FUN PICS !!

FUN PICS !!!

Great Dane History

Perhaps the most famous misnomer in dogdom, the Great Dane is not Danish at all, but German. The Great Dane’s oldest relative is probably the Molossus dog, which was used in warfare in ancient times, but the dog we know today has almost certainly been influenced by several other breeds. Beginning as long as one thousand years ago, the crossing of various breeds including the Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound and English Mastiff began the breed that would one day be called the Great Dane. Taking its size from its wolfhound and mastiff forebears and its sleek appearance from the Greyhound, the Great Dane had established itself as a competent hunter and guard dog by 1300, and was particularly popular as a boar hunter.

When and for what reason the breed was given the name Great Dane is something of a mystery, but in 1880 the Germans attempted to staunch the inaccuracy by insisting that the dog be called the Deutsche Dogge. English speakers were unmoved, however, and the name Great Dane stuck outside of Germany. The dog was brought to the United States in the late 19th century, and the Great Dane was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. Today, the Great Dane is among the most popular of breeds in the US, and is the largest dog that consistently ranks in the top 25 in AKC registrations. The Great Dane’s imposing height and elegant appearance have led fanciers to give it the nickname Apollo of Dogs.

A Letter from Christine and Lexi in Canada !!...

Lexi here...

just thought you'd like to know what I've been up to since I left your house. I was from one of your litters between Marcelle and Dakota, born November 20, 2007, and is now living up in Ontario, Canada. Since I left your house I have:

- met many new doggie friends and now has a very best friend whom I play with regularly (I helped my mama finally find a boyfriend that I like with a dog, and protected her from her old boyfriend who wasn't so nice)
- been an abassador to get our very first dog park and how proper socialization can make any dog, big or small, into a wonderful, stable, and happy companion(mama was on the committee so you bet my picture was on lots of flyers!)
- passed a Canine Good Neighbour test and how have my certificate
- won a modelling contest and will now be one of the faces of London, Ontario's annual 'Pawlooza' next year (I attached a couple pics from the photoshoot)
- won the hearts of all who meet me
- figured out a way to make all the neighbourhood kids wait outside my house on Friday's so they can play with me when mama gets home from work...they keep bringing more and more friends every week....I must be lots of fun! Mama says that she hopes the neighbors don't think she's asking these children to come to her house, because they might get some bad thoughts about her!
- learned many phrases, the one most often used is 'out of the way'...I don't know why she says that when she's trying to watch tv..I thought we were just having a staring contest!
- discovered the wonderful squishyness of the couch, although won't dare go on there when mama's home....maybe I need to not leave my stuffie on the couch as evidence....and make it so it's not warm so she can't feel the spot where I lay....what does she expect? She already put tin foil on the other couch so I don't go there...am I supposed to sleep on one of the two beds that she has for me?
- discovered how fun it is to jump through snow drifts
- learned how to open christmas presents
- finally learned how to navigate stairs (my mama had to put a harness onto me to hold me as I went up and down so I wouldn't fall, but then got the hang of it and can do it all by myself now!)
- been trying to learn how to swim but still in the harness phase...but I do like water...as long as it's not rain, I don't like to go out when it's raining...luckily mama plays indoor games with me so I still get some stimulation
- acquired a large collection of toys

I am going to be moving in a couple months. Mama is starting up a business doing her architecture work in Guelph, Ontario. I'm nervous about the move, but she tells me that we will have 8 dog parks to choose from up there, and that she will be working from home so I'll get to hang out with her all day and run errands with her. I'm looking forward to that part. I just wanted to let you know how I've been growing up, and how much fun I've been having. Thank you for letting me go to live with my mama, she gives me a housecoat to wear on those cold days and gives me lots of kisses on the mouth. I pretend I don't like it, but then when people aren't looking, I try to get another one by putting my mouth a couple inches away from hers... Lexi (and mama Christine)

Meet some of our TaylorDane family !

Abbey, Dakota, Journey, Shannon and Braydon!