Great Danes, subsequently referred to as gds, require special socialization.
Gds love people. They really do. They love people so much that love avoidance on the part of their human caretakers is absolutely necessary.
Oh, they arrive cute and cuddly. The neophyte owner, fooled by the outsized love of the undersized puppy is lured into unwise behavior.The owner puts the puppy onto his lap, he pats the puppy all the time, he encourages the puppy to play: he also feeds the puppy. The puppy loves his human even more.
Stupid owner lets the puppy sleep on his lap, and on the couch. So cute!
Three weeks later the puppy weighs 140 lbs and can easily eat off the stove.
He also has an insatiable appetite for every item in the house. Because of his love for his owner said owner begins for find underpants, bras, undershirts, dish rags, stockings, socks, smallish rock sculptures, etc. buried in small mountains of gd poop. Generally these items cannot be restored to usefulness.
Should the gds find a cache of chocolate placed within reach (everything placed under six feet off the floor and not encased in an iron safe is within reach) the owner will begin to understand he has a problem. The $2,000.00 vet bill is a clue, as is the fact that after pouring hydrogen peroxide down the dog's throat, forcing him to vomit and then carting him off to a strange place where strange people torment him, the dog still LOVES his owner.
The dog can sit on the couch just like a person, butt and back legs on seat, front legs on floor. Indeed, he often is mistaken for relative. Does the dog want to do this? Never. The dog insists on sitting on his owners lap.
Should the owner attempt to read, play on the computer, clean or use the bathroom his gd will follow and ask to be petted. Unlike smaller dogs, ignoring the gd is perilous. Your gd will stick his foot long heavy head over book and key board. He will accompany you as you open the fridge, sticking his head in right next to your head. He will drool over the spot you just cleaned and his bathroom habits will astonish you.
The fact is-gds are not the brightest star in the canine constellation.
I have met turnips with more brains.
The Road to Zimbabwe - memories of travel & romamce by John & Nancy Blignaut
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