About Us

Our Goal

We strive to improve, not merely increase the number of Great Danes. Our goal is to produce healthy, happy Great Danes that adhere to the breed standard and that are well suited to life as either a companion, working dog or show dog.

At Saxony Great Dane breeding stock is hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia screened and temperament tested. As of November 2005 all dogs will also undergo annual echo cardiographs. All puppies are vaccinated, dewormed, tattooed/microchipped and placed on contract to approved homes. We also maintain regular contact with our puppy owners and often develop great friendships with our puppy buyers.

Saxony Great Danes is registered with the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA) and is a member of the South African Great Dane Association (SAGDA).

Our breeding programme and facilities have also been approved by our local humane society.

Bala and Hamba enjoying their daily walk down to the river

Family Companions

Even though we do breed with our dogs, they are first and foremost our beloved companions and they enjoy a normal family life.

They are not kenneled (with the exception of bitches on heat) and enjoy free run of 10 acres as adult or free run of large shaded camps as puppies. Our dogs are a part of the family and spend a great deal of their time with us - working, playing or just goofing around.

Hunting those elusive field mice - have not caught one in five years!

Behavioural Knowledge

The owner of Saxony Great Danes, Shannon McKay, is an accredited animal behaviour consultant (canine-1998) : ABC of SA. The mental development of puppies is thus ably addressed and puppies are well prepared for their transition into a new household from Day One.

Puppies are not shielded from age-appropriate stresses and while this may seem strange it teaches them resilience, self-control and re-enforces confidence. We do not molly coddle our pups and it shows in the numerous compliments we receive on how well adjusted, outgoing and confident our puppies are.

Whether our pups are destined to be showdogs or companions they receive tons of socialisation with visitors of all ages so that they are well prepared to be reliable and trustworthy companions.

Mating, Whelping & Raising

Matings are performed under supervision and with minimal interference. Likewise whelpings are also supervised, but we only assist when necessary as interfering with a whelping bitch causes increased stress for the bitch.

Puppies are whelped in the house and are never left unattended for the first three weeks. Our puppies are home raised and are exposed to children and a busy household routine.

At about three weeks our pups have the full run of the whelping room and weather permitting they will also have brief trips outside. Our pups are given a wide variety of toys to stimulate them.

From four weeks our puppies are moved to the puppy run, which is a cemented courtyard adjacent to the house. They are all fed from separate bowls and weighed regularly to keep track of their development and growth.

Pups enjoy frequent trips into the garden and when not supervised they are in a large secure run where they can see all the goings on. They also get to meet the poultry, which is a favourite outing for the pups.

Our pups will also take a number of trips in the car and a couple of social calls to the vet. Their vaccinations and microchips are given to them at home by our vet so that the pups do not associate the vet's clinic with any negative experience.

While we prefer for our pups to go to homes where they will be allowed indoors we do accustom our pups to sleeping outdoors as well. Inside their evening run they have a large secure kennel lined with synthetic sheepskin. The kennel is heated by an infra red lamp in cold weather (as are all of our kennels) and the doorway covered by a blanket flap to keep out cold winds when required.

Page last updated: 18-09-08 11:02:04 PM

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