Siggy Designs

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Anyone who has or ever has owned a Great Dane will tell you these remarkable companions will change your life forever. If you try to explain this to a non-Great Dane person (as most of us have) they think you have lost your mind. My wife thought that, until we rescued Siggy, who has taken over our world, more about Siggy later.

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Having had two Great Danes....

 

In 1980 I received my first Great Dane, Cleopatra Dana, Cleo for short, she was 8 weeks old and became a 90 lb. fawn colored Great Dane who was always by my side. She came from a Champion breeder in Sweetwater, Texas that was going to put her down because she was small and had one white toenail. Because of this she was disqualified as a show dog. I did not care about a show dog or winning awards, I wanted a pet. However, I did get her AKC registration papers, to prove her champion linage. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge after 13 years, due to a heart attack. I am sure that she outlived her champion brothers and sisters. A week after Cleo died, my first wife left me and the kids to go find herself...I was so upset about losing Cleo, that I did not realize the she was gone for over a month.

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It took almost a year to get over Cleo, my first Great Dane. 

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Next, in 1994 came Barnabas John Dane (yes, it was on purpose). He came from a breeder in Bagdad, Florida. Barney, who was a large 9 week old puppy, became a large 180 lb. lovable family member and was always around my two sons and myself, he was my best friend and a fierce protector of the kids. Barney passed from kidney failure after only 6 years. I was so upset after Barney left us that I refused to get another Great Dane, I loved the breed, but the grief of loss was too overwhelming.

 

It would be over 20 years before my next Great Dane.

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My wife Cheryl, who has owned two terriers and we had a Pitt Bull, constantly heard me taking about Cleo & Barney and always exclaimed, "they are just dogs!" After years of hearing about Great Danes and researching other Great Dane owners and their stories, she wanted one. I resisted, still upset about my last two. I told her, your life will never be the same, and when something happens the grief of loss is unimaginable!

 

This brings us to Siggy, a 110 lb. 18 month old Great Dane that we adopted from the Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue in Pensacola, Florida. Cheryl picked her out. Once we were on the way home emotions got the best of me and my eyes teared up, I had to pull the SUV over. Cheryl was worried, and asked "is everything alright?" It was happiness about having another Great Dane.

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We have had Siggy since February of 2020. Now Cheryl cries, when Siggy jumps up and puts her paws around her shoulders and hugs her, when Siggy gives her a "Boop" or just climbs in her lap to show affection. She tells her own stories about Siggy, our Great Dane.

 

Now that she has joined the Great Dane family, my wife is starting to experience and believe in what the rest of us Great Dane people have known for years.....the joy of a Great Dane! This is why Siggy Designs was created.

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