Meet Magnus, Our Newest Great Dane!
Magnus is our beautiful blue merle Great Dane, and he came into our lives when we needed him the most. In April 2023, we heartbreakingly lost our two beloved Danes, Zeus and Thor, as they crossed the rainbow bridge. The house felt empty without them, and we knew it was only a matter of time before another gentle giant would join our family.
After their passing, I reached out to Pine Valley Great Danes in Wisconsin—the same breeder where we got Zeus as an 8-week-old puppy in 2013. They had been wonderful to work with, and when I contacted them, I was thrilled to learn that their latest litter had been sired by the same dog as Zeus through AI. It felt like fate—Zeus’ little brother was meant to be ours.
Now at 2 years old, Magnus is almost the spitting image of Zeus! He stands 34 inches at the shoulders and 44 inches at the crown—about 4–5 inches shorter than Zeus, who was unusually tall. At 170 lbs, Magnus is every bit the gentle giant. He loves his daily walks in the woods, but once home, you’ll find him lounging on the couch or bed—never the floor!
Weekends are his favorite because he gets to meet up with his doggie friends, most of whom are half his size, for wild play sessions. He also enjoys boating in the summer, and unlike Zeus and Thor—who weren’t the best swimmers—Magnus has figured out how to paddle around pretty well for his size.
Since I work full-time as a Registered Nurse and run operations at a Senior Living community, Magnus often comes to work with me. Everyone adores him—he struts around like the Mayor, greeting everyone as if he owns the place! 😂
At home, Magnus is my shadow in the kitchen. He’s always ready to “taste-test” when I’m not looking, especially since he stands at counter height, making sneaking treats all too easy. He’s even mastered the ice maker—though we fear for its lifespan at the rate he uses it! Our duct tape fix? Completely ineffective.
One thing we’re passionate about is making all of his food and treats from scratch using wholesome ingredients. We avoid packaged and processed foods as much as possible, ensuring Magnus has a steady supply of homemade dog bones and treats stored in the freezer. While he loves them all, his absolute favorites are the dehydrated hamburger patties, our homemade soft dog treats, and, of course, all of the frozen goodies!
Magnus has brought so much joy into our lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our newest gentle giant.
