I'm the breeder behind Safire Farms located in Virginia Beach, VA. I am a show breeder of mostly blue and occasionally black Great Danes with special emphasis on temperament, health, and longevity. Safire Farms also focuses on breeding to the standard of the Great Dane. Temperament will always be number 1, and health number 2; however, adherence to the breed standard and true Great Dane type is also of utmost importance in order to preserve the Great Dane as it is intended to be.
About Cindy
I have been involved in Great Danes since 2000, when I got my first Dane, a blue show bitch named Sapphire. I have had six other Danes since then and have a new puppy show bitch coming home in April 2021. I will be 42 in April 2021 and am an LVT (licensed veterinary technician), working relief and part-time in emergency medicine and critical care, also with a special interest in anesthesia and surgery.
What makes Cindy’s program special
With my science background (LVT & BS in Biology), I am especially passionate about transparency as a breeder, openness, and honesty, and I'm a big proponent of health testing. We don’t get anywhere as breeders by shaming each other and hiding our problems. Health testing is a big way we can help avoid genetic disease. You don’t know if you don’t test, but also a test cannot guarantee health either!
Cindy is a member of a club
Great Dane Club of Central North Carolina
Cindy’s certifications & recognitions
CHIC Certified, Licensed Veterinary Technician
Rina
Female • Went Home Jan. 2, 2020
Great Dane
Bentley
Male • Went Home Jan. 2, 2020
Great Dane
Archie
Male • Went Home Jan. 2, 2020
Great Dane
Darcy Grace
Female • Went Home Jan. 2, 2020
Great Dane
Chase
Male • Went Home Jan. 2, 2020
Great Dane
Cindy has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies. You'll also have the chance to share a bit about yourself and what you're looking for in a new companion. Together, you'll choose the puppy that's right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Puppy prices range from $2,000 - $3,000 and include a non-refundable deposit of $500.
“Puppies come with AKC registration, a microchip, deworming, first vaccine, the health guarantee, a lifetime of breeder support, and poss ear cropping (extra). The waitlist is started at ultrasound confirmation, but deposits not taken until puppies are 3 weeks of age. Balance of cost is due by 7 weeks of age.”
Cindy may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Cindy offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Cindy directly.
Socialization begins right after birth with early neurological stimulation (Dr. Carmen Battaglia). Puppy Culture and AviDog are also used to socialize puppies to many different sounds and situations such as children, strangers, soundtracks for thunder, fireworks, loud music, etc. Nails are done weekly and Dremel training is started at 5-6 weeks. Leash training and basic obedience are introduced. I utilize the following enrichment methods: Trupanion, Puppy Culture, Puppy Pad Potty Training, Car Training, Basic Manners, Human Interactions, Name Recognition, Potty Training, Crate Training, Initial Obedience Training, Early Neurological Stimulation, Surface and Tactile Stimulation, Toys for Chewing, Avidog A.P.E.T Evaluation Test, Grooming Desensitization, Bathing, Exposure to Agility Obstacles, Weekly Nail Trimming, Stairs, Socialized with Children, Sound Stimulation, Noise Desensitization, Bell Training, Free-Baiting, Stacking, Impulse Control, "No" Biting or Chewing, and Leash Walking.
Puppies are dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Fecals are checked at 8 weeks. I also plan to do CAVID Nomograph testing through the University of Wisconsin on all future litters. This is done on the bitch 2 weeks before whelp, and it gives a report of the bitch’s maternal antibodies and thus when it is recommended to begin vaccinating puppies. Vaccines are ordered, stored, and given by veterinarian.
We send our puppies home with Microchip, Blanket with Littermates' and Mom's scents, Vaccinations, Toy with Mom's Scent, Toy with Littermates' Scent, Puppy Collar, Certificate of Health, Breed Club Registration, Bone, and AKC Registration.
Cindy offers options to help you easily get your new puppy home.
If you’re nearby, you can visit in person to pick up your pup. If you’re far away, you can travel by car or plane.
Work with a trusted transporter to get your puppy comfortably dropped off at a meeting point close to home.
Why Cindy started breeding
I have been trying for a good foundation bitch worthy of building a line upon since 2000. I took my time in cultivating relationships with breeders and friends who mentored me and helped me develop that discerning eye. After 4 attempts, my 5th one finally panned out well and she is the dam to my 2019 litter. Her progeny are impressive and I hope to continue on with them in the years to come.
Cindy has been a member of Good Dog for almost 4 years
Cindy was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2021.
Cindy’s program includes two colors
Cindy’s Great Dane puppies include black and blue. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Safire Farms meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
All breeds
Great Dane
Great Dane
About Carlotta (Lottie)
Small (about 30”) but very correct and well proportioned. Moderate amount of bone for her size. Beautifully angled, powerful rear that drives a huge gait for her size with amazing extension due to her lovely shoulder angle. Softer topline but good croup and short back. Lovely, long, arching and feminine neck and headpiece typical of Bandit progeny (very similar to Bandit’s mother, Sophie). Currently training in Obedience. Planning to start Rally training by June 2021. Likely to start Agility training either this fall or next spring. May also try FCAT and scent work and/or barn hunt depending on time and interest. TT will be done as soon as available. Fabulous, sweet temperament! Can have some minor separation anxiety but responds well to conditioning. Prefers to just be touched and loved on as much as possible. Does not carry for fawn but does appear to have early graying (began prior to 2yr). CHIC certified with normal cardiologist echo, excellent hips, and normal vWd factor level. Now has VERY minor heart murmur - cardiologist echo shows one leaflet of mitral valve is slightly misshapen and has an occasional leak (not even always present). Still ZERO signs of DCM according to cardiologist echo.
Excellent health testing
Dentition, Brucellosis, +14 more
Great Dane
About Catarina (Rina)
Good size (presently 33” at almost 17 mos), fantastic and powerful rear angles that drive a huge gait (much like her mother) with lovely extension due to her great shoulder angle. Topline is lovely and harder than her mother’s, with an even better croup than her mother. Lovely and long, arching neck, with a more substantial headpiece than her mother’s. Lovely head type in length of lip (without being overdone) and forehead wrinkles, although I would like to see a slightly narrower backskull. Eyes could be darker in pigment, but are an acceptable gray, with lovely tight eyelids that do not roll. Depth of chest appropriate for age, should fill in more as she matures. Lovely tail length and carriage, however still has some dorsal sebaceous gland alopecia due to age. Can tend to have some skin sensitivities and puppy pyoderma, which have seemed to improve considerably with diet change. Moderate to higher energy girl, just like her mother. Needs a good few hours of running and playing outside each day and an extensive super chewer toy supply! She is a VERY intuitively smart girl who will lay back and closely watch and study things in order to learn. She picks up new commands and training EXTREMELY quickly, and sometimes will even try to manipulate by acting stubborn like she doesn’t know it, but when pushed past, she immediately complies. Her working drive is amazing and I think she really has the potential to go far in performance especially. She has always been the dominant personality of the litter, and of the pack at the house, but responds well to correction from other dogs (in or out of her pack) if she pushes too far and from the human family members as well. She is currently being shown in conformation and shows great promise. She is also training in Obedience and her CGC test is upcoming on Saturday. Rally training will be beginning by May-June 2021. She will start some basic age-appropriate agility training this fall also (tunnels, weaves, chutes, etc). Scent work and barnhunt I believe will come easily to this girl, as will FCAT too I believe (once it is appropriate for her age and growth).
Uploaded health tests
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Great Dane
Excellent level
Safire Farms reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Great Danes.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis, registered with OFA), Shoulder Osteochondrosis
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.
Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP), Inherited Myopathy in Great Danes (IMGD), Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), Great Dane Type, von Willebrand Disease I (vWD I)
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.
Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.