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Great Dane returned after being stolen
Jun. 05, 2013 @ 01:19 PM
HIGH POINT —
You come home from work looking forward to seeing your best friend. You open the door and all is quiet. No one comes to greet you. Your heart sinks because your best friend is mysteriously gone, and your house has not been disturbed.
This is the scene Marcie Trogdon came home to in November 2011 when her 175-pound black Great Dane, Zorro, was stolen from her home. Trogdon was devastated. To help her with her grieving process, in December she was given another Great Dane for Christmas. Trogdon named her Bailey.
Fifteen months after the theft, in February 2013, just as mysterious as Zorro was stolen, he was returned. Trogdon was ecstatic. Zorro had a few minor health concerns, but overall he was in good condition. Zorro also had a new member of his family he needed to get to know, Bailey. Trogdon had two very large dogs she loved.
“They are just super-big, lap dogs. They actually don’t realize how big they are. I have had five Great Danes over the past 25 years. I fell in love with the breed,” Trogdon said.
Zorro is now almost 6 years old and weighs 175 pounds. Bailey is 19 months old and weighs 125 pounds. Both dogs live up to the name “gentle giants.”
Great Danes are smart dogs. They are easily trained. They are very people oriented and are clingy to their owners. Being such large dogs, Great Danes should have some training to be easily managed and to stay safe. Trogdon has taught her Great Danes more than 25 vocabulary words and basic commands. Trogdon’s education of her dogs has gotten to the point where she must spell out certain words when discussing them, such as walk, leash and biscuit. The dogs energetically react to these words.
“Bailey did have some formal training, but Zorro was home schooled,” Trogdon said.
Great Danes, just like any pet, are a huge responsibility. Trogdon strongly suggests if anyone is thinking about getting a Great Dane to do their research. Most people cannot handle the enormous responsibility they require. Trogdon speculates that may have been the reason Zorro was returned. She is grateful he was returned instead of sold or just put out somewhere.
Trogdon adds that Great Danes aren’t cheap.
“You should expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $2,000 for a Great Dane puppy at a breeder. I would tell a person who wants a Great Dane to be aware of the amount of dedication it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle for these dogs. They require a lot of space, and attention. They are primarily indoor dogs. They do have health conditions specific for large dogs such as bloat (twisting of the stomach) and hip dysplasia. They require regular visits to the vet. They eat a large amount of food. My dogs eat about 30 pounds of food every four weeks,” Trogdon said.
Trogdon says if you can get past the expense of a Great Dane, the biggest drawback is their short life span. Great Danes typically live eight to 10 years.
“They are such family-oriented dogs. They want to be wherever I am. They are well-socialized. My dogs go with me everywhere, Petsmart, Lowes, Tractor Supply, my farm. Danes are such special breeds. If you are willing to put forth the effort, the rewards are unbelievable,” Trogdon said.
This is the scene Marcie Trogdon came home to in November 2011 when her 175-pound black Great Dane, Zorro, was stolen from her home. Trogdon was devastated. To help her with her grieving process, in December she was given another Great Dane for Christmas. Trogdon named her Bailey.
Fifteen months after the theft, in February 2013, just as mysterious as Zorro was stolen, he was returned. Trogdon was ecstatic. Zorro had a few minor health concerns, but overall he was in good condition. Zorro also had a new member of his family he needed to get to know, Bailey. Trogdon had two very large dogs she loved.
“They are just super-big, lap dogs. They actually don’t realize how big they are. I have had five Great Danes over the past 25 years. I fell in love with the breed,” Trogdon said.
Zorro is now almost 6 years old and weighs 175 pounds. Bailey is 19 months old and weighs 125 pounds. Both dogs live up to the name “gentle giants.”
Great Danes are smart dogs. They are easily trained. They are very people oriented and are clingy to their owners. Being such large dogs, Great Danes should have some training to be easily managed and to stay safe. Trogdon has taught her Great Danes more than 25 vocabulary words and basic commands. Trogdon’s education of her dogs has gotten to the point where she must spell out certain words when discussing them, such as walk, leash and biscuit. The dogs energetically react to these words.
“Bailey did have some formal training, but Zorro was home schooled,” Trogdon said.
Great Danes, just like any pet, are a huge responsibility. Trogdon strongly suggests if anyone is thinking about getting a Great Dane to do their research. Most people cannot handle the enormous responsibility they require. Trogdon speculates that may have been the reason Zorro was returned. She is grateful he was returned instead of sold or just put out somewhere.
Trogdon adds that Great Danes aren’t cheap.
“You should expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $2,000 for a Great Dane puppy at a breeder. I would tell a person who wants a Great Dane to be aware of the amount of dedication it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle for these dogs. They require a lot of space, and attention. They are primarily indoor dogs. They do have health conditions specific for large dogs such as bloat (twisting of the stomach) and hip dysplasia. They require regular visits to the vet. They eat a large amount of food. My dogs eat about 30 pounds of food every four weeks,” Trogdon said.
Trogdon says if you can get past the expense of a Great Dane, the biggest drawback is their short life span. Great Danes typically live eight to 10 years.
“They are such family-oriented dogs. They want to be wherever I am. They are well-socialized. My dogs go with me everywhere, Petsmart, Lowes, Tractor Supply, my farm. Danes are such special breeds. If you are willing to put forth the effort, the rewards are unbelievable,” Trogdon said.
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