From: mtapio@ntc01.tele.nokia.fi
Subject: RE:GREAT DANE TEMPERAMENT
Organization: Nokia Telecommunications.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 11:22:29 GMT

re:great dane temperament

Great Dane as a family member/protective dog

HISTORY Great danes were developed to be a hunting and fighting dogs.
	When their meaning in these areas decreased,they were merely
	companion dogs for kings etc. And that is the direction,where
	Great Dane breeder aim nowadays also. 

TEMPERAMENT/
CHARACTERISTIC:
	As a companion dog , Dane should be very frienly and patient
	dog for all people and also for children.It is also called
	as "kings of dogs", not only becouse of it's big size, but also
	becouse it is very "self-satisfied".
	My Danes all have been always very friendly towards all my
	frieds (which they know all ready, or when a new person comes
	to visit, they notice about my behaviour if the visiter is
	accepted by me or not), and ALLWAYS VERY FRIENDLY againts
	all children,whether they allready know them or not !!
	But, as a ex-fighting dog, Dane can also be very protective
	when needed.Dane is not a kind of dog,like for example dobe,which
	shows it aggression sometimes without real reason.Dane's absolute
	treshold is higher, but you can be sure, your dane will protect
	you and your family,if needed.
	My Danes also show their protective instinct when someone comes
	to visit me:they bark very loud before they see, who is coming.
	Still, I can't say that Dane is a "constantly barking dog",	
	they only bark, when they want to inform me about something.
	My opinion is,that Dane is very  suitable  for household,
	when the dog should be at the same time very friendly and
	at the same time also "protective".

EATING:
	You must be prepared, that Dane eats a LOT!
	And at the same time, becouse Dane is such a large dog,you
	must be very carefull how to feed him during its period of 
	growth:Breeder is allways the best people to tell you how
	to feed your Dane, and NEVER try to decide on your own how
	to feed your dog (puppy), and also not to listen any other breeder
	abouts Dane's feeding, unless they breed also Danes.
	With wrong feeding, you can easily have a Dane with "twisted
	legs", or intestine knot (hope that is correct word) as a 
	adult, which can cause a death.(i'm sure your breeder will
	tell you all this more closely)

DROOLING:
	Many people has told me, that they would like to have a Dane,
	but they think it drools too much.I have noticed ,that with
	correct feeding there is no such a problem(except in very hot
	day).

EXERCISE:
	It is very important NOT TO GIVE exercise to your puppy
	during it's growth period more than the puppy want's to
	do it self, and this means playing with the puppy, or
	short walks with him.This size dog as a puppy should not be
	never exerted, becouse it also defects to it's growth.
	An adult Dane can be exercised as much as you or your Dane want's !
	 
	Dane want's ! But I think it is no must, that you will have to
	exercice him a lot, becouse normally, Dane is so calm dog,
	sometimes almost lazy, that he possibly wont demand necesserily
	lot of exercise.

BREEDERS: 
	I live and breed Danes in Finland, but I know few persons who
	breed Danes in USA:
	mrs.Marilyn Draper
	mrs.Mary-Ann Kaufmann
	and mr. Bell
	I think further information about breeders you will get 
	from AKC.

	Happy future, if you decide to have a Dane !

Best regards: kennel Genedda
              * blue great dane
	      * doberman
	      ms.Marjo Tapio
              kellontie
              sf-90820 kello, Finland
              tel. int:+358 81 402115 or 470347
	      fax. int:+358 81 470342
              EMAIL: MTAPIO
 Marjo Tapio