My Danes .....
THE FOUNDATION OF
ZHONGCHENG KENNELS ....
My love of dog's goes back as far as I can remember, it was nothing for my parents to come home from work to find numerous strangers dog's and myself playing in the backyard. In my eyes back then, if a dog was walking the streets it was lost and unsafe, so I just had to save it and take it home.
I "fondly" remember at one time having three strange dog's, and a sore backside in Dad's garage awaiting pickup from their owners.So in the end my parents had no choice but to buy me my own dog, or go insane making and distributing found posters all overthe neighbourhood more than once a week.
In my early 20's I purchased my first Dane "Chrystal", she was a black girl full of personality but unfortunately no brains.I eventually had to re-home her to acerage after turning my home into a fort, to try to stop her from escaping whilst I went to work to no avail. She lived a long and happy life with her new family as she never had to be seperated from them on the farm.
It wasn't until 1989 when I was self employed that I decided it was time for another Dane to share my life with. Her name was" Ashley ", Ash grew to be a part of me, when she passed away a part of my heart died with her. She was a fawn, full of spirit, love and intelligence. Wherever I went, she went, we were inseperatable. Everybody who knew Ash admired, respected and loved her,she was a true ambassador for Great Danes. It was the morning prior to the new millenium 31/12/99, that Ash passed away quietly in her sleep, laying in her favourite place in the sun aged 10 years.
After Ashley's death I couldn't bring myself to getting another Dane, I felt it wouldn't be fair on the new pup as I more than likely would of compared it against Ash all the time. However in 2002 I missed the companionship of the Canine, so I established ZhongCheng Kennels with the help of a friend Karenne Boorman of Kaznpei Kennels, we decided upon researching, breeding and showing the rare "Chinese Shar-Pei". Over the years the Shar-Pei eased the pain I felt when remembering Ash, but never seemed to fit the role of a best friend as my Ashley had done. It took 5 years for me to be able to look at another Dane without bringing on the pain of the loneliness I suffered without my Ash.
In 2005 whilst away for 3 weeks showing my Shar-Pei, I met Lynne Wilson of Diamondpark Great Danes. We were in a town called Tullamore in NSW, when her brindle lad "Lucky" decided to take a wife in her fawn, black masked lady "Emmy". It was out of this union my "Tullie" was born on the 12th of October 2005.
Tullie, although she will never replace my Ash holds my utmost respect & love. She is a gentle giant, her temperment and nature is up there with the best. She obtained her Australian Champion Title in 2007, proving her conformation and ability in the show ring. She is now a huge part of my life, along with my family of Shar-Pei.
I decided to mate Tull with Rithpen's Enter the Star (Leo) in December 2007 and on the 13th of February 2008, ZhongChengs first registered Dane litter was produced. At present I am campaigning three Dane girls in and around the show rings, and look forward to purchasing a stud in the near future to help produce further litters in the coming years.
Here at ZhongCheng my dog's are my pleasure........ not my business. I research at length the Dane & Shar-pei, and unlike numerous kennels and breeders my association with you and your new best friend does not finish the moment you've paid for your pup.
I encourage you to join the many happy other new owners of our pups to the ZhongCheng family. Please say in touch, I'm available 24/7 to answer any questions that might pop up, to share not only the good times but the bad if ever they arise.
