- If the food can be reached, it will be reached. Odin is an equal-opportunity-eater (EOE), and makes no discrimination as to animal, vegetable, mineral, human food, nonhuman food, or even nonfood.
- The larger dog's, er....leavings...are proportionate to their size. Many, many paper towels may be required if there is an accident.
- There will always be some drool and slobber. It will find its way to your hands, clothes, furniture, and monitors. The sooner you accept this reality, the better
- Danes in particular like to follow their pack around. Literally one step behind you.
- Danes are all legs. These present a new and immediately exciting opportunity for testing your balance should you accidentally trip.
- Any snacks you might feel particularly inclined to eat later on should be placed as far back on the counter as you can. Better yet, stick them in the cabinets.
- Leaving food on the stove to serve yourself from can be dangerous to the dog if it's still hot and he just has to try it.
- They love you no matter what. Even if you lose your temper and yell at them, their perfect contrition comes through and melts your heart.
- They likely will sleep in your bed, whether you like it or not.
- Everything is bigger, and therefore more expensive: medicines must be delivered at heavier doses (bodyweight ratio), kennels or crates are major pieces of furniture running to the many hundreds of dollars, collars and leashes need to be stronger and bigger, and they eat alot of food.
- Puppies must be trained from the very youngest of an age to be obedient in all things, and you must be very assertive. Ever see wee yappy little terriers? They only think they're a Great Dane's size. A Great Dane really IS that size and knows it, too!
- Adopting an older dog may be better than a puppy. Older dogs generally have a better sense for housebreaking and understand what NO means.
- You have to make yourself aware of illnesses and conditions that giant breeds are prone to, and even more so for senior citizen canines. Bloat (gastric torsion) can occur quickly and kill them very, very fast. Knowing first aid for this may be crucial.
- Unless you're standing them to stud or breed, have your dog fixed. If you are standing them to stud or breed, be responsible and have registration papers. There's many types of diseases that can be passed on genetically.
- Don't believe everything you read on the Internet about dogs, especially when someone speaking from their own experience says, for instance, you must elevate food bowls. Personally, I do. There are others who do not, and they have their reasons. I won't cast any sort of judgment or aspersions at them, because they are doing what they feel best.
More might come later as this dog keeps teaching me stuff.
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