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Merle von der Entenburg
aka „Dora“
DOB 11/07/97
(>>>PDF-Download)

Just as if it was yesterday I can remember ourselves coming for Dora, our little Jack Russell bitch – although at that time there was no “our” or ”us”, but only Dieter who bought her, as then Dieter and I only had a very good friendship. Well, already after a very short while Dora decided that I was her first choice and that Dieter would be second – only if I am unavailable – destiny.

It was a snowy 1st of February 1998, when we collected Dora from her breeder near Hoya – she was little more than a handful dog and was tired to death. The reason for this was that at her breeder’s place there was never enough time for Dora to rest as there were a good dozen other dogs of different breeds and different age, some children, chicken and a pig (I was just able to close the car door – I think the pig wanted to join us when we left!). Due to the fact that it was so dam cold outside, the breeder taught the little puppies to piddle on towels; due to this it took us quite a while to get Dora house-trained.

My Bobo loved Dora – without any consequences she could do whatever she wanted with him. She usually used him to keep her warm – she was very often lying between his front legs and he was so awfully tired but could not put his head down as she was there – this is a very special visual memory for me.
Dora is a little dog, that is correct, but a dog she is – so to say a miniature wolf and in addition to this a hunting dog – mice even do not have a chance to say goodbye to the world when she kills them.

When Dieter and I moved to Ostermunzel, we honestly thought that the fence for the dogs was save enough – that was true for “normal” dog but not for little Jack Russells that would bite themselves through the fence or grab their way underneath it. The biting through the fence brought us directly to the animal dentist with Dora as her canine teeth only have the same size as the other teeth and she needed some fillings. Within a very short time most of the people in Ostermunzel knew Dora but they did know us – something we had to live with.
Dora loves playing ball, especially playing football (better said soccer) with children and she is truly a good player. To train Dora was not that easy, you always had to “convince” her, but in the meantime she is doing okay, you only have to take care that she does not become bored as then she prefers to make an investigation tour on her own – somewhere there “must” be some children to play with! When Zach is with us, he will not allow her to do what she wants – something she really hates!

By the way, Dora is the first in bed and the last out and she would prefer to stay inside when the weather is horrible.