And the Dane's title; the continental gentleman - or the gentle giant says it all. An independent UOT study linked the type of dog to the type of person and concluded "the Great Dane is the Aristocratic dog; usually associated with sophisticated or intelligent socially mature individuals" .. putting the Great Dane on the top (and the pit-bull on the bottom - associated with typical blue-collar catgory!!) .. with all respect .. there is a lot of validity to this point of view, at least the part relating to the Dane.
Dane's unique elegance, his size, presence, facial features or appearance, intelligence - and his spirit will attract everyone.
The Dane is very playful, regardless of how old and big he gets, he acts like a puppy, a playful child.
Well, enough about preaching Danes. Obviously you're reading this because you're already a believer - or perhaps an infidel seeking conversion!
Let me tell you a little about a recent development in my Dane experience. As I said, I have always had a Dane and I always wished every dog lover would have a Dane for a dog. I never planned or wanted to breed Danes here in BC until a recent unpleasant experience.
I wanted to have a Dane again after relocating from Ontario to overseas and arriving back to Canada from a long overseas business contract. I couldn't wait to get a Dane and my son, Pele', my son, was just as anxious. It took me over 2 years to get my two Danes. We found two European-rooted & bred Danes with recorded roots in Africa, Hungry & France to which I contributed the foundation of the line when I started my Danes back in Ontario.
Before I finally got my Danes I went through years of attempts, in vain.
The first attempt was a breeder in BC, great people, but the female decided to act pregnant, and after first waiting for her to be in heat and then throughout the "false" pregnancy, I was 5 months later disappointed, no puppy. Certainly not the breeder's fault.
I tried another BC breeder, also great people. She resorted to artificial insemination; and after paying the $500 deposit, I was again disappointed; well, it didn't work.
Then there was another attempt by the first breeder and again false pregnancy for the second time.
I then located good Danes in New York, I paid $500 deposit on a US$2000 pup (plus $250 vet and $250 shipping, total $3000 CAN) and I was assigned a puppy and as I was about to fly there to get him, it seems that someone in her area wanted the pup, and she disregarded her word to me and the fact that I was first on the list and she gave the pup away and I even had to call several times to get my deposit back.
Then there was a breeder in California, she wanted to have co-ownership, commitment to show him in Canada and in the USA, and wanted record of my previous Danes showings in Ontario, points and dates!! .. and .. despite the fact that she wanted $2500 US (about $3500 Canadian after ears cropping and shipping), yet she wanted the right to name the dog .. she would name my Dane!!!?
Needles to say that almost 2 years of frustration made me feel I wish I could get a dozen great males and a few dozen great females and lots of land and money and make Dane pups available to everyone.
.. Sure I found several Great Dane pups for sale, but they were any thing but great. In fact, while some were for sale for as little as US$700, others were for sale for $3000 and $3500 (US$) a pup, in fact some were for over US$4,500 and despite the $5,000 (CAN) a pup price, some of these expensive pups were not really great pups. Price isn't always indicative of quality. And as I said on the home page, sure I found many $800 or less American pups on the internet, but all the ones I examined were scams .. really poor quality, almost don't even look like Danes, and the pictures they advertize aren't their own dogs !! Wow .. true!!
Finally, I found a good pup in Texas, produced from an imported Dane line, not knowing at the time and until recently that I had one of the European imported founders of the line back in Ontario.
Texas, well, a long way away, but the pup had a great background of famous champions and quality Danes. That's where I got Anubis. His father was sired by a Dane that was used for a TV commercial by the original owner and in that commercial the Dane knocks the hat off; and caption was "ahead above the rest". The the sire's father is a famous stud (CH. VKM Antonio "Tony") and the sire's mom is also a great female (CH. VKM Cache At Alpine).
Tracing their breeding record came up with an impressive origin of top quality imported French-African lines first imported to Canada and a great grandfather that was a Dane of mine in Ontario. I now know that for a fact, thanks to intenet search & Ontario Kennel records. It's a small world!
The mother also comes from a great bloodline of champions as shown later. The two Danes are owned by an older couple, the man is disabled and on a wheel chair and the wife cares for him and as such they couldn't show them in competitions that would require extensive travel away from the isolated farm in a small town where they live; which I understand. However, they insisted on co-ownership and that I would breed him and give them a pup of his offspring before they sign off the sole ownership.
Well, the pup was the biggest in the litter, but not just bigger; in fact they wanted to keep him for breeding and I talked them into selling him. He was 5 months old. As I indicated, they insisted on co-ownership and expected me to breed him and they created a clause in the sales contract that he'll not become fully and solely owned by me unless I breed him and give them a pup of his off-spring. So, finally I have a quality Great Dane again. I named him Anubis, after the ancient Egyptian god with a "dog" head.
This was how it all started, or restarted .. I really just wanted to have another good Dane again, another "columbo" who was a great family member and a friend; never really thought of breeding at the time; then, with the hassle I had finding him - then seeing him develop so great and so quickly, a breeder asked me to use him as a stud.
Then came the second part of the story, the female. I accidentally came across a female pup a family were keeping for breeding. I had Danes since my boyhood and she is in fact the most perfect female Dane pup I have ever seen in almost 3 decades of Dane experience and with the exception of Cleopatra and her Egyptian mother "Warda", I can confidently say, no other female Dane comes close. I had to talk him and his wife into selling her .. I had to make them an offer they couldn't refuse. If you visit the female's page you'll see what I mean.
intelligence, temperament and loyalty is what a great Great Dane is all about.
I have had Great Danes all my life. I still argue, once you have a Dane, you'll agree, there are no other dogs.
The photo below, to the right, is taken in Aurora, Ontario. My step-daughter back then in 1992, at age 4, is shown back-riding on Columbo III, one of my previous Danes. He regretfully died at age 11 years after he was hit by a tractor at a farm.
Young kids used to ride him around like a pony (note how high and far her feet are from the ground), in fact he used to "run" around carrying her on his back. A good Dane would have the strong bone structure, the energy and the spirit to accommodate this type of physical activity.
Anubis was worth waiting for. The fruit of 3 years of shopping and finally it took over 10,000+ km drive to Texas to get him!
He is 9 months years old in the picture to the right and 11 months on the left. He is developing very fast.
Anubis is only a 11 months pup in this picture.
This is when we first had a request by a breeder to use him as a stud next season. Although I am getting better at taking good Dane pictures, the 2 breeders who saw him in person were very impressed indeed..
Dam: La Tigre Reeks Havoc Of MS. AKC# WS 0217 3104 01-05
Anubis, at age 12 months he has already developed to 175 lb of Dane perfection .. and still growing and developing.
A "still" shot of Anubis selected from a 20 seconds video taken of Anubis at age 12 months in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, Feb. 07
Pele', my son, Jan. 07, as he got out of his room first thing in the morning to take Anubis and Nifi out and get ready for school, Anubis, whose room is just across from Pele's (when Anubis is not on Pele's bed) is seen here greeting Pele'.
Anubis, his bloodline is rooted in Europe & Africa and a selected pup was brought to Texas where his grandfather was bred and achieved the top North America Dane title.
His biggest asset is his great temperament.
Anubis has been turning heads and has been met with great interest by both pup seekers and breeders.
A final comment .. I am sure you understand, or will understand, Anubis & Nifi are kids in the family, hence I'll have to ensure somehow that the pup will have a good home and good "parents".
You can't have a Dane just because it looks "cool"!
You have to have room in your home, heart and daily schedule. You have to be prepared for and capable of the responsibilities of a new and demanding family member and a friend. If you are, a Dane can be a great source of happiness in your life.
Any one who has had a Great Dane would agree, there are no other dogs.
.. And I'll even further dare to say:
There are Great Danes, good Great Danes, but then there are GREAT Great Danes.
A GREAT Great Dane is in defined by his personality and his physical features.
A great Great Dane is a great companion, a great friend and a great child in the family,
then, but must also be, a great dog.
.. I have an interesting story to share with you .. how and why I decided to breed my Dane. Please keep in mind that this is not a business project motivated by profit (in fact I promised 6 puppies already - as pets for free to friends and family members). .. The whole idea started with a frustration reaction triggered by a few breeders who disappointed me .. Breeding my Dane is my way of ensuring that my family (and friends) will always have Danes without worrying about chasing a breeder for years. I'll explain, please read on.
Below, Columbo III, one of my previous Danes, Aurora, Ontario 1992 who was used to kids enjoy back riding him ..kids used to call him horsy . . He was a mere pet and was a good Dane generally and a great family member .. a playful, large and strong Dane.. as I commented, you can see with how high and far her feet are off the ground that he had the "great" size as well as a great personality.
