Danois

Pure accident. She had a duty to take responsibility for her own safety and that includes being aware of her surrounds especially in a park. Can't argue that the dogs weren't under effective control - they were engaged in play and unfortunately both she and them ended up in the same space at the same time. My dog knocked someone over when he was younger - he was running at speed with another dog. She walked straight into their path, other dog avoided her but my dog could not stop/ swerve in time. She apologised to us as she said she was not paying attention. This was in a park in an area which was essentially the dog lawn.

My pack of one...but bigger than the combined height or weight of many of the multi dog packs here lol!

I'd suggest that you contact your local community law centre for this advice.

Yes but mainly to a couple of places that are not cafés per se as they don't serve meals. One is Bourke St Bakery and they have big tables out front and another place is a coffee roasters and they have a couple of bench seats out front (both are dog friendly) and we stop here on the way home from the beach. I don't do busy cafés as having a giant breed they don't exactly fit under tables and heads are at table height. If we are out then I always take a Snooza futon and use the bed command. I may also bribe with pieces of croissant.

Can't say I find them very nice at all.

Giants at the beach?? (Funnily enough my dog has been more adventurous in waves!) But shallows are more fun for zooming in! Happy to chase sticks etc but only while his feet can touch the bottom. Which is better than when he initially went to the beach and would paddle only - he's got more confident with other dogs who will swim. And when they can't touch the bottom, despite how close the stick might be, this is the reaction... But occasionally it's amusing when they forget to pay attention to waves and get dunked! For my boy the best bit of the beach is all the sand to zoom around on.

Most high value treat is sausage patty or quarter pounder patty from Maccas. Otherwise warm BBQ. There is not a high level of liver in the NG treats from memory and you should not be feeding massive amounts given a training session should be short.

We were at the beach this morning. I can smell the farts coming from the spare room from the lounge. Ain't no way he's sleeping in the bedroom tonight!

Steals the pillows. One must be comfortable... Worst thing is when stealing the pillow, misjudging the distance available and sitting on me. At 5am. When he weights 65kg.

Next weekend work for you then??

They dive bomb my Great Dane.

CDs don't work!

There is a FB page called Brisbanes and they organise the walk at the Spit. Another Dane fact - you get so attached to them and it sucks when we lose another one too young. Rest in Peace Mowgli (brother to Boo).

My house and yard is littered with toys as I buy new ones or get them from work but he has not killed a toy yet. Ikea is an awesome source for toys and pillow pets are perfect! Swimming??? By that you mean only going in as long as the feet can still touch the bottom and expressing panicked looks when they can't?? Exhibit A

Danes are great for protecting the ones they love - not what I would call a guard dog in the usual sense. Come to my house and you will get a barrelling bark and it made known you are being watched. If we are here then all is good. If we are not then well good luck...

You just pick the wrong colour dogs GDG - black dog here and no slobber lol! You make a really good point Pheebs - making sure that you get the right temperament for you. Boo is an incredibly easy dog to live with now but by golly we had our moments when he was younger - harassing the cat when he was ill, shut down behaviour etc etc - there were tears, an impassioned plea (which got ignored) for a friend to come and take him, a consult with K9 Pro and heaps of advice from experienced Dane people. I had a puppy that had a soft temperament and some anxiety. I had to over socialise and I pay the price for that today as he does have a high value for other dogs but will recall away. I have also learnt that he is the perfect obedience/ rally o dog at home but training has way too many distractions for him and I can't get him to focus for love nor money nor roast chicken! My other piece of advice - never ever ever let them learn was ice cream is...there is no coming back from that one!

I have grown a puppy on Eukanuba and Holistic Select and was happy with both. Canidae is now on the market and that would be my first pick if I got a new puppy. I now feed PRO PLAN Sensitive - mainly as it is a fully fish based food and he seems to prefer this diet (I fed Canidae Pure Sea before that which I was very happy with). This is my boy, he is 6 in July and still acts like a puppy (damn it this photo made me sad - it was taken during a beach trip with Honey who is no longer with us ) Thank you :) I haven't actually heard of Canidae...something new for me to research! Oh my gosh he's gorgeous! That big fat head! I love it when they look like this rather than the more narrow face, does that make sense? What's his name? I'm sorry to hear you lost Honey, it's never easy xx Thanks - Honey was not mine but a friend's but Boo adored her. She was THE Honey the Great Dane (of YouTube and blog fame).

I have grown a puppy on Eukanuba and Holistic Select and was happy with both. Canidae is now on the market and that would be my first pick if I got a new puppy. I now feed PRO PLAN Sensitive - mainly as it is a fully fish based food and he seems to prefer this diet (I fed Canidae Pure Sea before that which I was very happy with). This is my boy, he is 6 in July and still acts like a puppy (damn it this photo made me sad - it was taken during a beach trip with Honey who is no longer with us )

Great work on the research! - Breeders that mass produce puppies are just as bad as BYBers in many regards too! Also it is best to find one who health tests. - Yes, Black Hawk is not suitable for a growing dane pup as it does not have the right calcium to phosphorous ratios (as important, if not more, than protein: fat) unless you look at the Fish one and then my personal view is that this product has not been in the market long enough for there to be reliable information about whether it is the right food for growing danes. Personally I would stick to a) the food recommended by your breeder and b) foods which have a long track record of growing lots of dane puppies slow and steady. - I laugh at your reference to "couch time" - you know the couch (and your bed) is theirs right?? I woke up this morning to sleeping on the side of the bed because there was a 65kg lump hogging the space and I lost out. - my other 'fact' - be prepared to put in a lot of work to training. Due to their size, any behaviours are really amplified! Not only that, to be a responsible dane owner you need to be able to control that big weight on the end of the lead - and let me tell you, if they are determined, they will pull you over!

There is a Dane thread in breed 101 and there is a Dane thread in the breed subforums too. However most people spend more time in Danes Downunder (search for Ozzie Danes) and Aussie Danes (I prefer the first one) on Facebook these days. My facts - research research research the breeder first. Do not be tempted by BYB or breeders who produce lots of puppies. - diet is so important to a growing puppy - no Dane owner finds references to horses amusing. Most of us with smile and nod our heads but we have generally heard all the jokes and find the horse references somewhat offensive - it's like calling someone's chi a rat. - owning a Dane is unlike owning any other breed - boys tend to be sooky and the girls more dominant - I have only had boys and will continue to do so - don't get a Dane if you don't want to share your couch and home with them - they are not a breed for the backyard/ away from their family - get used to bruises on the top of your feet from being stood on and bruises on the thigh from tail whip - and final point, research research research research research and be prepared to wait for the right puppy from the right breeder (yes I repeated this point). Also - head to Great Dane Rescue and Rehoming website and download the guide there to owning a Dane including how to find a good breeder etc

Except if the show is from one country that has different laws/ standards re pet food manufacturing than Australian.

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/water_water_everywhere.htm Here is a very credible source that says the same thing. Given dry dog food is essentially a core kibble with the flavouring, nutrients etc etc being a coating, if you soak it in hot water then of course that is going to degrade the coating.

Actually BH does not have the right ratios for a growing large breed pup unless you look at the fish one. And even then it's too new on the market for me to experiment with a puppy on it. Raising bowl for bloat - depends which article you read. Some say it reduces risk and some say makes risk more. All giant breed owners I know feed it raised for comfort. I suggest she scraps together the money to feed Proplan. She only has one chance to grow a large puppy slowly and properly and I would not screw around with that. Also - cost of food is the smallest part of owning a big dog. How will she afford a vet visit - course of ABs for a 50kg dog is about $100 plus consult etcetera

Except that it is not a channel in which they are able to purchase medication??

Don't soak kibble in hot water! That will basically destroy the coating on the kibble which is where all the best nutrition is. There is nothing to be gained from soaking kibble at all and if you must then use cold or tepid water.