Jeff and Christie Tittle have quite a few stories about their 160-pound Great Dane, Dexter. There are plenty of shock-invoking stories whereby people are truly astonished at Dexter’s size, but perhaps their favorite story happened at Mineola Primary School. 

Jeff Tittle spent ten years at Mineola Schools as a teacher and coach. Back when Dexter was a bit more spry than he is today, Jeff and Christie would walk Dexter around the track behind the (then) primary school. Dexter would usually just chase one of his toys around the playground, not getting too far from his humans. 

At one point, though, the track nears the small primary school gym which is behind the school. On this particular evening, the door to the gym was ajar. 

Inside, a bunch of young, elementary-level, cheerleaders were having a cheer event. Dexter was curious. He ambled into the middle of the gym.

A bit of chaos ensued, as Dexter gave a fright to the gym-full of young cheerleaders, who were considerably smaller than the friendly Great Dane. 

Living with a Great Dane is quite a bit different than keeping dogs of other breeds. It’s often a matter of logistics. It means more of everything – more food, more care, more interaction, more food…well, everything. 

Jeff detailed some of the concerns which accompany a large breed dog – everything from increased vet bills to their destructive potential.

“You really need to do your research before committing to one of these dogs,” he said. 

In addition to sheer size, the breed, whose ancestors once fought and killed wild boar, is renown for bonding tightly with their pack. Often, Great Danes are considered ‘gentle giants,’ or even ‘big scaredy-cats.’

“Except to the UPS guy,” Jeff advised. It seems that Dexter has an issue with the delivery man.

The road to becoming Great Dane people began with Christie as she was growing up in Grand Saline.

“We had a neighbor who had a Great Dane, and I just thought the dog looked so noble,” she explained. 

As can happen, that impression from her youth had a lasting effect, and years later, she and Jeff decided to act on it.

So it was that in 2015, a small Great Dane puppy, with massive paws, joined the Tittle family.  At that time the family at North Pacific Street consisted of Christie, Jeff, daughter Karlee (a high schooler at the time) and a chihuahua named Chico. Son Jordan had already graduated and struck out on his own.  

Chico made it clear to the rapidly-growing pup that Chico was the alpha dog and in charge of the whole house. Just the thought of this pair of odd couple dogs, a bossy chihuahua and a huge but mild-mannered Great Dane, brings smiles to the faces of Jeff and Christie. 

Rapidly-growing is an accurate term. Dexter quickly filled out to his top weight, around 165 pounds. He is actually three-quarters European Dane and one-quarter American Dane, hence he is heavier and broader than most of his breed. 

Despite his massive size, Dexter developed a sweet and loving temperament. ‘Gentle’ is another word that the Tittles used throughout the discussion of Dexter, as was ‘velcro.’

Jeff explained, “He is never truly at ease unless the three of us are in the same room; he stays attached to us.”

That need for close proximity to his human beings highlights another interesting characteristic of the breed: leaning. 

They lean – heavily, against people. Additionally, Great Danes are prone to backing up against a person seated in a chair and landing their haunches into the person’s lap. The result looks like something out of Greek mythology.  

As if on cue, Dexter did just that, sitting on Christie’s lap while his front legs stood in the middle of the room. 

“It’s just how they are,” she lamented. Christie then went on to explain how when he was young, they took him to the Civic Center grounds on a day when hot air balloons were staged at the grounds. Dexter did not appreciate the sound of the gas being vented into the balloons and ended up fully sitting atop Christie as she sat in a lawn chair.

Although the Tittles once actually managed to get Dexter into a mini-Cooper, he travels these days in the old gray pick-up.

“He can manage the back seat pretty well yet,” Jeff stated, “so it’s Dexter’s truck.”  

At nine-years old, Dexter can be considered an old man. His days of participating at school during elementary school water days or other special days are mostly behind him.

Jeff is now in his third year as high school principal at Quitman High, and the trip to school is just a bit longer than it had been to Mineola Schools. 

The Tittles however, remain identifiable by their constant companion. They admit that one of their favorite activities is walking a few blocks to downtown Mineola and sitting with Dexter.

Christie related, “In our lives we have gone from being known as ‘Christie’s husband’ and ‘Coach Tittle’s wife’ to ‘Dexter’s parents.’

Jeff looked down at Dexter as he dozed, stretched across the living room floor. “He is just the best dog ever,” he said.