BOONE LIFE: Philosophy and Alexander the Great

Sara Chant holds a "doggiecino" for her Great Dane Alexander outside of Starbucks on Ninth Street. The "doggiecino" is actually pure whipped cream in a cup, and it's a special treat he gets a few times a week. "They know him by name inside (Starbucks)," said Chant. "If we drive by a Starbucks without stopping, he'll start to whine in the car."   ¦  KATIE BARNES/Missourian

Sara Chant has been an associate professor of philosophy at MU for two years. As she talks about her job and marriage, Alexander the Great peeks out from behind her.

Alexander the Great, whom Chant affectionately calls Xandy Pants, is one of her five Great Danes. The other four are all from rescue organizations.

“I’m not sure why I fell in love with Great Danes,” she says. “I guess I just think that your pets should be as big as you are.”

Chant and her husband, who is also a philosophy professor, live on a farm just outside of Columbia. They have a lot of land, but all of their dogs are “inside dogs.”

They have several leather couches and plenty of open space in their house.

Chant and Alexander previously taught at Texas Tech and Florida State universities.

“The students really enjoy having him in class,” she says. “In fact, I’ve gotten in trouble before for not bringing him with me.”

Chant says that Alexander is in love with her, but she is in love with him as well.

“Danes bond very strongly with one individual. That’s what makes them such great pets,” she says as Alexander casts longing looks at her from across the room.