Dear Friends, its with utter saddness that I am writing this.  Last weekend we had to give our beloved Dobermann, Tag, up to a rescue centre and it has broken my heart.  Some of you dobie readers on here may have read some of my previous posts about Tag my lovely black/tan boy, who is now just over 7 months old.

Its too painful to write everything down, Tag did nothing wrong but with two of us working full time, even though Tag had loads of company and was in a lorry with my partner all day - Tag started not to want to get in the lorry anymore (I don't blame him) and used to throw himself on the floor before getting in, so although he got walks on and off through the day when my partner had breaks we felt he just wasn't happy and his welfare was of the utmost importance and we did not and would not leave him all day at home on his own.  This together with being shattered and stressed from work literally broke up our home in the end.  With the best will in the world we wanted to look after and our lovely dobe forever but it ended up just blowing us apart and we couldn't cope.  We tried everything to make it work but I guess you just can't always do that, and prior to getting Tag we talked about how it would be and tried to cover every scenario, for about 2 years and studied the breed and went to observe puppy classes to take him to, we did everything.  It just goes to show that talking about it, and living it are just so different.

I will miss Tag's lovely big smile so much, and his gorgeous big brown eyes, his smell, his cheekiness and I keep finding his little toys here and there and its so agonising at the moment.  After he stayed in some kennels a little while ago one weekend Tag seemed to love it there as he could run freely in a large grassy enclosure at least twice a day and was also walked in addition to that, and so we decided to take him back there as they also run a special dobermann rescue centre and lady at the kennels had already had 2 enquiries about Tag when we brought him in, so hopefully he may alredy be in a good home now but at the moment I am lost without him and miss him like crazy and am pining for him every day. 

I remember speaking to Christine (of Kerioaks) about some difficulties we were having and I would like to thank her for speaking to me at that time.  And also thanks to Carrie for her advice too, and all others that offered their advice to me.

There are obviously a lot more facts to this than I can write but we wanted to the best for Tag, and I guess a busy working life just made it impossible for us in the end - even though we tried our best to give Tag the best time we could with company all day. 

I will miss posting questions about my lovely boy on this board and have really enjoyed reading the posts about other dobes and will continue to do so.  It is just such a hard and difficult time for me getting over our loss, the house is so empty and I am upset every day because of the pain of missing Tag.

I hope one day in the future but when our situation is very different that we can own another dobe because I think they are the best breed in the whole world and I will miss and love my Tag forever.  Must go now - I keep welling up.... but I will still visit this board from time to time keeping up with my favourite subject - beautiful dobermann!

Thanks for reading this.

Mandy

Oh Mandy, I'm so sorry that you have had to give up your lovely Tag.  You should console yourself with the thought that you have done a very unselfish thing with only Tag's interests at heart and you are to be commended for that :)  I do hope that one day you'll be in a position to have another Dobe.

Best wishes

Lesley

That's so sad Many years ago I had to give up one of my beardies because of my work

Belive me you have done the best for your boy & when the time is right you will have another dog

It's not easy but it was for the best

Oh Mandy, I'm so terribly sorry for the empty spot in your heart right now. You truly made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of your dog. I do hope you learn of which home he goes to and that it is a happy place.

Like the others said, someday when circumstances are different, perhaps you can get another Dobe. They truly are a magnificent breed. I'm with ya on that.

My thoughts are with you and again...I'm so sorry. (Maybe you can get a kitty to love. They sure aren't as dependent as a dog and quite social, companionable and lovely to watch little beings.)

Carrie

Well done to you Mandy for putting Tag's welfare first -It must have been hard ( to say the least ) but you have done the right thing for all concerned

Oh Mandy im so sorry you had to give up Tag but you know deep down you did it for him

Im crying here and i know how much you must be hurting...
Things will get easier, im sure

I cant really say much more apart from remember your Tag with many smiles

Donna and Charlie x

I'm really, really sorry :-( I love Dobes too and I'm sure you loved Tag to the max because you did what was right for him, with his best interests at heart. :-) The pain you feel when you lose a dog cannot be written down and I congratulate you on making the painful but best decision for him instead of letting him suffer which some selfish people choose to do. It may help later on to get another Dobe when the time is right but you must not compare him/her to Tag as each dog is an individual and is unique. I congratulate you again for your courage and for doing the right thing.

(((((((((( Lots & Lots of hugs ))))))))))))

Lots of love, Puppylove

Dear Mandy,

I feel for you so much.  We have a dobe of 23 weeks and I know how they take over your heart and your life.  You must feel so sad - it made me sad when reading your poll.

Thank you all so much for your comforting words, it means so much to me that you have all taken the trouble to write such kind words at this difficult time.  I am sorry that it made some of you upset reading my poll but it is truly gut-wrenching to lose our little one who had stolen our hearts. 

Even now I silently say goodnight to my little Tag as I am switching off the lights - and - if I squint my eyes hard enough - in the darkness, I can still see him there curled up and cosy on the sofa ready to sleep...........

Please don't forget to give your lovely dobes/other dogs (even if they have annoyed the hell out of you!) a big hug tonight won't you.  I know I would if I still could.

Thanks again everyone.

Love Mandy
xxx

I am truly sorry about your situation and yes i did lose a few tears when reading but you have been strong and done the best for him . A big hug from Zak & Ebony and me included .

All the best

Ella.x.