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Caring Hands - Demi

Demi

We bought Demi in June 1993 from a kennel (a puppy mill type of kennel), where they also had several other litters of puppies for sale. The Dobermanns were £140, cheaper than from a breeder. Although I knew deep down it was wrong to buy from a kennel like this, the pups were big, friendly and healthy, and we had the pick of the litter. The kennels were clean, and we had to step in disinfectant before being allowed into the room with the pups, and even then, we weren't allowed to touch them because of infection risks - all very impressive I thought.

As a veterinary nurse, I am very used to dogs, and must confess I was always under the impression if you had a bad dog it was the owner that was bad. We have had many dogs over the years, all breed, sizes and temperaments (many being rescue dogs), and we have never had any problems with them.

I had always wanted a Dobermann. I think they are beautiful, reminding me of thoroughbred horses. We never have any problems with them at the vets, and they are always very good to handle and treat. After many years of waiting, I was now going to get my wish!

Demi was only 6 ½ weeks old, and I was disturbed to know the kennels had the pups for two weeks, much too early to leave their mother!

We also had a Hungarian Vizsla who was 4 months older than Demi, and who we hoped would be a companion for her, as he loved other dogs and needed somebody to play with him to burn off his energy!

Rehett, our Vizsla, was very boisterous, and Demi laid back, so they made a good pair. All went well, and I spent all my time training them, and they responded very well, especially Demi who was A1.

We started to have problems when Demi was about six months old. She would run up to people and bark, she would steal anything and everything, and would wee everywhere when we went out, (even though she was house-trained). The problems got worse. She started to fight our other dog, and her aggression got more pronounced. She saw somebody or something, and would run up to it snapping and snarling. She seemd to think it was good fun, and needless to say, people were very nasty and abusive back. After all, it was quite horrific to watch as she was a fair sized dog, and being a Dobermann made the matter much bigger than it should have been. If she was a Yorkie, and had behaved this way, people would have just laughed. I am not the kind of person who can take this sort of thing, and instead of answering back, I just used to crumble and end up crying.

Demi caused endless rows with me and my partner. He said she was so mad she wanted putting to sleep, but I loved her dearly. She was like the little girl with the little curl: When she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid!

I took her dog training, and she was a dream. The teacher would always use her as an example, yet as soon as she came out of the ring, she would turn into her snapping, snarling self, even though I used the same commands as in the classes. Demi was a very Jekyll and Hyde character.

Over the years, we tried almost anything to stop her attacking things outside the house. I hired 2 private dog trainers (which cost me a fortune!), and after the first visit she could spot one a mile off, and behaved herself everytime they got near her. One of them even used an electric collar! The minute she ran up to somebody, he would zap her. The first time worked, but the second time she completely ignored the shock! This continued with every subsequent 'shock', so this was worse than useless. I know that this treatment seems cruel, but we were desperate, especially with the 'Dangerous Dogs Act' in force. I could see her becoming a victim, and being condemned to die at the hands of a judge and jury!

Why did we not keep her on the lead you ask? This was easier said than done, as our other dog runs free. Demi pulled like a maniac and had me over many times, even though we used a Halti™, she was better when walked on her own. I had to walk them twice a day, and did not have time to double this by walking them seperately. She also needed a good run to burn off her energy.

After I bought Demi, her pedigree was sent to us by post. Another month on another pedigree arrived, this time with different parents! The breeder was in Wales, and when I queried this, I was told that she couldn't remember which of her bitches had had the pups!

I also tried to trace the rest of the litter through the Kennel Club. Out of the eight pups, 7 had gone missing and never been registered. However, I did trace one, and when I 'phoned the lady, she had similar problems with her dog. She had also managed to check on their pedigree, and found that the pups were mostly dead, and had obviously come from a poorly run puppy farm, one of the many in Wales. I think she was so interbred, that she couldn't help the way she was.

After 3 years of rows with my partner and other people, my partner and I decided that if a good home came up that would understand a problem dog, I would let her go. One of the dog handlers said a lot of the problem was me, because I loved and spolied the dog too much, so I thought this was for the best.

I found a home for her, took her, but ended up crying and bringing Demi home. Six months down the line, more rows and more dog fights, I found Demi another home. The children were grown up and left home, the lady was at home all day, they had no other pets, and they lived in a semi-rural area. I knew the people well, and I told them all her problems. They said they would give it a go.

They have had Demi a year now, and she seems happy. I visit regularly, but she still tries to come home with me each time, which upsets me terribly.

I think Demi was just too clever by half. She knew she could get away with murder with me, and she can't at her new home. Half of her problems have stopped: attacks on people and the wetting.

The moral of this story is please, please, only buy from a reputable breeder. Make sure you see the mother and father, otherwise you might experience the heartache I have been through. It also encourages the Welsh breeders to carry on churning out puppies. For every one bought, they will breed another in terrible conditions, and everyone suffers, mostly the poor dogs.

Remember dear Demi, I will always love you.

Submitted by Susan.

A picture of Demi will appear here very shortly.

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