From commentor Brian S:
Patch is a Great Dane. He was born and raised in Northern California, where sadly he was taken to a shelter to be adopted out at the age of eighteen months. Deanne and I were looking for a dog in Christmas 1999 and she picked him ! I’ve never had a dog before, so to go straight to an 18 month old Great Dane who weighed 112 lbs (he was badly underweight) was pretty daunting. But she kept me awake till 5AM, looking at web sites that praised these wonderful dogs. Through a combination of strong evidence and sleep deprivation I agreed to adopt Patch.
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Patch was a wonderful companion and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that owning a Great Dane gets you noticed ! It is rare that we’ll walk him without somebody wanting to meet him, ask what its like to raise a Great Dane etc. We’re always glad to answer and spread the good word about what lovely dogs they are, if you’re prepared to put in the time to be good friends to them.
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When we lived on the west coast, he came with us on several road trips to San Francisco and one to Washington state. It seems the people of those cities don’t often see Great Danes, because we got so much attention from people. One man even stopped his car in city traffic and double parked so he could meet Patch and tell about his time growing up with Great Danes! Patch enjoyed these trips a lot, getting a lot of new experiences and practice in meeting people. At night in one SF hotel, he lay down in front of their fire place and looked so noble, like he was the king’s dog!
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We moved to Jupiter, Florida in March 2002 where Patch and his two kitty siblings, Aura and Garibaldi, settled into their exciting new home. Patch went to the dog park on most days and also went with Brian or Deanne to their workplace on most afternoons. The socialization he got at these places was invaluable and played a big part in teaching him how to get along so well with everyone he met. Visiting business people would be brought past Brian’s office to meet him!
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As Patch reached his final years, his back legs got weaker and he had a hard time getting up and out of bed, or getting into the car to be driven around. We got him a conductor’s podium as a step-up box (don’t bother with the folding ramps, they bend too much) and that helped for many months, but eventually he couldn’t be put into the car without a lot of help, and the possibility of injury was too great, so he stayed home and went for brief walks. This is something to consider: when a 160 lb dog can’t get up, you can’t just easily pick him up and move him around.
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We all come to the end of our road eventually, and Patch slipped away quietly in February 2010. He was surrounded by his extended family and friends, five wonderful people who all loved him and wanted the best for him. Although he will be missed greatly, it is a great comfort to us knowing that he had so many friends and had made such a good impression on people. Between his many days at the dog park, and uncountable afternoons at Brian’s and Deanne’s workplace, Patch leaves behind many fond memories.
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He was always gentle, never started a fight (well, maybe once!) and played appropriately with everyone from a pack of 3 wolf-dogs all the way down to tiny Italian greyhounds. A real gentleman, and I miss him every day.
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One word of advice : take photos and video of your pet doing their everyday thing, whether it’s a place they like to lie down, or a trick they do. You’ll miss those things when they’re gone, like the heavy sigh of a Great Dane who is standing over you at 4AM ‘cos he wants to go outside! I’m very glad I have video of him purring, panting and playing in ways that I’ll want to see occasionally, just to remember the fun we had.
SiubhanDuinne
I can’t access the video right now (love my BlackBerry, but this is one of its real limitations) — but I’m just betting Patch was not only a Great Dane but a Great Dog (Great Name, too!)
It’s not much comfort when you know he left you much too soon, but 12 years is a fine age for a Dane, from all I’ve heard. And they were happy years. I’m glad you took pictures and videos.
Ruckus
Brian
That video is a great tribute to what I am absolutely sure was a wonderful friend. Sorry about your loss. Remember, you filled up his life too.
I’ve seen a couple of Great Danes around here and they always seem to be gentle, like they know they never need to assert themselves. They seem regal just standing there.
Don’t know why but he reminds me of a dog we got when my dad bought a business. And I don’t think it’s the size. A German Shepard of about 10 that lived outside. Don’t think he had ever had a bath and on his hind legs was about a head taller than my dad who was 5’9″. Only three people ever got close to Poison. My dad, one of the employees and me. I was 12 and small for my age. His shoulders hit me about mid chest. Poison was gentle and kind, never giving me any concern. To the others, not so much, they only got close to feed him. Some days I miss that smelly, filthy old boy.
Ripley
Beautiful dog, and clearly loved. Condolences.
Ruckus
@Ruckus:
Talk about being an old softy. I just realized that Poison passed away around 47 years ago.
SiubhanDuinne
@Ruckus: Being a softy has nothing to do with elapsed time.
Lysana
He was clearly a lover and a great dog. My condolences.
J.
Sniff. Great Dane. Great parents. Great story.
Linda Featheringill
Great dog! So pretty!
Ruckus: Life is short but love is long. Perhaps it is love that is immortal.
I went to the pet supply store yesterday and met a black great dane. Pretty boy, with very soft lips. Thought I smelled interesting. He had a human in tow and a small boy of about 6. They made such a lovely trio.
Zuzu's Petals
Whew, that brings tears. What wonderful memories you must have.
I especially love the pics of him wild crazy-eyed happy over having a ball in his mouth. Don’t that sat it all.
JPL
Brian, Thank you for sharing the video and what a lovely story. Animals give us so much and ask for so little in return.
I must admit that I did have to wipe away a few tears.
Hillary Rettig
great pictures, and great advice about capturing “ordinary” moments.
Patch was clearly a very happy boy, and i love that he had the crazy eye.
Skepticat
What a beautiful animal! Danes truly are gentle giants. It’s sad that they’re prone to hip dysplasia and often are limited as Patch was when they get older. The wonderful, very affectionate, playful GD I once had thought that he was a lap dog (though he was 6′ 4″ when he stood up with his paws on my shoulders) and also loved to sit in the Boston rocker, rock, and watch TV. His best friend was a basset hound, and the combination was interesting. You’re so right about drawing attention. I drove an MG at the time, and people nearly drove off the road when they saw him sitting up in the passenger seat, head above the windshield, with his upper lip full as a spinnaker.
Zuzu's Petals
@Zuzu’s Petals:
sat it all = say it all
SIA
That was really moving. I had to turn off the music, and even so, felt a lump in my throat for the passing of such a noble, joyous creature. RIP dear Patch.
TaMara (BHF)
This beautiful story is why I will always be a Great Dane girl. I’ve had 4 wonderful Danes, each one full of love and joy. I miss them all. Thanks for sharing Brian. Thanks for doing these threads Anne Laurie.
Kristine
Glad I came here first this morning. What a wonderful story.
Sometimes when I drop by the local feed store, I run into a lady and her GD. Ripley is a gorgeous gent, very gentle, but also quietly insistent that once you have been introduced you become his person and ear skritches should therefore be forthcoming.
Joy
What a beautiful tribute and a handsome dog! You are so right about the pictures. I lost my digital pictures of my first Golden when my computer crashed and I now have very few of her. I learned my lesson and now have backups of all my pictures. It does make you smile when you look back at them and remember your faithful companion. How lucky for Patch and your family that you found each other.
daveNYC
Parent’s always had Great Danes. Other than the one that got taken by parvo, it was always the loss of control of the back half that did them in. Something about pressure on the spinal cord. Great pets though.
Triassic Sands
I’m sorry for your loss. If Patch lived to be 12, that’s a very full life for a Great Dane and you were fortunate to have him as long as you did. I’ve known Danes that died after only eight years. That has always seemed tragic to me — that the largest dogs, most of which are great, great dogs (Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Newfs, Mastiffs, etc.) have such short life spans. I can’t imagine the sadness of losing such a wonderful companion after such a short time.
Last week I took one of my cats to the vet and met Eli, who is a five-year-old Great Dane. He is a real sweetheart, even though he was, according to the new owner/parent, badly abused in his previous home. So bad, in fact, that he had just been released as evidence in an animal cruelty court case. How anyone can mistreat such a gentle dog is beyond me. Patch was lucky to have had a loving home.
Note: I can’t imagine mistreating any dog or cat, but the more gentle the animal the more inexplicable the crime.
Nick in PA
That was just beautiful … thanks so much for sharing. And to John Cole, thanks for having all these stories; even though some are kind of sad, it’s the good sad, if you know what I mean. On the subject of pictures and video (I hope I can boil this down), in 1992 I adopted two kittens from the vet, and by happenstance a few months later, I was in the vet’s office and overheard a woman inquiring whether the mom cat and kittens she had brought in had found homes. It was the litter that Tuffie and Peaches were from … and the lady said she had videotaped her fostering of them over a period of a month or so after finding them in a box in her driveway. I had the capability of copying the tape, and she was nice enough to get it to me. Five kittens and their mom, about an hour’s worth of tape, climbing all over this nice lady and her husband; I recognized mine of course. What a great thing to have happened. I haven’t watched in years … Tuffie and Peachie are gone now … maybe I will get that tape out one of these times.
LiberalTarian
I loved my Great Dane. He was one of the best friends I ever had. I’m glad you adopted Patch.
merrinc
What a sweet, handsome boy.
asiangrrlMN
Patch is such a handsome, gentle-looking boy. I loved the picture of him with the…(wanna say) Siberian Huskies. Thank you for giving him love and a good home in his too-short time on earth.
Brian Smith
Thank you, everyone, for the lovely comments. He was a special guy and leaves a lot of friends behind; those he met at my work place and also at the dog park. It’s nice to see so many people also know Great Danes; they are something special, for sure :)
There are more stories, pictures etc. at http://www.meetpatch.com which is a site I set up many years ago after having so many people ask questions about him. “Made a web site for my dog”; yes, I’m “white ‘n’ nerdy”, as the song says :)
Take care of your furry buddies and remember to video the little everyday things!
Church Lady
What a lovely video. You and Deanna bought much joy to Patch’s life and he to yours. A perfect combination!
J.C.
I was fortunate enuf to actually kno Patch & in fact my office was next to his (errr…Brian’s). I can say without a doubt he was a gental soul & very handsome, a joy to be around. I think of him often. We should all b so lucky to have a great companion!
DC in ME
That was pure win! Patch found his people and his people found a perfect canine companion. Thanks for the video and RIP Patch, it is obvious you were well and truly loved.
WereBear
Oh, I do love the big dogs. Patch is one of those reasons.
Bless you for giving him so many happy years.
Harry
We have a rescue Dane we picked up from a family in Ocala who couldn’t handle both him and his brother. My wife also was determined to adopt him and I was determined not to. I’m glad she won. Patch looks like he was a great gift to your family and your family was a great gift to him. Thanks for sharing your pictures, he was lovely!
debbie
I grew up with a Great Dane, and now live in a 6-apartment building with 2 Great Danes. If you can get past the intimidating size, they’re really very sweet animals.
Vic S
I too was blessed to have met Patch. He was the embodiment of the words “Gentle Giant”. Great tribute Brian.