Giant Breeds

Re: Giant Breeds

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:01:38 GMT

oooooooo waaaay to hot

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:22:55 GMT

That's scary!! The maximum temp there today is expected to be 43!!!

Re: Giant Breeds

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:18:10 GMT

They put an ice cube on the court the other day and it took all of 5 seconds to not just melt but evaporate

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:52:15 GMT

It would be lovely to meet you even though I'm not a Great Dane

Re: Giant Breeds

violet — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:50:03 GMT

I look forward to meeting many NZ type danes in the future

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:44:06 GMT

We don't seem to have that problem with Great Danes here in NZ! I do believe that the first few months are critical though for a happy dog and they need a lot of socialising. The ones I have dealt with over the past 42 years have been wonderful with perhaps the odd one being a bit aloof. Mind you, you can get aloof Labradors too. I agree with you regarding the GDV probs but then a lot of the larger breeds are susceptible especially German Shepherds.

Re: Giant Breeds

violet — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:35:06 GMT

not to go against the grain (dont send me hate!) but the danes that i have mostly met have been quite dodgy, like really untrustworthy and emitting a really deep grumbling growl that reverberates all round the kennels. they were mostly quite young though. i have met one lovely one that had lots of GDV issues and she was a real sweetie, but i find most tend to be fairly aloof and nervy. then again they are coming into a vets, and i cant say ive met loads, so im not going to tar the whole breed with the same brush. getting mobbed by an enthusiastic dane puppy sounds like a highlight to the day, and the black male that came in once was a really stunning looking dog, he just kept threatening to eat people!

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:21:15 GMT

My brother lives in Melbourne and is just not coping at all well in the heat! He says its continuous and not having an efficient air conditioner it really is getting quite unbearable.

Re: Giant Breeds

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:47:41 GMT

The heat looks unbearable, but at least they have closed the roof now.

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:52:54 GMT

It is rather confusing eh? But that is an intelligent answer I've been watching the tennis too, it looks so uncomfortably hot over there though. I wonder how the animals are doing in Melbourne. We reached 42 a few years ago and were inundated with dogs and cats suffering from heat stress.

You wont believe this! One of my neighbours has just bought a beautiful black Great Dane pup. OMG!!! It's huge already!! They really are fantastic looking dogs!!

Re: Giant Breeds

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:20:33 GMT

Bloody hell I go and watch the tennis for 10mins and you have all been plugging away.

Christine in answer to your question, why do us humans live longer... well i would say it's the medical care tec, but the way our NHS is going we are all gonna have some type of mutated MRSA, E Bola, E coli, ....etc etc, do not get unwell in this country thats for sure

I think as well diet and standard of living has a big part to play on our life spans, as in the middle ages I think the average age was 30-40, and you were considered ancient then.

The thing that always confuses me re small large breed dogs is, you would think the wee dogs would go first... due to inc HR, when you think on mice/birds etc, but the large breed it is slower and more in line with us humans, yet they dont get the benefit of a longer life, .The only thing I can suggest apart from what i have already said is degeneration of the tissues in the body is more prevelant to the dog than us, we seem to degenerate at a slower rate, as small dogs tend to as well as cats tend to be slower too.

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:05:07 GMT

my two are absolutely fantastic and they live quite happily with my cats though that wasnt always the case.... took a bit of retraining and patience but they got there in the end However, Saskia has killed a strange cat in her time with me and I beleive she would do same again if got chance. Though, every other way, they are by far the best breed of dog I have ever owned

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:59:57 GMT

I have often thought about taking on a Greyhound that is unwanted. They really are one of my favourites, but I'm scared that it will get my cat. What are they like with other dogs?

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:55:28 GMT

4 years!! She was a rescue dog from the local pound. She is such a babe, I love her to bits

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:50:48 GMT

Hahaha funny that!! Saskia is an absolutely gorgeous dog though, how long have you had her?

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:47:44 GMT

magically disappeared imagine!!!

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:46:11 GMT

STRVN - Yes I agree with what you have said about large dogs and their ailments, they also have to pump blood around a bit faster, therefore the heart is under more stress. But why do we humans have long lives?

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:43:52 GMT

Have you got a cold Paula? hehehe

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:39:44 GMT

anyone who has met Saskia has said she is very big/tall. The ......'cough'.......greyhound men who know absolutely EVERYTHING you could possibly know about dogs (might as well have trained to be vet!!) have said she is big enough, you would presume her to be male Saskia was NOT impressed

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:38:50 GMT

STRVN - Smaller breeds do tend to get other serious complaints too, maybe its a physiological reason... mmmm interesting

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:35:37 GMT

I have large dog too. He is a Bull Mastiff/German Shepherd x. Well I think he's large. I would have thought a Greyhound would be almost called a giant, they are so tall, round about 30" or thereabouts!!

Re: Giant Breeds

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:33:53 GMT

Christine, I think it's all the giant /large breed pre disposed illnesses that get them whereas wee dogs dont tend to get them... IE ostesarcoma, and all the ailments of the joints etc.

BTW I love danes too, and the harlequin ones are just my absolute favourite, they are beautiful

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:28:34 GMT

oh, ok well, I have 2 large breeds..... plus a German SH Pointer, Lurcher, Collie/Lab cross

Re: Giant Breeds

Christine Chapman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:24:00 GMT

Umm yes they are classed as a large breed but not a giant

Re: Giant Breeds

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:18:15 GMT

'cough'..... are greyhounds classed as large breeds?