The Great Dane Turned a Pillow Into a Blizzard Indoors
Feathers drift through the air like snow in a glass globe, and a huge blue-gray Great Dane sits in the middle of a torn pillow with a calm, faraway look. White stuffing and fabric lie in heaps beside his front legs. The living room around him, with its sofa, a basket and a window, looks serene by comparison. He stares off to one side, as though the feathers had nothing to do with him.
Great Danes are among the tallest dog breeds, and despite their size they are often called gentle giants. They are friendly, affectionate and sometimes clumsy, because they do not always notice how large they are. Young Danes grow quickly and need careful exercise to protect their joints, so ask your vet about the right amount and diet. Pillows are tempting because they are soft, shake nicely and smell like family, but feathers and stuffing should not be swallowed.
If a dog ate some stuffing, call your vet for advice, and clean up all the loose feathers before they spread around the house. A sturdy dog bed and a stuffed toy made for chewers are good alternatives.
The pillow had a good life, and its final flight was spectacular. Our great gray fellow will not say who did it, though a feather on his nose gives a hint.
