While living at home with my parents, I had shared the house with a few dogs over the years, 2 German Shepherds, a Doberman and for 16 long years a Border Collie cross. I had never known being without a dog, so after I left home and settled down, I realised there was something missing.
I had always wanted a Great Dane, I remember seeing one at the stables where I had kept my pony when I was about 5 or 6 and the sight of it towering over me and being so gentle, was something that had stayed with me over the years.
Back in 1991 I was living in a flat, knowing in the near future I would be moving to a house, but I thought it best to reconsider my choice of dog from a Great Dane to a smaller one. So I bought Barney, a Bullmastiff, my first dog of my own. After visiting the vets for a check up and first injection, he advised me to find a dog training club to socialise him as he had seen a few rogue Bullmastiffs, so being new to owning a puppy I found myself a club where they did basic obedience. After going for a few weeks, I was approached about staying on after the obedience for ring craft, I replied that my dog was only a pet, not for showing, (as he wasn't KC registered) but I joined in and the bug hit.
Every month they had a match and exemption show, where after getting placed in a few classes I got more confidence, and my dog enjoyed it too, he loved people and dogs, so was in his element. As summer was coming, I started going to exemption shows more and more and people where telling me I should show my dog at Open or Championship Shows, but as he wasnt KC registered that wasn't possible, but I would love to do it. During the summer I moved to a house with garden and I knew my dream was going to happen ......
I spent a while finding the right dog, I wanted my Great Dane to be blue, so I found a breeder with a litter of blue and black puppies, but while I was there with them, I fell in love with a black one instead. Arban Black Thunder (Jacko) was then taken home.
The Affix 'Nikami' arrived from my two children.... Nikki and Jamie. |
