Teufelshund (pronounced Toy-fel-soont) is the proper German spelling and pronunciation for "Devildog." (the plural has an "e" on the end) In the summer of 1918 the German Army was driving toward Paris. The French Army was in full retreat. In a desperate effort to save Paris, the newly arrived U.S. Marines were thrown into the breach. In bitter fighting lasting for weeks, Marines repeatedly repulsed the Germans in Belleau Wood. The German drive toward Paris sputtered and died. Then the Marines attacked and swept the Germans back out of Belleau Wood. Paris had been saved and the tide of war had turned. Five months later Germany would be forced to accept an armistice. The battle tenacity and fury of the U.S. Marines had stunned the Germans. In their official reports they called the Marines "teufel hunden," reportedly after the ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore.
Marines know "teufel hunden" which they pronounce, "too-full-hun-den," to mean "devil dogs" and they accept (and definitely deserve) it as a term of respect. Unfortunately, the literal translation of teufel hunden is "devil bitchdog."
I chose the name Teufelshund for my dogs 1. As a tribute to our Marines, 2. While my husband was deployed to Iraq for 2 years, I lived in a (not so nice) suburb of Jacksonville known as Belleau Wood to be near my (grown) children, 3. I've been a Marine Corps wife for 29 years, 4. My husband retires June 30, 2010 after 31 years of service to our country and 5. Many of my puppy owners are Marine Corps families. I love the Corps and all it represents: Honor, Courage and Commitment.
Ooh rah, Devildogs!
TEUFELSHUND GREAT DANES
Site Updated on 08-18-10
Teufelshund Great Danes is now located in New Bern, NC
Boss/Goody puppies arrived August 3, Brinks/Annie puppies arrived August 14. For more information on these beautiful puppies, see the New Recruits page link above.
The breeding of animals should never be considered a "hobby." Playing God with the lives of not only the animals you produce but the humans that buy them is very serious business, indeed. If you are not willing to take the time to study health, nutrition and genetics, in addition to the American breed standard, and if you are not willing to enter into this business with a serious and responsible attitude, then find another "hobby" please.
With the appearance of yet another so-called "breeder" of Great Danes here in North Carolina, I can no longer keep silent. I've worked very hard, studied long and done all the testing to make sure that I am producing healthy, intelligent puppies that will provide their owners with many years of enjoyment and pride in owning a Great Dane that closely meets the AKC standard. I've tried to keep other breeders from getting upset at me by keeping my prices in line with theirs. But I am now seeing too many people who think that just because it says "Great Dane" on the papers, it can be bred, regardless of color, regardless of conformation, regardless of temperament, regardless of age. Whether they have 2 dogs or 20 dogs, they are in it for the money and therefore are simply puppy mills. I've had too many people come to me telling me that the breeder of their last Great Dane offered no health guarantee or did not honor their health guarantee and the dog had many problems and/or died young. So, from here on out, when I have puppies available, if you find a comparable puppy - similar markings, same sex - for a lower price than I have listed and lesser or no health guarantee, please talk to me before making that purchase. I want to make sure you have the choice of purchasing a quality puppy from a reputable breeder rather than supporting someone else's greed and encouraging them to continue their irresponsible practices. Remember, you might pay less for the puppy, but you'll pay more, in vet bills and heartache, in the long run.
