Welcome to the website of Mein Hertzchens Kennel, Norway - the home of Great Danes since 1976.

I am passionate about the breed, and my aim is to preserve the original type - the strong-boned, powerful "Dogge" with excellent physical and mental health. As a result, most of my dogs are imported from kennels in Sweden, UK and Germany.

I don't breed very often, relative to the number of dogs I have had the pleasure to own. I only breed from dogs with outstanding qualities that deserve to be passed on, only when I plan to keep puppies from the litter because I expect high quality puppies, and only when I know I have the capacity to keep any additional puppies that may not find quality homes.

My dogs are not very often seen in the show ring. This is not because they are not physically or mentally equipped to handle such situations - on the contrary. This is because I believe that life in and around a show ring weekend after weekend is not in my dogs' best interest. My love for my dogs is unconditional and independent of their physical appearance and any achievements in the show ring or elsewhere. The decision whether to breed from a dog should not be based on show results - winning a lot of prizes and titles does not necessarily mean the dog is good breeding stock - and therefore such results are never a factor in my breeding programme.

All my dogs enjoy daily unrestricted exercise, running around on the farm - either playing with each other or on their own - depending on their personal preferences. I believe strongly that physical and mental stimulation are essential for a normal development and to give the dogs the quality of life they deserve as well as longevity. This is not possible without optimal feeding throughout life - starting whilst still in utero. The food needs to be of top quality and made from the best ingredients possible, thereby providing the nutrients, including adequate high quality protein from known sources, required to build and maintain a healthy, wholesome body. Unfortunately, these views, or at least the will and the knowledge necessary to achieve these goals, seem not to be common-place among some GD-breeders and owners in this country at the moment.