ADDITIONAL ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS

Longevity: Our Physical And Emotional Care Has Doubled The Average Length Of Our Dogs Lives!
Nurturing The Physical And Emotional Needs And Instincts Of Our Gentle Giants And Little Giants
Combining Our All Natural Gentle Giants Dog Food With Our Feeding And Care Program,
Our Gentle Giants Are Living Into Their Late Teens And Early Twenties!

Because we have been enormously successful in prolonging the healthy, happy lives of our Gentle Giants, we have strict adoption requirements so that our adopters can hopefully enjoy the same amazing success that we have had. Everyone wants their dog to live the longest, healthiest, happiest life, and if you agree to comply with our requirements, you will have the opportunity to love and enjoy a Gentle Giant from us and have your loving canine family member be with you as much as twice as long as you would have otherwise.

Our Gentle Giants and Little Giants are house dogs, not outside dogs. And, they are not garage dogs, laundry room dogs, barn dogs, shed dogs or patio dogs. They must live inside your home in the main living area as a member of your family, day and night, and go outside only to eat, to go to the bathroom, for short periods of play, and to be with you and your family whenever you are outside. At all other times, they must be inside the main living area of your home.

Many people have traditionally left their dogs outside during the day, and brought their dogs in only at night. Their dogs usually live short lives (in the case of Gentle Giants, usually 7 to 9 years). Some people leave their dogs outside day and night, and their dogs usually live even shorter lives. We do not adopt our dogs to anyone who intends to keep their adopted dog outside, whether it is during the day or at night.

We cater to the physical and emotional needs of our dogs and they live a lot longer.

For example, we allow our dogs the freedom to go outside whenever they want to, and conversely, the freedom to come back inside whenever they want to. These are the same freedoms that a human has.

So, it does take a little extra effort to pay attention to what your dog is trying to communicate to you. And by doing this, your dog feels that he or she has some say so in living their life and they don't give up and resign themselves that they are either “cooped up” outside or “cooped up” inside. This freedom we give them enriches their emotional needs and their spirit, and they are happier. Happier dogs live longer.

Our dogs go outside every few hours (or sooner if they want to). Yes, they frolic and play in between feeding times. You can see that in the many photos on our website. But, after about 15 to 20 minutes, they've had enough and that frolic and play gets old for them and they want to come back into their "den" (figuratively speaking), which is their house (and if you adopt from us, your house).

We say in our literature that a “doggie door” is optional, not required. What isn't optional is leaving your adopted dog outside other than when it is eating, going to the bathroom, briefly playing, or being with you or your family when you are outside.

Our dogs are house dogs, and they must be allowed to stay in your house, or more pointedly, they must be left in your house and not left outside, whether you are home or not.

When we started rescuing Great Danes 19 years ago - the first week in August 1994 (we have now been rescuing 45 different breeds for the last 12 years), our dogs were living an average of 7 to 9 years. As time passed, through trial and error and tracking the results of feeding 600 lbs. per day of our Gentle Giants dog food, we have our dogs consistently living into their late teens and early twenties. There are exceptions, such as dogs that contract life threatening diseases and those that are critically injured in accidents.

We accomplish greatly extended lifespans for our dogs by focusing on three critical areas: (1) how we care for our dogs; (2) how we feed our dogs; and (3) what we feed our dogs.

We want your adopted dog to continue to live as long as our dogs living here, so we require you to follow our feeding and care techniques and to feed our Gentle Giants dog food. We want you and your adopted dog to enjoy the tremendous success that we have enjoyed by having our dogs alive with us many, many more years. By the way, we take no salary from our adoption fees nor from our Gentle Giants dog food. Our sole focus is extending the lives of dogs and keeping them healthy and happy.

A significant attribute of our success in doubling the length of their lives is to nurture their needs and instincts, and living inside the main living area of your home has shown itself time and again . . . in fact, thousands of times with the giant breed dogs that we've had living here during the last 19 years, to be a key ingredient in lengthening their lives.

Spaying And Neutering

All of our Gentle Giants and Little Giants are spayed or neutered at five to six months of age or as soon as we get them after six months of age. Spaying (females) and neutering (males) does not only prevent excessive, unnecessary breeding, which, if left unspayed and unneutered, results in so many millions of unwanted dogs that end up in animal shelters each year, but, spaying and neutering your dog at an early age (the optimum age is six months) is critical to extend and prolong your dog's life.

Cancer is the #1 killer of dogs, and 85% of all cancers (whether they end up developing in the bones, organs, blood or skin) originate in the reproductive organs. So, by spaying or neutering your dog at an early age, you are giving your dog the gift of a much longer life! This is one of the most important things that you can do for your dog, and it is one of the key things that we do to help our dogs live into their late teens and early twenties.

If you want to adopt a dog from us, you must spay or neuter your own dog(s) prior to be approved for adoption. Also, unspayed and unneutered dogs do not always get along with spayed and neutered dogs, and we have achieved an amazing level of socialization, good behavior and easy handling with our dogs (see Our Gentle Giants Training) by combining spaying/neutering with our immensely successful training techniques. We feel that it is in the best interest and safety for our dog and for your dog that you spay or neuter your own dog(s) before we adopt a dog to you.

We Do Not Adopt Our Dogs As Working Dogs Or To Dog Breeders

Our dogs are adopted only as personal companion pets, and are not adopted to provide any form of work. In addition, we do not adopt our dogs to people who breed dogs or who have non-neutered or non-spayed dogs.

We Do Not Allow Our Dogs To Be Kept In Crates Or Kennels!

Our dogs are crated trained, but we only use crates when our youngest puppies are learning to be housebroken. When our puppies are housebroken, usually at four to six months of age, we stop using crates. If a puppy is still in the chewing stage, we will "baby gate" them in our kitchen when we can't watch them. Giant breed dogs are not comfortable in crates, and they are not happy in kennels, so we don't use either after four to six months of age.

Keeping Your Gentle Giant Out Of The Sun And Out Of The Heat

Giant breed dogs also need to stay out of the heat. Their bodies do not dissipate heat well, and they can get heat stroke, which can cripple them or kill them.

If someone wants to keep their dog outside, whether it is during the day or at night, whether they are home or not, we will not adopt to them.

Our Successful Feeding And Care Procedures

Our care and feeding program has worked magnificently for the thousands of giant breed dogs and many small breed dogs in the last 19 years here where we could see and experience and tabulate the results first hand. No one else in the world that we know of who cares for dogs has accomplished this or anywhere near this to our knowledge.

It is our love for these dogs and our total commitment to saving, enriching and lengthening their lives that has provided us with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these magnificient animals.

That is why we do what we do and why we have (what may seem strict to some people) the requirements that we have. In the end, the dogs we adopt have proven to be living longer, happier lives in their new adopted homes, and that has made their adopters happier because their loving canine companion is with them longer. You can read this first hand in the many emails that we have posted on our website. And, you can see a loving, healthy, extremely active 22 year old Russian Wolfhound named "Tara"who you can meet when you come here (please see photos on our home page ).

How We Feed And Care For Our Dogs

Every day we feed more than 600 lbs. of our Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine dog food to our rescued dogs.  We feed our adult dogs five (5) or more times each day, and we feed our puppies eight (8) or more times each day.

Unlike other brands of dog food where you have to limit and regulate how much your dog eats because your dog might over eat another brand of dog food, with our Gentle Giants dog food and its unique formulation, your dog will actually SELF-REGULATE itself how much he or she eats and will not over eat our Gentle Giants dog food. Most people find that their dog will actually eat as much as 1/3 less of our Gentle Giants dog food than what they fed their dog before switching to Gentle Giants dog food. Feeding all natural Gentle Giants dog food to your dog can make your dog's coat look healthy and shiny, your dog can have more energy, and you can clean up about 1/3 less stool.

We receive dozens of emails each month from people who have had amazing results from feeding our all natural Gentle Giants dog food and following our feeding and care techniques that provide their dog with the opportunity to live a much  longer life.

Our Gentle Giants World Class Canine Nutrition Dog Food

We have our dogs, both large breeds and small breeds, living far longer than is traditional for their breed.  Our program for increased longevity combines early spay and neuter, our special feeding and care program, and our high nutrition, balanced protein, low fat specially formulated dog food.  Because our Gentle Giants dog food is so nutritious, our dogs can obtain all the nutrition they need by eating less food than with other dog food formulas.  This provides your adopted dog with increased protection against bloat and torsion, a major killer of giant breed dogs.

We developed Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine dog food to maximize the longevity of all breeds of dogs.  It contains 3 protein sources, 9 real garden vegetables, 3 natural fruits, and 4 nutritious grains. It also includes enriched levels of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene) to help support the immune system, sequestered trace minerals (SQM) for improved mineral bioavailability, and numerous important vitamins and nutrients.

As you may have already read, we have our dogs living far longer than is traditional for our giant breeds. Our program for increased longevity combines early spay and neuter, our special feeding and care techniques, and Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine high nutrition, balanced protein, low fat dog food. Because our dog food is so nutritious, our dogs can obtain all the nutrition they need by eating less food than with other dog food formulas. This also provides your adopted dog with increased protection against bloat and torsion, a major killer of giant breed dogs.

Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine Chicken, Rice and Oatmeal Recipe was formulated with the highest quality ingredients and with the proper balance of protein and fat content to maximize the longevity of our Gentle Giants and Little Giants (our dog food is excellent for all breeds and for all ages). If you haven't already done so, please go to http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/gentle-giants-dog-food.htm for further details.

We require our Gentle Giants dog food to be fed to our adopted dogs for their entire lifetime. Our unique formulation contains Crude Protein = 22% - lower protein content to protect against hypertrophic osteo dystrophy in puppies and panosteitus in adult dogs; Crude Fat = 9% - lower fat content to protect against heart disease; Omega-3 Fatty Acids = .7% minimum - for healthy skin and a healthy coat; Glucosamine and Chondroitin for bone, hip, and joint benefits; and Prebiotics and Probiotics to increase digestion and absorption of food.

Gentle Giants Rescue And Adoptions
Content Requirements For Dog Food

Our Dietary Requirements	What your dog food must contain to if you wish to adopt a dog from us! Guaranteed Nutrient Analysis Crude Protein 22% (Min.): balanced protein content to protect against hypertrophic osteo dystrophy in puppies and panosteitus in adult dogs Crude Fat 9% (Min.): lower fat content to protect against heart disease Omega-6 Fatty Acids 1.25% (Min.) for healthy skin and a healthy coat Omega-3 Fatty Acids .5% (Min.) for healthy skin and a healthy coat Glucosamine 600 mg/kg (Min.) for bone, hip, and joint benefits Chondroitin 300 mg/kg (Min.) for bone, hip, and joint benefits Prebiotics and Probiotics to increase digestion and absorption of food	What your dog food must not contain! No ingredients from any foreign country 0% No animal by-products 0% No soy, wheat, or corn 0% No artificial preservatives 0% No artificial fillers or proteins 0%
Additional features and benefits	Contains 3 Protein Sources (Chicken, Fish and Eggs), 9 Real Garden Vegetables, 3 Fruits, and 4 Grains; Enriched Levels of Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene) to help support the immune system; Sequestered Trace Minerals (SQM) for Improved Mineral Bioavailability; Multiple Vitamins, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Prebiotics and Probiotics.

Included with your adoption fee is one 15 lb. bag of Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine at no charge.  We also have a 33 lb. bag of Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine available, and both bags can be purchased in stores thoughout California, in some stores across the U.S., and online. Each 37.5 lb. bag should last you about one month (lasting 2 to 3 months for our Little Giants).  The cost of the 33 lb. bag of Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine is $34.99, and the cost of the 15 lb. bag of Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine is $21.99.

All adults and children living in the same home must attend the adoption appointment. In the alternative, you may come alone and adopt a dog from us, but you will need to come back to pick up your adopted dogs with all the adults and children living in your home AND bring all dogs that you have, so we can properly introduce your newly adopted dog to your dogs.

A comment from a potential adopter: “Our granddaughter will be 18 years of age in four months and will be moving out of the household. We can bring her along if you wish, but it will probably have no bearing on the matter.”

Our response: "Yes, it will have a bearing on the bonding process with your newly adopted dog. The reason that we want your granddaughter here if she is presently living in your home is not to have a bearing on your selection of your dog, but because we require all our adopters to take their newly adopted dog that they adopt from us directly home and NOT introduce it to anyone (other than to the members of their family who were here at the adoption appointment) for two weeks. This is to cement the bonding process. If, during the first two weeks that your newly adopted dog is at your home, someone comes to your house, we want you to put your newly adopted dog in another room where it will not meet or see anyone other than you and your wife, and your granddaughter. After two weeks, your newly adopted dog will have properly bonded with you and your family, and you may then introduce it to the world. Leaving your granddaughter at home while she is still living there would foil the intent and success of the bonding process. That is why she must come."

"Princess Leah" 16 years old (left), "Marble" 8 years old (center),
and "Sadie" 2 years old (right) with Ed and Lindy Kalpakoff

Hi Tracy,

Just wanted to let you know that your 16 year old "Princess Leah" acts like she's a puppy.

She's Ed's baby. Follows him everywhere and loves her walks.

She's awesome!!! 

I take "Marble" with me to the park on the weekends. All she wants is to be by my side.

YIPPEEEEE, I have my own dog, ha! ha!

"Sadie" is always causing some kind of ruckus. She's just like "Holly" in so many ways.

We will take some good photos of all of them and send them to you.

It just melts my heart to see "Princess" enjoying life in our home.

She's soooo happy!

And, so are we!!!

Lindy Kalpakoff

Balanced Complete Nutrition In Our Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine

Increased Nutritional Benefits

• Guaranteed Levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids for a Healthy Skin and Coat.
• Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin for bone, hip, and joint benefits
• Enriched Levels of Antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene) to help support the immune system
• Sequestered Trace Minerals (SQM) for Improved Mineral Bioavailability
• Contains Real Garden Vegetables and Fruits
• No Poultry or Meat by-Products
• Ingredient Specific formula for Dogs with food intolerances
• Naturally Preserved with Vitamin E

Our Unique Procedures For Feeding And Care That Have Proven So Successful For Us.
Our Gentle Giants are living an average of twice their normal life span.
And our small and medium breeds are living significantly longer.