This is Onyx, a wonderful Dane. Like all the dogs here she is a rescue. Her original owners bought her as a puppy, and let her live in their house until she was six months old. After that they considered her to be to much trouble, so she was banished to a 10 by 10 foot dog lot which already contained three large adult dogs. She spent two years in this cage, with the other dogs taking her food from her and generally bullying her. She spent most of her time on top of a dog house in the cage because the dogs mostly left her alone there. She was given food and water but absolutely no other attention. By the time my friend Robin talked them into letting her have Onyx (I came up with the name), she was so completely de-socialized that Robin was the only person she would allow to keep her company. If someone else came into the house she would hide in the bedroom until they left, no matter how long that was. When I met Onyx, it was over a year before she would even allow me to pet her. This was during the two years I had my black lab Boxxie, who I always brought with me on my visits from Kentucky. Boxxie was determined to make friends with Onyx and soon had her playing in the yard until they both dropped. This was the first time Onyx had a canine friend, and it broke her wall open. After I lost Boxxie, Cookie stepped in and did exactly the same. Over the years Onyx has grown into a very self-confidant, dignified lady. So much so we often call her the Princess, or even Her Majesty. After I moved here, Onyx would often come to visit me, and became fast friends with Cookie and Buddy. On the computer, I often listen to a really fine streaming jazz station which plays only top-notch, relaxing, smooth jazz. It really tickled my sense of the strange things life brings when Onyx developed a taste for jazz. In fact she loves it! If she hears the music, she will come in, arrange the sofa just to her liking, and basically melt there, head toward the speakers, for hours.