Willow recently arrived into rescue and her foster home and is taking her time adjusting to life with a family. She is about 2 years old and is vision and hearing impaired. Willow has had a litter or two of puppies. She is doing fantastic with the two boys in her foster home between the ages of 2 and 6, and in the past few days she has started playing with the other dogs inside and outside. She’s really beginning to blossom and show her personality!

Due to an unfortunate ordeal during transport (she slipped out of her collar) she is wary of strangers and needs the opportunity to approach on her own terms, but a slow approach is a good idea with any dog who is both hearing and vision impaired anyway. We are confident that she’ll become more and more comfortable as she settles in. We are working on her social skills by making visits to Mass O’ Danes (see our Events) and cruising the neighborhoods on walks.

Willow loves to be scratched under her chin, and is a very sweet and girl! Due to her hearing and vision impairments, she’ll ideally be adopted by a family who has another dog to be her buddy.

Jackie is a 9 month old Female Harlequin Great Dane. She came into rescue along with her half-brother Boo. They had both been neglected, but they are now on the road to recovery!!!

Jackie has been in her foster home for 2 weeks now, and is really coming out of her shell!!! She loves to play with her foster sister, Pearl a 8 month old Lab mix(adopted from GDFRL), and she also loves to play with her 3 foster brothers! She is starting to think the cat is a toy, so we are working on correcting that. She is a super laid back puppy, she is also very sweet, and a pleasure to be around. Jackie is going to make a wonderful pet for someone!!!!

Boo is a 1 year young male, who has the most trusting personality and is a joy to be around even after coming from unfortunate circumstances. He came to us emaciated and weighing only 78 lbs. He is heartworm negative, though, so that’s great news! Has already gained weight, and after only a little over a week he is currently weighing 90.5 lbs and is gaining fast.

He is still young, so he has that puppy energy and would love a play buddy. He likes to do a happy dance when he gets fed. It’s adorable! He walks wonderfully on a leash, he is housebroken and figured the doggie door out all on his own (he will pace to let me know if he has to go out if the door is closed, so no worries). He lives with foster siblings big and little does well with both. He is a great car rider and loves to take trips out and about. After all, he is young and has lots to explore!

He wants a family to call all his own. Won’t you consider making him apart of your family?

Josie is extremely gentle and very sweet! She is very shy when she meets new people we are working on building confidence in her foster home and she has come a long way in a short time. Josie is about a year old and was rescued from a high kill shelter so we dont know a lot about her past, but suspect she has not always been treated right by people. Although she is shy, so has absolutely NO aggressive tendencies and is not an alpha. She is very thin but eats hungrily, so we expect her to gain weight fairly quickly.

Josies foster home includes her foster mom, three children (ages 3, 5, and 17), another Great Dane, a lab mix, and two Chihuahuas. She is excellent with the whole household it just takes her a bit of time to get over her fear of new people.

Josie is a smart girl. She has very good house manners and does not chew anything or take anything off the counters or table, even though she could easily reach them if she wanted to. She stays close to her foster mom most of the time but can already be trusted unsupervised in the house. Her foster home has a doggie door and a fenced in backyard – she learned how to use the doggie door very quickly and lets herself in and out to go potty. We hesitate to say she is housebroken, because in a home without a doggie door she would need to learn how to let her people know she has to go outside. Josie has been spayed and is up to date on shots.

Josie would be a great fit for anyone who will continue to teach her that she can trust humans. Because of her sweet and gentle nature, she does very well with kids of every age and other dogs of all sizes (she has not been tested with cats yet because there are no cats in her foster home). Her fear of new people is the only flaw that can be noted, and that is the fault of PEOPLE and her past experiences with them. She flinches when a new person tries to pet her and keeps her tail between her legs when she is afraid. At this point in time, she has been out of the shelter and in her foster home for less than two weeks and has made incredible strides with her confidence she is finally learning that human hands can mean love and not just hurt.

Ansel is a 6 year old boy. He is completely house trained and crate trained. More into to come very soon on Ansel!

Petey is a sweet hunk of love! He’s a 2-3 year old American Bulldog. At his ideal weight, he’ll be around 100 lbs. He originally came to rescue after being picked up by animal control as a stray. He was nervous around men to begin with, and his body, coat, and skin were in poor condition. Since then he’s become quite the social guy! He enjoys other dogs, isn’t particularly interested in cats, and generally wants nothing more than a few good toys to play with and a human to snuggle. He’s very affectionate! He is great in the car, too.

We learned that the reason for the poor condition of Petey’s coat and skin is because he has food allergies. He’s currently on a salmon and sweet potato dry food that he does very well on. We do know for sure that he is allergic to chicken. As long as his diet is monitored, though, he does just fine. He’s currently a little overweight, so we’re working on getting his figure back. He does also seem to have some seasonal allergies, so a little Benadryl as needed helps with his itchiness during those times.

He knows basic commands, and he’s getting the hang of good leash manners. He is a smart boy, but his inner bulldog can make him a bit stubborn sometimes, so Petey will be best suited for a structured home where he will always know exactly what is expected of him. He’s very playful, but is equally willing to just go with the flow as long as he’s gotten a little exercise in during his day. He’s not a very early riser, so he’s great if you want to sleep in. And he snores in his sleep. It’s very cute!

He enjoys being outside with his people and doggy friends and also going on walks or jogs, and he loves human attention so much. His play is on the rough side sometimes, but he’s super friendly. He’s currently in a foster home with three other dogs and two children and is good with them all.

Petey is a sweet boy who just wants his own human to hang out with – to be his friend. Could it be you?

This is Abby. She was found as a stray, and we got her from a county shelter. She did have a microchip, but her owners never responded to any messages to claim her. From the info we have from her microchip she turned 2 yrs old in August. She is a very sweet girl that can be a little shy like she thinks she is going to be hit. Her foster home is working on her confidence and she is just a very sweet girl that just needs a little time.

She loves to play and is good with other dogs. She was very interested in the cat in her foster home but with a couple corrections now leaves her alone and is fine with the cat.

You can see her legs are deformed, and this is probably the result of bad breeding and poor nutrition when she was young. She will be evaluated by our vet to see if there is anything that can be done, but we think that most likely at her age this is going to be a cosmetic issue and there won’t be much we can do to straighten her legs out. Hey, she is BEAUTIFUL! Who cares if her legs are a little bent! With good food and supplements she will be just fine if you don’t care about not having a “perfect” dog. Her legs don’t seem to slow her down or keep her from enjoying life!

Abby’s adoption fee is $325.

Check out this video of her playing! She’s a fun-loving girl:

Indigo is a 2-year old who acts like a puppy. She is high energy and needs plenty of daily exercise. She enjoys long walks, playing fetch, and belly rubs when she’s all petered out from playing. She does very well with other dogs, big and small. She is in foster care with kids of various ages and foster brother and sisters–Great Danes, a Pit Bull, a French Bulldog, American Bulldog, a cat, and a cockatiel. It’s seems as though no one really taught her manners or to walk on a leash, so we are working on both. She knows how to sit and give paw and is starting to walk on a Gentle Lead. She does think she’s a lap dog and will try to climb right up on your lap when you’re sitting on the couch. We are working on being “asked” up on the couch or bed. She learns quickly and is a great student.

Indigo will make the perfect dog for any home as long as she isn’t left too long during the day, has a fenced yard, and daily exercise. Since she loves other dogs, it would be perfect if she could be the addition to another energetic dog(s) so they can roll around together! She certainly is a clown and will provide endless entertainment!!

Indigo’s adoption fee is $325.

Hi, my name is Jax! I was surrendered by a family that couldn’t take care of me and had been keeping me outside, and I would sometimes get out of the fence because I was hungry and lonely. Well, that is because I wanted to be inside with my people! Danes are like that you know! GDFRL gladly took me in and will find me a great home!

The vet guesses that I’m about 6 years old, but who’s counting? On good days I still feel like a spring chicken. Unfortunately for me, my doctor thinks that I may have a fairly mild case of Wobblers that is causing some instability in my back end. But that doesn’t stop me from playing and getting around the house just fine as long as I have carpet or rugs or good traction. I’m great with other dogs and with everyone person I’ve met, including children! I love when they give me hugs!! I should tell you two more things: I am a really laid back kind of guy and that I am one handsome snuggle-bug. I have learned how to live inside, and I’m doing great! I’m good in the car and on the leash and all I want is to be loved.

I love people so much that I can get a bit nervous when they aren’t around, so my ideal family would be with someone who is home more often than not. There is more time for snuggling that way, you know. Unless, of course, you want to take me with you on your lunch or coffee date; I love hanging out at Starbucks’ outdoor seating with my friends. It’s our family routine and has become one of my favorite things!

Check me out enjoying a day on the beach in this video:

In Search Of: a warm sunny spot to nap in, comfy lap for my head and a bowl full of dog food. Here’s Jacki, the sweetest thing you will ever meet in your life. Jacki is a laid back kind of a girl that has regular outbursts of zoomies. All you have to do is stomp your foot in her direction a few times and off she goes! Jacki gets along with everything on the planet; big, small, hairy or otherwise.

She is perfectly house trained (as long as you don’t mind her on your couch and as long as there isnt anything tasty on the counter). She is also crate trained, though, if you feel the need. She has to greet everyone wherever she goes and walks great on a leash. She has what I call an itchy face: she likes to bury her head in your lap and have you scratch her ears and smoosh her squishy face.

When she first came her there were small tiffs over the water bowl and toys but since we showed her who is the pack leader she has been a perfect angel. Jacki is 7 and technically a senior, but no one has told her that. She has a lot of love in her and would make a great addition to any home.

Check out this video clip!

Luna is a wonderful girl about 6 years old. We don’t believe she knows how old she is as she has kept up with a 6 month old Dane that she has been in foster care with. Luna loves nothing more than snoozing on the couch. She is known for curling up with one of my kiddos, 2 and 5 years old, and laying her head on their chests. She does fantastic with children and other dogs. She is great in the house and great riding in the car. Luna is an all around Great Dane!

Damon is a handsome 14 month old Great Dane mix. He is a sweet boy that loves to play hide ‘n’ seek, fetch and enjoys walks. Damon also goes to daycare to help keep up his socialization skills and to simply have fun with other dogs. Damon has completed a 3 week training program at the Dog Wizard and continues to go to group class a few times a month and he really loves it! He is a quick study; learns quickly and wants to please. Damon will need to stay “outgoing” because he needs/depends on meeting new people, new dogs, and going places to continue his growth.

Damon was rescued from a shelter and sadly didn’t know how to “be a dog” – what a reward for him to finally relax a bit and enjoy life for the first time. An amazing gift to give!! In his down time, Damon is the best lap dog!! He loves to snuggle, and be right by your side, he is very loyal companion, he will become your best friend as soon as you meet him. Damon will fit perfectly with a family of older children 12+ and best with a female dog in the home; this is ideal for him. Damon’s foster siblings are a Great Dane, Catahoula, Lab Mix, a cat and a bird! He does well with the foster family zoo!

Eli is an amazing Dane mix. Eli does great in his crate and will go in without coaxing. He walks well on a least with a pinch collar but I’m not sure if you want to put that in or just go with the walks well on a least and then we will explain later. Eli is very well socialized and gets along with the dogs at the dog park. He will walk away from any conflict. Eli does great with children at the dog park and at outings. Eli can have a lot of energy and the more active a family is, the better. The most endearing part of Eli is his heart and his loving spirit. He follows us all around the house and “checks” on us all the time. He is very loyal and always seems to be a happy dog. His tail does not stop wagging. Eli is quite the character and has a great personality.

Jackson is special needs Dane. He has wobblers disease and hip dysplasia, and will need ongoing medical care for the rest of his life.  Wobblers disease is a spinal condition that affects the ability to walk and get around normally.  In Jackson’s case, we do not know if it is congenital or a result of past traumas.

Please don’t stop reading — you can still help even if you can’t adopt.

Jackson’s family couldn’t care for him, and he had a hard time with stairs and would fall and trip down them. They live in a three story house and had had him since he was a small puppy.  We aren’t sure if his Wobblers disease contributed to the falls or is a result of the falls.

He is one of the sweetest Danes we have ever met. Jackson has been going for acupuncture treatments and has gotten such a good report from the vet that he doesn’t have to go back unless his condition deteriorates. This makes us happy!  We will care for Jackson until someone very special adopts him or until we can no longer keep him comfortable with a good quality of life. There is not much we can do for his knees and hips. A dog with Wobblers is already unstable on their feet and doing surgery on either just would not be fair to him and his recuperation time would be extremely difficult. We have put him on high quality grain free food and joint supplements along with weekly Adequan injections.

A word from Jackson (June 9): My vet said I can start reducing one of my herbal supplements and come completely off of it! That means I’m only taking one herbal supplement! Wow!! If you’ve come out to meet me then you know I’m feeling good because I am always on my feet ready to greet the next person who comes by with some talking and some loving! I just get so excited to meet new people! Sometime, if my foster mom isn’t close enough to the person I want to see, I get down on the ground and do a sort of spider-crawl to try and get near them!! I think people think it’s very funny! I love ALL dogs and I even like the cat at my foster house-although I don’t think she likes when I bark at her to try and get her to play with me! Kids are awesome too and as long as I can have some space on the couch, I am set! I’ve got some amazing tricks! I’m very stealthy at sneaking food if you leave it too close to the front of the counter (hello people, I’m a Great Dane-push the food to the back of the counter) and I LOVE to drink out of people’s cups! I’ve also figured out that if I stand in front of you while you are watching TV, you are bound to scoot over and make room for me on the couch!! Now I don’t know about you, but I think those tricks are better than the typical sit and down (which I can do too!)

If you can’t adopt Jackson or a Dane with special needs, please consider a donation. No amount is too small to help Jackson or other Danes in need. You can donate on his bio on our Medical Fund page, our shelter page on Petfinder, or mail a check. All donations are tax deductible — and — GREATLY APPRECIATED!

MORE INFO:
Did you know poor breeding (back yard breeding) can contribute to hip dysplasia. We also know his owners fed him puppy food with too much protein content which caused his growth plates to close too soon and caused abnormalities in his knees. Great Dane puppies should eat adult dog food!

Jackson has his own Facebook page!  “Like” him on Facebook to join his page: Friends of Jackson the Great Dane

Miya has spent two weeks with a professional trainer learning basic obedience. She’s super smart and eager to please!

Miss Miya is a 2 year old dane/pointer mix.  Miya is high energy dog that would be well suited with an active couple or single. She would be awesome to take on runs or hikes and just needs to be kept active. She will do best in a home without small children or elders, and one without other dogs in the home.

Miya was removed from her littermates too early and never learned good social skills with other dogs. We’re working on that and she has shown great improvement! But supervision and socialization are important to continue her progress.

She loves to play with her tennis balls and squeaky toys and you can sit on the couch and watch your favorite show, while tossing a ball off the couch for Miya, and you’ll both be very happy! Miya is perfectly house and crate trained – she goes in and sleeps in her crate at night with the door open – even with a very comfy couch in the same room.  She responds well to verbal correction, and is eager to please.  She might need some refreshers on her training after adoption and will need a family that is willing to do that with her.  Her trainer is offering a 35% discount on this if she happens to be adopted by a local family.  Please see the video below by her trainer, Lena Skov!

Miss Miya has torn her cruciate and will be having surgery to repair it on the 17th of October. Updates will follow as she heals.

Miss Miya has been waiting for her forever home. We hope you will give her the life she deserves!

Miya’s adoption fee is $200.

Training services were volunteered by Lena Skov at Understanding Our Dogs.

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