Great Danes are amazing creatures. They’re also considered a giant breed, which has earned them the nickname “gentle giant.”
Of course, toss a Dane a Kong toy or dangle a treat in front of them and that gentle giant concept flies right out of the window. Sure, they love to lounge on the couch and pretty much take it over when napping or sprawling out on the floor to take a moment just to chill.
They enjoy belly rubs on their huge tummies and eat an incredible amount of food. But those big bodies also harbor big hearts.
Danes are prone to zoomies, which are sudden, unexpected bursts of energy where they literally zoom all around. It’s fine if it’s in the backyard but not so much when it’s in the living room and they’re ripping around like 150-pound crazies.
But Danes also have a compassionate, cautious side that kicks in when they intuitively realize it’s time to be calm.
When Zeus a Great Dane puppy first met tiny, nervous Luna, he recognized that his new friend needed a gentle touch.
Dina, a volunteer with Love and Rescue in Houston, Texas, was fostering an abandoned pup she named Luna. The poor baby was found in a box along the side of a road.
Luna couldn’t stand and had no idea how to walk or eat properly. She heartbreakingly cried rather loudly when Dina tried to touch her. Void of human interaction, preparing Lune for adoption into a loving furever home would take some time.
“When I first got her, she was shaking all the time. She was crying all the time. It was the most heartbreaking sound. She just wanted to be by herself. I’ve never seen a more depressed dog.”
Dina gingerly fed Luna out of her hand, then progressed to a spoon. It took about a week of watching the other dogs around her until Luna took her first steps.
“She would fall all the time, but then she would try and get right back up. After she started walking, she was just like, ‘Oh okay, I kind of like this. I kind of like this walking thing.'”
On shaky legs, Luna gradually kept her feet underneath her and summoned enough courage to sniff the other dogs. She finally began to relax just a tiny bit and wag her tail.
She couldn’t necessarily keep up with the other dogs, but she definitely tried!
Finally, Luna found the strength and determination to run.
“It wasn’t until she figured out she could run, was she happy. There was a huge emotional and personal change with that. She was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I like this. I’m gonna run around.'”
Luna became a brand new pupper, confident and outgoing. She began chewing on things and acting like one would anticipate a pup to act.
Because puppies are supposed to be socialized, Dina reached out to a friend who also had a puppy. Except it was a huge Great Dane.
“I was like, ‘He’s a puppy, she’s a puppy. Let’s just give it a go.'”
Considering a full-grown male Great Dane weighs 140 to 170 pounds and a female weighs in at 110 to 140 pounds, puppies are naturally bigger than average. In fact, at a mere eight weeks old, a Great Dane puppy can weigh as much as 26 pounds.
Zeus and Luna met and, as Dina described it, it was love at first sight.
“From there they just formed this really weird big creature-small creature relationship. Her whole body was the size of his nose. He was so gentle with her. She would go up to him like she was completely fearless; she was not scared of one thing.”
They two had an amazing afternoon of frolicking and playing. Zeus was wonderful with Luna, which gave her even more of a confidence boost!
Dina allowed Luna to sleep with her and when she’d wake up in the morning, she’d swat her with her paws. Dina joked that she was part kangaroo.
When people would comment on how much better Luna was doing, Dina had to wholeheartedly agree.
“She is better now; she’s doing great. I’m really, really happy that she’s able to have such a crazy personality. At least I know she’s getting better.”
Despite her rough and unsteady start to life, Luna became a brand new pup. Even with her enthusiastic puppy energy, Dina said adoption applications were pouring in.
A couple named Hunter and Genevieve ended up adopting Luna. They shared that when she arrived in her new home, she sniffed around a bit and settled in right away.
“She has been a cuddle monster. Ever since the first five minutes that we had her, if you are not paying attention to her, she will reach out and let you know that you’re not paying enough attention to her. She is probably the most fun dog I’ve ever had. She has enough spunk for the whole planet.”
How wonderful that Luna found her furever home, all with the help of the Great Dane Zeus who gave her a much-needed confidence boost and an adorable albeit mismatched friendship. Check out how their friendship formed in the video below. Do you have two pets where opposites attract?
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