the mighty oak from baby acorns grow......... From the very beginning the responsibility of these little one's lives are in our hands and when we let our babies go to join their new families we have to put our trust in the new owners to carry on giving them all the love and care they richly deserve. We have been very fortunate indeed, that in all the time we have been involved with breeding these gorgeous creatures, the times we have been let down is less than the number of fingers on one hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o o O o o ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then there were 4 - Merlin, Susie, Henry and Ava and ...

then there were 3 - Henry, Merlin and Ava and ...

then it was jus mammy Neates, mammy Gins and our little angel baby Ava ...

who is simply a poppet with a personality just like Mummy Emma and Grandma Kate and ...

then along came George and they became best pals and ...

the rest is ...

history as they say! ...

AT LAST! George sleeps so Ava sleeps so ...

we can all get a bit of shut eye but no Vienna May, there is no more room on the sofa, not even for a little one!'

'You okay there then Monty Man?' ...

'Gee Grace, now we is all big, there ain't much room in this 'ere bed anymore.' ...

'Come on over here Monty matey, there is loads of room in this one. Don't you think so Ava?' ...

'Of course buddy boy, we can budge up a bit look.' ... 

'Oh deary me, where can I go then?' ... 'Awwww don't look so sad Monty, there's plenty of room for you brov. Hey that's good Two Montys one beside you Grace and one beside me -just like bookends.' ... 'Yeah and when they sings it'll be more like Monty Bros in stereo!' ...

'Okey-doke, me and Darcey is all tickety-boo now, thanks.' ...

'You wont get me in that there bed, well ... 

not with them two in it, being all dafty like.' ... 'Is that so Merlin babes? So tell me, what's all this then going on here?' ...

'Well, it's like this see Mammy Neates, you gotta let your hair down sometimes - right?' ...

'Hey Merlin, bring back that teddy will ya?' ... 'Nope! .... yawwwzzaa! That's gone and done it, tipped up the water bowl ...

Quick Monty, make out you didn't see it and we might get away with it with a bit of luck.' ... 'Merrrrrliiiinnnn?'

'He didn't mean it Mammy Gins, honest, it was an accident see, just an accident.' ... 'Don't you worry Henry, I was only going to ask him if he wanted his trunks, so he could go for a swim.' ... 'Gee Ma, you is funny sometimes.' ... 'Yes baby boy and you are lovely all of the time.' ... 'Awww Maaaa, you'll make me blush.' ...

'I say Susie, what do you think, should we join in with the others, or just sit here and enjoy the view?' ... 'Not too sure Louis, only it is rather cumfy here see. Cooeee Monty mate, what are you gonna do matey boy?' ...

'Mmmmm. Mmmmm. Right then you two, here we go...

'Me Too, me too!.' ... 'No probs Luther, come on then laddie.' ...

Woo Hoo, Henry's got the toy ... 

BUNDLE!'

'Come on Grace, help me out flower, give it a tug.' ...

'I got it, I got it.' ... 'Not for long Grace, here I come.' ... 'Wowa Daisy, where's you come from girlie? ...

Nice try m'dear, but it aint gonna be easy!' ...

'Hmmmmm! Okey-doke Grace, you win ...

but this 'ere ball is mine see and right tasty it is too. ...

Oh my and this one tastes like chicken.' ... 'Lookie here Daisy Doo, it's piccy time, turn around poppet for a family portrait.' ... 'Owwww, dear, dear, dear Mammy Gins, I'm a bit shy I is, a bit shy.' ...

'I'm not shy Mumsie, you can take my picture you can c h e e s e' ... 'That's just perfect Darcey babes, perfect!'

'Phew, I don't know where they get all there energy from do you Merlin?' ... 'Nope. Me? I'm jiggered Susie, fair jiggered.' ...

'Wait a bit, Wait a bit, what's that then Gunyum?' ... 'Shhhhh! Ava sis, I can hear something good. Just going to have a sneeky look. ...

No worries you lot, I new it sounded good - dinner bowls a clanking and ... Dah! dah!! Dah!!! - dinner is served.' 

'Did you enjoy that then boys?' ... 'Not 'arf Mummy Neates, we enjoyed it a little bit too much me thinks.' ... I can feel a sleep coming on Gunyum, can you fella?' ... 'Yes in deedy-dee Louis old boy and what's more ...

something tells me we are not the only ones!'

'Who's a pretty girl then Grace?' ...

'We are!' ... 'Now that is funny Eric, cos you're a little boy not girl' ... 'I now's that Ma, but I'm still pretty.' ...

'Yeah, that's right Ma, we's all pretty 'ere ya now?' ... 'I know babes, I know.'

'I say, we is pretty too you know, just look at all the beauty sleep we get ...

pays off see, pays off.' ...

'Oh yes I see. Gunyum, you look a real Bobby Dazzler ...

in fact, you are all Bobby Dazzlers in our books.'

'Cooeee. Is it time for dins dins yet Mummy Neates?' ... 'Not long now Eric and Henry, just a few seconds now boys and ...

Mmmm! Mmmm!

sorted! ...

Job done!!!'

'Oh look at me Beauty, I have got a new pal to cuddle up to.' ... 

'Nice one Grace, I loves a cuddle and a hug too.' ...

'What do you think? Do you think I will fit into this 'ere box when my new Mummy and Daddy come for me? ...

We could make it real special like, with a big bow an' all.' ... 'Baby girl Beauty, you are what's special babes, not a bow.'

'Go on, gis a kiss.' ... 'Oh Geirge, you are a one.' ... 'Oh I loves all you babies I do.' ... 'Now wait a minute Georgie boy, you'r only a baby yourself.' ... 'Yes, yes, I is, but I aint seen nothing like these littleuns before and they's all me new buddies see?' ...

'Yoo-hoo! Over here George Elliott, I'll give ya a kiss.' ...

'Oh you are a cutie-pie.' ... 'George, You are a smoothy, I bet you say that to all of the girls.' ...

'Nah! I'm only havin' a bit of fun. You coning out to play or what then?' ... 'Muuuuum, can we go and play with George.' ... 'Not today boys and girls, not today.'

'Do you loves ya Mammy Neates then baby Ava?' ...

'Do I ever!'

'Watch out Merlin, keep down and keep still, they wont see us behind this pink teddy.' ... 'right-e-o Ava sis, Mum's the word.' ... Come on you two, time for bed.' ...

'Hah! Spotted!.' ... 'Who's spotted?' ... 'We is of course Monty Man.' ... 'yeah right, you is not a patch on me sis.' ... 'No more brov, please, no more'

'Hmmmm! Are they not being a tad silly those two? Not like me, I am a proper girlie I am, it's in the breeding don't you know? ...

But I have got a funny side to you see, one does like a laugh one's self don't you agree Daisy Doo?' 

'Oh yes, Susie, rather. I do like a cuckle every now and then sweetie.'

'I don't get it do you Louis?' ... 'Nope, don't get it at all Gunyum. Still they thinks they's funny and that's okay with me.' ... 'Okay bros, I'm with you there buddy boy.'

'Aye oop. No one looking? ...

Hah hah! I got the pink teddy. ...

'Wowa! Better keep it under wraps me thinks.' ... 'Come on then Louis, you tell us where it is?' ... 'Where what is Gunyum and Ava, where what is?' ...

'If you don't give up that pink teddy Luis, you gonna get tickled see, now come on where is it?' ...

'Uh Oh! They're on my case and I'm off.' ...

'Oh not ticklin, I can take the ticklin, ask Merlin, see go ask Monty.' ...

'Nope, not here. Tell you what, I'll get the others to keep an eye out for it.' ...

'Nope, we haven't seen it yet, but we will keep you posted.' ... 'Thanks for that Luther old pal, just give us the nod.'

'I'm looking and looking and look.i..n..g but I's ...  getting ... a bit ....

jiggered nowzzzzzzzz.' ... 'You have a little minute then baby Darcey, have a little minute.'

'Do I get a nigh-night kiss first Mammy Neates?' ... 'Course you do poppet.'

'Geeee, I loves me Mammy Neates I do.' ...

'What about me then Mum?' ... 'You're not going to bed yet genevieve are you?' ... 'Oh no, not yet a while, too ealry for me it is, jest a bit too early for me.' ... 'Any one else ready for bed?' ...

'I is Mummsie, I is.' ... Come on then Monty man, lets have a big cuddle.' ... 'Oooooww I goes all gooey inside. ...

look at me Madison, aren't I just the luckiest?' ... 'Yep! You are right there Monts, there was a time when Mammy Neates could pick me up like that, but she would have a bit of a job on her hands to do it now!!!'

WEEK ONE AND FROM JUST A FEW HOURS OLD ...

Madison & Dante's new wee babes.

Emma & Bruce's delightful dozen.

Watch this space for more pics of the babies as time goes by...

FEEDING OUR GREAT DANE PUPPIES:

We feed all our pups on a completely natural diet, starting with honey, milk, porridge oats and 'Weetabix'. We then gradually progress to raw beef, cooked meats like chicken, lamb, pork and beef, also fish (fresh & tinned), cooked eggs, cheese, wheatmeal biscuit, rice, pasta, vegetables (cooked and raw) etc. etc. etc. Oh yes! ..... and don't forget the Bio yogurt!! We do not feed a complete food as we find the protein content can be too high for a rapidly growing Great Dane puppy and could lead to a number of problems occurring as they grow. We always give extensive advice on the diet we feed our pups and actively encourage new owners to carry on with what we have started. It is a very precarious situation new owners find themselves in, especially when they take their new pup to their Vet for a 'puppy check' and the Vet then feeds them advice on complete foods such as 'Hills Science', 'Eukanuba' and 'Pro-plan' etc. In our opinion, which is based on personal experience and from reading research articles (readily available on the 'internet'), we firmly believe that such foods with a protein content higher than 22 - 24 % are not suitable for our Great Dane puppies to be fed on and further to this could be detrimental to their healthy development. Our ideas on diet are a result of a culmination of experiences we have had over the years and just out of interest, here are two examples, which you might like to judge for yourself.

1) puppy 'A' had been fed on 'Hills Science Diet', as recommended and sold by the new owners Vet, for about 1 week after leaving us. The pup came back to visit us and it was obvious it had lost weight and was very hungry. We gave it some food and it gobbled the food as fast as it could and nearly took the bowl down with it! Three days after going back on our diet, the pup gained weight and was happily playing with out an overwhelming desire to find some thing to eat.  

2) Puppy 'B' had been given 'Eukanuba' on the Vets recommendation which we were told it had been fed on from the 2nd day. We weighed the pup for the purpose of worming it prior to going to its new home a week later. At 7 weeks old this pup weighed 10.4Kg. At 8 weeks old the pup went to its new home and the new owner started feeding the said complete food. After only 9 days from leaving us, this pup was over 9 weeks old and weighed only 9.2Kg! One week after being put back on our diet this puppy weighed 15.7kg which meant she had gained 5.5Kg, which is nearly a stone in weight. 

It is for reasons like this that we totally disagree with any Vet that sells these extremely expensive products to feed our pups on and how ever well meant the advice given is, we believe it to be wrong. Our primary concern is the well being of our pups, we have nothing to gain once they have left our care, only the knowledge that they are safe, healthy, happy and well loved. 

We totally understand the situations that new owners find themselves in, not knowing what or which advice to take or from whom - but it is such a shame when a gorgeous healthy pup that leaves us, ends up going backwards. We think it would be so good, if one day, learned people like Vets, would take the time to listen to the voice of experience e.g. from breeders, who eat, sleep and breath their dogs: do you agree?

SOCIALIZING OUR PUPS:

We are fortunate to have several visitors - family, friends and those just wanting to see and cuddle our pups. This we encourage as part of their socializing process. They are used to being handled and very soon just can't get enough - but be warned, no laced shoes or dangling hair - or you will never escape! They soon become accustomed to loud noises from the radio, T.V. and the odd bark or two from the big dogs which also includes Bronte the Cavalier (of course!). We do have two cats, but the pups are too young to really become used to them and the cats have grown wise to it - scooting out of the way when the pups backs are turned - clever boys.