This is our first ever picture of Harvey (also known as, Holidanes Mystery Man, his Kennel Club name). It was taken on the way home from his breeder, Jacky Howe (Holidanes Great Danes). He is 10 weeks old in this photo. We had visited Jacky a few weeks before Harvey and his litter were 'ready' to leave and chose him. He is now 3 years old and weighs 11 stone!

So why a Great Dane......?

We had owned dogs for several years prior to deciding on a Dane - we had lost our English Setter, Megan, about 6 months prior to deciding on a new dog and had moved into a new house in South London. We both had a passion and desire for big dogs, so when we were making the decision about a new dog, Danes came to mind. We knew a bit about the breed and its temperament and characteristics and felt they were in line with what we wanted from a dog as previously we had always loved having dogs around us all the time. We then went about making that all important decision....and it wasn't taken lightly. We researched different breeds that we both liked, including the Dane. We visited 'Discover Dogs' at Earl's Court to have a first hand look at some dogs we had 'shortlisted' and we have to say that seeing the Danes really sealed the decision in our minds. We had also been emailing Marilyn Winyard who owns Danes under the 'Alchera' affix (see 'Helpful Information' section for her website link) who was expecting one of her Danes to have puppies but we were so keen we didn't wait!!! She had given us and continues to give us a lot of advice and support about Harvey as she has a great deal of experience over many years of owning Danes - she certainly never claims to 'know it all' but has lots of ideas and is always happy to share her experiences and advice. And she shares all her funnier stories too of her life with her dogs, which has reassured us at points when we've been tearing our hair out at Harvey's behaviour!

In some ways, they really are a dog of contradictions - from the first moment you see a Dane you stand back, and then when you meet a Dane 'hands on' you realise how sensitive and playful they are.

In searching for Harvey, we knew we wanted a dog, not a bitch. That was personal preference. As far as colour was concerned, we didn't think we wanted a fawn Dane, which again was personal choice. Then we found Jacky who happened to have a litter of blacks. We visited her kennels, met all her Danes and Harvey's parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Jacky asked us a lot about our lives, lifestyle, what we knew about Danes, why we wanted a Dane and gave us some valuable information and advice about what to expect.....!!! We then met Harvey and his littermates. We know that by meeting 'adult' Danes first, it gave us an opportunity to see what we were letting ourselves in for. Jacky was there on the end of the internet when we had some 'teething' problems (both literally and otherwise!) and gave us advice and different things to try and also reassurance of what was 'normal' puppy and Dane behaviour and what needed some extra attention from us!!!

When we saw the litter, we chose Harvey on his good looks primarily and because he was a friendly puppy. I mean, who could resist this face....



We packed the car (we then had a Renault Clio which we didn't have for long after Harvey arrived!) with blankets and Vetbed, lots of paper towels and set off. Harvey, no doubt a bit bewlidered by being away from his familiar surroundings and mum and littermates, slept the entire 4 hour journey home. Gerry sat in the back with him and Harvey laid his paw on Gerry's arm and settled down straight away. On arriving home, we did as all the books we'd read told us - gave him time to find his way around and, of course, lots of fuss and attention. He took to his bed quickly and used the paper we'd put down to go to the loo.

The first few months with Harvey were great fun, sometimes frustrating, but it was exciting learning as we went and watching him change and grow and do all the things the books said he would! He was easy to housetrain and, within a matter of weeks, he would tap the back door with his foot when he wanted to go out.

Like all new puppies, there are certain things that we were prepared for before Harvey arrived. We bought a raised bowl stand (now replaced by a much bigger raised bowl stand), big soft comfy beds (now replaced by much bigger beds dotted all around the house), lots of chewy toys and bones (now replaced by much bigger toys and bones that are less destructible) and a pen for him to be in whilst we are out (now replaced by an enormous custom made pen), leads and collars (replaced and replaced and replaced as his ever expanding neck grew and grew!), a 'Halti' head collar for training him not to pull on the lead (now replaced by a large 'Dogmatic' head collar that doesn't pull into his eyes as much when we have to use it) and a car to transport him around in (replaced twice and we now have a people carrier so Harvey has an enormous area to sleep in). Although these were things that we thought about before we had Harvey, it is worth bearing in mind the practicalities of such a huge dog. I suppose we learnt as we went and would do things slightly differently with the next Dane that we have, just because experience is knowledge!

After he had his jabs he was out into the real world for walkies, puppy training and meeting friends and strangers - all part of his socialisation. Luckily we have acres of parkland a stones throw from where we live, so Harvey soon got used to frollicking in the fields. So this is Harvey in the park, just having a rest after some tearing around....



Looking back on that time now, nearly 2 years on, it is reassuring to know that those more 'difficult' puppy times do become more under control as your dog grows up, although at the time we never thought it would end!!! Consistency was key to training Harvey in what was acceptable behaviour and what wasn't. One very obvious result of one part of his training is that we've never had any major chewing 'accidents' - he's had the odd attempt to chomp at a chair leg now and again, but that was soon stopped and his attention re-directed to a toy. Now if he wants a toy or a bone, he goes and gets one from his selection and settles down with it. Testament to some basic dog training methods as this picture demonstrates.....