About

Susan Davis Shaw
50
Years Breeding
30+
Champions
AKC
Breeder of Merit
CGC
Evaluator

The Journey

My first husband, Stanley, bought me a Great Dane puppy in 1976 as a housewarming gift (In place of the pony I always wanted). He was a harlequin named Maitau's Bennington Von Odin and was from Pat Ciampa, Maitau Great Danes. Pat asked us to bring Ben to a Great Dane Club of New England match where Laura Kiaulenas (BMW) was judging. I knew absolutely nothing about showing dogs and was scared to death, but took him in the ring and placed second in a large class, right behind Pat. That was all I needed – I was hooked. We fell in love with the breed and soon added another harlequin to our family, a female this time. Double D von Maitau, CD produced my first homebred champion, CH Davisdane's Double Exposure, CD. That was the start of Davisdane. I have finished many harlequins and mantles over the years, and strive to dual-title them. My dogs are part of our family and I do not, and will never, have a kennel situation. Stanley died in 1991 and I married Dana Shaw in 1995. Dana shares my love for this breed and often accompanies me to dog shows. I have two grown children, Linda and Steven.

Accomplishments

With a very limited breeding program, we currently have over 30 champions to our credit. I'm proud of the fact that every dog I breed is health tested. My Daffy, CH Davisdane's Dare to be a Duck, CD, RN, BN, CGCA, HOF was the first mantle to finish her championship from the Bred By class, and the first mantle to be entered in the GDCA Hall of Fame as a producer. She also was a Venerable Great Dane (lived to age 10) and was named the OFA Champion of Health in 2014, which is an honor awarded to one dog in each breed that has had significant accomplishments in the ring, in the field, in performance events, as producer, or as a working dog, AND has the full complement of health testing appropriate for its breed.

Club Involvement

I have been active in the Great Dane Club of New England, serving currently as President and holding every office except Treasurer. I am also their membership chairman.

I served many years on the board and am Past President of my local all-breed club, South Shore Kennel Club. I had the honor of being awarded their Good Sportsmanship Award in 2004 and 2023.

I am also a CGC and Trick Dog Evaluator for AKC.

I also served on the Board of Directors of the Great Dane Club of America from 2003 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018, also serving as Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and a member of the Standard Committee. I served over 20 years as GDCA Affiliate Club Secretary, Northeast Division Secretary and currently serve as a Parent Club mentor.

I continue to serve the GDCA as a Trustee and Secretary of the Great Dane Club of America Charitable Trust, a 501C3 non-profit organization that funds rescue and educational grants, scholarships for our students, and research projects to improve the health of our beloved breed.

I have been given the incredible honor of being voted by the GDCA membership to judge their Futurity in 2006 and again in 2018 in Topeka, Kansas.

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