Just like Scooby Doo, Presley is scared of the smallest thing. His owner Sian Barrett says Presley may be tall, but he’s frightened of small dogs.
Presley weighs 180 pounds and stands six-feet-tall, and he has the most gentle personality. Despite his size, he runs and hides behind his mother when he’s face to face with a smaller dog.
But Presley is not just scared of small dogs, even the smallest of things, like plastic bags, will send him running.
Sian Barrett recalls that there was one time that Presley was so scared of a small Westie at the park. And as usual, Presley goes into hiding and wouldn’t come out until the dog was gone
At home, Presley uses a cushion as a special blanket that comforts him when he gets scared.
Presley may be a scaredy cat, but his gentle personality has won the hearts of many.
‘There was a time recently that I was walking Presley in the park and he got scared off by a West Highland Terrier, which is tiny compared to him.
‘Presley wouldn’t come back out until the other dog had gone and he knew he was safe. His temper doesn’t match his size at all – he’s 38 inches at the shoulder, but scared of everything.’
Mrs Barrett says Presley’s biggest fears at home are the hoover and plastic bags.
She added: ‘At 85 kilos, there’s not much that could move him; I certainly can’t lift Presley, but my husband calls him a massive wuss and says that he’s spoilt.’
Mrs Barrett, a mother-of-two who runs a pet supplies shop, thinks that Presley’s soft attitude is down to the fact that she has had him from birth and her young dog sees her as a mother figure.
While Mrs Barrett has put Presley on show at Crufts as a top example of the Great Dane breed, she says it's his kindly nature which is what always wins people over.
Presley’s personality is so endearing that he has even cheered up hysterical children after giving them a paw to cry on.
Mrs Barrett said: ‘People obviously are very struck by just how big Great Danes are when they first meet them, but Presley wins a lot of people around with his personality. He is a very patient dog.
‘We were out on a walk on time when we met a woman with her crying child.
The kid was screaming and Presley didn’t like the noise at first, he was a bit scared, but she soon as the girl walked over to him she just stopped crying immediately.
‘I have taken him to Crufts before to show off to potential dog owners; as a good example of the breed. Everyone always laughs when they hear that Presley is a big softie at heart.
‘I bred Presley myself and have had him from birth, so he is very much a mummy’s boy. Presley will follow me from room to room about the house and even has a cry when I go upstairs to bed.
‘If I ever forget to give Presley his dinner; he will walk around the house with my shoe to show that he is going hungry.
‘And whenever we get home from going out on a walk he will immediately grab a cushion to walk about with for protection.
‘Most of the things that you would think Presley would be scared of he isn’t and is absolutely terrified of really trivial bits.
‘As well as being scared of everything like Scooby Doo is, Presley is pretty dopey too. But so long as he gets his food he is just one big lap dog really.
‘Presley would definitely try and get out of chasing any of the ghosts in the cartoons – he is a wimp.’
