Heart of the country: Great big softies

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Pat and Rory Lowe's tribe of great danes each weighs up to 80kg and stands nearly a metre tall, so finding a spot around the lounge heater is always a bit of a squeeze.

The couple bring their eight giant dogs inside every evening and are used to having their pets dominating most of the available floor space.

"They're part of our family," Pat grins. "Five of them sleep inside and the others go back into the sleepout with a gas heater.

"We don't see why they should be cold when we're not."

For the Lowes, great danes have become a way of life.

Fortunately, their rural lifestyle block south of Tokoroa has plenty of space.

The Lowes have competed in countless dog shows over the past 30 years and have won many national titles, including Dane of the Year for the past three years.

They are arguably New Zealand's top great dane breeders, and have exported their pups to North America, Hawaii and Australia.

"These guys are a passion," Pat says. "An absolute passion. It's the human aspect of them. They're very gregarious and they just creep into your heart."

But Rory admits the enormous size of the dogs - the irish wolfhound is the only breed taller - can be very intimidating.

"Some people absolutely freak. Generally, children are better about it than adults."

One of the Lowes' dogs used to regularly prompt screams from mothers "because he loves babies, so he'd always be sticking his head into prams".

"He would never hurt them," Rory says. "He just loved looking at them."

Having so many great danes comes at a price. They chew through 160kg of dry food a month and will demolish a 4kg dog roll between them each night.

Taking them for their daily walk is also a two-person job.

"You just couldn't have four on a lead at once. If they saw a rabbit that would be it," Rory says.

The Lowes have always been dog-lovers. They bought Lisa, their first great dane, after falling in love with a family member's pup.

After visiting several dog shows to watch the breed, Rory says they began entering Lisa in shows and quickly became hooked.

"It's pretty competitive, as you can imagine. Everyone goes there to win."

Great danes are judged on their shape, size, colour and the way they move.

"They're looking for size, substance and elegance all rolled into one," he explains.

Almost every weekend the Lowes pack up their dogs and travel to shows across the North Island.

The dogs travel well but always amuse themselves by tearing to shreds the mattress that lines their trailer.

"We get there and open the door and there's bits of foam squab everywhere. We go through a lot of mattresses," Rory says.

Pat believes great danes make wonderful family pets, although she would not recommend them for everyone.

"You've got to be realistic. They're big and boisterous and little kids can get knocked over."

Pat understands people preferring smaller dogs, but she says she would never want to own any other breed of dog.

"They may be big, but they're sweet and as gentle as."