Dirt Road Danes

06/04/2026

05/13/2026

05/13/2026

I have stayed quiet through many of the comments, messages, and assumptions — but I think something needs to be said. 🧡🐾🩵

“Adopt, don’t shop” should never become an excuse to attack, shame, or dehumanize people who have dedicated their lives to responsibly and ethically raising dogs.

Rescues matter. Deeply. Every dog deserves love, safety, and a home.

But please understand — not all breeders are the same.

Since 2017, I poured my heart into building a program focused on sweet, social, stable, solid Great Danes. To me, it was never “just puppies.” In fact, the growing overpopulation of Great Danes is exactly why I ultimately stepped back from breeding.

But ethical breeders still matter. They help preserve the health, temperament, structure, and standards of a breed for future generations.

Responsible breeding is intentional. We spent countless hours researching pedigrees, carefully planning litters long before they were born, requiring strict spay and neuter contracts, maintaining return-to-breeder policies, and standing behind every puppy for its entire lifetime.

We also worked hard to truly know our families. Not every home is the right fit for a DRD puppy — and that is okay. We never “just sold puppies.” We carefully matched each puppy to the right home, lifestyle, and family because these dogs become part of someone’s heart for the rest of their lives.

The shelter crisis is heartbreaking. Hoarding situations are devastating. But ethical breeders are not the reason shelters are overflowing. Irresponsible breeding and irresponsible ownership are.

What has hurt the most is not disagreement — it is the cruelty. The hateful comments, assumptions, and attacks toward people who have poured their hearts, homes, sleepless nights, family time, and emotions into raising healthy, loved, well-socialized dogs.

You do not have to agree with breeding. But kindness costs nothing. 🩵🐾🧡

🐾🧡🐾🩵🐾DRD

05/07/2026

Finally got Murphy acclimated to Cruz & Alffae

04/23/2026

Mine actually like the back scritches, close to their rump. But agree with the no areas FOR strangers.
What about your Danes?

04/22/2026

We want to thank all the Southgate staff, Dr Aaron Dr Matt, RVT Taylor, & all the rest who took care of Pearl (who decided to east one of Daddy’s work socks/ and then could not pass it) We came knowing this wasn’t bloat and assuming Princess Pearl ate some piece of cloth, yes at Over 5yrs old she still occasionally does it!!! They were good about squeezing us in. Showing me her xrays, and explaining what needed to happen.
They Must have treated her well bc Pearl can be very nervous & anxious around strangers (she is totally a Momma’s girl) she came through the door head, not held high, but not cowering to the ground either 🤣
Thank you all for always coming through when we are beyond our comfort zone & capabilities here at DRD’s 🐾🐾 💓🫶. 🧍🥼🩺🧍‍♀️
(We love our white coated friends)

04/22/2026

Pearl is back home and feeling much better, we have 5 lazy days ahead to heal, she is now my first one who has had her stomach tacked.

04/21/2026

Update
3:40 next message “We were not able to spay her at this time. We will have to do the spay at a later date, they were not able to prolong the surgery for that long as doing that much at one time could have been too hard on her”
3:35 message I received: Hi Heather, this is Taylor, RVT with Southgate Vet reaching out with an update on Pearl. She did have a sock stuck in her intestines , which our surgeon Dr. Nolting was able to remove and he also got her stomach tacked while he was in there as Dr. Hecht said you were hoping that could be done as well. She will need to stay with us overnight tonight for IV fluids and observation, and if she is able to eat and drink ok without any issues tomorrow she could possibly go home tomorrow afternoon. We will reach out with an update tomorrow but if you don't hear from us feel free to check in. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns - Thank you!!

2:22 They are pretty sure it’s an obstruction (thats what I told them as well) So they are gonna do surgery, Will spay & tack if all goes good. BUT IF intestines are necrotic- then told Aaron only do whatever he would for his own dog- - so if really bad I want him to put her down. Will do next update once she is out of surgery.

10:00 am at Vet with Pearl. Something is not right. Vommited yesterday and refusing food, lethargic & weak.
I WILL update as we learn more, just please send us positive vibes!!