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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| I am going to graduate high school next year (so thinking ahead and completely hypothetical), and I really want to take something with me to college. My mom already said I'm not allowed to take Black Dog (our 4 year old beagle/cocker spaniel mix), So I asked for a dog of my own. I want a big dog, since I have not had a big dog since my good old female mutt (pit bull/chow/Lab/Bull Terrier/who-knows-what-else *BIG 130lbs*), Chewy, passed away Thanksgiving of 2010, and I'm kinda tired of the ankle biters (Pomeranians and Miniature Pinschers with the outcast, Black Dog). So I have seriously been considering a Great Dane. I have always found them to be a nice dog the few I have met, pretty laid back and I hear they are great apartment dogs. (I am planning on sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with my best friend, she really likes the idea too of a big dog).
So do any of you have any opinions? Any other breeds I should consider? I do not want anything that slobbers excessively, and Danes are good about that. Also no 'pit bulls' (Bull terriers, AST, Mini Bull Terriers, Boxers, etc. The apartment doesn't allow them). Any of you own/have owned Great Danes? I don't want something extemely high energy.
I want an easy going dog that is low maintenance grooming wise, playful but not crazy, smart enough to know the basics, and wants to be a lap dog and hang out but so big it takes up the couch. 
My brain is a box of cats, so sorry if this is kinda unorganized. Any questions, just ask. Thanks
ETA: Not necessarily a puppy. Rescues are a good possibility, we have a great dane rescue not far from around here that I would probably start at.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2014-02-10 11:05 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I got my dog sophomore year of college. Just make sure you have enough money set aside for vaccines (will cost from $50-$75 a visit every 3 weeks for puppy shots), spay/neuter (most animal shelters offer coupons that help), emergencies, routine vet care, food, and most importantly the TIME that a puppy needs. We lived about a mile from campus and I never had to leave my pup in his kennel for long between potty breaks. Plus, he was the easiest to potty train (thank God). An older already house broken dog is a good idea. Great Dane's have a lot of health issues and a short lifespan and are BIG! lol I wanted a big dog to feel safe and my dog is about 75 lbs when he isn't carrying his winter blubber :) happy dog shopping!
Edited by WYOracer 2014-02-10 11:59 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
Location: Missouri | Where are you located? My mother is looking to re-home several of her AKC registered Akitas (she has been breeding and showing for over 20 years) They are all well bred, high quality, healthy and friendly dogs, she just has too many to give them all the attention they deserve and she is starting to age and slow down. Packing water buckets, cleaning kennels, etc. is getting to be a lot of work. So we are looking for INSIDE forever homes. We do require a contract to be signed, stating that if anything does not work out the dog is to be returned to us. If you are interested, PM me. (They range from 80-120 pounds and fit your description perfectly)
Now, if you are not interested! lol. I think Great Danes are beautiful and have always loved them myself. They seem very laid back and look impressive. It seems they would drool a lot though?
Here is a good reference list with basic over views
http://www.animalplanet.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds/large-dog-bre... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
Location: Sunny California | I have never had a dane, but did look into them when I was considering a bigger dog. A friend of mine has one that is 1 yr. old and he just had to have surgery on BOTH legs due to growing so fast (she has insurance on him). She loves him, but also said that one dane is enough and probably won't get another because she didn't realize how big he would actually get. I didn't like the fact that they don't live long enough and usually can have many health problems, so that is something to consider if you will be a "poor" college student like most of us were at one point. Good luck with whichever breed you choose! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
 
| I think it would be a pain in the neck finding places to rent that will allow a dog while you are in college. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I would look for a dog thats under 40 lb. If you ever move, you will find other apartment complexes have a weight limit on their dogs. Not to mention a great dane may get bored in an apartment. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | If you do get a dane, make sure you budget the money for getting the bloat-prevention surgery when you get the dog fixed. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Griz - 2014-02-11 4:30 AM I think it would be a pain in the neck finding places to rent that will allow a dog while you are in college. I agree!
Along with costs to care & feed for a large breed.....not to burst OP bubble, but full time student might not be fair to the dog. Also it may wear quickly on your friendship with having a dog, she maybe in favour at first but.....
Edited by dream_chaser 2014-02-11 9:13 AM
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| I would look into a mutt, honestly most Great Danes have a lot of health problems. I agree with everyone else about a 40lb dog and their not going to eat as much. Find a breed you like and maybe find a young dog that has that in the mix. If you get one that is young instead of a puppy you will have a better idea of energy level. I will say I LOVE our French Brittany Spaniels though. They are small/medium sized, AWESOME apartment dogs but active enough to go jogging etc. , low shedding, no health issues. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| My suggestion would be to wait until you get to college and make sure that you're going to have the time, space, money, etc to give to a dog.
With that being said, we have been researching large dog breeds because we'd like to get a puppy soon. Great Danes are on our short list. I have heard a few negative experiences with them, but in general I've heard that they are very good dogs, friendly, loyal, and they don't slobber like some other large breed dogs. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I really think you should wait. Until you know for sure how college is going to work, don't get a large dog. Circumstances change. Especially if you're going to live in an apartment, a large dog is a terrible idea. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I would suggest to wait a semester or two to see how college life is treating you. Space, time, money, etc. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1392
Location: Central Texas | I own three Great Danes and for this next phase of your life I do NOT suggest a Great Dane. My Danes range in age from 2 to 6yrs. In the last 6 years they have accumulated over 16,000.00 in vet bills. Yes, that is the correct number of zero's. You said you didn't want a dog that drools, well I have one that is a super drooler and all of them are prone to the shoestring hanging out of their mouth look.
Don't get me wrong I love them and they are great dogs but I see too many people that THINK they want a big dog and then when it actually gets big they decide it's too much dog. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I had enough trouble "sneaking around" keeping a cat - but a cat was a lot easier to hide. |
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Member
Posts: 25
| I got my dog my junior year of college and I have never regretted getting him while I was in school. He is a German Shepherd and the love of my life 
You seem to have owned plenty of dogs in the past so I think you will be fine if you have a dog while you're in school. As long as you stay in apartments and not in the dorms it won't be an issue. And honestly you have a lot of time between classes and a broken up schedule usually gives you more time to spend with your new puppy than most people who work was my experience!
I love Great Danes and they do make good apartment dogs because they are low energy, but the poor babies have so many health problems due to their size I'd avoid them until you have an income just in case. I would HIGHLY recommend a German Shepherd!!!
Not only are they big dogs, but you will not find a more loyal, loving, or protective breed of dog. I got mine because I was a girl living with two girl roommates and it just made us feel protected having him around. Not even sales people came to our door!! HAHAHA! Just make sure you avoid the ones with slanted backs as they have a lot of hip problems, and be aware that they shed, A LOT! But other than that amazing dogs, personally I'll never own any other breed!!
FYI I kept my German Shepherd in an apartment and he did great as long as we made it to the dog park every other day :) He turns 3 in august and I just recently graduated so I definitely know what you are going through!! Good luck in your dog search and hope you find the perfect puppy when you head off to school!!
A lot of people are going to tell you to wait for a lot of things until you are out of school, but don't put your life on hold just because you are. I didn't and I don't regret it one bit 
Edited by SCS89 2014-02-11 11:29 AM
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I'd recomend getting a stuffed animal dog. They are pretty inexpensive to maintain (no food, water, potty training accident, spay/neuter, vet bills). You can leave them home all day and they never get bored. Which means you can stay out all night also and not feel guilty. Also most appartments do no have limits as far as size of these dogs, you could get one as large as you want. I think the best place to get one is usually at the carnival , they come in all colors.
But seriously, I think a dog at college could seriously damage your social life. On the other hand if it were me, I'd go with a doberman! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 822
Location: Southwest New Mexico | please don't get a dog when you are in college, speaking from past experience its not fair to the dog and kinda holds you back from a true college expereince |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | If you are fortunate enough to able to just go to class...and not also have to hold down a job while in school...perhaps a dog would be a good thing. But for most of us college was a hectic time with managing a full class load, extra curriculars like band (yep...I'm a former band nerd), and working as many hours as possible to pay the bills. I was determined to graduate without any debt.
I would have loved to have a dog and a horse...but...I settled for a nice betta fish and as it turned out that was about all I had time to take care of and feed. I didn't consider it putting my life on hold...but rather taking the steps to ensure I would ultimately have the life I wanted. It would not have been fair to a dog to have to go through that time with me.
Your current housing plan includes an apartment that apparently allows large breed dogs and a roomate that is up for the deal. That's a pretty rare thing. That's great. But life is funny and doesn't always take us where we originally planned. Just be sure you prepare for that possibility so that you can take your big furry buddy with you wherever you do end up. |
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 Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | I would reconsider a large dog due to your upcoming living situation. Many apartments that allow pets will have restrictions on breeds, size of pets and number of pets. Choosing to keep a pet that doesn't fall within the commonly allowed guidelines will limit your housing opportunities. You may not be able to share an apartment with your friend for your entire stay at college. You might have to move and having a large dog might make finding a new place tough. And finding a new roommate that's willing to accept a large dog might be even more difficult.
If you do decide to get a dog, I would go for an adult dog. You are looking for specific personality traits in a potential dog (laid back, playful not crazy, smart, no drool, wants to be a lap dog) and it can be hard to judge how puppies and young dogs will turn out when they mature. Go for an adult dog, focus the search more on the specific traits you're looking for (not so much on the breed), make sure they're fixed and enjoy your new friend 
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | The bigger the breed of puppy, the bigger of a chewer they are, so be prepared if you are living in an apartment and gone most of the day for classes and evenings hanging out with friends. |
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