Deaf Danes

Question
Hi.  I have read just a few of your comments regarding deaf Danes, and I am curious about specific thoughts.  This is not an attempt at an attack, and I hope you will not see it as one.  I respect your experience and hope you will respect mine.  I have serious questions about my deaf Great Dane, but I also have serious ideas based on what I have learned over the years about dogs in general.  

What exactly is your opinion on Deaf Danes interacting with cats, children, and their behavior in general?  Is it just deaf Danes or all deaf dogs?  You said that your dogs will kill anything that runs.  You are not suggesting that ALL Danes would "kill anything that runs" are you?  Again, I am not attacking, I am asking an honest question.  I own a deaf Great Dane and I own cats, lots of them, and if I need to be concerned then I should know. I also have a 4 year old son.  I am open minded and like to "hear all sides" so to speak.  I have never seen any signs of aggression towards my cats, or my son...or even my guinea pigs for that matter.  I am able to sit on my couch with a guinea pig on my lap and my dogs at my feet and a cat on my shoulder, with no worries.  Should I be concerned about my Dane acting out under those circumstances when he never has before?  If my Dane does ever act out like that, shouldn't I be able to train him somehow to stop?  I could never part with him or my cats, and do not want to put my son in danger, so you can see my cause for concern.  Please advise.  Thank you.

Answer
Danes are hounds and will hunt from instinct, just like greyhounds and whippets.

They will interact with local cats and dogs if they are raised that way.  Our dogs never see cats, foxes, rabbits, hares, pheasants, etc around the house so when they see they in the fields they automatically give chase.  If they catch anything it is brought back in a sorry state if not dead.  Cats are usually too nimble to catch and will put up a fight which allows rescue atttempts.

Household pets that run are seen as just playing although they have been known to kill the family pet rabbit when playing too hard.

Thye are usually fine with children if brought up with them.  I had one that didn't like children running and screaming and picked one up by the hair and carried her round the garden, without harm!  Danes are terrible for holding your hand and taking you for a walk.  This can be disconcerting for children, and adults, who tend to pull away and tear the skin where if they just left it in the mouth there would be no damage.  I have an old dog who comes and chews my hand if he wants fuss.

I've trained dogs to hand signals and it is quite easy, the problem is getting them to look and if they are deaf you can't get the attention; which means they can never be safely let off the lead to run free unless they are on secure property.

My comments are meant

1) to protect me if anyone has a problem with a deaf dog as a result of my advice.

2) they are not good pets for the unwary or novice owner which is why most breeders put them to sleep rather than run the risk of accidents happening.  There is enough publicity over dogs biting the last thing we want is a dane branded as a 'dangerous dog'.  If one did kill or damage a child the breeder would be at fault and could be prosecuted.

There are people, I understand, who breed white dogs knowing that they are likely to be born deaf, I can't see the point when you can breed for dogs without deafects.  It's like breeding for blindness.

I belive that if the deaf dog is raised in a household with other pets and children it will probably be alright but it never hurts to warn the children not to jump on the dog when it is sleeping, for instance.  A difficult concept to get across to a two-year-old.

Hope that is useful.

Ken