Teak was my first Great Dane. He was up for "adoption" from a previous owner who couldn't keep him, and he was a two year old brindle, quite tall, about 150 pounds. We instantly bonded, and he served as a dear companion and great guard dog. Although he would never actually attack anyone, he would place himself between a stranger and me until I shook their hand or assured him it was okay. How amazing that a dog would so readily do this for a new owner.
Bella, my second Dane, was the most gentle, people-loving, devoted friend one could imagine. She was a shorter, stockier merle. One weekend when she was in her fourth year, she began acting as though she didn't feel well, and by Monday we had to let her go......one of the lobes of her lung twisted and burst before the doctor was even sure of what had happened. A heart wrenching experience, I lay on the floor of the vet's office, spooning her until she stopped breathing. My husband and daughter sat crying on the bench in that room, as the vet knelt, in tears as well. A piece of my heart died that day, too.
Yet the presence of such a large pet, one who is so human-like, was sorely missed, and two weeks later I began looking for another. Her birth owner named her Princess - she was one of a litter of 15 "oops" babies. We changed her name to Sophia. Sophia came home with us at the sweet age of 5 weeks. I remember that she could walk underneath Wags' (part boxer) belly then. HA! She is now a tall, beautifully sculpted Great Dane, with shiny black fir and long legs. Sophia is the biggest scaredy-cat you've ever met, and still has so much puppy in her at two and a half years old. She's also the biggest baby, and will sit right up in your lap.
I have owned and do own other breeds of dogs, but have found none like a Great Dane. When I have added a few small embellishments to the canvas, I will hang 3 charms naming my pets from the bottom, and repost the finished product. If you enjoyed this, I hope you will come back to visit.
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