

Known as the "gentle giant" and the "king of dogs," the Great Dane was originally bred as a hunting dog but is now bred as an exceptionally large companion dog. And he makes a good one. He is a gentle, friendly, docile, peaceful, and a really, really big dog.

He is exceptionally devoted to his owners, especially children. However, a six-month-old Great Dane puppy will outweigh a six-year-old child, so parents must be cautious that no one gets accidentally squashed. But the Great Dane is people-oriented and committed to pleasing them. They are playful, and will need to be walked daily, but their exercise needs are only moderate. They also love to nap with you, and will take over your couch.

They might also go steal some food off the countertop before you wake up. They make good watchdogs, and are often reserved towards strangers, but in general, they don't bark much.
They get along well with other animals. They are trainable and do well in the competition ring. They are also quick to housetrain. 

So, if you are looking for a dog that honestly believes he is a part of the family ... if you are looking for a gentle giant to have in your home ... who will be able to sit and look you in the eye at the dinner table ... if you are looking for a peaceful, devoted companion who loves his family and home, then the Great Dane might be for you.

Here are some well-known people who have owned Great Danes:

Brad Anderson, author, comic strip ‘Marmaduke’
Mario Andretti, Indianapolis 500-winning race car driver
Otto von Bismarck, German chancellor: Odin and several others
Sid Caesar, TV comedian: Julius (obviously)
Roger Caras, author of animal books
Wilt Chamberlain, basketball star: had several
Mike Douglas, TV talk show host: (also) Duke
Faisal, king of Saudi Arabia
Kelsey Grammer, actor
Maxwell Knight, author: Lorna
Olivia Newton-John, singer: Zargon
Greg Louganis, Olympic gold medalist in diving: Freeway and several others
Alexander Pope, English Poet: Bounce
Franklin D. Roosevelt, US prez: President (what a suitable name)
Willaim Shatner, actor

Sophie the Labradoodle

This week I am going to feature the Labradoodle and one of my very own dog pals! Do you remember Bella the Bulldog?  Well, Sophie is her little sis! 

Sophie is a 6 month old, chocolate Labradoodle who was one of my first dog pals.  She is so sweet!  She loves to play and run!

Here are some fun facts about Sophie that her owners shared!

She loves to rip pieces of paper up into the tiniest pieces and then spread them all over the house!

She loves her sister bulldog, Bella and loves to run circles around her while barking like a crazy girl.

She LOVES to give hugs and snuggle her nose into her Mom's belly.

She is a very good girl and graduated with honors from her service dog academy class!

She loves to push the pedal on the trash can, empty all the contents all over the house after she rips them up into tiny itty bitty pieces, then she takes the inner plastic liner out of the metal can and this is the result!

Very easy to train, Labradoodles are social and enjoy the company of people and other dogs. They're comfortable with either city or country life, as long as they have your good company.  Labradoodles are devoted, playful, obedient, kid-friendly and clever like both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles.

A Labradoodle is a mixed-breed dog, the product of breeding a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. 

Labradoodles were originally bred in Australia, and like the Goldendoodle, are a perfect solution for challenged folks needing a companion that wouldn't agitate their allergies.  The Labradoodle's low shedding coat has made them a family favorite since their appearance in the early 1990's.

Labradoodles have three size categories, depending on the size of their Poodle parent. As you'd guess, a Standard Labradoodle is a medium/large dog that is parented by a Standard poodle, the largest of the poodle breed. Miniature Labradoodles have a Miniature or Toy Poodle parent. Medium Labradoodles fall between these two sizes.

Just like their coat color and texture, a Labradoodle's size cannot be predicted. They can grow to be larger than either parent, sometimes nearing 90 pounds. Still, most adult Labradoodles fit within the ranges below:

Standard Labradoodle

                                    Female                      Male

         Height              22-26 inches            22-26 inches

         Weight              45-60 pounds          55-75 pounds

Medium Labradoodle

                                    Female                      Male

         Height              18-21 inches            18-21 inches

        Weight              40-50 pounds          45-55 pounds

Miniature Labradoodle

                                    Female                      Male

         Height              14-17 inches            14-17 inches

         Weight              25-40 pounds          35-55 pounds

Notice how the height of the male and female are the same but the weight is higher for the males.

You will find Labradoodles in a wider range of colors than Goldendoodles: white, cream, tan, coffee, brown, red, grey, or black.

Labradoodle's coats are either the fleecy Retriever-shag (though a bit shorter), or a soft wooly Poodle-curl. Their coat is typically full and soft and grows to 3"-4", though backcross Labradoodles usually have a 4"-7" coat.

Moderate exercise is sufficient for a Labradoodle, like a daily fetch game with a long walk. Grooming is a rare task. A longer-haired Labradoodle will need a good brushing once or twice a week, but a shorter-haired or clipped Labradoodle will only need brushing twice a month.

I love Labradoodles and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!