A boy and his dog. Child by Benari.  Dog by Littlehorse.  Thanks so much for the use of this lovely photo.

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"Friends of Littlehorse Danes"

A Tribute to our lost Friends.

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind. Tumilson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, was photographed lying by Tumilson’s casket in a heart-wrenching image taken at the funeral service in Tumilson’s hometown of Rockford, Iowa, earlier this week. Hawkeye walked up to the casket at the beginning of the service and then dropped down with a heaving sigh as about 1,500 mourners witnessed a dog accompanying his master until the end, reported CBS. God Bless and protect our families in the Armed Forces and God Bless America. From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with"just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.  Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by"just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

 

Surgery Guidelines for Great Danes

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 Melody Rainwater

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Please join us in celebrating the lives of our 3 friends that we lost this year. Click for slideshow.

What people are saying about our dogs.

Hello there, and welcome to Littlehorse Great Danes home on the web. At the age of 12 I bought my first "Dog World" magazine.  In it I saw a photo ad for harlequin Great Danes.  I fell in love with them immediately.  It wasn't until I was in my 40's that I was able to pursue this dream actively.  I used to exclusively breed American based bloodlines.  Due to the many problems I encountered while breeding these lines it became apparent that I needed to change the way I was doing things.  Fortunately for me another older and wiser breeder took me under her wings and from that time on we have been improving our bloodline and the health and longevity of the breed. We do not place our puppies with breeders nor do we sell them for show.  Our goal is to breed healthy pets as family members to select homes. Feel free to visit us often as I update frequently. Thank you for stopping by. Happy surfing. Melody & Johnny Rainwater and the rest of  Littlehorse. San Antonio, Texas 78264 phone: 210-626-2000 Before you choose a Great Dane please read this. The kids below belong to Pat Winch who live in New York.  Think more than twice!  "Rainwater Rants!"    It is sad but true that there are many people out there that don't have any business adopting animals.  They have no concept of the effect of their actions have on the life on a defenseless animal.  I for one cannot fathom how someone can look in the eyes of a dog and not see that they have a true heart and their soul belongs to their families.  I think dogs are some of the most amazing animals on earth and can tell the difference between their emotions better than I can most people.  Even a sick or injured dog will show his love for you if the only way he can do it is by wagging the very tip of his tail. Please think twice before you bring any animal into your home.  If you don't know for a fact that you can give this guy a good forever home..."WALK AWAY".  Think of it in the human perspective.  If you had to move would you leave one of your children behind because you were moving to a smaller place?  Would you throw your ageing parent out because they were too much trouble now that they can't take care of themselves?  If your new boyfriend or girlfriend didn't like your child, would you find it a new home?  If your answer is yes to any of the above questions, get a pet rock and leave the living, breathing, feeling critters to those of us who will put their needs right up there with the rest of the family. Often I get request for older dogs because some breeders dump their retirees when they are no longer of breeding age, have problems breeding or aren't what they consider good producers.  I think that absolutely sucks!  First of all these guys are not livestock.  We treat all of our dogs from puppyhood to old age with the same love and care.  We do not place our retired dogs.  They have more than earned a loving home for the rest of their lives.  It would break their hearts if I let them go.  If you run across a breeder that adheres to this practice I would advise you to walk away because their bottom line is not the welfare of their dogs.  Another thing that really pisses me off is someone who intentionally messes with the colors set forth by the Great Dane Club of America.  Watch out for those "so called breeders"  who advertise  RARE COLORS.  For instance fawniquins, brindlequins, chocolate or lilac harlequins.  Then they will charge you a ton of money for this mismarked dog because it is unusual.  If and when you run across one of these wondrous folks you might want to ask them what their goal is when they breed.  Are they researching their lines for health and longevity?  Do they even know if there are any problems?  Do they really care? A friend of mine called one of the rainbow breeders once and asked why they were doing those cross color breedings and the rainbow breeder's answer was that she was just jealous because she could get more money for her rarely colored dogs than the breeder that was doing it right could.  Now that's a telling statement. Occasionally we get surprised with colors in our litters that should not be there.  It happens in harlequin breeding especially when we use a combination of parents that has one certain dog in their pedigrees in common.  We have had blue mantles, blue and whites and sometimes blue harlequins.  I've seen the rainbow breeders call them "rare porcelain harlequins" can squeeze the hell out of a buyer.  No they are not!  They are mismarks and "boo boos".  The first time one showed up in a litter I almost fainted.  However since we only sell our puppies as pets and not for breeding it really didn't matter too much to anyone else but me.  Besides, I try to discourage someone from buying a puppy solely based on color.  Look for the puppy that best fits in with your life style. Questions?  Comments?  Bring it! I would like to start a blog for Littlehorse puppy owners but have to wait until my grand daughter can show me how.  I can build a webpage but I don't blog or tweet.  hahaha Off my soap box for tonight. :-)  Melody Rainwater   May 29, 2010   Dear Melody & Mom and Dad,   Can you believe tomorrow will mark my 1 year birthday? I wanted to wish all my “NCIS” brothers and sisters a very special birthday. I wanted to take this moment to let you know what I have been up to this last year. My flight to Tampa went smooth. My new family was so excited to pick me up. The next day, I went to work at The UPS Store where I have a fan club. I adore children and people make a pit stop over here out of there way when running errands just to see me. When customers come in the store, I impress them when I stand over the counter to greet them. I enjoy going to work every day to greet the customers, play with children and I even have a few 4 legged friends who stop by to say hi. One of my visitors came from you. He is a harlequin named Killian from Brian & Jackie Thayer. The owners of the restaurant next door bring me chicken as a treat! I eat better than my own parents (hehe).  My new family has followed all of your instructions and I quickly learned where to go to the bathroom; it only took me 5 days! When they leave home, I have free run of the house though I usually go with them to most places unless they go out to dinner or a movie. I love my new forever home. It is nice to have the bed and couches all to myself when they go out. I have a huge yard and a sandbox! I enjoy burying toys in there for my new soon-to-be human baby brother to find. My new family is expecting their first child in July. I am going to be a great big brother because I am a great Great Dane! Twice a week (Wednesdays & Sundays), I go to a dog park and I have to admit, I am the life of the party. People are always complimenting how handsome I am and I brag to everyone what a wonderful and responsible breeder I came from. I have a fantastic doctor who had a Great Dane himself and was so impressed with my Welcome Packet and Care Instructions. He wishes all breeders would be as responsible and informative as Melody is. I am happy to report that I am strong and healthy. I currently weigh 135lbs and I am still filling my paws out. I have been neutered and received all my shots. My owners make sure I get my Heartguard every month. I absolutely love Florida and their dog friendly beaches. As a matter of fact, we are going to the dog beach this Memorial Day weekend. I mostly lay around at the store and at home unless we go to a park or run errands. I get plenty of exercise as we walk 4 times a day. This gives me a chance to let other animals know I stopped by to say hello and lets me stretch out my legs. I am going to enroll in Pet Therapy classes this summer so I can go to local hospitals and visit children who don’t feel so well. My mommy hasn’t been horseback riding in a while because she is going to have a puppy of her own, but we still make time to stop by the barn where she is a NAHRA instructor and say hello to the horses. I help out around the house too. I bring in groceries and I carry the laundry in a basket. If my people need hangers, I put them in my mouth and run them to the laundry room. When we do yard work, I carry an empty 45 gallon trash can in my mouth and I pick up the branches and carry them into the trash. Yeah, I am pulling my own weight. I have a cat named Obi I play with and a lot of neighborhood dogs that come to my home to play in the yard with me. Life is good. I am well socialized, well fed, well cared for and well loved. My forever people are so grateful to you for entrusting them with me and for allowing them to adopt me. I help them laugh and love. They are always telling me how lucky they are to have me and they show it with kisses, hugs and cuddles. At night, before we all go to bed, I jump up on the bed with them and we watch our crime dramas like CSI, NCIS and NCIS: L.A. {They like the original NCIS better}. I roll on my back and get my belly rubbed during the show. After the show, I jump down onto my own bed (to be honest with you I think mine is better than theirs) and sleep by their side. I am enclosing some photos so you can see how good I turned out as if there was any doubt.   Love,                                                                                                                                                                                 Sir Ivan von Littlehorse a.k.a. La Grenouille {Froggy}   CANINES TO VISIT LIBRARY  MUSTANG NEWS  Edition:Wednesday, June 24, 2009    What has four legs, is taller than a desk and loves for children to read to him?  The answer is Denzel the Great Dane.  Kids can sign up to read to Denzel at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mustang. The dog will also visit July 11 and July 25.  Pre-registration is required by calling 376-2226.  A German shepherd named Grizzly will also visit.  The reading program is sponsored by Paws for Friendship of Oklahoma.  Both Grizz and Denzel are certified therapy pets. “This program is very beneficial for reluctant and struggling readers,” Youth Services Librarian Michalena McMahill said. “Children will enjoy interacting with the dogs while building confidence in their reading skills.” We have 3 Hospice patients we visit every week, go to the library every other Saturday, assisted living center every 3 weeks and numerous other events. Tomorrow a huge parade. He is a shinning example of your breeding program. CAROL

 

KACHING!
The Hoax of the Animal Radicals Movement
Dr. Al Grossman

Click here if you want to read about what PETA Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) are up too.

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New...information on ear cropping.

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We breed harlequins, mantles and related colors from Scarbrough Fair and European bloodlines.  Only the best make it into our breeding program.  To visit our dogs go to the links page with their photos.  www.littlehorsedanes.com/dogs.htm

Please read our "GUARANTEE" and "POLICIES" before calling.

 

 

#1 Mistake Made by Pet Dog Owners: Getting a dog when you don’t have time for a dog. Dogs require lots of time and attention. Behavior problems, housebreaking problems, poor socialization, destructiveness, boredom, obsessive behaviors like tail and light chasing, excessive barking, self-mutilation, excessive licking, choking on toys left in the crate all day, digging, yard escaping, fear, shyness, lack of exercise, insufficient play and mental stimulation are only a few of the challenges which arise when people don’t have time for their dogs. Excessive crating, locking a dog in a room or tying it out all day, free- feeding the dog or installing a doggy door so the dog can fend for itself will make things worse. Not to mention lack of time and attention for training and veterinary needs. A dog is not a goldfish. A dog is a pack animal with clearly defined social and developmental needs. Don’t get a dog unless you have time for a dog.   Prayer for pets Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Saint Francis of Assisi -- The Patron Saint of Animals BEYOND THE RAINBOW As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played, I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity. I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, an on the other side Were meadows rich and beautiful - lush and green and wide And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright glow pierced the night "Twas the glow of many candles, shining bright and strong and bold And I knew then that it held your love in it's brilliant shades of gold. For although we may not be together in the way we used to be We are still connected by a cord no one can see So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart Return Policy

 

Have a great day!

OUR PUPS HAVE AN AVERAGE LIFE SPAN OF TEN TO THIRTEEN YEARS

• WE GUARANTEE GENERAL HEALTH

• WE GUARANTEE AGAINST HIP DYSPLASIA FOR LIFE

• WE GUARANTEE AGAINST ENLARGED HEARTS FOR SEVEN YEARS.

• WE GUARANTEE TEMPERAMENT