My name is Duke and I am the sweetest, kindest Dane you are ever likely to meet.

Firstly, here’s a little background information about me and why I am here. I was a family dog living in quite a large and busy household. My family loved me and I was a good dog but one day my Dad lost his job and they could no longer afford to keep me. They also laid a laminate floor and I really struggled to stand up on it as it was very slippery and there was nothing on it for me to grip.
I arrived with Daneline in October, aged 18 months. The car ride was terrifying as I didn’t know what was happening and I wasn’t used to travelling, and I arrived at my foster parents’ a bundle of nerves and shaking like the proverbial leaf. I have to say that when I landed I did not look at my best. Although I had been given a bath and was nice and shiny, I was a bit skinny at only 43kg; I know I am not heavily built but I am tall. It wasn’t that my family didn’t feed me; they used to give me tripe, beef and other meat but I could have eaten a bit more. I also had cherry eye in both eyes; it didn’t bother me as it wasn’t painful but it made me look a bit odd. I had an operation with my previous family but it failed.
In addition to this I have some problems with my nervous system. They aren’t severe, but they cause me to pick my knees up when I walk much like a Hackney horse, and if I feel slightly stressed or nervous I have a tic in my right eye. It’s not that I’m winking at you, honest; it’s just that I can’t help it. I can assure you that it doesn’t affect my sight either; I can still watch the cars on the road or the sheep grazing on the hillside across the valley.

First steps to a new life
Well, what can a dog do but make the best of what life throws at you? At first I kept myself to myself but my foster parents and my new foster brother and sister were very kind to me so I thought I might as well become a member of this family and be a good dog here as well. It has been so exciting and I do my very best to make myself loved.

From the start I have been an excellent house dog – well, I have had plenty of practice. When I arrived I could hardly be described as fit though. I hadn’t had that much exercise and the area in which I lived was flat as well. Around here it is anything but flat and my exercise was monitored so I didn’t do too much too soon and hurt myself. At first this was mainly lead work and I have to say that I found the hills hard work – they all seemed to be so steep! I am very good on the lead but that isn’t just because of the hills – I pride myself on being a well-mannered dog and this is only a part of that, isn’t it?

My foster parents also took me to the vet for a checkup and to be weighed (that is how I know I was only 43kg). The vet confirmed that I had bilateral cherry eye and she listened to my chest and my heart and announced that there was nothing wrong there. I have to say that the food in this hotel is good as well. It wasn’t too long before I was munching my way through 5lb of tripe a day plus biscuit and enjoying every mouthful.

Making progress
I have settled in well at my foster home and am enjoying this new life. I have plenty of walks, which I love, and am involved in family life. I have learnt to negotiate steps while on my walks; I had never encountered these before and I found them difficult at first because my legs seemed too long and the steps too short. As soon as my vet said it was OK I was allowed off lead; now that is great fun. Whereas at first life was too exciting to be bothered coming back to call straight away, I do so now as we may be going somewhere else more exciting and I don’t want to miss out. My walks have got gradually longer and I am allowed to run around and play with other dogs we meet because I am a good boy and am very polite with the dogs and people we meet. I am gaining strength with my fitness and with all the food I have put on weight. I am now a more sleek and shiny 53kg. I had to let my foster parents know that they were feeding me a bit too much and now I am on 4lb of tripe a day. My foster mum says I need another couple of kilos or so and then I’ll be about right for my size and build. It was also agreed that I should have my eyes done. During the op I had part of both tear glands removed along with scar tissue from the previous attempt and I was neutered. My eyes were very sore afterwards because there was a lot of scar tissue. At the time I wouldn’t quite have said it was worth it for the pasta and pilchards I had later but I enjoyed the special food anyway; the starvation part of having the op wasn’t so good and I was very hungry afterwards. I have made a very good recovery and the operation was a success; my eyes look great; I look so much more handsome and perhaps the discomfort I experienced for a few days afterwards was worthwhile after all.

At first I didn’t much care for rides in the car but that seems easier now as well, especially when we go somewhere interesting. I still get slightly stressed but we are working on that.

At home
As I mentioned at the beginning, I have the bestest temperament ever! It’s great when visitors come – I go and lean on them until I get a pat, and I politely let them out when it is time for them to leave. Not only am I good with people of all ages, I am also excellent with other dogs (even the small yappy terrier types which insist in jumping up into us Danes’ faces), and I have never even looked at the sheep next door.
From the get-go I have been clean in the house. I am calm, quiet and sensible at home (fireworks excepted). I am very good on the lead but that isn’t just because of the hills – I pride myself on being a well-mannered dog and this is only a part of that isn’t it? I have been excused Sit and Down because my back legs still aren’t the strongest, but I do know No!, Off! And Bed!.
I am an Everything Assistant: Catering Assistant, Laundry Assistant, Gardening Assistant and Walking Companion. At present I am Builders Mate (Joinery Apprentice) as they are having some building work done. I am good at poking my nose where it isn’t wanted, leaning on newly plastered walls and standing in wet concrete. It keeps me out of trouble, I suppose. I also like to supervise my foster mum when she makes sandwiches for lunch as they often have cheese and I adore cheese.
I also like to make my foster parents laugh or go Ahhhh! We had a spell of wet weather last week and I snuck over to the dog towels and took one. When they turned round to dry me, I was standing there quietly holding my towel. I also pinch my foster mum’s slippers when she’s not looking but I don’t chew them; I just hold them and give them back when she has given me a fuss. I have taught my foster brother how to do this as well. The other day he and I thought she was being a bit slow getting ready for a walk; when she turned round he was holding her hat and I had her thick woolly socks. We returned them slightly damp but otherwise unharmed.
We haven’t been quite so good with our toys though. I like to carry them around and if a toy squeaks when I have it is it accidental as I am very soft mouthed. The trouble is, my foster bro likes to steal them from me but I decided he shouldn’t have them. So far we have stretched Reindeer and Caterpillar until the stuffing fell out, but if foster mum catches us at it we drop the toy straight away and try to look innocent.
Last month I experienced the neighbours’ fireworks and I was good, despite some very noisy bangers and bright fireworks which lit up the house. I was a bit naughty and barked at them at first. There was still the odd firework about across the valley when we dogs went for our final constitutional, but around here we see training jets, so we get used to strange noises and we all behaved well.

Great Danes don’t come much more loving or lovable than me but I still don’t have a home to call my own. Maybe soon, eh?

Duke xxx
Oh, and I should mention that I love cuddles.