Can I just ask what Great Danes are normally like toward other dogs ??
We were walking past one yesterday when it lunged for Gus . Luckily it never bit him but it pulled its owner over . I was quite shocked as it was so unexpected . Gus had slobber over his backend but as far as I can see no injuries except for his eye which started to close over fairly soon after . We have taken him to the vets who says it seems ok but it was all so sudden . :( The man never even apologised just mumbled "he's never done that before" but I supose he was just as shocked at the suddenness of it all .
I have never worried about Danes before but just wondering do they normally react like this to other dogs?
Chloe I know you have one - do you ever find he takes a sudden dislike to passing dogs ?
Lel

Hi Lel,

I have three danes, two bitches and a neutered dog. I don't have any problems with mine lunging at other dogs, but I know that when they are young I have to watch them as they want to play with every dog they meet, and being so big this can be misinterpreted (sp?). Alot of it goes down to socialising and how they are brought up. I'm sure Chloe will be along soon to tell you how her boy is, and she now has one of my pups, so can tell you how she is too :D

Grace

There are a couple of things to mention really.... The thing with owning a dane is that people do not tend to realise that the dane is doing all the same things as their dog might do on a bad day, it just looks worse because of the size. I have found that people look terrified if Willis looks like he is showing interest in their dog, whereas if I had a lab then people would think it was just "normal behaviour".

Its also worth pointing out that most Danes get a lot of harrassment from smaller dogs. They get barked at, nipped, growled at, all normally while the dane is on a lead and the little dog is running round them, causing the owner a lot of problems trying to hold the dane. Small dogs seem to be very intimidated by danes, and feel the need to come and show that they are big and 'ard enough!! Perhaps the one you bumped into had recently had a run-in with a smaller dog who nipped him? This is something you do have to watch out for, because Danes do not forget!! :)

Willis is as daft as a brush. He has been attacked by a couple of collies recently, one of which was off lead and actually bit him. He didn't have a go back, just tried to get away. He really is a gentle giant. But, I have to be extra careful now that (as he is maturing into a fully grown male), he doesn't decide to take a dislike to collies and do what the one you are talking about did - lunge for another dog.

They can catch you unawares, and mostly danes are very soft, but I would not let Willis meet another dog off lead, and he has to sit when other dogs approach so as not to intimidate them. He doesn't lunge to bite, but he might try and have a go at playing. Most people won't let their dogs play with him though, which is a shame :( They can easily pull you over, after all, you have a dog that weighs 13 odd stone at the end of a lead...and if they want to go, then you don't stand much of a chance really.

Phoebe, on the other hand, ignores all other dogs - typical bitch!! :)

Is it possible that Gus resembled a dog that had previously went for the great dane and now the great dane thinks I'll get you first !

Margaret