behavior which humans find objectionable and he must be taught that this is not appropriate behavior. Puppies do not know the difference between his toy and the child's security blanket toy he or she must sleep with every night. Many of your child's toys will be chewed and destroyed by a playful puppy. People often want a puppy because the puppy is "smaller". Not for long! Your puppy will grow much more quickly than your child and will soon tower over your child. So, despite the "common sense" that puppies and children "go together", it is often better to get a dog that is 2 + years of age who is older and has better manners and doesn't nip your child in play, doesn't jump up on your child and knock him down, and is less likely to destroy your child's toys.

Myth 2The myth: Dogs who don't "grow up with children" won't like children. The truth: This is absolutely untrue. It is certainly true that some dogs (even those who have "grown up with children") don't like children. This applies to dogs of any breed and mixed breeds as well. However, this is usually the exception rather than the rule. Most Danes, Wolfhounds, and other giant breeds are very gentle, affectionate, and loving with children and are often very protective of them as well. They don't need to "grow up" with children to do so. We have gotten in many, many Danes because the couple gets pregnant and they fear the dog will not like their child (they never even give the dog a chance; they just "throw away" the dog). In many cases, these dogs that people fear will "eat" their child get adopted into homes with children and they are absolutely marvelous with the children. We have personally adopted two Danes into a home with seven children (and one of the dogs is deaf with some visual impairment). They have done wonderfully with the children and the parents couldn't be happier.

Myth 3The myth: It's better to get a puppy, With a dog, you never know what you're going to get. The truth: Again, this isn't true. Puppies are cute, cuddly, and love everybody. Then puberty hits. They quit being so cute, cuddly, and don't always love everybody. If the bad habits that had during puppyhood that were "cute" such as play biting, jumping up on people, etc. weren't corrected, they are no longer going to be "cute." They can be both annoying and dangerous. We got so many calls from people who never taught their puppy any manners and now they "can't handle" the dog and the expect someone else to take responsibility and teach their dog some manners. A dog's personality can change immensely once he or she reaches sexual maturity. This is particularly true if the dog is not spayed or neutered. When you adopt an adult dog from a rescue group, you get a chance to meet the dog and "what you see is what you get". That isn't always true with puppies.

Myth 4The myth: If you train your puppy right, he'll stay in the yard without a fence. The truth: Wrong!!! First, you face the training period, when your dog is "fair game" to be hit by a car (yes, we've had several puppies come into rescue who were hit by a car and the owner didn't want to spend the money to provide veterinary care for the dog, so they expect someone else to take responsibility for the dog), get into poison (this can either be intentional or accidental--you may be very aware that antifreeze will kill animals so you take care not to have any around where a puppy might get into it. Your neighbor who doesn't have a dog may not be as careful), or shot (many people take exception to dogs getting into "their" yard, particularly a giant breed dog whom they think is aggressive just because the dog is big--some people are just plain-out dumb). There is also a large animal theft ring (particularly active in the southeast U.S.). Dogs are often stolen "out of my yard" and are sold to research labs (research labs love giant breed dogs because they usually have a good temperament and are large enough to give "human sized" dosages of things to). People can get $30 to $50 per dog by selling them to research labs; it can be a very lucrative business. In addition, some people enjoy dog fighting events. Dogs are stolen to use as "bait". Danes are perfect bait, as they are large, strong, and will fight back. In addition, Danes and Wolfhounds are often used to breed bigger "pit bulls" (fighting dogs). If you get past the training period without the dog being hit by a car, poisoned, shot, or stolen, then you have to worry about when the dog reaches puberty. When puberty hits and all those hormones start doing their thing, dogs do "what comes natural" and males go out and find a sweet young thing to get pregnant. I don't care how "well" you've trained your male dog, if the female down the street goes into heat, you're going to have absolutely no control over your male and he's going to be down the street howling at the pretty girl in heat. If you have a female dog, no matter how well you've trained her, she's in heat and will mate with all the male dogs who have suddenly appeared on your doorstep (and who keep you awake all night howling at your beautiful dog).

Myth 5The myth: I need a huge yard to exercise my giant breed dog. The truth: Sorry, wrong again. A brisk 30-minute walk once or twice a day will do. Not only will this be good for your dog, it will be good for YOU, too! Many giant breed dogs live very successfully in apartments or mobile homes; in fact, they do better than many smaller (but much more active) dogs such as Jack Russell Terriers, Border Collies, or a Labrador Retriever. Most giant breed dogs are the ultimate couch potatoes. Put a Dane in a room with a couch and the dog will be on the couch before you can leave the room. Most giant prefer the couch to a romp.

Myth 6 The myth: That dog will eat me out of house and home. The truth: It is certainly true that giant breed dogs will eat more than a toy breed, such as a Chihuahua. However, once they are full grown, they actually eat less than some smaller breeds (but much more active breeds). For example, a large Dane or Wolfhound will eat no more (and sometimes less) than a Lab or Golden Retriever. Puppies are another matter. It takes a great deal of energy (in the form of a great deal of food) to do all that growing. A puppy will eat much more than an adult, even though the puppy weighs much less than does the adult.

Myth 7The myth: Females are sweeter and males are more aggressive. The truth: Not necessarily. You can't make gender-based generalities. There are many submissive males and many dominant females. The inability to distinguish between a male and a female (based on personality) is especially difficult once the dog is spayed or neutered (as all but show dogs should be). Unspayed females often exhibit dominant, aggressive, and simply "whacky" behavior when in heat. We've gotten many calls about an "aggressive" female and when we've asked appropriate questions, we find that the dog isn't really "aggressive", she's just undergoing some personality changes while she is in heat. Ever heard of PMS? Whoever said dogs couldn't get it, too? And why else do they call a female dog a "bitch"? In many cases, the people are willing to spay the female and simply marvel over the sudden change and how sweet she's become. Others, however, aren't so willing and tragedy often ensues.

Myth 8The myth: Giant breeds are large dogs and large dogs are "Outside Dogs". The truth: This is very far from the truth. For example, Danes have the same type and amount of hair as a Chihuahua. Why do people expect a Dane to withstand the cold and heat, while they think a Chihuahua is too delicate and needs to be in the house and wear a sweater when outside in the cold? The truth is that no giant breed dog (regardless of which specific breed) makes a "good" outdoor dog. Dogs with very short hair (such as Danes and Mastiffs) suffer in the cold. Dogs with longer hair (such as Irish Wolfhounds, Newfoundlands, and Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs) suffer in the heat. Heat stroke in the summer is not uncommon and hypothermia (and even frostbite) are not uncommon in the winter among "outdoor" dogs. In addition, all giant breeds are very people-oriented and must feel a part of the family. Giant breeds "chained" out, often develop very undesirable behavior and are more likely to act aggressively (we've gotten in "aggressive" Danes that bit a person who was tormenting the dog while the dog was chained and simply could not escape the torment. These dogs were not aggressive; they were simply protecting themselves from harm--any human would do the same!). It is both unfair and cruel to chain a giant breed dog out and then yell and scream at him or her when he or she barks, trying his or her best to tell you he or she wants to be back inside and part of the family. In addition, lying on the hard ground greatly increases the probability that the dog will experience joint problems and early on-set arthritis. These problems cause a great deal of pain to the dog and can be expensive to treat.

Myth 9The myth: My dog is putting her mouth on me. She is aggressive and I simply cannot keep her! The truth: Wait a minute here. What do you mean by "putting her mouth on you?" Is she biting down? Is she breaking the skin? Did you ever teach her when she was young that biting is not an appropriate way to play with humans? One way young puppies play with their litter mates is by biting them. They should be taught at a very young age that this is not appropriate play behavior for humans. It can be taught at any age, it is just best to teach it from a young age, as it can be more frightening and more dangerous when older dogs do it---and is often mistaken for aggression in older dogs. Some breeds tend to be "mouthy" (Danes can be very mouthy) and simply love to put part of your body in their mouth. They do not bite down, they don't hurt, pinch, or break the skin; they just simply like to "hold" you. We humans often mistake this for aggression while to a Dane it means "I love you; you are my human; I want to be near you". Before you claim that your dog is "aggressive", please have him or her assessed by a professional trainer. These trainers can often explain your dog's behavior to you and suggest ways you can teach your dog more appropriate behavior.

Myth 10The myth: If I get a rescue dog, the dog won't bond to me. The truth: The laughter you hear in the background is all the rescue people. The exact opposite is almost always the truth--rescue dogs will CLING to you. The term "velcro dog" applies to many rescues. Look at it from the dog's point of view. He's spent the bulk of his life on a chain in somebody's back yard simply because he committed the unforgivable sin of not being a puppy any more. Sometimes people remember to bring him food or water, sometimes they don't. The only attention he gets is being yelled at because he's barking (begging for his owner to love him). Then he goes for a car ride to a shelter--a very scary, noisy place with bad smells (the smell of death) and is put in a too small kennel where he can hardly stand up and can't move around, and lays on a hard concrete floor that hurts his joints. Or he goes for a car ride and is "dumped" somewhere so he can "fend for himself" and he faces starvation, being shot, poisoned, hit by a car, death from disease. If he's lucky, he goes into rescue and then into a good home where he is inside, fed regularly, has plenty of clean water, and a soft couch to lay on. He's getting positive attention, instead of being yelled at, kicked at, or hit at. He'll be afraid you'll suddenly disappear and he'll want to keep his eye on you to ensure himself you won't suddenly disappear. Rescue parents learn very quickly to function well with a 150-pound "growth" attached to your leg. This is why some rescue dogs suffer so much from separation anxiety. They think the one good thing they've had in their life is leaving and won't come back.

Myth 11The myth: I don't want to have my dog spayed or neutered because: it's not natural/she should be able to have a litter/I want my children to see the miracle of birth, etc., etc., etc. The truth: Don't humanize your dog. You aren't the one being spayed or neutered. Your dog will be healthier and a more usually a better companion if shifted into "neutral". Neutered male dogs roam less, don't "mark" territory as much, and are generally less aggressive. Spayed females avoid the annoying (and messy) heat cycles. Unspayed females often experience dramatic personality changes when in heat, and aren't at risk for unexpected pregnancy. Neutered males are much less likely to get testicular or prostate cancer (yes, dogs can get these, too). Spayed females are much less likely to get mammary (breast) cancer, uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as other diseases of the reproductive system. If you want your children to experience the miracle of birth, tune into the the Discovery Health Channel on your cable t.v. and you can see humans giving birth. If you feel you must use your dog as a teaching tool, ask yourself: "Do I also want my children to experience the "miracle" of all those unwanted puppies and kittens being "put to sleep" at the local shelter?? By breeding and then "dumping" the puppies at the shelter or into rescue, you are teaching your children that they needn't be responsible for lives they create and that the lives of animals aren't important. Certainly that isn't the lesson you mean to teach your children. Don't fool yourself or comfort yourself by thinking the puppies will be adopted. Some may, but most will not be. Some shelters that are overcrowded and simply have no room for any more animals put the dogs to sleep immediately and your dog or puppies will be dead before you get back home. Then there is the issue of genetics. All pure-bred dogs can suffer from a variety of genetic diseases (giant breeds are certainly no exception). Most folks don't want to take the time (not to mention the expense) to learn about these diseases and safeguard the puppies they are creating against them. If you do not do rescue, do not breed!

Great Creatures Rescue Inc. expresses thanks to Betsy Morris of MAGSR (Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue) and DDRI (Deaf Dane Rescue, Inc.) for allowing us to use Betsy's article as a basis (and in some cases outright plagiarism) for this article.