‘I once took her on a flight with me, and I had to pay for three seats,’ said dog owner Gabriel Bogner.
They say the best things come in small packages, but not this one.
Gabriel’s gigantic Great Dane support dog is giving him all the best support in life.
In fact, Darwin the Great Dane is possibly one of the world’s biggest support dogs – and she’s just five-years-old.
She’s an ‘assistance’ dog for Gabriel who suffers from Crohn’s disease, providing both physical and mental support.
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be constant or flare-up and include diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, blood in your stool, tiredness, weight loss, joint pain and painful skin, according to the NHS.
Gabriel bought Darwin as a puppy and immediately registered her as an emotional support dog through his physicians.
She was not trained officially as a service dog by professionals and so cannot do all the advanced tasks that other service dogs do.
But Darwin helps provide deep pressure relief and heat therapy. Gabriel says he never has to worry, as she and her slobber are always on hand to help.
He explains: ‘She is a self-trained service animal to help me with deep-pressure therapy when I am in pain as well as providing heat therapy.
‘She can also help me retrieve some items, and she acts as an emotional support animal too.
‘Darwin is great at cuddling, and you don’t have to bend down to pet her. She also has a goofy personality and is very loving.
‘She helps provide a lot of support when I’m in a flare and knows when I’m not feeling well. Heat and pressure can help relieve some belly pain, so she applies pressure when I’m in pain.’
By this Gabriel means Darwin will put her head or part of her body on his belly. She also also accompanies him to the bathroom.
‘She’s also very warm so that helps, although the downside is that there is a lot of slobber!’ Gabriel says.
‘Sometimes, people are very scared when they see her and hide, but she’s is a gentle giant and would never hurt a fly – although I have been asked if she is a horse.’
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