Cute pups. Its hard to imagine these little pups will become very tall dogs.

Where does a Great Dane sit?

Anywhere it wants.

Awwww how precious! I thought she would have more Harlequins. Oh she just threw up all over. Ick

They're nursing now, and goodness there are a lot of squirming bodies in there! I hope the little ones at the back of the line get their turn.

Mischa had twelve pups, the last one was stillborn and unable to be revived. So eleven new, beautiful Danes begin their lives at 'crazy acres', where they will be much loved and well trained.

aok, don't worry about a pup not getting enough time at the milk bar. Every litter is watched carefully 24/7 by a rotating staff of employees and dedicated volunteers. Even those of us who are avid camera watchers (there are seven cameras set up on the farm, each following the activities of dogs or donkeys in different areas around the property), play a role in observing and reporting problems.

These puppies will be rotated frequently. That they are quite different from each other makes the job easier. The last couple of litters consisted of all black pups! A big litter like this will require lots of extra care from human hands.

Mischa herself was born at the farm, and now lives with a loving family elsewhere. She was brought back to the nursery a couple of days ago, just in time to deliver these pups. She was also brought back to the farm for her "dates" with Cole, another SDP dog selected just for her. Cole comes from European born parents, flown in to the farm as puppies, in order to bring the powerful, stocky bloodlines to Crazy Acres. Now a successful breeding male, Cole lives with another family, too, and will visit his old home when girlfriends are selected for him. I watched him being born!

Any dog that is deemed unsuitable as a service dog or a breeder will be given to a loving recipient for life. All will be neutered, of course, and offered a home back at the farm should anything happen. They become perfect pets.

Rhizo, what kind of service do Danes do? I don't think I've ever seen one with a blind person, etc. Would be hard to fit one of them on an airplane!!

They are trained to assist people with mobility problems. The 'partners' are often veterans with traumatic brain injuries, as well as individuals with Parkinson's or other serious disabilities. There are recipients of all ages though one of the stipulations is that the recipient must be able to be the primary caregiver.

They travel all over the place in planes, trains, cars, etc. They accompany their partners to big cities, fancy restaurants, theaters, hotels, the beach, and sports arenas. Two of the dogs are with their recipients in law school and in med school. They go everywhere that their people go, and can relax on cue. Danes are extremely happy in a resting state, lol.

These dogs are exposed everyday to situations that they might experience in their lives as service dogs. They don't bark, growl at other dogs, flinch at loud noises or roaring traffic. They will emerge from under a restaurant table to the astonishment of diners who had no idea that they were even there. The dogs also accompany their people to doctor and hospital visits as well as their physical therapy sessions.

The recipients are trained, too; it's very much a mutual relationship. The humans cannot be passive.

All dogs are given to their people free of charge, but there must be a commitment in on going training, necessary vet care, and a healthy, happy home. They seem to be readily adopted by existing pets and other family members. And if anything should happen that the dog can no longer be taken care of, STP will bring it back to the farm.

Very cool!

So cute! A friend of mine just got her "Paws with a Cause" service dog, a two year old black Labrador & golden retriever mix. She was diagnosed at age 12 with Limb-Girdle muscular Dystrophy and for the past 12 years has been confined to a wheelchair/ scooter. She is about 50 years old now. She has trouble raising her arms so if they slip off the arm of her chair the dog will help put them back up, and just so many other things that we all take for granted. Amazing what those dogs learn to do.

They are truly a miracle for those who are able to have them. Really healthy looking puppies.

Such a wonderful project. These animals are just amazing in the ways that they help their humans live more independently and for the emotional bond and support they provide as well.

For those who haven't visited the website since yesterday, you should check in today. You'll be shocked at how much they've grown!

Because there are so many and all of very good size, the puppy wranglers have been dividing them into two feeding batches several times a day. One group gets to eat while the others nap in a nearby laundry basket.

They were all weighed for the first time today, so that a close watch can be kept on their progress. They are lively, active pups.