Image of Bryer's parents.
DOB: June 24th, 2017 - August 24, 2024
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Bryer’s Story Bryer came to us from a breeder in Illinois, at a time when we weren’t searching for another Dane—at least, not with our minds. But the universe clearly knew what our hearts needed long before we did. From the moment he stepped into our home, it felt as though he had always been meant to be there. He fit into our family with a kind of effortless magic. And along with Bryer, I was gifted something priceless: a dear friend and mentor in his breeder, forever entwining his story with mine in a way I will always cherish. Bryer was brilliant—truly brilliant—with a spark in his eyes that made learning feel like a game we played together. By six months, he had mastered more than twenty cues and proudly earned his Novice Trick Dog title. By nine months, he was in the ring, competing and collecting titles in Rally Obedience as if he had been born for it. And at just one year old, he began therapy work. It is no exaggeration to say he amazed me at every turn: an intact adolescent male, doing work that demanded calm, compassion, and stability—traits he carried in his heart naturally. But Bryer’s accomplishments were only a small part of who he truly was. His spirit was soft, warm, and impossibly gentle. His goofy, joy-filled antics made strangers laugh and friends melt. He loved every person, every animal, every moment with a purity that felt rare. His temperament wasn’t just good—it was extraordinary. He was everything a Great Dane should be, and somehow even more than that. To me, Bryer was the very definition of the breed: friendly, sweet, gentle, steady, brave, strong, loyal—and breathtakingly beautiful. But beyond all of that, he was my best friend. My heart dog. My once-in-a-lifetime companion. I could write a thousand words and still never come close to capturing how deeply I loved him. When Bryer contracted MRSA in his leg, our lives shifted into a long, exhausting battle—months of powerful antibiotics, repeated debridement surgeries, and desperate hope. He fought with the same quiet strength he brought to everything. But slowly, painfully, the toll on his body grew too heavy. As his mobility declined and incontinence set in (something he found deeply humiliating,) we faced the decision no one ever wants to make. Letting Bryer go shattered my heart, but it was the final act of love I could give him—freeing him from the suffering he did not deserve. |
Colour Testing Results: Click Here for UCDavis Colour Testing Results
Health Testing Results: Click Here for OFA Link
Additional Genetic Testing Results: Click Here for Additional Tests
AKC DNA#: V878540
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Certificates
Noteworthy Accomplishments:
- January 2018 (6 months old): Earned his Novice Trick Dog title through Do More With Your Dog and the American Kennel Club.
- March 2018: Took Best of Breed from the Junior Puppy Class over Specials.
- April 2018 (9 months old):
• Earned his Canadian Championship.
• Earned his Rally Novice title on the same day as his Championship.
• Awarded High in Class in Rally Novice B at the Western Great Dane Club of BC Specialty. - June 2018 (just before his 1st birthday): Won Best of Breed over a strong lineup of Danes (including four mature males) and went on to a Group 2nd placement.
- July 2018: Passed his Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) test and completed his initial Therapy Dog screening.
- August 2018:
• Won High in Class in Rally Intermediate at the Great Dane Club of Canada Specialty.
• Won Best of Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes at the GDCC Specialty. - October 2018 (14 months old):
• Earned his Rally Intermediate title after winning both 2nd and 4th Highest in Class at the Calgary Kennel & Obedience Club Show.
• Placed 2nd in the 15–18 month Futurity class at the Great Dane Club of America National Specialty in Topeka, Kansas. - January 2019 (18 months old): Won Best of Breed three days in a row at the Alberta Kennel Club (4-point, 5-point, and 4-point wins), finishing his Grand Championship.
- August 2019:
• Awarded his Therapy Dog Novice title by the CKC for his work with PAWS for People.
• Recognized with both the Versatile Great Dane and Versatile Great Dane Excellent Awards by the Great Dane Club of Canada (awarded at the GDCA Western Division Regionals Specialty). - January 2020: Earned his Trick Dog Intermediate and Trick Dog Advanced titles.
- April 2021:
• Achieved his AKC Virtual Home Manners certification.
• Earned his 2K-9 Fitness Specialty title through Do More With Your Dog.
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Tricks:
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Therapy Work
Bryer shared his gentle spirit through volunteer work with Paws for People in Fort McMurray, Alberta, a non-profit program run under the Canadian Mental Health Association. While some moments of therapy work were too sensitive to capture or share, the joy he brought was undeniable. His visits took him to airports, seniors’ programs, and colleges, where his kind, steady presence brought comfort, smiles, and connection to everyone he met. |
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