german shepherd/great dane mix

[Flatcoatluver]

Exactly Great Danes already die at a young age because of its size and health problms they get when they grow "older". And German Sheperds have bad hip problems and are prone to hip displaysia at a young age. So why breed the two? And why bring a dog into this world knowing its going to have double the problems?

From taking pet first aid, I learned those two breeds are more likely to get bloat then a lot of other breeds.

[leansnslobbers]

You are correct. Great danes are the number one breed afflicted with bloat, 42% of danes will bloat in their lives.

Shepherds are definitely high on the list as well.

To the OP, one of my foster dogs was a dane/shepherd mix. Cute dog but high strung and neurotic because he was never trained as a young puppy. So at 6 months of age, he was a 90 lb wrecking ball.

The two breeds have entirely different energy needs, growth needs, and temperaments/personalities. I can't see any benefit in breeding the two breeds together...but I can see problems. While hip dysplasia is not terribly common in danes, they are often affected by another, severe skelatal condition - wobblers. Bringing both of these conditions into the same genepool would be devestating, as if one alone is not bad enough.

Please don't breed the dogs. Alter them an enjoy them as they were meant to be - as companions.

[wolfsoul]

The two breeds have entirely different energy needs, growth needs, and temperaments/personalities.

Exactly -- these are two very different breeds. It is not fair to the potential owners who can never know what the puppy is going to be like. Great danes are typically fearful/unconfident dogs ---- you mix a fearful dog with a GSD that is typically more aggressive, you may be breeding fear-biters or shy sharp dogs. But it's impossible to tell -- rather than the two personalities mixing you can be getting a GSD temperment by itself or a great dane temperment by itself. It isn't fair to the owners who are only expecting a cute puppy.

[leansnslobbers]

Great danes are typically fearful/unconfident dogs ----

I disagree that it's a typical breed characteristic. The fearful/unconfident danes are the ones who are never socialized properly, or came from a very poorly planned out breeding where temperament was not assessed in the breeding stock.
The GDCA standard for temperament is such:
The Great Dane must be spirited, courageous, always friendly and dependable, and never timid or aggressive.

But I do agree the two temperaments are vastly unique of one another.

[wolfsoul]

I can only base my opinion on what I've seen -- every show I've been at, more great danes have backed off the judge than anything else. Every great dane that comes into the shop is a wreck of nerves. The few I've met who have been confident, friendly dogs have ironically been from the SPCA. Not saying it's a bad thing, I breed Belgians and still admit that as a breed they are shy, aggressive freaks.

[buttercup132]

You are correct. Great danes are the number one breed afflicted with bloat, 42% of danes will bloat in their lives.

Shepherds are definitely high on the list as well.

To the OP, one of my foster dogs was a dane/shepherd mix. Cute dog but high strung and neurotic because he was never trained as a young puppy. So at 6 months of age, he was a 90 lb wrecking ball.

The two breeds have entirely different energy needs, growth needs, and temperaments/personalities. I can't see any benefit in breeding the two breeds together...but I can see problems. While hip dysplasia is not terribly common in danes, they are often affected by another, severe skelatal condition - wobblers. Bringing both of these conditions into the same genepool would be devestating, as if one alone is not bad enough.

Please don't breed the dogs. Alter them an enjoy them as they were meant to be - as companions.

Wow very well said! I agree I cant see anything positive that would come out of breeding he two only negative things.

[buttercup132]

From taking pet first aid, I learned those two breeds are more likely to get bloat then a lot of other breeds.

Ya and twisted stomachs/intestines