Savanna is an almost 3-year-old, 130-pound, spayed and gastropexied purebred Great Dane (born 04/04/2023). She is microchipped, current on all vaccines, and on monthly flea/tick/heartworm prevention. She has been under the care of a mobile veterinarian since June 2023 and is in excellent overall health. She recently had a minor abdominal abscess that has fully healed. She has no special dietary needs and is fully house-trained.
Savanna is an extremely loving, loyal, and affectionate dog who bonds deeply with her humans. She especially loves children and has a very calm demeanor around them (though her size can understandably make some kids nervous). She is a classic Great Dane couch potato — happy to lounge on the sofa, sleep next to you (or in bed with you), and lean her full 130 pounds into you for scratches. She is vocal, expressive, silly, and protective of her home without being excessive. She alerts when someone approaches the property but settles once the situation resolves.
She enjoys neighborhood walks and does not show leash reactivity or aggression toward other dogs on walks. She is good in the car (a little nervous at first, then settles). She is crate-trained but prefers space; we often use gates, which she respects. She does not have separation anxiety and can be left for several hours without issue. She sometimes needs to potty overnight and will clearly “tell you.”
Savanna has not had formal obedience training. She knows basic home commands (“outside,” “back up,” “down,” etc.) and is very capable of learning more. She does not have reliable recall, especially when stimulated (for example, barking at someone near the fence). If gates are left open, she will explore, though she does not go far. She has learned how to manipulate a gate latch with her nose, so secure fencing is important.
Manners-wise, she is generally well behaved but food-motivated. She will not take food directly from you but will stare while you eat and will take food if left unattended. We’ve been actively reinforcing boundaries (like staying out of the kitchen), and she is responding well and learning quickly.
Behavioral Concern:
Savanna has lived with a large-breed sister and a miniature dachshund and historically did very well with both. However, over the past couple of months, she has developed jealousy-related aggression toward her larger sister. In the last week, she initiated three fights that appear to stem from competition over human attention. We consulted both our veterinarian and a professional trainer who have worked with our dogs previously, and both agree the behavior is likely jealousy/resource-guarding of people.
Importantly: She has never shown aggression toward humans. She has never shown aggression toward dogs outside our home (including at the vet or on walks). She does not jump on guests and has always been social with proper introductions. She has never been to a dog park and has not been off-leash in public settings.
Given the recent escalation, we believe Savanna would do best as the only dog in the home, where she does not have to compete for attention. She thrives on human connection and is just as happy lounging with her people as she is playing.
Savanna is, at her core, a deeply loving, protective, goofy, mellow giant who wants to be close to her humans. In the right single-dog home with structure, consistency, and secure fencing, she has the potential to be an absolutely incredible companion.