LEND ME A PUP
I will lend to you for a while, a Great Dane pup, God said, For you to love him while he lives and mourn for him when he’s gone. Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three But will you, until I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you and (should his stay be brief) You'll always have his memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true And from the folk that crowd’s life’s land I have chosen you Now will you give him all your love Nor think the labour vain, Nor hate me when I come to take my Dane back again.
I fancied that I heard them say "Dear lord thy will be done" For all the joys this Dane will bring, the risk of grief we’ll run We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay.
But should you call him back much sooner than we've planned, We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes to try and understand. If, by our love, we’ve managed, your wishes to achieve, In memory of him we loved, to help us while we grieve.
When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife, Maybe we'll have yet another Great Dane and love it all its' life.
~Author Unknown
We first met Griff as a 6 month old puppy, and immediately fell in love with him, 12 months later, we called Rosalie and Elwyn Cobley on behalf of a friend who at the time was looking for a young adult to give a home to, and discovered that Elwyn and Rosalie was looking for a home environment for Griff, as he was not developing properly in a kennel.
Within 15 minutes we were in our car with our blue dog, on our way to the wash, to hopefully bring him home with us. Fortunately Griff and Apollo hit it off straight away, and we returned to Clacton.
Unfortunately 10 days later we lost Apollo, with a tumour on the spine, he was only 5 years old, and it broke our hearts.
We started to take Griff to local exemption shows just to gain a bit of experience and confidence in each other, we then progressed to open and breed club shows, getting placed on a regular basis. Then came the champ shows, we were just missing out on qualifying for Cruft's most of the time. Then we were encouraged by Carl Johnson to persevere as we would get there in the end.
We took him to the Pennine Champ show, under Mrs Karina La Mare in October 1991, and got him qualified, and also gained his stud book number as well.
Our proudest moment was yet to come, the following year, we took him to Crufts, and gained reserve in limit with him, we were ecstatic!! Rosalie was cheering at ringside, and Elwyn, bless him was grinning like a cheshire cat as was "Auntie" Kay Stephens, who Bred him.
Without the help and encouragement of these and a few other people,I think Sue and I would have given up a long time ago, but 20 years later we are still striving to breed good sound stock, and we are now encouraging others with words of advice, and pearls of wisdom that were given to us by respected people within this wonderful breed.
You were a wonderful companion to the end,
taken before your time. Sorely missed by Alan, Trina, and the boys.
After a long battle against illness you
finally lost the battle on 15/4/04.
Goodbye our Angel. Run through the sky along with your Mother and Daughter.
You will be forever in our thoughts.
Goodbye our "Big Boy". You gave years of pleasure to all that knew you, a gentleman to the end. We miss you, as does Tanika, your soulmate.
Run free with the rest of the Akura's up in heaven.
Your memory will live on through Pernod (Akura Milady C'est La Vie). Long live the memory.
Goodbye my sweet lady. You will always have an extra special place in our hearts.
A lady until the end.
Goodbye "Daddies Girl" although you have left me with a broken heart, the "wrecking crew" are together again.
The last of the "Great Ladies".
You will always be remembered,go play with your sisters and your Mother, in that little piece of heaven reserved for all the Akura family.
Greatly missed by Leslie and Melvyn.
Tragically taken from us on 23/01/05 at just 10 months. They say the best die young, and with you it is true.
You left your mark in the show world, and in all our hearts. Especially Steve Kathy Claire and Jonny
You were so very much a playful, and powerful gentleman. A lifetime companion
of Lulu, and a loyal guardian. Everyone is going to miss those slobbery kisses that
you so enjoyed giving. You have left a big gap in everyone's life that knew you.
