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Graf the Gentle Giant

Posted by Tommy Garrett on Apr 13, 2008 - 9:01:06 PM

Graf the gentle giant is one of Steve Parson’s, my friend, most outstanding beauties at his Family Doberman Kennel and Training Facility. The last time we caught up with Steve, he was just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah a few months ago, where he ran his facility and was greeting his world famous clients from that location. But now, thanks to wonderful friends of Steve’s, he has relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. With beautiful wife and kids in tow, Steve packed up and headed west to a location where he can now train his Dobermans all year long. How I caught up with Steve is very typical of the man. He was calling to make sure that I was still safe after having dealt with a paranoid schizophrenic stalker the past several years. Steve feels very obligated to his clients to make sure they are safe and protected. His dogs are craftily trained and go through the rigors of some of the top training programs in the world. 

 The reason I have suggested Steve’s dogs, the beautiful European strain of Dobermans, is because they are bred with solid conformation and agility, but also for temperament and stability. They live in the home with Steve’s lovely wife and kids. It’s amazing how many badly behaved Dobermans I have run across over the years. None of Steve’s dogs have any of the problems that have become consistent with American breeders. There is a new handsome man on Steve’s estate; yes, he’s not the only one. The once musical genius now feels most comfortable raising his kids and his dogs. Steve introduced me to his German fellow, a Red Colored Doberman named Graf. What a stately, elegant and noble name. But it fits this magnificent dog perfectly. Graf has won awards in over four countries; he’s a beautiful show creature with the nobility of a giant, the size of a giant and the will of one as well. Graf loves Steve and his family and I’m trying to talk my friend into letting him travel the U.S. with me by his side.

All of Steve’s amazing dogs are impressive. But I haven’t seen a Red Doberman this impressive in my entire life. He is swift in his movement and assured in his determination and has been trained with the positive reinforcements that Steve and other great breeders and trainers of the world have proved the best for this incredible breed of dog.

Steve has educated me immensely on this breed. He does so with patience and respect. He knows that his clients are not only interested in the safety and protection that comes with knowing you have one of his dogs by your side, but once you meet his incredible canines, you have oodles of questions. After a close call of being stalked at a post office, it was Steve who said, “The police got there in twenty eight minutes. Your Graf would be there to protect you in two seconds.” He’s right. Speaking of his new home and facility, Steve said: "It is an amazing place in the middle of Scottsdale where we have an acre field in the back for training. We are in the middle of some new construction for the dogs, but it is a great start in the right direction. We moved down here for the weather and the great trainers we would have a chance to work with and learn from as we are all still learning, right? We have three good clubs to train with and hope to get our own club formed in the near future. We have some great neighbors and so far have just really enjoyed the new place."

Speaking of how he found his new home in Scottsdale, Steve added: “I have some dear friends, Jim and Mary Piccolo who had lost their Doberman about six months ago to cancer, and I was there for them during that hard time, that really began the deepening of the relationship and we started to look at some other dogs to fill their lives. We just continued to grow closer and I got to see more of the kind of people they really are, you just haven’t seen more giving generous people who really want to help other people better themselves. Jim and Mary would never have to work again if they chose not to, so they turned their passion into helping others find that same joy. I watch them give generously to charities and foundations and watch them change peoples lives with opportunity and education. I guess they saw something in me as we began to co-own some dogs and work at this together and they realized how much it would help me if I could train year around and be closer to them so they made all this possible. Anything I achieve will be a tribute to them and their generosity and kindness. They will make more out of me than I could have made out of myself." That’s hard to believe. Steve’s already a great man in my opinion.

Steve is a great salesman and has said to me as well as many of his clients over the years, “I keep getting stories all the time how just owning Dobes give peace of mind and security to those who have had none in the past. They really do deter crime, which is the whole goal anyway. We want you to be able to quit looking over your shoulder knowing a “Family Dobe” is doing that for you.” Never one to rest on his laurels, Steve said of his medium term goals, “to get the indoor kennel building complete so the dogs have more room and freedom, get the facility in top shape as far as landscaping and presentation so we are eager to show it off, and to keep active in competition this year to keep spreading the good word about great dogs.”

Steve is an amazing man and his dogs really are the best in the nation. To find one to adopt into your family and home, you can contact Steve at: http://www.familydobes.com/

http://www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797 cell