Giant dog steals the show

FRIENDLY GIANT: Caves dog show exhibitor Linda Boulton and Great Dane Hildyanne Sir Jester made an impact at the Rockhampton Show yesterday.

Sharyn O'Neill

HE’S big, friendly and eats more than three kilograms of food every day.

Harlequin Great Dane Hildydane Sir Jester attracted plenty of attention on People’s Day at the Rockhampton Show yesterday.

Standing at 36 inches (90cm) to the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades), Jester is the first Great Dane of The Caves dog show exhibitor Linda Boulton.

Mrs Boulton got into showing dogs 11 years ago through a friend and she started with Alaskan Malamutes.

She bought two-and-a-half-year-old Jester a year ago and has taken him to three shows.

Mrs Boulton has shown dogs at the Rockhampton Show for most of the past 11 years and said socialisation was a big benefit.

“It’s a good day out for the dogs,” she said.

Jester eats around three kilograms of food every day, but Linda said the big dog wasn’t too much trouble to look after.

“It’s probably a bit easier. Great Danes are big couch potatoes,” she said.

Yesterday’s dog show was a conformation show, where judges look at how the dogs are constructed and examine their body features, the way they move and judge them against the standard for their breed.