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Tips for placing your Great Dane Responsibly
Should I place my Great Dane?
For whatever reason you can no longer keep your Dane - it is now YOUR responsibility to safely rehome it. Your Dane is counting on you to make a decision for it that could very well mean life or death. Before making that final decision to re-home your Dane, consider all other alternatives that might allow the Dane to remain with your family or the extended family.
- If your Dane exhibits behavior that isn't acceptable (jumping on people, pulling while on lead, etc.) then PLEASE contact an obedience instructor, this is something that can be worked through !!!
- If you are having trouble housebreaking or the Dane getting into things within the home, consider crate training. When used appropriately, it is a very effective tool. Make sure there isn't a medical condition that makes it difficult/impossible for your pet to hold out until someone lets him out.
- If you are relocating, have you looked into ALL the possibilities that could allow you to do so with your pets? Boarding your pet temporarily or having a family member take care of it is a small price to pay in order to keep your Dane in the family.
- Contact the breeder where you got your Dane. Most responsible breeders want to be contacted if the buyer cannot keep it anymore.
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How should I place my Great Dane?
If after looking into all the possibilities that would allow you to keep your Dane and you must now look into placing your Dane, consider these tips:
- SPAY or NEUTER your Dane prior to placing it. Pet overpopulation is staggering. If you are unable to keep your Dane (for any reason), please don't allow it to become a "breeder" that will produce more unwanted Danes. Altering can also reduce certain unsavory behavior and reduce the risk of certain cancers to the pet (ovarian & mammary for females, testicular for males).
- VACCINATIONS - make sure your pet is current on all shots and also recently tested for heart worms and on preventative. Place these in a folder to accompany the Dane with its new owner.
- Consider seriously the reason why your Dane may have to be re-homed. If AGGRESSIVE or has a BITE history, please get a professional behavioral evaluation before giving away or selling your Dane. You may also want to check with local and state laws concerning your liability in re-homing a pet with prior knowledge of any aggression/bites.
- Make a checklist of all the good and especially the not so good things your Dane does. Being honest about all the Danes traits will give it a much better shot at a permanent home, as opposed to a quick fix in which it may be dumped after its not so good points come through.
- Advertise the availability of your Dane - possibly at your vets office, local paper, etc. Be very careful, many owners are duped by people who have less than honorable intentions with your Dane....
- SCREENING potential homes for your pet is very important. You can state in your ad "to qualified Dane home only". Have them come visit you at your home to see how they interact with your Dane. Visit their home to see where it will be kept. Ask for references and call them when given. Be sure to have some guidelines ready - is your Dane good with kids/cats/dogs? Will it require a more experienced dog owner? Does it tend to do better in a home with someone home a lot?
- Have a contract, in it state how you expect the Dane to be kept - indoor only pet, indoor/outdoor, not be kept on a chain, appropriately fed, watered and medically cared for. If any of your conditions are not being met, state the Dane will be taken back - make sure they are willing to sign it understanding those conditions. You may need to contact your legal advisor for help on this.
- FOLLOW UP - ask if it will be OK to check back with them periodically to make sure everything is going well. Often, in the course of adjusting to a new home and schedule, a new behavior may arise that the new owner feels reluctant to discuss. Since you know your Dane, you may have some special insight to help overcome it.
- INCLUDE a list with feeding schedule, type of food, routine (for pottying, exercising, etc.), allergies or anything that pertains to the Dane.
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What if I can’t place my Dane?
If you must contact a shelter or pound, check it out personally. Try and meet with the staff and ask what its policies are regarding adopting (some just don't have enough room, and often the largest breeds and others are given a limited amount of time - if any). If looking at a NO-KILL facility, they may have clauses on what is deemed "adoptable". Also, will your Dane do well if months or longer go by without being adopted?
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Great Dane Rescue....
When a Dane comes into breed rescue (where there is usually a focus on a single breed), the people will tend to be much more familiar with the needs and overall characteristics of Danes. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Many may have a priority list - which basically states which Danes need to come into rescue - those at highest risk get top priority. Those would be Danes at shelters due to be euthanized, abuse/neglect cases, unaltered Danes, and Danes in a less than adequate environment.
- Keep in mind that many of the rescues may have a space available status. The Danes are usually not kept in kennels, but rather private homes. This allows the dane to stay in a home environment and around people. The thing that makes it ideal for the Danes, also can limit the numbers that a particular rescue may be able to take in.
- Since many breed rescues are undertaken by individuals or a small group of people, they do not often get funding. If a rescue is able to take your Dane in, please consider having the Dane already altered and vetted. Donations and especially food are always appreciated and will help maintain your Dane until the right home is found!!!
Created by GDR NE Fla - may be re-distributed in its entirety with credit given.
Copyright© GDR NE Fla 2000
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