Service Dog In Training

[davincidanes]

Maestro....  11 months old about to begin his service dog training for gait and balance issues.
He's such a good boy and eager to please.  Along the way, he will also gain his AKC Championship I hope.

I am blessed to have bred and own him.  ♥

~Linda

[davincidanes]

Oh, thank you Karry.  He was a bright light for me.  I'm blessed to have his memory firmly embedded in his videos. I was always so proud of him when I watched him perform.  I'd be in the audience and point to my self saying, "That's MY boy!!!"  I sure miss him.

Hugs,
~Linda

[karryon55]

I listened to Sean's Rhapsody as well as some others which were just beautiful. He really could play just about anything he put his hand to and I understand how proud you must feel. Such a sad loss of a life and I am again sorry for your loss.

I will send you a PM soon to discuss the rest with you.

Take care,

Karry.

[davincidanes]

Where are you in Australia, Karry?  I know SEVERAL breeders/show people there that would certainly be willing to share a cuddle.  The people that have these dogs are as sweet and loving as they are, and I have spent time with many of them here in the US when they have come to visit. Please pm me if you like.

I hope you enjoy Sean's music.

Linda

[karryon55]

I have never actually met a Great Dane in my life but would really love to. He is an absolute stunner and no doubt a gentle giant.

I am in awe with how majestic they look and I love the sound of their personalities. What I'd do to have a cuddle right now....

I'm sorry to hear about your son and I will listen to Sean's Rhapsody today.

Take care,

Karry.

[davincidanes]

Hey, just wanted to let you know that one of my mentors and friends in Great Danes lives in Ireland.  She is the owner/moderator of the Apollo group that I mentioned above and also a dog show judge. She is appalled with what is happening to our breed over there.  Small world.  :)

And Joiedecour, not to tinkle my "own" piano keys, but my son really was quite billiant.  A prodigy of sorts, playing piano by ear at 7 years old and I had him in classical lessons for 10 years beginning at age 10.  He still preferred to play by ear and compose only the music in his head.  Interested in seeing my boy in action?  I'm more than happy to show him off to any of you who might be interested. He was also an accomplished drummer and guitarist... and well as vocalist.  He performed in live performances from the age of 7 throughout his life.  

He was a very different, extremely taleted, kind of kid... and because of that (not fitting into the norm) he fell into the throes of addiction at an early age, and it was an overdose that took his life at the age on 28 in Jan. 2012.  I will forever and always be proud of him and be blessed to have been his mother.  

Here is a link to an original classical piano piece at YouTube that he composed a few months before he passed away. He hadn't even named it yet, and after we played it at his funeral, I named it "Sean's Rhapsody".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8mWMonzOSc

[Joiedecour]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. And all the comments here are hilarious. I can't help but chuckle now thinking of someone trying to take a horse through a small Asda (UK Walmart) in the UK!!!!
Maestro is beautiful and his registered name makes me hear sparkling piano notes. Just lovely. Bless you.

[davincidanes]

Thanks so much!  He's pretty special.  :)  His call name is Maestro, but his registered name is DaVinci-Twin Bay Pianos In Heaven.  I named him for my late son who, among other things, was a classical pianist. ♥  I did find the books on Amazon and will be ordering them, so thanks again so much.

~Linda

[mikeysmom1995]

The books Alex mention are the ones she told me about and are very easy to read and apply the training. I got mine on Amazon and they were very affordable.  Best of luck and let me know if you get the books and what you think of them.
Regards, barb

[Corriel]

Oh my, he's too fabulous for words! A lovely name for this gorgeous boy.

Corrie

[davincidanes]

Thank you!

[HVAC]

There are two great books for people with disabilities to train your own service dogs. Teamworks 1 & 2. They really helped me.

Alex

[davincidanes]

Thanks!  Good for you, Barb.  Can you tell me those books?  I am really early in the though process and all the info I can get my hands on will help.

~Linda

[mikeysmom1995]

Wow, what a big boy and a gorgeous one at that. I too am working on training my 15 month golden retriever Baxter for a service buddy. He is very smart. I am using some books that Alex recommended to help me with the training.
Regards,barb

[kwarendorf]

What a handsome boy :-)

[davincidanes]

Thanks everyone.  He is a super sweet boy, too.  

Poppy, he will likely grow another inch in height.  He is now 36" at the shoulder.  He will certainly fill out and put on more weight.  Now he's 150 pounds, but I expect him to reach 180 when fully mature at three years old.

Immisceo, you are very right.  And that is one of my other passions concerning this wonderful breed.  In some places of Europe, particularly France, Italy, Poland, they are being bred to look like Mastiffs.. real heavy and big droopy faces, which is NOT what they are supposed to look like.  I'm highly involved in groups on Facebook called "The Apollo Of Dogs - Great Dane Preservation Society" and "The American Great Dane Preservation Alliance". Thankfully, the UK, and all Scandinavian  counties as well as Australia and New Zealand, are still breeding for the Classic Great Dane Type, which my babies are.  As a matter of fact, my black male, Figaro, is the father of the top winning female great dane in Australia.  :)  These dogs are my hobby and passion - they are such a magnificent breed.  ♥  So, Aria in Australia is this Maestro's cousin.  :)

http://www.stordansk.com/aria.html

:)
~Linda

[immisceo]

You definitely don't see them like that here in Europe.

[Poppy7402]

Gorgeous photo.  He's a really big boy - how big will he get?

[HVAC]

That is great.

Alex

[doublevision1]

He's a handsome boy.