Rare Earth Danes

Quality in Black and White

My kennel name comes from the Rare Earth Hypothesis, which states that while microbial life is common in the Universe, advanced life is rare. The hypothesis, put forth by Peter Douglas Ward and Donald Brownlee, is based on what is known about the physical environments that exist in the Universe as well as what is known about the history of the Earth and its life. From an astronomical perspective, the Earth is a very special place that differs drastically from other planets in the solar system. Its surface temperature, atmosphere, oceans, and long-term stability cannot be expected to be common. Our planet as-we-know-it is even rare for Earth if the full history of the planet is considered. Only in the last 10% of its lifetime has Earth had plants and animals on its surface, an unusual state that many consider to be "normal". It is a sobering reality that on Earth, a magical planet that provides a seemingly ideal habitat for life, it took 4 billion years of planetary and biological evolution just to develop animals. Microbial life was easy and it occurred early in Earth's history, but animals only recently arrived. They have already been nearly wiped out several times during mass extinction events.

The main conclusion of Rare Earth is that Earth is a very special place. Many circumstances and events had to happen just right for Earth to remain a healthy habitat for advanced life.

This is the biologist in me coming out. I strive to produce Danes that are unique, special, magical, ideal...Rare Earth Danes.

I am President of the Great Dane Club of Western Washington and a member of the Great Dane Club of America. I am an AKC approved evaluator for Tricks, Canine Good Citizen, and Virtual Home Manners. I am licensed by the AKC to judge AKC Temperament Tests (ATT).

Now, let me introduce you to my humble companions.