ABOUT US
|
Below we have tried to tell you a little about ourselves, our background, how we met and why we do what we do. We hope you find this informative and enjoy the rest of our site:
My first encounter with a Dobermann was at University in 1995. I was working behind the student bar and most evenings a local man, Sid, who was an ex-Para, came into for a drink with his Dobermann imported from Germany. Sid’s dog was extremely obedient and obviously very intelligent – he clearly had a mind of his own, yet loved Sid. Many people commented that they felt both an aura of both protection and loyalty. Sid and his dog were well respected by everyone.
 I was fascinated by this dog and thought all Dobermann would be like him… and reading the breed standard they should be but I was to discover that they were not!
My first Dobermann was (and still is) Brindi who I purchased in 2000 when living in Scotland for a short time due to work. Brindi has been a wonder and her temperament is loving and affectionate but she lacked the drive and the protection that I had thought would be present in all Dobermann.
Brindi’s temperament as a family pet is however flawless, she is gentle and patient with children, excellent with other dogs and was easily trained in the house. However, she lacked any desire to pay with balls, squeaky toys or rags and would hide behind me if there was any trouble! Although Brindi was bought as a pet, her excellent temperament as a pet led to the desire to breed from her and therefore Lunascura Dobermann Kennel, (Lunascura is Italian for 'Dark Moon') was officially established in 2004 under the UK Kennel Club. I have to say looking back that I didn't always make the right choices but I did manage to learn from my mistakes!
From then on I was hooked and I have invested many hours of time in researching bloodlines, health problems, working trials and more and also invested a lot of time and money in importing some exceptional dogs, in showing them in Europe and taking females to the best dogs we could find across the whole of Europe to help establish our kennel. Due to aim of ahieving Health, Form and Temperament for Purpose in the pups we breed we have also removed several dogs from our breeding program, however every dog we have owned, trained or spent time with in anyway has taught me a little bit more about the breed.
The dogs although being a passion is just a hobby and my "real job" is Director for Company suppling Call Centre services. This job and the similar jobs I have had upto now have involved a lot of travel and also relocation. It has therefore been difficult to balance the demands of this with both the dogs and family life but we have managed and I am truly greatful to Ninke for all her support since meeting her. It is wonderful now to share the ideals and the aims of the kennel with her and have someone else who can see the dogs critically and get involved in decisions about which mating to do or how to support puppy owners with training issues etc.
As a final note I just want to say that no matter how long I have on this planet I know I will always learn more and more each day about these great animals and hope that through the creation of Lunascura and principles and ideals that Ninke and I strive to achieve that we will provide the opportunity for more people to experience these wonderful companions.
 And wonderful companions they are! Life certainly took a turn in the amount of dogs to love since meeting Ralph.
Personally I have grown up with a lot of pets including rabbits, fish and iguana’s. But also a dog which I loved more than anything, called Benny. Benny had a very sweet and headstrong character. He was protective of his garden, and dared barking at other dogs whenever there was quite a distance separating them. Not a hero, but very much a chancer like the dobermann as I have found to be the case. Much of basic dog psychology and basic obedience we have learned together. Encountering several dobermanns at Ralphs home after we had just met was, as expected having a cocker spaniel as frame of reference, a little intimidating.
Especially because dobermanns give off a very different image to inhabitants of the Netherlands where I am from, than in most places. This breed of dog is often associated with aggression, irresponsible owners and pulling away your children in the park.
An image I found, also a few people close to me had to overcome.
Personally I have always had a way with animals, being able to read their body language. Something which for me is not very different from understanding people. A passion for this very thing is what has driven me to study psychology. For me this means understanding people and animals better and helping them understand eachother also. After having trained and lived with dobermanns for a few years I have noticed we are never done learning about eachother. Thoughts a have and will share with our (potential) puppy owners and other aquiantainces and friends of Lunascura, in the hope that the love for these wonderful dogs will be a collective experience.
 Airik has spent his entire life to date in the company of our dogs. He seems to get great joy out playing with them with his favourite games being getting on the treadmill with them and feeding them his buscuits!
We hope Airik continues to love an enjoy time with dogs and we will be sure to share photos of him with the dogs as they grow together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
