Canil von Drachenschwanz – my experience
First – I do not recommend Canil von Drachenschwanz or Detlef Brehmer to anybody – my advice is to stay away from him! Based on my experience the breeder – Mr. Detlef Brehmer of Canil von Drachenschwanz, is not interested in dogs/puppies he sells, after he has received the payment.
But please read on, I will explain this…
Background
I feel confident to say that I am quite experienced with dogs. At present I have a male dobermann (4,5 years) and white shepherd (12 weeks puppy girl). I have also had german shepherds and dobermanns. I have earlier taken care and trained rottweilers, great danes, mastiffs, schnauzers, boxers, bulldogs etc.
I purchased a fila brasileiro puppy (Isca) from October 6th litter of Canil von Drachenschwanz. I paid 800 euros for a puppy and 590 euros for air cargo transportation & crate to Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Finland. So I wire transferred total of 1390 euros to Detlef Brehmer in Germany. Actually to his wife’s (Marion Brehmer) account.
I also drove over 1500 km’s from Tornio to Helsinki (and back) and stayed over night in Helsinki. Costs for fuel and accommodation were around 220 euros. Mostly fuel, since fortunately I found a nice and reasonably priced accommodation in Helsinki. And of course fee for handling at airport, around 88 euros. So, that’s total of nearly 1690 euros (bank fees and meals not included).
He sent me a sick puppy
Mr. Detlef Brehmer sent me a sick puppy suffering of PPM (Persistent Pupillary Membrane). He said that puppies went through vet inspection! Maybe that’s true, maybe the vet didn’t notice or maybe his “vet” is as qualified as doctor Nick from Simpsons…
I noticed that the puppy had something very wrong with her eye only couple weeks after she came to us. I took her to specialist in Kokkola and she diagnosed PPM and gave me that in writing. I, of course, sent the document to Detlef Brehmer as evidence.
The examination cost around 50+ euros plus fuel and accommodation. Total costs are now over 1800 euros. I was furious of course.
1800 euros for nothing?
So me and Detlef Brehmer of Canil von Drachenschwanz started to discuss about our options. He offered me a replacement from later litter, a male puppy. I first said that he should pay the delivery of a new puppy – of course, I had already paid for a cargo of one puppy, why should I pay for another? But after I realised that it would get me nowhere and I wanted a healthy fila puppy – so I agreed to pay for his cargo also.
Of course I was disappointed since he didn’t give a damn about my situation and the fact that he had delivered me a sick puppy. So in my opinion it was his fault that I was to receive extra expenses.
And because of Isca’s sickness, I had already had nearly 200 euros of extra expenses. Guess did he offer to pay even half of them? NOOOO…
From Detlef Brehmer’s end things were escalating – there was a strike in Germany (so he said), so he couldn’t deliver in time and then he suggested that maybe in late March I could pick up the puppy in Denmark! I said no thanks, I don’t want a fila puppy nearly 4 months old.
Why? Well, you know that puppy of that age weighs at least 15-20 kg. As much as my daughter, who would be easy prey to bring down and maul – keep reading, you will understand…
I suggested that we could meet in Sweden for a trade, but he never even replied to that. At first it was his suggestion that I could pick up the puppy (Isca) in Sweden, but that was before I had paid anything. Back then he replied to my emails within 1-2 days, not anymore… 
So, in my opinion – he was just playing time. I think he never even considered sending me a new puppy. Not to say healthy…But that is only my feeling, I don’t know if that’s true.
Fila breeded by Detlef Brehmer attacked my child
I should also mention that the puppy he sent me – Isca, attacked my 2 years old daughter twice within two weeks she arrived to us.
Normal fila behavior? Not according to Detlef Brehmer or any breeder of true filas. Every fila breeder I have talked to, have always said that filas are perfect dogs with children of the family – but not this!
First time Isca attacked and scratched my daughter’s face to bleeding (picture below) and second time (Christmas Eve) Isca did bite my daughter to her chin. It was not just hard play, Isca really attacked and defended her food – only that there was nothing to defend. My daughter did not touch her chewing bone or a toy or a food bowl, she was just close. Because Emma loved the puppy…
As she loves our dobermann and our white shepherd – she did not understand that the dog could be vicious to her and neither did us. It’s ironical that my first experience of dog attacking my child comes from a breed (and our own dog), which is said to be extremely tolerant and friendly to children of the family…
Then there has been several times when Isca has growled (warned) my daughter not to come closer. Mostly when Isca was with her food bowl or toy.
My demand for refund – end of correspondence
But back to our case – I then said that no, I want refund. I wrote that I am ready to pay 200 euros for the puppy – who is sick and has attacked my daughter twice. I had already paid 800 euros, so I wanted 600 refund. Back then I still thought we could somehow keep Isca.
I sent my bank account details to him, at 31st January 2009. Surprise surprise – I have not heard from him since!!!!
Conclusion
I have all the documents and copies of emails I have exchanged with Detlef Brehmer of Canil von Drachenschwanz.
- Documents of dog, pet passport
- Transportation documents, emails and real costs, like handling costs with receipt
- My trip to pick up the puppy from Tornio to Helsinki and back, costs with receipts
- Behavior of Isca with us vs. normal fila behavior, testimonials
- Additional costs, vet, eye specialist and related expenses
My conclusion is that Detlef Brehmer is not single bit interested in you or your puppy if problems appear – after he has received the money. At least if something goes wrong, your dog is ill etc.
I can only recommend that do not buy any dogs from him.
At spring 2008 – he has already had three litters. None of the fila kennels in Europe match that, they are too special dogs. But Detlef Brehmer does – where does he deliver them? Puppy factory – I hope not…
This goes to Suomen Kennelliitto, FCI and CAFIB and to all dog breeders I know.
I have contacted Finnish police and embassy in Germany, let’s see how this goes…
I received a mail from Mr. Jan Kubesa,
here’s my reply:
Thank you for your mail, Mr. Kubesa.
I would normally discard these kind of messages, but your reply showed so much arrogance and stupidity that I can only conclude that you didn’t read my post very well or did not understand it.
Protection money in some places and countries is also a normal procedure, but it doesn’t make it legal.
Selling “broken” items and demanding “shipping and handling” costs for a new and better one is not normal business. And at least in Finland it is not legal.
In Finland, in legal terms a dog is compared to any personal property. For example, let’s take a laptop:
I purchase a laptop from net store. They send it to me and I notice it’s broken. I want a replacement, a laptop which is intact.
I can return broken laptop to seller and they send a new one to me, at their own cost.
That’s normal and legal procedure – at least in Finland. But you would pay them for sending a new laptop?
You called me grazy, but sorry – I think you are.
And please, do not lower yourself to say that I think dog is like a furniture. Because I don’t think so. But in legal terms they are the same.
If you HAD READ AND UNDERSTOD my post, then you would have noticed that I gave in and agreed to pay for the cargo of new puppy also.
But he could not deliver it in time. I think I have a right to refuse to take four months old puppy as a replacement, when I originally purchased/wanted two months old.
And the reason is that I am afraid the new puppy would also attack my daughter. Four months old does more damage than two months old.
Even you must understand that.
So, I think I have a right to demand refund ie. returning some of my money.
But no, you don’t think so? You think I should pay for a new puppy anyway.
What if the next one is also sick? And the next one? How long do you think I should keep paying almost 600 euros plus my costs to drive over 1500 km’s?
And then I want to dig in to your remarkable talent of knowing that the
reason why a puppy dog attacked my daughter is, quoting you:
“clear that the fault is in the education of the puppy, and, their child.”
That’s the most arrogant and ignorant sentence I have ever heard from any dog breeder.
And also funny, because two fila owners said the opposite. And also Detlef
Brehmer said that the puppy’s behavior is not normal.
But you – only from one post, can tell that it’s the child’s fault and in education! Wow!!
Well, Mr. Kubesa – if it’s education, then it’s not my fault. Because first
attack happened the very first night we were at home.
Second attack happened two weeks after that. And in both cases the puppy was
with her chewing bone and my daughter just went to sit near.
She did not try to grab the bone or anything. Obviously she sat too close.
If that’s the child’s fault or my fault, then you should send all your fila puppies with warning labels:
“DO NOT LET CHILDREN GO NEAR IF THE DOG HAS A CHEWING BONE”.
Because not a single dog breed I have experience with, acts like that.
Certainly not a breed “which is extremely tolerant with children of the pack”.
And believe me, I have also asked from many of my friends who have many different breeds.
And last but not least:
I did not report this to police because of the attack, but because Mr. Brehmer has not delivered me a dog as he promised and neither has refunded.
And to clarify my position: I do not think filas are bad or dangerous dogs in general. I think I just received a puppy who is not presenting normal fila behavior. I am still keen to believe testimonials from many other fila owners that they are very friendly to children of their own family.
Mr. Ernvall:
First – I don´t know you and I don´t know how you received my email address and why you sent me your email. My comments were not sent to you, as you can see from the first words. For me it seems to be one of strange problems with my computer that have been happening last 5 weeks.
Second – I was considering to write you my comments that I would have written it in another words and described more detailly that in the case of writing to other person more familier with dog behaviour that apparently are you. I am really surprised that you published in your pages my comments obviously written to another person that came to you inexplicably without consulting the situation with me and I think that you behaviour is lacking decency.
I am sorry if my email harmed your feelings, but in general terms, even in changed words, I looks obvious that the problem remains the same. And, at the end it is what really matter.
As you have mentioned some new information in your email that I had no evidence before, if you are interested to look at the situation from starting point, we can address the following points:
1) the age of the puppy has certainly an influence to its behaviour. I don´t know at exactly what age you received this puppy, I suppose the normal proceeding, it is about 3 months (judging also from your comments that 4 months puppy is too old)
2) the puppy according to the breeder was sent to you after vet inspection, so the conclusion is that the breeder did all he had to do before exporting the puppy. If the health problem was not obvious at the first look of non-professional eyes, you cannot blame the breeder. The person to blame should be his vet, and it is something very questionable to say and could be determined only by vet specialist if their collegue in Germany is good or bad vet.
3) The breeder offered you another puppy. Everything depends on the contract you signed with him. As I don´t know the conditions of your contract, impossible to comment. If there is no clausure about cases like that you mentioned, he has no obligation. In such case it is nice gesture from him. Nobody can respond for the hidden defect of any animal and if they are not discovered within short period of time, no claim may be risen. I never heard about any case that the breeder pay the transport of replacement puppy, nor the participation in the treatment you are mentioning, not even in cases when the costs were significant more expensive that in your case.
Why the breeder stopped talking to you – impossible to comment as no information are mentioned in your page.
4) no one partly who has at least basic knowledge about the behaviour of dogs could use terms as “3 months old puppy attacking a child”, nor “the child is easy prey for the puppy”. Such vocabulary and statings prove much of emotions and practically no understanding of the situation.
5) you mentioned that the puppy “attacked” the child at the first evening in the new home and the second case within 2 weeks.
First, as any cynologic person tells you, such small puppy is not attacking to anybody, is under tremenous stress out of his home, mother and brothers, looking for safety and its place in new strange enviroment, and if feels in danger, it tries to defend itself, pure selfdefense. It is the duty of new owner, it means you and other adults members of your family, to give such safety to the new puppy, to educate him, and to avoid situations that the puppy tries to defend itself.
Also it is your responsability to take all necessary measures that the new puppy will know your children, accept them, and to aviod any situation that the children approach new puppy when you have not the absolute control of the situation and certainity that such encounter will be O.K. for both sides.
What could be concluded from your incomplete information is the following:
1) regarding to your relationship with the breeder, you blame him for everything even if he can not know about the problem. You are so concentrated on the money issue that it is obvious that you consider the puppy to be the same as buying a new video recorder, claiming each euro and judging the situation if terms of money. Yes, you can make it, but it provokes certain doubts about you as the possible good owner of the dog, or any other live animal.
2) in spite of you assurements how experienced dog owner you are, all your comments prove the contrary. What happened in your family proves that apparently you are not able to handle and to educate a puppy. Please do not take it as offense – some people really like their animals but are not able to really understand them nor handle them. The examples of such persons are plenty.
But please don´t try to blame the puppy for the incidents, nor the breeder – the responsability is totally yours. If you are not able to gain the friendship and love of the puppy and not able to establish the same relationship with other members of your family, pleasy look for another owner – it will make more happier your family and the puppy as well.
And don´t blame fila brasileiro – it is really special breed normally totally devoted to its family.
Considering the limited one-side information I apologize if some of my conclusions are wrong.
I hope to have explained my opinion and wishing you all the best,
Jan Kubesa
Mr. Kubesa,
I did not publish your comments on my pages, only one sentence (a part) of it.Your original mail came to me, so I thought that maybe you wanted to make a point, like carbon copying to me while talking to someone else.
The puppy was around 8 weeks when she came to us. My comments regarding 4 months old puppy was of the replacement – he is one month younger than the puppy I originally bought.
He would be around 4-5 months in late March, when I could have picked him up in Denmark.
I use word attack when animal makes violent approach to someone and hurts him/her.
Whether it’s self defense or not, doesn’t matter. You are right that there is a lot of emotion in it, we are talking about my child.
Ok, thank you – maybe now I have some new information. I did not know filas might be such stressed animals, that even after two weeks with new family they can feel threatened by a small child of the family. But considering that – I think I should have been informed before, because I said that this is my first fila.
But then again, I have three fila owners who say it’s not normal behavior. But you say it is.
Who should I listen? For now, I choose not to listen to you.
I have never thought of something you said, not one of my earlier dogs have felt so insecure around my children that they must bite or need to dominate them. Our white shepherd (12 weeks old) doesn’t and hasn’t shown any aggressiveness towards my daughter, even though she also was stressed first two days.
So in a way you are right – I had no idea of the situation. I am not used to puppy dog attacking my children. I had no earlier experience, because none of my previous and latter dogs have not behaved like this fila puppy. But if you think it is normal, then I really think they should not be sold to any other than “licenced fila owners”. But, like I said earlier, I think you are wrong.
I don’t blame the breeder for the sickness nor the biting – of course not, I just wanted some co-operation and responsibility. I work for a living – so yes, I feel like shit after spending 2000 euros to a dog I can’t keep. Wouldn’t you?
So you think it’s just a nice gesture that he offered me replacement? Would you sell a sick dog for a full price and then think it’s a nice gesture if you offer a healthy dog later?
Oh my – I really wonder what is your perception of fairness and moral?
I have successfully educated and taught several puppies in the past. And yes, I love dogs and I don’t take your word that I’m incapable of raising a puppy.
But if all that you have said is really true, then there definately needs to be a license to own a fila.
It is quite surprising that someone says it depends “on the contract you made” and just earlier downplays the post writer of referring legal terms.
I and many other breeders think it’s just normal decency and manners that the breeder refunds or trades if the dog is not as described in official breed standard. And PPM qualifies for that.
It is in no way buyer’s obligation to accept replacement and therefore refund from seller should be obvious. It shows very bad judgement from the breeder to end communication with the buyer.
Very sad situation…
Why I mention money here? That’s also what Kubesa (I don’t call him Mr. anymore) mentioned and suggested that I am
“so concentrated on the money issue that it is obvious that you consider the puppy to be the same as buying a new video recorder”
That’s actually a lot of BS and I warned him of not lowering himself to that, but it has some valuable truth in it. The question is: does he give this to people who buy a dog from him (and for some reason get in to trouble)? Because if it is, it seems that you are not getting any help, only accuses how you can’t educate a puppy and how it was your or your children’s fault…
And remember that he is capable of making this judgement via distance. He doesn’t have to talk to you or visit your family and get to know your situation. It’s phenomenal. I also updated my first comment, it now shows the original mail I got from him. Not very adult, but what the heck…
I mention my costs, because I think it’s good for my finnish readers to know how much importing a dog from abroad can cost. I am not seeking refund for my original expenses, only to what I paid for the dog.
Talk about loosers..
And I mean those money chasing breeders…
Wikipedian mukaan rotua ei suositella lapsiperheeseen:
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fila_brasileiro
Miksi rotua kasvattavat väittävät muuta?!
I just read over again commentar Kubesa’s words: “it all depends on the contract”. What is the matter with you? Is there no decency in you?
Normal practise is that breeder returns half or some of the money or gives a new dog, if the original puppy is not as breed standards!! No matter if it appears after a year or more – like testicle not going down with males.
Shame on you Kubesa and shame on the breeder!!!!
I agree with Riitta, that’s normal here. But not with Canil von Fuckenstad. I recommend to stay away from him…
And yes – he has not replied or refunded to this day. I am quite sure he knows about this conversation.
I have read your story and Drachenschwanz is know to us as they are working toghether with Daniel Vanhove (Sol De Minas) from Belgium. Both are under investigation but we need more information. Please contact me by email.
To this day, I have not received a pedigree of Isca from Detlef Brehmer. So – they sell paperless dogs? Yes!