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| Name: |
Harley
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Age: |
Three years old
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| Gender: |
Female |
Breed: |
Great Dane
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| Home: |
Dublin, Ireland |
This
is Harley, the Harlequin Great Dane. Harley is three years old and
resides with us in our home in Ireland's capital city, Dublin. Harley is
our second Great Dane, our first we sadly lost to Wobblers Disease when
she was only fifteen months. We were heartbroken, and did not fully think
through our choice of breeder for Harley. Unfortunately she came to us
with coccidia, demodex mange and looked very undernourished. She made a
full turn around though, and is (touch wood) very healthy although we are
prepared for any future genetic health problems due to our choice in breeder.
These giant dogs are not for everyone - they take a certain kind of
craziness! Although they are known as gentle giants, they still require
persistent training. Because of our experience in the past we would urge
any potential Great Dane owners out there to do their research on good
breeders - as when temperament and health becomes a problem in this breed,
it can be twice the trouble because of their size. Harley defies the
stereotype of Great Danes as lazy dogs, she is super active. She goes for
hikes for hours and loves to swim, but when she gets home she will sleep
for the rest of the day, often with the cat simultaneously napping on top of her.
Harley shares her home with three other dogs and a cat - she is the baby
of the family, the others are all seniors and small breed dogs. As such,
she is always dying for a playmate! She loves other dogs and cannot wait
to get off the lead and play if you'll let her! Her favorite companions to
play with are Boxers and Huskies - they seem to perfectly able for her
rough housing and her size. She will even try her hand at playing with the
cat, much to his dismay. One day in the future we would love to get
another Great Dane companion for Harley, and try our hand at showing. To
be honest I think she would like some youth in the house - she is always
getting on the nerves of the oldies.
Although you wouldn't know it to look at pictures - Harley is a giant
scaredy cat! She is scared of her own shadow. She is very friendly with
her immediate family but is very shy of strangers and the unknown. Despite
this, she is a wonderful pet and I wouldn't change her for the world. She
is very well behaved obedience wise - after six months of obedience classes
of course! She has a very gentle, loving character. She never snatches
food, in the house she is always very careful of where she puts her paws.
It's amazing how she can manage to comfortably fit into small spaces and
sleep peacefully. She does have her crazy moments - we call them zoomies -
but we try save them for her walks!
When out and about with Harley, or any Great Dane for that matter, you
must be prepared for the flurry of attention and comments you'll get (good
and bad). ''Where's it's saddle?'', ''Look, it's a horse!'', ''What a
beautiful Dalmatian/Mix!'', ''What does that thing eat?'', ''Where do you
fit it?'' amongst many others! They become tiresome quickly but you get
used to it (although the dalmatian comments still puzzle me - as there is
90 + pounds in the difference!). The wide eyed looks as you tell them -
''She's a Great Dane, not a mix, she eats a raw diet, and she fits quite
nicely on my bed!'' - are priceless. Even funnier are the looks I get when
I'm driving with her in the car. I drive a mini , which as you can imagine
looks rather odd with a giant dog in the back!
All in all, Harley is a fantastic dog, and a cherished member of our
family. She may have her quirks, but I just love her all the more for
them. One thing I know for sure, there'll never be another quite like her.
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