Creature feature

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/DUSTY HIGGINS
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/DUSTY HIGGINS

My friend has adopted a huge dog that looks like a full-blooded Great Dane. She lives in a one-bedroom apartment. I think that’s a lot of dog for such a small place. My friend takes the dog for short walks, but isn’t it kind of cruel to keep a big dog in an apartment? Doesn’t it need more room?

The amount of living space a dog requires depends on a number of factors, but the dog’s size isn’t really the primary consideration. Dogs can be happy anywhere if their need for exercise is met, so the more pertinent question is whether your friend’s Great Dane is getting enough physical activity every day.

While many large dogs have extremely high energy and activity levels, the Great Dane is a sedate, easygoing dog that will be fine with at least a half-hour of brisk walk per day, according to the American Kennel Club (akc.org). That goes along with what theatrical dog trainer Bill Berloni, who trained two 140-pound Irish wolfhounds for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s production of Because of Winn Dixie, says about the needs of giant dogs.

People are often surprised to learn that giant breeds spend most of their time lounging, Berloni says. The Great Dane, whose weight range is 120-200 pounds, is considered a giant breed, as is the Irish wolfhound. Giant dogs don’t walk so much as lumber when taken out for a stroll. After puppyhood, they don’t need vigorous runs and romps, although they enjoy time to explore in a yard or park.

Great Danes are sensitive dogs that need to be around people, which means they’ll thrive with the close contact of indoor life whether in a house or an apartment. If they spend most or all of their time outdoors in a dog house, they can become depressed and unstable.

When considering a large dog for apartment life, the breed matters more than size. Some breeds of large dogs were developed to be constantly moving while working - Labrador retrievers and Australian shepherds are good examples. Those types of dogs must have high-level activity every day. They need long walks or runs to burn off energy, plus they thrive on running to retrieve balls and toys. If they don’t get enough exercise, they’ll develop behavior problems and become destructive. That doesn’t mean they can’t live in an apartment, but their owner should be willing to satisfy their need for aerobic activity.

Back to Great Danes, here are some more tidbits about the “gentle giant” from The Howell Book of Dogs and the Great Dane Club of America:

The breed is believed to have been developed by breeding wolfhounds with English mastiffs (another giant that can be a good apartment dog). They were originally bred to hunt wild boar and guard estates.

The Great Dane didn’t originate in Denmark, but in Germany.

Puppies need several play sessions a day, but overexercising can cause problems with their growing bones.

Great Danes are at risk for congenital heart defects, including a progressive, life-threatening heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy.

They typically grow to be about 32 inches tall from foot to shoulder and can stand with their paws on the shoulders of a 6-foot-tall man.

A Great Dane in Michigan is the world’s tallest dog, according to Guinness World Records 2013. Zeus measures 44 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds.Standing on his hind legs, he stretches to a whopping 7 feet, 4 inches. Before Zeus, a Great Dane named Giant George held the world record at 43 inches.

Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]

Family, Pages 34 on 04/23/2014

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