I have a blue dane!
His name is Connor. I certainly don't find him to be diluted in personality!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for health, let's see... when I first adopted him, he was very sickly. I got him from a shelter when he was about 6 months. He had terrible digestive problems and skin problems that started after he had been home with me for a few days. (It was probably a result of the stress of him living in a shelter for over a week.) Soon after, he needed surgery on both of his eyes- he had cherry eye issues due to deformed third eyelids. Honestly I am not sure if all this had to do with him being blue or not, I see a lot of Danes with the eyelid problems.
Around that time, I asked a lot of people about skin problems in blue danes, and I got mixed opinions. Connor's skin is AMAZING now, I never would have guessed he would heal so well, but it did take a lot of food trials before I found something that agreed with his system. I feed him California Natural Lamb and Rice, and sometimes I switch him to the Chicken and Rice just to offer him a slight variety. He does really well on both.
So, in conclusion, yes he has had his share of problems, but I don't regret taking care of him through it all- not for a second. I love the big guy. He's an amazing and loyal friend to me. A Dane in every sense, I just don't see how anyone could suggest a diluted personality!!! Out of the five other Danes I have shared my home with for various periods of time, Connor is just as much if not more of a character.
And really the vet fees I was faced with were minimal, I don't think I have spent over a thousand dollars at the vet since I've had him, and we're going on two years I think.
Good luck!!!
Here's a pic of me and my darling blue man.
