By “The journal of Frentania” – year III – num. 30 – April 2008

of Anna Santoro

If you are looking for a dog to exhibit in the garden, the great Dane does for you.

All we know, even through the comics where, named Samson. is represented alongside of his accompanying clothed style 60 following haired and elephant leg pants, often lying comfortably in an armchair to see television.

A gigantic dog: males are high minimum 80 cm and females 72. But some also come 90/95 cm at the withers. Weight: 70/80 Kg.

"Alanomania: is the passion for this breed; I call it so — Ylenia says — a passion incomprehensible to all those who have never had to do with the Alans ". Ylenia has about 30 years. He lives on the outskirts of Ortona and Raffaele, have a baby a year which is called Thomas, share the love of the Alans and a cattery. "A passion that brings you to get up at sunrise and to travel hundreds of miles to get to who knows what Italian resorts to present, only for five minutes, your pupil in the ring or exposure to exchange opinions with other lovers of the breed ".

Ylenia says this today, but not thought so. And remember when, had 17 years, encountering Raphael for the course of Ortona. It was the 1993: "That dog, enormous and elegant, the evening ran up and down Corso Vittorio Emanuele in amidst the people fascinated and frightened. Famous: There were other. Xenophon was his pedigree name. Taken from the breeding of Armida (Milan), but Raffaele Marx called ". Xenophon died in 97 only 4 years.

Shortly after Ylenia and Raffaele together.
"You forget that the Danes will stay at home!"tells you when Raffaele gropes to take one. But Raffaele la mark, and in the 2002 they buy from their Dangerous Dream called Baldo, that in a few months earns the title of "champion" and ' Italian Champion of both the year 2005 ".
"The great Danes you kidnap your heart and you don't give more back," says Xuan while preparing soup for Thomas.

A few historical hints:
The German Great Dane is also known as "Great Dane". It seems that its derivation is due to crossbreeding between large dogs Dogs and Greyhounds.
Scholars believe that these crossings have been made thanks to imports by Phoenician merchants. Its origins date back to the days of ancient Greece. But it is in Germany which starts a real selection: in 1878, in Berlin, a Committee of breeders and judges, under the chairmanship of Dr. Bodinus, groups by placing the first stone varieties for breeding a race of German origin.

In 1880 is drawn up the first "Standard of the German Great Dane".
Starting from 1888 the breed is entrusted to the "Deutscher Doggen Club 1888 and V. ", over the years changes the standard.
"In the future we want to give life to a true breeding of great Danes, but with much humility. In Italy there is one only: to Fawn and Brindle; is Aquila.
To The North, Instead, are many, and with plenty of experience and professionalism ".

But also to Ylenia and Raffaele experience apparently don't miss right: studying and continuously update, with competence, love, seriousness, honesty and responsibility to ethical type.
"We like the idea of creating individuals with ideal morphological characters. At the end there we even earning!"In Fact, among the many jokes circulating about high costs for these dogs, one is that: "the monthly budget exceeds the amount of the mortgage"!

"Be breeders means more knowledge about race. Good breeders never would place their puppies are not in a normal pet store "says Raffaele. But it also means improving the quality as provided by Italian Dog Federation. Fundamental is the coupling, with precise rules from which it cannot independently: in 1976 in Italy came into effect a set of standards proposed by Società Italiana Alans, a non-profit association formed in 1920.

Reared in five distinct colors, Fawn, Brindle, Harlequins, Black and blue, In addition to their selection also are fundamental and growth.
Those of Ylenia and Raffaele have Blue great Danes. The two also have a website, where are summarized tips, explanations on the pathologies, as well as first aid basics, rules for participation in the Championships and a dog glossary.
The same is told their story: how in August 2005 they decide to find a companion a Dangerous Dream and take Jelenia. And then speak of Kiss me Baby of the Keraton. And the first litter of Dangerous Dream and Jelenia, then tell Antartika Ice Princess that, still cucciola, in their home runs off for fear "when our son Thomas turns around the kitchen table with swivel nut", because puppies of the Alans they see children as their superiors.

The curiosities:
"They want to stay in arm, unaware of their mole; Loud snoring; Love the warm and hate the rain; They feel so part of the family who tend to take all the habits of the master: How to lie on the bed with the swift on the pillow, as they do; Do not attack suddenly like crazy; Despite the Majesty are content just space; Stick to the landlord that morbidly have continuously need, and if cuddling develop depression "— adds Raffaele.

Finally, from their silo, some jokes: You know you have a great Dane when:

– Ports walking the dog and bereavements know his name;
– You learned to smile when they ask "scare the riding that horse?”
– Can hide an entire tennis ball in his mouth and watch you innocently as to tell you: "What? I'm not eating anything "
– The cake that put on top of the fridge is no longer there and the dog has his nose dirty sugar;
– Light the fireplace, and there is no place for you in front of the fire.

Original Article: Click to enlarge