League educates public about 'house ponies'

Great Dane organization distributes information about breed in Randolph

BY TEHANI SCHNEIDER
DAILY RECORD

Sue Broderick, Duke, and Laurie Zoock at Petland Discounts in Randolph

RANDOLPH - When Laurie Zoock adopted her 6-week-old Great Dane puppy, the pooch showed no signs of the giant he would grow to become one day.

Six years later, Duke weighs m at 130 pounds and towers over the 5-foot, 10-inch Zoock when he stands on his hind legs.

"He doubled in size every month," said a smiling Zoock.

Yet Zoock knew what to expect when she got her Great Dane. She says a friend of hers owned his mother, and, when Duke was born, she couldn't resist taking the puppy home.

Today, Duke is a happy and healthy Dane who enjoys long walks with Zoock in her neighborhood and on the waterfront at Jefferson's Lake Shawnee. Zoock says Duke loves people, particularly children, and the attention he receives on a daily basis from passers-by.

Zoock's story is similar to many others who took home puppies that grew into "house ponies," as Great Danes often are called. However, some found their full-grown Danes too difficult to manage, and many were abused, neglected and abandoned as a result.

It is the mission of,the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League to find suitable homes for the dogs and to educate prospective owners and the community about proper care for the breed. Founded in 1979, MAGDRL is a nonprofit organization that serves seven states in the Mid-Atlantic region, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

"A lot of people ... when they get a dog, they don't put a lot of effort into training," said Sue Broderick, Webmaster for the New Jersey chapter of MAGDRL.

Broderick, who was distributing the league's literature at Petland Discounts on Saturday morning, said, "When you have a dog that's 150 pounds or so, that becomes a real problem."

In addition to owning a Dane, Zoock is MAGDRL's public relations director. She agrees that basic obedience training is important and that all owners should take caution with it.

The typical Great Dane grows to 3 feet tall at the shoulder - and 6 feet tall on its hind legs - and weighs about 130 pounds.

"In six months with a Dane, you're in trouble if you haven't trained them," she said.

According to Broderick, it also can be very expensive to keep a Great Dane. In addition to their sheer size, the massive quantities of food they consume every month can only be premium.

Another problem

Another problem that has led to the plight of the Danes is the fluctuation in sales of the dogs. Both Zoock and Broderick point to the release of the two Scooby-Doo movies in recent years, which generated a new interest in the breed among young children. Giving in to the fad of owning a Great Dane was the culprit in those situations.

"You have people rushing out to buy these dogs, often for their children, and they can't handle it," Broderick said. "A Dane that is exuberant can knock over small children with its tail."

Broderick said MAGDRL will send a representative to thehome of a potential owner. To prepare for the dog's introduction into the home, the MAGDRL representative will bring a Dane in order to judge whether the home can accommodate the giant pet.

If the potential owner already has pets, they must be neutered or spayed before the Dane can be introduced. The interaction between the Dane and the pets also will be observed.

Zoock said MAGDRL has between 70 and 90 Great Danes available for adoption. The dogs live with volunteers who train them and provide medical care. She said MAGDRL does not offer adoption between December 15 and January 1 because holiday pets tend to be impulse buys.

Tehani Schneider can be reached at (973) 428-6621 or tschneider@gannett.com.