“how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are”? ~ Satchell Page  

In 1972, after three years of saving for a very special “prize”, the day came to pick it up. Friends drove my wife and I to the motorcycle dealer to begin a trip that would take us, for the first time, to The Great Smoky Mountains. This would be my wife's first trip on a bike and what  would be, at that time,  my longest trip. When we arrived at the BMW dealer, there, standing at the front entrance was a shiny new black touring bike, dressed for the road. Perhaps the same feeling as seeing your new Hoytt Dobe for the first time.

 We wrote a check for the balance, hardly paying any attention to the dealer telling us about how the bike works. Then, right there, we packed the bike, jumped on and were on our way; Chicago rush hour and all. Our friends could not believe we were heading down South. They did their best to change our minds. They had all seen "Easy Rider," bless their well-meaning hearts. But we knew what we wanted. Our friends thought we were nuts to even ride a motorcycle. You may have friends who will think you are a bit out of your mind talking about your new kid being a Doberman. 

The trip was outstanding! We met so many interesting, friendly, local folks. Other travelers, at times, looked at us a bit strange as they stepped into their motor coaches, and we roared off on our bike. How old is too old? Are you too old to bring a great Dobe into your life? Maybe…... Probably not!  Since you took the time to check us out, this must be more than a passing thought. Your age has little to do with how old the Dobes companion human will be.  Having a great Hoytt Dobe as your soul mate,  gives you reasons to wake up in the morning and plan the day. It is enjoyable as well to plan your future outings. You have, after all, gained a creature that will quickly learn to be your eyes and ears, and if allowed, your bed mate. No more strange night sounds will keep you waking every few hours.  This companion will seem to always sleep with one ear up! Our educational programs, tied to individualized selection, take away most of the fears of new ownership. Have a question? One call and you'll have your answer, or we will know who to bring into the circle.

 So, be like the Judge and his son, a retired Marine. The Judge, at 99 years of age, realized through the guidance of the House of Hoytt; he might just be able to fulfill a promise made to himself almost 80 years before. At a moment in time his patrol was caught in the middle of a fire fight, and from out of nowhere, the point Dobe, turned and brought down an enemy aggressor who was about to bayonet him. This Dobe was never forgotten!   Life passed by so fast, but one day the gentleman's son sent for information about Hoytt Dobes. The son was interested in a Blue female with advanced training. On arrival of a video presentation of a Dobe named Harley, the father saw a young but large 'Marine red' Dobe in a play session with the son's future Dobe. The red, interestingly enough,  was named Bo, short for Pro Bono. The story continues when the father, also a retired lawyer, simply stated that if the son wanted that blue girl he'd best get dad the red boy. Of course, there is much more to this story. There was some advanced work to be done before we agreed on the two Dobe placement.  But, today, this placement is one more of our claims to success! At ninety-nine years of age, the father is probably the oldest first-time owner of a Doberman in the history of the breed.  Did he wait too long? Not if you remember those who win by a foot rather than the proverbial mile still have won! So how old is too old? Only you have that answer.

I too had one of those “must do” moments before I can't, situations. A call in November 1995, from Chicago friends who, more than 20 years after I acquired my first BMW cycle, came asking if I was ready to take a real bike trip. Seven months later, at 9:30 p.m. Alaskan time, Barrie Hoytt and friends stepped off their motorcycles in front of a sign that proclaimed, Arctic Circle, Alaska. We had traveled 200 plus kilometers north of Fairbanks on the recently opened to the public, trans-Alaska oil pipeline road. Four weeks, 11,164 miles and 40 something years after acquiring my first motorcycle, I was back home, my BMW not quite as shiny as when I left, I guess I too looked a bit ruff.

Over the years I have traveled from Vancouver to Prince Edward Island, and from International Falls to Miami; visiting along the way with folks who helped make my adventures possible, my clients. Not only did I get Hoytt Doberman Kiss Fixes along the way, I met some folks who were clients I had never personally met before my visit. Today, I still ride but overnight stays mean hot tubs and hotels.

 Barrie Hoytt