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Originally Posted by docmartin  I had one, 'Bruno' back in 77, through to '82. He'd been brutalised in the South African diamond mines as a pack killer and I took him on during a time of great personal disruption to my life. I was told he was too soft to make a good assassin! That said, he was incredibly protective towards me right from the start when I look back on it? Especially when I was ambushed one night on the Lancashire moors by a gang of car jackers. One punched me savagely and then broke two ribs kicking me, while my glasses frames stood upright from where they'd been sunk in my face. I'd stopped to help what I mistakenly thought was a 'crash' at a particularly lonely spot halfway twixt Sheffield and Leeds in the 'Snake' pass at around 2am, on a frozen moonlit night.
Incredibly the dog did nothing and kept silent until one of them jumped into my vehicle, without checking what was on the back seat. The awful sounds of his howling as he held my assailant by the back of the neck with those huge teeth and his screams in accompaniment will live with me forever. His accomplices were terrified too and beat it fast. They left the bloodied thug cringing and whimpering as 'Bruno' maintained his neck hold, now face down to the road as he spilled out of the car, as I opened the back door.
Although we'd never even rehearsed this part of his training he did 'desist' when I called out ophuo (offo) in Africanse. He then stood between, us his ears absolutely upright, the true embodiment of evil, his breath steaming, frightening but magnificent with the moonlight on his back. I was transfixed, it was like countenancing the very Hound of the Baskervilles!
I left this awful man crying and trembling like a baby, blood gushing from his neck, one finger almost severed, sobbing for pity and drove away without remorse. Later I had 12 stitches and many splinters from those fractured glasses taken from my cheek. The ribs took months of pain to mend and I only had one arm to start with anyway! I probably owe him my life, as this gang was homicidal on other occasions.
The uncanny thing was the way he'd remained silent in the blackness, coiled on the back seat of the Roller, I was using then, just waiting his opportunity to strike, more like an upstanding King Cobra than a canine - believe me those teeth are truly fearsome.
Bruno, well he lived with me and then my late wife after we married and was brilliant with both the Cats and all the kittens we had. He died in my arms following a massive stroke. The Vet thought he was about ten. My friend and I'll never forget him. RIP dear Bruno, my saviour.
(Wow sorry this has gone on bit, and forgive me for transgressing the threads story, but I've never recounted this before - too painful to recall I guess?) |
What a glorious hero Bruno was. You'd ultimately no doubt have been killed that night, beaten to death for the fun of it and left to make a statement to passersby but for that marvelous, noble animal who cunningly bided his time! What a triumph he had that night!
I had three Dobies years back, two of which we lost to illness - one got leptospirosis & the other died, along with 3 of her pups, at the vet hospital of septicemia from bacterial mastitis after whelping most of her litter at the vet's(she had 3 at home) and the 3rd of our Dobies, which was one of her puppies, was the love of my life until we had to move to an apt. in Houston for 3 years for my husband's dispatch training and work at the airlines & leave our home here. We were totally changing our lifestyle for 3 years while there and worried C would pine and suffer from being cooped up in an apt. all day alone so we gave him to a Braniff pilot to have the run of his ranch and fly with him all over the country in his private plane. I cried for months missing C. He was one of a kind and we adored each other as his mother and I did each other. But we heard all about C's excellent adventure living with his pilot owner for years and felt we made the right choice for him though it sure hurt.
My niece has the most marvelous 95 lb. Dobie girl one right now - an homage to a childhood Dobie my sister & BIL bought her as a preteen and whom she grew to adulthood with. Dobermans are truly fabulous dogs and gentle as hamsters until someone messes with their charges.
Your wonderful Herman truly makes me pant for another Dobie! I'd love to see standing profile pictures to get an idea of his big chest, short back, haunches and wonderful form. Dobermans are like small thoroughbred racehorses to me and are elegance itself.
How is Crystal adjusting to this marvelous knight in shining black armor who's come to grace her home? Is she head-over-heels or playing hard to get? With Herman, I doubt your Yorkie is at the same risk of theft she was prior to him trotting in the door of your home!
Congratulations on getting such a beauty! Sorry, too, for thread hi-jacking!