What If I Have A Problem With A Dog I Adopted From Great Creatures?
What If I Can't Keep A Dog I Adopted?
Do I Get A Refund If I Return A Dog?
Do I Have To Have A Fenced Yard?
Does An "Underground Fence" Count?
Can I Leave My Dog Outside?
Can I Leave My Dog Outside While I'm At Work?
How Should I Introduce My New Dog To My Other Pets?
Am I Required To Take An Obedience Class?

Hw Long Do Danes and Wolfhounds Live?
What Kind of Health Problems Do Danes and Wolfhounds Have?
What Should I feed my Dane or Wolfhound?
How Can I Find Other Rescue Groups?
Should I Get A Rescue Dog or Buy A Puppy?
If I Get A Rescue Dog, Will He Or She Bond With My Family?
My dog has a behavior problem. What can I do?
I Have a Deaf Dane. Can I get help and support?
How Can I Help?

How do I adopt a dog?
In order to adopt a dog from Great Creatures Rescue, Inc., you must fill out an adoption application, sign a Terms of Adoption Agreement, and allow someone from Great Creatures Rescue to visit your home. We will also ask you to provide us with references. Once you have been approved to adopt, you may meet the dogs currently available for adoption. When you meet a dog you like, you can then adopt. For more information on our adoption process, click on the Adoption Process link.

How Long Does The Adoption Process Take?
The length of time it takes to adopt depends to a certain extent on how long it takes you to obtain and complete the adoption materials. Once we receive the materials, we'll contact you and arrange for a home visit. These are usually done in the evenings or on weekends. It is possible for you to receive your adoption materials, complete them, and return to us in one or two days. In some cases, people have gone through the entire adoption process in two days and picked up their dog on the third day.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt A Dog?
The adoption fee for a young, healthy dog is $305. For an older dog (a dog older than 5 years of age), a dog that has on-going health problems such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or Addison's disease, the cost is less, usually $155. We adopt mixes for $155.

Why Does It Cost So Much?
We charge for our dogs because it is one of the ways in which we can afford to continue doing rescue work. We receive no funds from any outside sources. Thus, we rely on adoption fees and donations to help defray our expenses for getting the dogs spayed or neutered, giving them their shots, treating them for any medical problem they have when they come into rescue. For example, if a dog comes in that is not currently neutered, not current on shots, has heartworms and intestinal worms, our costs for treating this dog can exceed $1,500. A $305 adoption fee doesn't usually make a dent in what we spend on most of the dogs we accept into rescue.

What If I Have A Problem With A Dog I Adopted From Great Creatures?
Please notify us immediately if you have a problem with a dog you adopted from us. We will help you work through the problem if that is your wish (we can refer you to several experienced dog trainers) or we will take the dog back. If you return the dog to us, you will receive a partial refund of one-half of your adoption fee if you return the dog within 30 days. After 30 days, you will receive no refund.

What if I can't keep a dog I adopted from Great Creatures?
If you cannot keep the dog you adopted from us, we ask that you return the dog to us, rather than finding the dog another home on your own or turning the dog into a shelter. If you know of someone who would like to adopt the dog, you may refer them to us and they will need to go through our adoption process.

If I return a dog to Great Creatures, do I get a refund?
If you return the dog to us, you will receive a partial refund of one-half of your adoption fee if you return the dog within 30 days. After 30 days, you will receive no refund.

Do I have to have a fenced yard?
The answer to this question is, It depends. If you are interested in adopting an Irish Wolfhound, we will require that you have a fence. There can be no exceptions since Irish Wolfhounds are sight hounds and hunt by sight. When they see "prey", they will give chase and will not stop to look for cars before darting into a busy street. No amount of training, begging, cajoling, pleading, yelling, or screaming can overcome thousands of years of instinct at work. If you are interested in adopting a Great Dane, we will allow some dogs to go to some homes without a fence. Please be aware that if you do not have a fence, you will be required to walk your dog on a leash at all times-including 3:00 a.m. when it's 35 degrees and raining and your dog asks to go outside! Preference is given to good homes with a fenced yard. Generally speaking, if you do not have a fence, you will need to provide us with evidence that your dogs will not end up being: hit by a car; shot/poisoned by a person who takes exception to your dog getting in their yard; picked up by the shelter for running at large; running away and getting "lost" forever; being stolen and sold to a medical research lab or sold as bait for fighting dogs. Note: Both of these activities are rampant in the part of the country! If you do not have a fence, and you want a dog, one of our first questions will by "Why don't you have a fence?" Be prepared to answer.

Does An "Underground Fence" Count?
No. We consider an "underground fence" as no fence. These underground fences are fraught with problems. First, the fences sometimes fail for no apparent reason. When the fence fails and the dog receives no tingle as he or she approaches the perimeter, they will get closer and closer and finally cross the "invisible line" that determines the fence line. Second, when the electricity goes out, so does the underground fence. Electricity goes out when the weather is clear, as well as during storms. Your dog should never be out in a storm, but he or she may need to go out before electricity is restored. In addition, he or she may happen to be out on a clear day when the electricity goes out. Third, some dogs do not "respect" the shock given by the collar and will ignore the pain. It is more rewarding to them to get out and run around the neighborhood, meet people and other dogs, than it is negative to receive a small shock. Fourth, some dogs with sensitive skin will be harmed by the probe on the inside of the collar if the collar is left on for long periods of time. In addition to the four problems listed above, there are other problems with underground fences. Underground fences do not keep strange dogs out of your yard. Strange dogs can enter your yard and bring in diseases that your dog can get, even if your dog is current on vaccinations. Strange dogs can also come into your yard and begin a fight with your dog. We had a dog turned into rescue because the neighbor's small dog came into her yard (even though she had an underground fence) and started a fight with her Dane. The small dog was severely injured. The neighbors threatened to have the Dane put down because she was "aggressive". The Dane was not aggressive. On the other hand, if you also have a small dog, a large dog can enter your yard and begin a fight with your small dog and your small dog can be severely injured or killed. Underground fences do not keep strange people out of your yard. This is not good for two reasons. First, while most Danes are friendly and like other people, there is always a chance that they may view a strange person in the yard as a threat to you, your family, or themselves. A stranger can be bitten. Second, there is a large dog theft ring in the southeast. People steal dogs from yards and sell them to research labs or use them as bait for fighting dogs. Research labs pay $30 to $50 per dog. Thus, a person can make a healthy profit by stealing dogs. Research labs like to receive Danes and Wolfhounds because they are large enough that they can simulate human dosages on them.

Can I leave my dog outside?
Obviously dogs need a chance to go outside to go to the bathroom and to exercise. However, dogs may NOT be left outside as primarily outdoor dogs. This applies to both Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes. Both of these breeds are extremely social dogs and enjoy the company of their family. If left outside, many of these dogs become "escape artists" in order to get back to the house and their family. It is cruel to leave these social dogs outside by themselves!! In addition, both Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds will suffer heat stroke during the hot summer days if left outside. Great Danes can freeze to death on the coldest winter days. In addition, there is a very active dog theft ring in this part of the country. Many of the dogs left outside in their yard, particularly when the owners are away, are stolen and taken to research labs. Research labs will pay up to $50 per dog. People can make a good living selling stolen dogs to research labs! Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds are particularly at high risk because they are in great demand by research laboratories since they are about the same size and weight as many humans.

Can I leave my dog outside during the day while I am at work?
NO! Both Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds will suffer heat stroke during the hot summer days if left outside. Great Danes can freeze to death on the coldest winter days. In addition, there is a very active dog theft ring in this part of the country. Many of the dogs left outside in their yard, particularly when the owners are away, are stolen and taken to research labs. Research labs will pay up to $50 per dog. People can make a good living selling stolen dogs to research labs! Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds are particularly at high risk because they are in great demand by research laboratories since they are about the same size and weight as many humans.

Am I required to take an obedience class?
No, you are not REQUIRED to take an obedience class. However, we do recommend it highly. Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds are very LARGE dogs and can pull even a large man at the end of their leash. These dogs often come into rescue because the people who have then "cannot control" them. This is a "problem" easily cured by a simple basic obedience class. In addition, a basic obedience class not only teaches your new dog some good manners, it provides an opportunity for you and your new dog to bond as well as that it helps to establish you, the human, as the leader of the pack. All dogs like to live in a pack structure with a clear leader. If you are not the leader, your dog will be and trouble will often ensue!

How should I introduce my new dog to my other pets?
We suggest that, if at all possible, you bring your other pets to meet the dog before you bring your new pet home. It is best to introduce the new animals at a neutral territory, such as a park. This way, neither animal feels that the other is "invading his territory". If your old pet sees you welcoming the new family member, this will give him or her the message that this new dog is "okay". Do not be surprised if there is a growl or two the first day or two at home. There is bound to be some "discussion" over who gets the couch, whether toys can be shared, etc. It is also a good idea to feed the dogs and give them treats in separate locations for the first bit, to be sure there is no disagreement about "stealing" or "threatening" to steal food or treats.

How long do Great Dane and Irish Wolfhounds live?
Unfortunately, all large dogs tend to have a shorter life span than do smaller dogs. Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds generally live from 8 to 11 years if well cared for. Some die younger than this, unfortunately, but some also live beyond their 12th birthday. Mixes tend to live a bit longer than pure-breds.

What kind of health problems do Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds have?
You can find more information under Great Danes, Great Dane Health and Irish Wolfhound, Irish Wolfhound Health. Also check the links for both Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound Health.

What should I feed my Great Dane or Irish Wolfhound?
We suggest feeding high quality food, such as Science Diet, Nutro, Eukanuba, etc. These foods are of better quality and may help to prevent bloat. In addition, they are more digestible and produce less stool. This is important for a dog with a stool the size of a Dane or Wolfhound!! For good information on feeding, go to http://www.sunnysidefarm.com/feeding.html.

How Can I Find Other Rescue Groups?
Links for Great Danes
Links for Irish Wolfhounds

Why should I adopt a rescue dog instead of a puppy?
Why should I adopt somebody else's "problem"?
Most dogs come into rescue through no fault of their own. They simply had the misfortune of being with the wrong people at the wrong time. Most dogs come into rescue because of PEOPLE problems, not DOG problems! Most of the dogs who come in will need a basic obedience class or refresher. In addition, these dogs will already be housetrained, most will be beyond the "chewing" stage, they will require shots only once a year (rather than every 3 weeks for boosters as required for puppies), and will already be spayed or neutered.
I don't want to adopt a rescue dog because it won't bond with me and my family
This is an unfortunate myth that is simply not true. Dogs that have been subjected to the worst in life (and some of the dogs we get into rescue have literally lived through hell), really appreciate it when they receive a loving touch, kind words, and a warm, dry place to sleep. These dogs often bond more strongly than a puppy who has never known an unkind word or deed. The fellow pictured here is a good example. This is Daffy, who came to Great Creatures Rescue at the advanced age of 8 years. Daffy bonded very tightly to his foster family and is a true "Velcro Dane".

My dog is having a behavior problem. What can I do?
If you are in the state of Tennessee, we can probably recommend a trainer you can consult. If you are in the Knoxville area, we can refer you to trainers and to a behavioral specialist, Dr. Elizabeth Schull. In addition, the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago has a web-site staffed by qualified trainers who will work with you on-line for behavioral problems. Visit them at: http://www.anticruelty.org/behavior_hotline.html. This is an excellent service and they can help you with even seemingly insurmountable problems. They will respond quickly.

I have a Deaf Dane. Where can I get help and support?
Unfortunately, poor breeding practices have produced many Danes that are deaf (and some deaf Danes also have visual impairment). These dogs do not need (nor deserve) to be "put down." These dogs can and do live perfectly happy lives and their owners need to make very few special arrangements for their safety and happiness. If you have a deaf Dane, or are thinking of adopting one, you will absolutely need a fenced yard. Should a deaf Dane get out and get in the street, the results could be even more disastrous than for a hearing dog. A deaf dog will be unable to hear a car approaching and will not be able to react and get out of the way. It is also a grand idea to have a "normal" (hearing) dog who can help his deaf brother or sister to cope with his or her environment. There are many resources available for folks who are thinking of adopting a deaf Dane. The following links are of great help. Some of these links deal specifically with Danes, some with other breeds (for example, many Dalmatians are deaf and there is a great resource for people with deaf dogs of any breed), and others deal with dogs "in general". Deaf dogs are sweet and affectionate and need and deserve a loving home just as much as any hearing dog does.
http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/index.html
http://www.deafdogs.org
http://www.deafdogsatlas.com/
http://www.deafk9.com/
http://www.geocities.com/dalsnsetters/webring/ http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9576/trainer.html
http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm
http://www.dalrescue.com/deaf.html

How can I help?
We can use lots of help! Financial donations are certainly needed and appreciated. In addition, basic office supplies such as stamps, printer paper, printer cartridges, long distance calling cards are needed. Dog supplies such as collars and leashes, large sized crates and beds are always needed. If you cannot donate money, we need foster homes! The more foster homes we have, the more dogs we can help. We also need help with transporting dogs from shelters or surrendering homes. You can also help by manning booths at some of our events.