Here's how it all started...

I have been an avid animal lover my entire life.  Everywhere I went, if there was an animal around, I'd find it.  I know it doesn't say a lot for my social skills, but I often find I enjoy the company of animals to that of people.

I grew up with Boxers, and while I will always have a special place in my heart for Boxers, I thought a more mellow dog would be a better fit for me.  I had it narrowed down to the English Mastiff or the Great Dane. 

I am a firm believer that only the best representation of the breed should be bred.  Although Danes should have their AKC and/or CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) Champion title, there are always exceptions.  However, there are NEVER any exceptions to not performing health testing on potential breeding stock.

The best place to meet dogs and talk to owners is obviously at a dog show.  So, I attended as many dog shows as I could from Eugene, OR to Seattle, WA and everywhere in between.  It was at a February 1996 dog show in Longview, WA that I saw the most spectacular Great Dane walking across the show grounds. 

At this point in my search, I really didn't know who was who in the dog world.  I approached the person on the other end of this magnificent beasts lead just hoping she would give me the time of day.  To this day I'm still not sure who this person was that I was talking to, but she is responsible for changing my life.  She was most willing to talk about her dog and she introduced me to Ch. Travis Lincoln (which meant nothing to me at the time).  I told her I thought he was he most amazing dog I had ever seen and that I would love to keep in touch with her so that if she decided to breed him, I could get myself on what I was sure would be a huge waiting list for one of his get.

Quite to my surprise, he had just been bred to Ch. Westwood's Kiss This.   I was lucky enough to be put on the waiting list.  I had my heart set on a fawn male.  Six weeks after they were whelped I was fortunate enough to see them, however, at that time I was informed that all that was available was a fawn female.  All the puppies were so adorable.  At that point I didn't care which sex I got, so I said I'd take the female.  Two weeks later, on Mother's Day 1996, I picked up little Miss Daisy May.  Louise Van Alstyne handed me a pup, I asked if this was mine.   When she said yes, I just about cried.  There was an instant bond, I knew this girl was meant to be in my life.  Daisy changed my life in so many ways.

When she was nearing a year old, I thought it might be time for another addition.  This time I had my heart set on a Daynakin Great Dane.   However, at the time, Georgia did not have any litters planned.  It just so happened a friend of a friend knew I was in the market for another Dane, and Quincy (Daisyhill's Pure Coincidence) fell into my lap.  He didn't quite have the impressive pedigree Daisy had, but she had a pedigree that was difficult to match.  Quincy had the most wonderful personality and was quickly nicknamed "Goofus" by my family.  He was the classic definition of a Great Dane in every way.

Unfortunately, Quincy came down with a severe case of pano, that was misdiagnosed as osteosarcoma.  The panosteitis continued for months and Quincy stopped eating.  On September 17, 1998 Quincy went to the Rainbow Bridge.