Great Dane Rescues are not hard to find

Just about every city in North America has an organization dedicated to Great Dane Rescues. Unfortunately, there are too many stories of families who discover that they really weren’t suited for commitment to a giant breed dog. The fact is, this occurs far more frequently because of people problems and only rarely because of dog problems. If you’re considering adopting a Great Dane, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages. But this is certainly an option that many Dane lovers have taken with very happy endings.

There are numerous reasons people decide they have to give up their Great Danes. A change in family situation (divorce, new baby etc) is often the trigger. Too often it’s an irresponsible owner, who thought the cute puppy would be a great addition to the family until it started growing and eating and costing more money……And because Great Danes don’t mature for two years, some owners decide they don’t want to deal with the 150 pound (or 70 kilo for the metric crowd) fur child.

And a number of Great Dane rescues become necessary because previous owners claim they just couldn’t handle the dog. (Of course, this wouldn’t be an issue if they had made the effort to go to obedience class like all responsible Great Dane owners do.)We can't imagine how anyone could give up these incredible dogs, but it happens. Their loss. Someone elses gain - provided the wonderful organizations committed to rescuing Great Danes can find that someone else.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Great Dane Rescue Adoption

For people who enjoy all stages of a dog’s life, including puppy antics, watching the Great Dane grow and develop, bonding from a young age etc. Great Dane adoptions may not be the best way to go. If you fall into that category, you may want to go to a breeder and get your Dane as a puppy.

The other issue that is always a major factor when considering Great Dane dog rescue is that it will probably not be possible to see or know the parents and therefore assess medical history or potential problems. This is particularly important when trying to assess the Dane’s temperament.

Now, having said that, Great Dane rescue groups don’t put Danes up for adoption until they’ve undergone a professional temperament assessment. And as a prospective Great Dane dog rescue candidate, you should ensure you assess the rescue group. If they don’t assess you, they probably aren’t taking temperament testing too seriously and you should beware. It would not be advisable to proceed with adoption if there were any indication this was a problem. (This is rarely the case. Great Danes are one of the most lovable breeds and when they end up in rescue it is normally because of people problems – not behaviour problems.)

On the plus side, Dane rescue is often much cheaper than buying a puppy from a breeder. There will normally be a nominal charge just to cover some of the basic expenses incurred by the rescue association, but nothing like the cost of a new puppy. The Dane will most likely be house trained, which means missing out on that delightful challenge! And the risk of getting a Great Dane with temperament problems, while present, really is minimized through professional assessment. Statistically, it just isn’t likely to happen.

And of course, a Great Dane for adoption isn’t quite as simple as rescuing any other dog breed. Danes are unique and require special commitment. They can’t take care of themselves, but will give you unconditional love. By choosing Great Dane rescue, you’re giving an unwanted Dane a new lease on life and a chance to show you how much they love their humans.

Great Dane adoption is a great way to save a Dane and get a dog that will love you more than you can imagine. Provided you do your research, this is a safe option and really is a win win. The Great Dane gets a loving home and the new owner gets to share life with what we think are the most magnificent and rewarding of all dog breeds. For information specific to your region, simply type “Great Dane rescues (your city)” and you’ll find your local dane rescue organization. Good luck!