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Sculptors
Gayle Reville

Multi BISS CH AIRLIEBLUE SHADES OF APOLLO

BISS AUS CH Thunderfire
Thomas The Tank

BISS AUS CH. CULURDANE CENTENARY

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In our “Sculptors” series we ask blue breeders questions to provide some insight into the various schools of thought found around the world. In this article, we interviewed Gayle Revill of Thunderfire Great Danes in Australia. She is only breeder of Australia's only Blue Specialty Winners. Her website is http://www.thunderfire.com.au.

BGD: How did you get started in Danes?

GR: Well the desire for one was there from childhood but for various reasons the need hadn’t been met, until I met a guy who'd had a fawn as a child and we (by then were living together) decided to go get one! Yes just like alot of people do without much thought involved. Looked in the news paper and rang a number. The lady’s son answered and she was out. Call back later type thing. We didn’t (thank goodness, that was a notorious puppy farmer) we called another number and this was the beginning of it. A lovely black litter, we just intended a pet, but she asked if we would like to show him? I was already showing my horse so showing wasn’t new to me. I could do that I said. It was when we arrived at this place that I saw my first ever blue Danes. I was besmitten. Two blue bitches looked at us through the window as we walked down the pathway to the door. I knew at that moment that was my destiny. Anyhow this black pup became a champion and though guy and I separated, eventually this dog was the grand sire of my first BISS CH. blue girl Inca.

BGD: Who has helped you the most in your time with Danes?

GR: This isn’t a question I can answer easily as I didn’t not have what I consider a real mentor, if that is what you mean. The first breeder I hung my hat on didn’t really want to teach me anything too much, lest I get 'too big for my boots' (and I think usurped her as a 'blue breeder'). She basically pushed me away. But I was determined and kept going and I guess having to really do this on my own may has made me tougher. I took handling lessons from a top exhibitor back then, but as far as breeding and showing blues and all that went with it … I didn’t have anyone holding my hand and guiding me. I was it, a blue novice exhibitor in a sea of seasoned fawn showies. Sadly, I have seen many 'coloured exhibitors' fall by the wayside.
The person who has helped me most when all is said and done is my Husband.
I met him in 88. He will do things for the Danes many husbands won’t. He will sit up and whelp a litter all night (I call him the wonder whelper!). He’s there for me when things go wrong. He is the emergency handler (and a good one) LOL! He loves them like I do. He does the hard bit when one needs to be buried. He’s my partner and he understands the passion as he is a Dane man himself and I met him at a national specialty. So if I have to try and single someone out whose been there for me supporting me thru thick n thin, its him.

BGD: Is there a particular dog or bitch, whether from your own breeding or not, you felt epitomized what you were striving for in your breeding program?

GR: Well no dog is perfect as we know. You can tweek this bit or that bit. You always would like something a bit more here or there.... I wont name one dog in danedom 'out there' as there have been several (regardless of colour ) I would have thought epitomized the breed. These dogs are special and you have that heart flutter when you see them 'posing'. I think I mean 'true essence of Dane'. It’s not something to just 'describe' you feel it when you see it. Thus far those that have inspired me most I have had myself would be Multi BISS CH Airlie blue Shades of Apollo 'Dino' then his grand daughter
Mardhia Spirit of Apollo', 'Dina', and now her grandson CH. Thunderfire Law and Order. 'Cary'.

BGD: Who was your first champion?

GR: BISS Ch: Culurdane Centenary (close relo of Dino)

BGD: What has been your greatest achievement to date? Greatest challenge?

GR: My greatest challenge was to bring the blue Dane in Australia from a 'poor relation' and maligned colour considered inferior to equal standing in quality to the fawns. My greatest achievement to date is not one particular win, (and let it be said that a win is not always just about a ribbon, but about a triumph over something seemingly impossible - to prove to the nay sayers they were wrong - to do something many will never do in their lifetime in the breed - it is not all about ribbons) but for the part that brings ribbons - to have achieved the countries only Blue specialty winners, (to date) to have bred many blue champions, to have bred the only Jumping and agility titled Dane in the country, he also being the most titled Dane in the country. To have achieved recognition for being the top blue breeder in Australia, to have been a part of a ROM winning blue in USA, therein I say I have surpassed what I may have thought possible way back when I was told I could never win with a blue!

BGD: What health testing, if any at all, do you think should be performed on a Dane?

GR: I think all testing for the breed specific problems is a valuable tool in helping control problems, but sadly not enough to give us the means to eradicate or at least avoid them, in that until we have DNA markers to prove certain things are actually inherited or not, we cannot properly achieve that end. Dogs can test clear for things and still produce them in the offspring. If we know that we are working with genes for sure then we approach it that way. If we know otherwise that we are dealing with 'gigantism predisposition' and growth factors related to same that can cause skeletal/ or organ problems and conditions, then we can address that appropriately, too.

BGD: Do you have any advice for someone getting started in the Dane world?

GR: Be open minded. DO NOT BE COLOUR BIASED. Your preference may be one colour, but you must not be so narrow minded that you can only see it, and the value only of specimens within it. There are good and bad in all the colours and the colour is only hair. Conformation, breed type, health, soundness, these matter before hair colour. This is one breed and the various colours are part of it in its entire glory.
Find a good mentor who embodies the values you wish to aspire to. Not someone who is totally kennel blind. A good breeder doesn’t need to run everyone else’s Danes down to make their own look good. Criticism must be constructive and true to what is actually wrong, not just flap trap. Your mentor must inspire you. They must teach and encourage you. Someone who can appreciate anyone’s dog in any colour and can tell you why they do (anyone can pick on 'faults' a good breeder/judge or anyone who knows the breed well can evaluate it and tell you why a specimen is a good one). Be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up and gain knowledge. Be patient, listen, read, look, learn your standard. Make it your bible. Learn about form and function. Don’t be in a hurry to breed!!!! I can’t stress this enough. You can get a good puppy of a good breeder. Wait until you have a few years under your belt and you truly know what you want and have a foundation to build your kennel on, which is more than just a couple of dogs. You need a good understanding of genetics if you truly want to make a difference, and be of value to the breed. I see the instant breeders who’ve been in it 5 minutes and they want everything right now and they don’t have a clue. These 'breeders' are detrimental to the breed. If you do, do it under the auspices of someone whose knowledge you have to back you up. Think of yourself as the apprentice, doing your time. One day you can then be the master and at the top of your game. You don't just get a set of nine irons and suddenly you are a pro golfer with the ability to beat Tiger woods.

BGD: How do you feel about cross-color breeding?

GR: In the hands of open minded knowledgeable breeders this should not even be an issue. It is a means to an end. If the quality/attribute you want is not in the colour family you have, then you go get it!!!! If you have a good understanding of how the genes work then you know how to use them to your advantage with minimal 'mismaking' to actually often none at all depending on what you are doing. Again I say it is only hair. Cross colour matings have been done by many for many years. I do not see a sea of muddy coloured Danes in the ring. I see all the true colours. Odd colours or mismarks are actually not the problem in our breed; it is about how they came to be. In the hands of back yarders and the ignorant it is about the lack of care in the breeding of the pairs and no attention to what is being bred to what in pursuit of making a dollar breeding ' unusual ' colours .We in the fancy do not breed this way and we have intent and a purpose which is far removed (or should be) from the express purpose of just making money. Therefore the cross colour mating to us is a tool to gain a broader gene pool for one, and to bring in something we lack. The occasional mismark is a bi product, but we don’t intend to breed on with these and make them a dominant colour in our breed, therefore they do not become it.

Over the years I have experienced colour prejudice that to me I can liken to being in the same vein as racial prejudice. This might sound extreme but I believe it to be very much from the same place in peoples minds, and frankly, when it comes to 'the hair of the dog' I just don’t get it. I think this is where alot of the stigma attached to a x colour tabbo comes from, rather than the reality of what is actually produced.

BGD: At what age do you evaluate a litter to decide a "keeper"?

GR: I start to really look hard at 6 weeks ... but I like to run on the 'chosen few' to 12-14 weeks. I'm not in a hurry choosing.

BlueGreatDanes.net would like to thank Ms. Revill for taking the time to share her perspective.