# Anyone here have a Great Dane? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718 "2011-10-05T19:44:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/41 "2011-10-06T22:41:38Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Very cute! > Are you going to leave his ears natural? Debating, so unsure. I really like the pinned ears, but I don’t want to cause little Gunnar (I like it with an “A”) pain. Probably pretty expensive to do as well. Anyone know the cost and how much pain it causes the pup? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/42 "2011-10-06T22:51:04Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Debating, so unsure. I really like the pinned ears, but I don’t want to cause little Gunnar (I like it with an “A”) pain. Probably pretty expensive to do as well. Anyone know the cost and how much pain it causes the pup? Not a whole lot of discomfort from what I understand. I’ve never done it but according to a Doberman friend it’s not something that has really bothered her pups. I do know that if you get it done, you should look for a vet very experienced with the procedure and breed so you get nice, even, correct ears. I personally like the natural ear look better on Danes, since he’s not going to be shown (I’m assuming) I’d let them hang. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/43 "2011-10-07T00:40:19Z")
I wouldn’t… I think it’s cruel. [http://blacksheepcardigans.com/ruff/dog-health/as-promised-cropping-and-docking-controversies/](http://blacksheepcardigans.com/ruff/dog-health/as-promised-cropping-and-docking-controversies/) from a former Dane breeder and all around smart lady ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/44 "2011-10-07T00:43:20Z")
I think it’s cruel, too. I love the way they look with natural ears. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/45 "2011-10-07T00:54:41Z")
I’ve wanted a great dane for years and years now. Congrads on the puppy! Some day, when my commute is far less, I plan to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/46 "2011-10-07T01:42:08Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Not a whole lot of discomfort from what I understand. I’ve never done it but according to a Doberman friend it’s not something that has really bothered her pups. I do know that if you get it done, you should look for a vet very experienced with the procedure and breed so you get nice, even, correct ears. > > I personally like the natural ear look better on Danes, since he’s not going to be shown (I’m assuming) I’d let them hang. You can’t “show” merles anyway, at least nothing AKC recognized. Maybe local dog shows. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/47 "2011-10-07T03:45:34Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > You can’t “show” merles anyway, at least nothing AKC recognized. Maybe local dog shows. That’s what I heard, but no interest in showing or breeding. His daddy has papers, but not mom. Both pure, but the lack of proper papers is of no interest to me. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/48 "2011-10-07T03:57:49Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > You can’t “show” merles anyway, at least nothing AKC recognized. Maybe local dog shows. Ah, I forgot about that. [Right you are.](http://www.6stardanes.com/colors.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/49 "2011-10-07T13:09:22Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Debating, so unsure. I really like the pinned ears, but I don’t want to cause little Gunnar (I like it with an “A”) pain. Probably pretty expensive to do as well. Anyone know the cost and how much pain it causes the pup? I don’t, but I have a Dobie with [natural ears](http://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/4153785968/). She uses them to make an ungodly flapping sound when she wants to wake us up, and that’s the only time I wish we’d cropped ‘em. 🙂 Most of the time, I think they make her look much friendlier, and I’m glad, because I don’t want people to be frightened of her. (Most people are wary anyway). I wouldn’t want to cause her pain either. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/50 "2011-10-07T13:43:12Z")
He is ADORABLE!! I love the merle color, too. Just this Saturday I was at Rural King and there was a couple with their 6 month old merle Dane puppy and I got to love on her and got smooched. As to ear cropping, I have had it done on Dobermans before, it never seemed to bother them too much. I prefer the cropped eard on Dobies, but Danes I live either way. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718/51 "2011-10-07T13:52:49Z")
Cropping the ears is cruel, IMHO, and a pain for you, also. They have to be [taped into position](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Boxer_puppy_ears_taped.jpg) for several weeks to get them to stand. This complicated dressing has to be changed a lot, falls off a lot because they’re puppies, and is uncomfortable for the dogs beyond the discomfort of the actual cutting of the ears. Many vets refuse to do this surgery. Super cute puppy, congrats! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-great-dane/598718.md?page=2)