Dieter & Max  

I’ve had Giant Schnauzers for the past 40 years, and when I met my husband 20 years ago, I turned him into a Giant Lover as well.  My husband and I have been very active in horse sports in Virginia and our Giants usually go wherever we go.

Two years ago, my husband fell off his horse, broke his back and is now a paraplegic confined to a wheel chair.  We had two Giants at the time, Shotzie and Maxie, both dogs were 13, Shotzie was devoted to my husband and Maxie was to me.  We lost Shotzie shortly after my husband got out of the hospital and I knew Maxie wouldn’t last much longer.

A friend in Texas who does daschund rescue put me in touch with Janet Willis in Virginia Beach.  We emailed back and forth and I actually turned down a female, afraid of men.  I had no doubt that my husband could cure her of that but I was concerned about making much of a shy newcomer when Maxie was reaching the end of old age.

A month or two later, Janet wrote about Dieter, two year old male, chases cats and surfs the countertops.  No major behavior problems per say and a real love.  I knew this was the one!  In the meantime my husband said no more dogs! I called Janet and made an appointment to meet in two weeks and I would bring my mother.  She’s always been my cohort in crime – especially when my husband says no.  Virginia Beach is 5 hours away from us and as our appointment dawned, my mother got sick and had to cancel – I called Janet, she had to inspect our home anyway, so I told her “Bring him anyway – you know I’m going to keep him”, Janet arrived with her Giant in tow and Dieter on July 27, 2004.  After Janet she parked in the drive Dieter jumped out of his kennel and bounded up to the wheelchair.  It was love at first sight for my husband and I, Maxie and Dieter.  

Dieter is a tall Giant, weights over 100 lbs, and doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body, Maxie was a very aggressive rescue and it wasn’t till he was hard of hearing and loosing his sight that he gave up greeting everyone with a frown.  Dieter greets everyone with a smile and certainly came from a home that treated him well; they just didn’t understand the energy level and the commitment involved in living with a Giant.  Once I met Dieter, I knew that we needed a way for my husband to exercise him.  I bought him a used golf cart, had it outfitted with hand controls and he and Dieter were in business.

Dieter loves my husband and they have rescued each other.  We lost Maxie this past New Years at age 15; he died in my arms and went peacefully.  Having Dieter in our lives made Maxie’s passing a sad but wonderful time.  Dieter is tireless and demands attention 24 hours a day – which he gets!  His favorite trick is to stand on the wheelchair footrests with both front feet and beg to be rubbed.

Thanks so much to HT-Z Giant Schnauzer Rescue, Inc and Janet Willis.

Coleen & Noel Hersson and Dieter!