Response from Sally

Good morning,  I am a strong advocate FOR Skansen.  All of our giants have come from Skansen and they have all had great dispositions.  Our first was over 20 years ago and he was a great boy. We had a pair of half siblings that the young neighbor kids could walk.  They loved kids and when Watson saw any child he would lie down to make himself a better height for the little ones.  We now have another pair and they are also healthy and great.  As a friend once said, " Skansen dogs are the only giants I know that will look you in the eye when you talk to them"  As for Sylvia and her staff, they have always been there when the need arose.  I have also been to the ranch several times over the years and find it an awesome place to visit.  I think that many people do not realize what ranch life is like or farm life so they may be upset when they do not see what they deem as an acceptable environment.  As a young girl I often stayed with an Aunt and roamed the fields with their two dogs.  These dogs lived outside with no pillows or cushions and ate table scraps or caught their food themselves.  They were very healthy dogs and lived long lives always at one of our sides.  This was in Ohio so they also spent winters in a breezeway connected to the house.  At Skansen they are fed regularly, raw, they have large areas to run and play, usually two to an enclosure with large dog houses and they are groomed on a regular basis. Yes, the enclosures have no real grass but there are many areas of our yard that used to have grass also before our giants ran it off.  On one visit we got to see what happens when Sylvia arrives on the scene and it was something I will never forget.  As she drove up the road every giant, standard, and mini knew it was her.  When she got out of her van the barks and attention getting antics were amazing.  They knew their special person had arrived.  Just like when you are gone and arrive home to see your babies.  Yes there are other sites that take great pride in bashing Sylvia and Skansen each chance they get and to me that is like bashing my giants.  The person that visited the ranch and posted detrimental things obviously does not have a clue about rural life and was livid when she couldn't play with the babies.  If I were a breeder I would not let strangers play with the puppies at that young stage of their lives either, to many things can happen.  To be upset because she wasn't offered coffee or whatever she felt she should have was unbelievable.  Skansen is not a tourist attraction.  Also, being upset because many of the dogs were muddy well she would be really upset if she saw our Giant after he has romped in the mud which is one of his favorite things to do. As for health problems, think about the new health issues humans have today caused by???? Easy to blame Skansen but we have had 5 giants, Skansen and none had health issues.   So, I could go on and on but my message is clear.  Glad I found Skansen years ago and because of their generosity, we have two more beautiful loving giants to bring more loving memories into our lives.  Take time to think, what if Sylvia and Skansen had never existed, where would Giants be in the USA and don't tell me the breed would be healthier.  Just talked to my cousin, three of her siblings have severe diabetes and the other three have no signs of it.  Same family, same parents. Go figure,
  Sally and family