Yeti’s Big Dog Wisdom Newsletter

Dane of the Month – Yeti

Yeti has been selected as this month’s Dane of the Month for his exceptional wisdom, elite snack-detection capabilities, calm leadership, and ability to supervise humans with unmatched patience and comedic timing.

Stats

• Wisdom Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Snack Detection: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Squirrel Awareness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Human Supervision: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Nap Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why Yeti Earned Dane of the Month

• Provided premium-level wisdom to the household
• Demonstrated elite calm during chaotic Dane moments
• Achieved perfect scores in Couch Management & Human Training
• Successfully monitored multiple squirrels without incident
• Maintained dignity even when Thor tipped furniture

Feature Story: Yeti Takes a Walk in the Neighborhood

 

There’s something magical about a morning walk. Humans think it’s a simple exercise, but for a Great Dane like me, it’s basically a full-scale neighborhood audit. I step out the door with purpose—tail high, ears tilted in my professional listening angle, ready to inspect every mailbox, squirrel, and questionable garden gnome in a three-block radius.

The first thing I notice? The wind. Humans don’t talk about wind enough. Wind is nature’s notification system. It brings news from miles away. As soon as it hits my face, I get updates: who grilled burgers last night, which dog down the street got a new shampoo, and whether the mail carrier is emotionally prepared for today. (Spoiler: never.)

As I trot down the sidewalk with Dad hanging onto my leash, he calls it “walking,” I call it “pulling the human along”.I  take a moment to appreciate the sights. Mrs. Henderson is planting flowers again. I like her. She smells like cookies and forgiveness. She always waves at me and says, “Good morning, Yeti!” which is precisely the kind of positive human.
interaction with humans should offer me.

Next stop: Mr. Thompson’s yard. Mr. Thompson owns the loudest lawnmower ever engineered. Every Saturday, he fires it up and pretends he’s competing in the Indy 500. He’s out there today tinkering with it, so I give him a polite stare that says, “Please keep it off until I finish my walk.” He ignores me, and humans rarely appreciate my leadership, but that’s okay. I’ll send Thor over later to tip something over in protest.

We turn the corner, and instantly, I become aware of the Enemy: The Neighborhood Squirrel. Tail flicking, eyes mocking, posture smug. He stares at me from the oak tree like he pays property taxes here. I give him a low “chuff,” just to remind him I’m watching. He chatters back. One day, I will catch him, and when I do, we are going to have a very serious
conversation.

As we head home, the sun hits just right and I realize this: neighborhood walks are more than just steps. They’re daily reminders that life is full of smells worth sniffing, neighbors worth wagging at, and squirrels worth plotting against. And for a Great Dane like me, every walk is a new chapter in a book I didn’t ask to write but happen to star in.

 

 

Feral Cats & Great Danes: What Owners Should Know

 

Feral cats are a fascinating part of many neighborhoods—wild, independent, and deeply suspicious of everyone (especially 150-pound dogs like me). For Great Dane owners, understanding feral cats is essential, because your gentle giant may react in ways you don’t expect.

First, feral cats aren’t like your friendly indoor cats. They’re survival-driven, alert, and quick to defend their space. Great Danes, despite their size, can be surprisingly sensitive to sudden movement or sharp noises; cats are basically made of both. Many Danes will freeze, lunge, or get overly excited when a feral cat darts across the yard.

Second, never assume size gives a Dane the advantage. A feral cat can deliver fast, powerful swats that may injure a dog’s nose or eyes. Always keep your Dane on leash in areas with known colonies, especially during evening and early morning hours when cats are most active.

Third, positive exposure helps. From a distance, let your Dane observe cats calmly. Reward quiet behavior. Teach “leave it” as a standard command—this prevents chasing and reduces stress for both animals.

The truth? Great Danes don’t want conflict. They want harmony, snacks, and possibly couches. With slow introductions and careful awareness, they can coexist safely and peacefully with feral cats.

 

 

              Meet the Danes

Yeti –

Wise, witty, calm, and the philosophical father of the household.

Thor –

Giant playful goofball, professional chair-tipper.

Spicey Pumpkin –

Energetic, bird-watching expert with Alvin-style excitement.

Smart, strategic, playful — always two steps ahead.

Mocha –

Smart, strategic, playful — always two steps ahead.