Since I was 7 years old, I felt a passion for dogs, knowing someday I would become a breeder. Even at that age, I knew there was a right, responsible way to produce the best litter I could possibly breed.
At age 12, I began the methodical steps of researching and planning for my first litter of Gordon Setters. It wouldn’t be until age 17 when I would find my foundation bitch, Maggie, who would begin my lifetime of devotion to purebred dogs. At age 22, my first Gordon litter was born, ten years after my research initially began. Because so few people knew about the breed, the demand for Gordon puppies was low, and I realized finding quality homes during that pre-internet era would be difficult. Therefore, I had to channel my passion elsewhere.
When I was in my late 20s, I discovered the Great Dane. It would be this gentle giant with whom I’d focus my efforts. I spent six years researching this breed before ever producing my first Dane litter. Owning mutts and purebreds and four danes (a Sheenwater and three Nuttree Danes) before beginning my own line and learning about breeding Gordons would help build my knowledge on how to properly raise a giant breed.
DREAM
I was fortunate to have the support of family and friends while pursuing my dream of breeding. I graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor's Degree in English and Advertising. I returned to school and earned my Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. My education took my full-time career into the world of healthcare marketing and public relations where writing and creating educational tools would be a key function of my daily job. It would be key in my life with Danes as well. My devotion to my breed compelled me to write an instruction manual so that my puppies’ new families would learn as much about the Great Dane as possible. Thus, the creation of my book, The Great Dane - A Beginner's Manual, began.
This website is created to enlighten the minds of the first time Dane owner and perhaps clarify issues and offer insight about the Dane from a breeder’s point of view. It’s my goal to approach subjects less discussed about
the Dane as well.
My life experience, research, and devotion guide me in offering information to the public. Though I’ve had courses in canine health, mentored under the guidance of breeders, networked with Dane breeders across the world, and have undergone much of what I’ve written about with the numerous dogs I’ve loved - Danes and other breeds - I am not a veterinarian. Nor do I qualify myself as an “expert” in the canine field. I entrust that distinction to those who have made huge medical advancements, established or published protocols, and given over his or her entire life to a cause. Accordingly, I am a devoted breeder who has done a significant amount of reading and experienced numerous oddities that I want to share with Dane lovers.
Please consult your veterinarian for confirmation and the newest treatments should you suspect your Dane has any of the health issues mentioned on my website or in my book. Educating oneself and keeping an open mind is paramount in providing a loving, healthy home for a Dane. Traditional veterinary medicine is necessary, but there is also much to be said about alternative medicine, nutraceuticals and homeopathic remedies. There is a place for both. And only when one has exhausted all modalities can one say, “I’ve done all I can for my Dane.”
- Margaret Minuth (pictured with Shadow)
My phenomenal foundation bitch International Champion Nuttree's Sierra Snowdancer - the best mother to dogs and humans alike.
Sierra had two litters: one with "Rocket" which produced my Shadow & Rosie (and 5 others) - and one with "Duncan" which produced my Laney (and 3 others).
SIERRA
Ch. Nuttree's Donner x Nuttree's Vienna
HISTORY
CORE
MY PHILOSOPHY ON BREEDING
My life is inspired by loving, showing & breeding my dogs. Therefore, I follow the Great Dane Club of America's Color Code of Ethics, breeding color-pure FAWN & BRINDLE DANES only. Health, temperament, and structure are the goal of the SierraDanes' breeding program. If the three aren't there, I don't breed. A commitment to the breed is also essential to build a reliable reputation among other Dane breeders across the country.
HEALTH - SierraDanes screens for healthy hips, hearts, eyes, thyroid, and for the absence of vonWillebrands Disease. Danes with any known genetic health problem are eliminated from my Breeding Program. Studs' health results are publicly recorded online through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. To see Shadow's health certificates, click here to see his records on the OFA's site.
TEMPERAMENT - Both parents must have an oustanding temperament to ensure the breed's reputation remains as loving and loyal as it is intended to be. This helps ensure you will get the finest quality companion or show prospect for your family. The pups are raised indoors with 24/7 care and appropriate socialization with people and other dogs in my family. Families are given resources to understand the natural social structure of a "pack" and are taught about the Alpha in the family.
STRUCTURE - It's essential to study pedigrees from generations far beyond the typical three-gen pedigree to understand the structure that a particular lineage may produce. Using important visual tools such as the Great Dane Club of America's Illustrated Standard, current and past issues of breed magazines such as Daneworld and the now out-of-print Great Dane Reporter, researching the Nuttree's Ancestor's Index, visiting and videotaping dog shows for later playback, along with watching the American Kennel Club's Breed Video, breeders can learn so much about the functionality of muscles and bone assembly.
COMMITMENT TO THE BREED - Any Dane selected for the SierraDanes Breeding Program will have to show its potential through a variety of ways. Health, temperament, structure are the resounding themes you will hear at SierraDanes. A good pedigree is important and so is the desired AKC championship title. But it goes beyond that... Can a dog produce his or her "Type"? What did the parents & grandparents produce? Did they have the health, temperament, & structure necessary for consistency? What health problems did other breeders face when using the chosen stud? So much research goes into planning each and every litter before the actual breeding takes place.
My first Dane breeding matched my Sierra with an outstanding nationally-ranked male, Rocket, [Am BIS/BISS (4x) Ch. Can BIS/BISS Ch. Lagarada Reach for the Starz, CGC, AOM. This breeding produced my champion male, Shadow, his sister Rosie (who remains with me) and five brothers (Tai, Jack, Chief, Luke, and Hunter) who found loving families across the country.
A second breeding in 2001 to another delightful male, BISS Ch. Megara's Duncan of Gloucester produced a small litter of four. Laney remains at the SierraDanes home; her sister Jolie lives in Florida but will be moving with her family back to North Carolina; a brother Zorro also in North Carolina who has been earning his obedience titles; and a sister Xena. I've been blessed to have so many loving families throughout the years, but even moreso that I have been able to see Zorro and Jolie several times since they left my home.
AVAILABILITY OF PUPPIES - I don't always have puppies or plans for breeding. I may be focused on finishing a dog for a length of time before I consider which breeding partners are next. I may stay away from the ring a few years to nurture the Danes in my home or to help support puppy families in their new addition. It's all about listening to my heart. (And my wallet...breeding is a big financial commitment as well).
Why does it take so long to plan for a litter? Danes need TIME to mature -- physically, structurally, and emotionally before asking them to create future generations. This is a slow process and perfection doesn't happen at a moment's whim. Of course, in a world with no values, we could mass-produce Danes so pups would always be available. Eeek!... playing the odds with Mother Nature can be quite risky!
Once the dogs are mature (about 3 years of age), they will be assessed on health, temperament, structure, strength of their genes, what they can offer the breed in the long run, and how what they produce will continually improve the SierraDanes line - and the breed itself. Only then will "potentials" become actual "producers." If a potential doesn't pass the muster, they become beloved pets and spend their lives on the couch keeping me warm & keeping a smile on my face.
Whether I have litters planned or not, I welcome your questions on if a Dane is right for you or if you are having problems with a Dane you purchased or rescued somewhere else.
To celebrate my dreams, I commissioned artist Sally Logue from the United Kingdon to capture head studies of the three beauties that began my line. In the center is mother Sierra, to her right is her first love, Rocket, and to her left is her last love, Duncan.
[To visit Sally's site or commission her yourself,
