Babies and Great Danes..

LeonaW12 · December 2011

My husband and I have a two year old Great Dane named Axl. He is a very sweet, well behaved dog, but his large size comes with a lot of consequences. He sheds a tremendous amount, he slobbers everywhere, and he doesn't know his own strength or size. I'm really worried about how this will affect our home when we have a baby. I could name a million specific things I'm worried about happening, but I won't bore you with all those.

Does anyone have experience with ttc and owning a great dane, or already having a baby and a great dane?

MeganJane915 · December 2011

We have a two year old Great Dane as well named Slater!! We've talked about how he will be with babies a lot and honestly I'm more concerned about how our chihuahua mix will be with them. I know another couple that has a Great Dane and a baby and all the pictures I see show her being very gentle with the baby! Great Danes are very gentle and very obedient and I believe as long as they know you're master (as well as the baby) they will be gentle with everyone, no matter what size! Slater has never given us an reason to be concerned, the worst thing he does is bark at people walking outside! Hope that helps!!! I love Great Danes, what color is yours?

app1e3 · December 2011

I don't have a great dane but do have a pit bull mix that's fairly large. I get a lot of gasps when I tell people we have a pit and a baby but we've not encountered any issues whatsoever and unless he had a bad attitude towards children (which we were sure to get him around many when he was a pup and prior to DS being born) we'd never had thought to get rid of him just because he may knock the baby down (which he does at times) or shed all over my house.

If you're concerned about your dog's behavior ask if your vet can recommend a class for you to take. Socialize your dog as best you can with children (provided the dog is kid friendly, if not that's a another ball game) and consider even getting a doll and pretending there is a baby in the house. I often played videos of babies wailing on youtube so my dog got accustom to it.

GL

LeonaW12 · December 2011

He is a blue merle, and very well behaved. My husband trained him from the time he was a pup. One thing I'm worried about is shedding. I have to sweep the floor everyday because he sheds a little great dane baby on the floor every single day! I know when baby comes I won't have time to do this. At least for a while until I get into the swing of being a momma. Also, Axl barks quite a bit too. I guess I don't have to tell you how deep and loud a great dane bark is! How will baby ever nap with that going on? He is such a baby himself though. I know he'll have a bout of jealousy when baby gets here.

BenandSuzy · December 2011

We have a 6 year old Dane who we had before our two kids. Yep he slobbers and sheds, but he's great with our kids and just a love able guy, as you know Danes are. I trust him around our kids more than our little lab mix. They are wonderful for kids! And my youngest boy is actually afraid of tiny dogs, but will go right up to large breeds.

The slobber is gross especially when they drink but we justine sure to clean his face and vacuum a lot!

LeonaW12 · December 2011

Great! I just wanted some reassurance from someone how had first hand experience, because dh and I love him so much! Thanks!

angelsnight · December 2011

LeonaW12:
He is a blue merle, and very well behaved. My husband trained him from the time he was a pup. One thing I'm worried about is shedding. I have to sweep the floor everyday because he sheds a little great dane baby on the floor every single day! I know when baby comes I won't have time to do this. At least for a while until I get into the swing of being a momma. Also, Axl barks quite a bit too. I guess I don't have to tell you how deep and loud a great dane bark is! How will baby ever nap with that going on? He is such a baby himself though. I know he'll have a bout of jealousy when baby gets here.

Even if you slack on the sweeping at first, you likely won't be putting your newborn on the floor, and he/she won't be crawling/mobile for a while, so by then you should be able to get back into the daily cleaning thing.

I wouldn't recommend leaving gobs of dog hair on the floor for days on end, but with pets come some germs and the kids will be fine.

sweetgotham · December 2011

Well, I was actually mauled in the face by a great dane when I was an infant when my mom was visiting an acquaintance. I required pretty intensive reconstructive surgery (you have to get in real close to see the scars now). I will be honest, as much as anything it was my 'fault'; I was trying to 'feed' the dog out of his bowl. I am not posting this to freak anyone out or anything but the dog was also supposed to be real sweet etc, only, let's face it, not used to babies nor was I old enough to be responsible around dogs. The incident does lead me to always point out when people say how harmless their dog is that unless it has been in the exact situation before, it's hard to say how it will react and even then, one never knows. Also, I get pissed when owners don't leash their dogs when outside for the same reason.

Anyway, I might suggest looking into a local trainer/behavioralist (ASPCA might be able to help) to 'test' the dog and possibly look into training classes to get your pet used to baby-related stimulation.

kellyrn9956 · December 2011

My Dane Gracie is not very good with my niece. She growls a little because she doesn't like to be reached for and Lissie doesn't know any better. I keep her penned up in another room when Lissie is at my house because I jsut can't trust her. Then she gets even more upset b/c she is stuck in another room.

What comforts me is that Gracie is also really aggressive with other dogs, but our two other dogs that live in our home, she is very gentle. I think if it's a child that grows up in our home, she'll be okay.

pittielover2 · December 2011

sweetgotham:
Well, I was actually mauled in the face by a great dane when I was an infant when my mom was visiting an acquaintance. I required pretty intensive reconstructive surgery (you have to get in real close to see the scars now). I will be honest, as much as anything it was my 'fault'; I was trying to 'feed' the dog out of his bowl. I am not posting this to freak anyone out or anything but the dog was also supposed to be real sweet etc, only, let's face it, not used to babies nor was I old enough to be responsible around dogs. The incident does lead me to always point out when people say how harmless their dog is that unless it has been in the exact situation before, it's hard to say how it will react and even then, one never knows. Also, I get pissed when owners don't leash their dogs when outside for the same reason.
Anyway, I might suggest looking into a local trainer/behavioralist (ASPCA might be able to help) to 'test' the dog and possibly look into training classes to get your pet used to baby-related stimulation.

Also as this post implies, babies and young children should never be left unsupervised around animals nor should they play or feed dogs from their bowls, or play with high value items (bones, special toys etc.). I would get your dog on a feeding schedule where his food bowl is picked up after he is done eating so that there can be no resource guarding.

MeganJane915 · December 2011

It's cool how many people have Danes!! They really are such great dogs (shedding, loud barking and all)!

byrne15 · December 2011

I don't have a great dane, but I do have a 110lb pitbull/mastiff.

He was 2 years old when ds was born. He turned out to be the perfect family dog.

ETA: And like others had mentioned, never leave your dog and child alone unattended. Even with the very "best" dog.

As you can see...they are pretty good buds

GR8TDANEMOM · December 2011

I have two great danes. I dont have a baby yet, but Ive nannied for years and take them to work with me sometimes. They both love kids but there have been occasions of knocking kids over or hitting with tails ect. They even hurt me on occasion by accident. I will be putting up baby gates around the house to keep the dogs and baby seperated when the baby is on the floor. I will be vacuuming daily in the areas wear baby will play. I will also always have the babies bedroom door shut so there is no hair or slobber in there. Making sure they get exercised so they are more relaxed is also important. Im sure it will be an adjustment, but through showing my dogs I have met so many people with small children and herds of great danes and they all live happily together! It just takes some organization!

MeganJane915 · December 2011

GR8TDANEMOM:
I have two great danes. I dont have a baby yet, but Ive nannied for years and take them to work with me sometimes. They both love kids but there have been occasions of knocking kids over or hitting with tails ect. They even hurt me on occasion by accident. I will be putting up baby gates around the house to keep the dogs and baby seperated when the baby is on the floor. I will be vacuuming daily in the areas wear baby will play. I will also always have the babies bedroom door shut so there is no hair or slobber in there. Making sure they get exercised so they are more relaxed is also important. Im sure it will be an adjustment, but through showing my dogs I have met so many people with small children and herds of great danes and they all live happily together! It just takes some organization!

Your Danes are beautiful! DH loves the Fawn coat, ours is a Merle!

Wally3 · December 2011

I think it depends on the dogs. We do sit our friends horrible dog but he is very sweet to ds and tolerate too he knows when he is not in the mood and goes to his "house". Another friends dog is not good with kids and knows it and hides in the bedroom whenever kids come over. I think you just need to remember a dog is an animal and not leave dog and baby unsupervised. A big dog bumping in to a child is not disatrous.

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