Over the years we have had many different dogs, one special one was Kita the Akita. She was sweet but very independent. We were lucky to have had her for 13 years, sadly she went to rest in 2006. We miss her but know she had a long wonderful life for which we are thankful. While she was with us my husband insisted on getting another dog to "keep her company", of course this was just an excuse because he wanted another dobie. He remembered our first dobie Ben and was aching for another. I fought him for months, I was so against getting another dog, especially a big breed like the dobie. After months of saying "no, no no" I finally gave in. Our 2 sons really wanted a dobie too, so I figured for them it would be worth it.
On a cold February night in 2001 my husband and sons went to a breeder to "just have a look". I stayed home hoping they would not find a dog they liked or would just change their minds. Well, a couple hours later they came in the door with Rambo. I was a little indifferent and tried to be happy about this new member joining our family. But, something happened that night, I fell madly in love.
I had a crate ready for him and a beating heart stuffed animal and some other items to make him feel safe. After all he was just taken from his mother and siblings. I stayed up with him for the first few nights and actually rocked him and held him until he fell asleep on my shoulder. He soon was able to fall asleep on his own, (with my bed-time songs) and would sleep thru the night in his bed. As he got older he cried at night because he did not want to stay alone and wanted to be next to our bed. So, he started sleeping in our room. He was perfect and happy. Sometimes he would stay in one of our sons bedroom. At first I was concerned he would roam the house in the middle of the night and get in trouble so I chained him to my night stand. In the morning if he woke up before me he would nudge my arm as if to say "time to get up". We had this routine until I realized he was not going to roam around so I no longer kept him chained. In the cold winter nights I would cover him with a sheet and he would look up at me and actually purr as if to say "thank you Mom". He really was a mama's boy. My husband could not believe it. This was the first dog we had who let me tuck him in at night and sing to him. It was quite a sight to see a big strong doberman being sang to. He was also a favorite of the neighborhood children. He loved to be rubbed and hugged by them.
He would follow me everywhere in the house. He always sat in the doorway of the laundry room while I did laundry, watching my every move. Of course that is where I kept his treats and he knew all he had to do was look up at me with those big beautiful brown eyes and he'd get a treat. He loved popcorn and banana's, too. Actually he'd eat just about anything. He once swallowed a thick cut pork chop bone whole and had to spend the night in emergency.
At night when he was tired he would cry until I took him up to bed. I'd get him settled down and when he'd fall asleep I'd sneak back down stairs to watch TV or read the newspaper or do the dishes. Most times he'd sleep thru the night but sometimes he wake up to find me not there and would stand at the top of the stairs and cry for me. My husband thought that was all too much. I did not mind. He was such a fine companion and so loyal that I would do anything for him.
He turned 6 in Dec. of 2006 and looked so sweet in his red ribbon for the holidays. He just loved being right in the middle of all of us opening our gifts and of course he got treats too. The holidays were so special, he was like a little boy with wide eyes open, waiting for his gifts.
One morning in Feb. 2007 he started digging at his left ear. I was concerned because Kita had ear infections all of the time and she used to dig and scratch at her ears the same way. After a few days I took him to the vet. By then his whole coat was covered with bumps. I was more than concerned. (He did have an ear infection). He was also starting to limp when he got up from a nap and favored his back left leg. Tests showed he had auto immune disease. He was put on all kinds of medicine and treatments. But one ailment led to another. He got an ear infection in the other ear. His coat was starting to ooze puss, the bumps would break open. His nose was bleeding from the steriod treatments he was on. He lost weight and his appetite was gone. He could hardly walk. After watching him suffer for 2 months we could take it no more. Even through all of his suffering he was always there for us with that crazy smile and wagging of his tail. Finally, when he could not get up to greet us at the door any longer we knew it was time. I had a long talk with the vet and he said one thing that stuck in my mind, "does Rambo have more bad days than good?" It was then that we realized that he had suffered enough. Actually I could not remember when his last good day was.
So on April 11, 2007 my husband and I took Rambo for one last drive and headed for the vets. I chose to be with him till the very end just as I was with him all of those nights when he first came to me. I had fought so long to not get another dog, and now the dog I did not want was one I desperately did not want to loose. He stood proud and straight while the shot was administered. He locked his eyes with mine as I wept and told him how much I loved him and then it was over.
"Rambo The Dog", as my husband liked to call him, or "Mama's Boy" as I liked to call him, was gone from our lives. I think of him every day and cherish the memories. My saddest times come when I think of how young he was and of all the years I thought he had left. I will never forget him. I will also never forget how much I fought to not have him in my life. He can never be replaced. My heart is still heavy.
Someday we may have another Rambo, another Mama's Boy, someday.
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