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Willow, a fawn Great Dane, looking out over the water from a deck

Our story

A small program with a long memory.

Pegasus Great Danes is a preservation breeder: every litter is planned to protect and advance the Great Dane breed standard. We have spent more than 26 years with the breed, have shown since 2007, and now have six generations of dogs.

Willow, a fawn Great Dane, looking out over the water from a deck
AM CH & Int'l RBIS CH The Shadow Puppet, “Willow”, the program's foundation and first AKC champion.

From the breeder

It started with one dog.

“Pegasus Great Danes was my little dream when I started showing Danes in 2007. Since then it has grown to six generations of Great Danes, representing the breed standard.”

“Willow is the foundation of every puppy produced here. She was my first AKC champion, my heart dog, and she was with me while I raised my kids.”

Today the program competes in AKC conformation and IABCA international shows, with Pegasus dogs also earning titles in agility, trick work, scent work, manners and therapy. Show quality is the goal of every breeding, and every one of our dogs lives as a family member.

The name

Why Pegasus

The Pegasus stands for power, freedom and natural gifts, and for making the most of the opportunities we are given. A black Pegasus is said to bring protection along the way; a white one, balance and harmony. Our winged Dane carries both ideas: strength and steadiness, in one dog.

Milestones

The Pegasus timeline

  1. 26+ years

    A life with the breed

    More than a quarter-century of hands-on experience with Great Danes.

  2. 2007

    Into the show ring

    Pegasus Great Danes begins as a small dream when showing starts in 2007.

  3. Gen 1

    Willow

    The foundation girl and the first AKC champion, later Reserve Best in Show at an IABCA show.

  4. 2012

    Angus is born

    Second generation, from CH Tucker x CH Willow. Champion at 20 months, Grand Champion at two years.

  5. 2016

    The first National

    At the GDCA National Specialty, Angus wins Stud Dog and his son Nox goes Winners Dog.

  6. 2021

    Rayne places at Nationals

    Fourth-generation Rayne takes 3rd Place Brood Bitch at the GDCA National Specialty.

  7. 2025

    A new generation in the ring

    Blazer earns his first major and a Best of Breed from the classes in Houston.

  8. Today

    Six generations

    More than 20 AKC champions, AKC Breeder of Merit recognition, and dogs living full lives with their families.

Lineage

Generations you can trace

Pedigrees are the record of every decision a breeder makes. Two of the family lines behind today's Pegasus dogs:

Generation 1
Willow, a fawn Great Dane, looking out over the water from a deckWillowFoundation dam
Generation 2 · CH Tucker x CH Willow, 2012
Angus, a black Great Dane, stacked for the judge at the 2016 GDCA National SpecialtyAngusGDCA Best Stud Dog 2016
Generation 3 · sired by Angus
Nox, a black Great Dane, stacked with handler Aslynn Rose after winning Winners Dog at the 2016 GDCA National SpecialtyNoxGDCA Winners Dog 2016 Skeeter, a black Great Dane, stacked by her handler in the ringSkeeterOut of CH Solace
Dams
Secret, a fawn Great Dane, standing in a gardenSecretDam of the Yellowstone litter
Yellowstone litter · CH Barkley x CH Secret
Roux, a brindle Great Dane, in a win photo with the judgeRouxGrand Champion
GCH Roux x CH Solace
Studio portrait of Blazer, a fawn Great Dane, facing the cameraBlazerHouston 2025 major Neera, a fawn Great Dane, in her first win photo with the judgeNeeraWon first time out

Health

Health testing before every pairing

Great Danes are a giant breed with real health risks, and testing is where responsible breeding starts. Pegasus breeding dogs are health tested through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and we follow the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program for the breed.

CHIC numbers are published with each planned pairing. You can look up any CHIC number yourself in the public database at ofa.org. We are glad to walk you through the results for the parents of any litter.

Current pairings and CHIC numbers →
OFA and CHIC: health-tested parents for healthier puppies

Raising puppies

Raised in our home, prepared for theirs

Every Pegasus litter is raised in our home and immersed in the Puppy Culture program and our own Pegasus Puppy Program. The goal is a stable puppy, desensitized to everyday sights and sounds, that can go anywhere with its family.

  1. Planned pairings

    Each breeding is chosen for structure, temperament and health, with tested parents.

  2. Raised in the home

    Puppies are raised in our home, where each one gets daily time, handling and attention.

  3. Puppy Culture

    A structured socialization and early-learning curriculum from birth through placement.

  4. Pegasus Puppy Program

    Our own exposure work, building confidence in new places, surfaces and situations.

Temperament & therapy

Steady enough for a courtroom

Tonka, one of our therapy-titled dogs, has worked in schools, courtrooms and hospitals and holds the Therapy Dog Excellent title.

CH Thanos finished his championship in four weeks of showing. At home in Louisiana he is a therapy dog for his owner, and has been the best medicine through sickle cell pain crises.

Every dog is an individual. Our raising program builds a strong foundation, but no title or upbringing guarantees a particular puppy's future temperament or role.

Tonka in his therapy dog vest at a window
Tonka at work.
Thanos, a brindle Great Dane, wearing bunny ears on a car ride
Thanos off duty.

Credentials

Recognition and memberships

AKC Breeder of Merit

American Kennel Club recognition for breeders who health test, title their dogs and stay active in the sport.

OFA & CHIC health testing

Parents are health tested through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. CHIC numbers are listed with each pairing.

Great Dane Club of America

Member of the national parent club for the breed.

Heart of Texas Great Dane Club

Member of the regional breed club.

Good Dog Responsible Breeding Program

Listed with the Good Dog responsible breeder program.

Thinking about a Pegasus Dane?

Start with our application. It helps us get to know your family and match you with the right puppy and the right litter.

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