Vivien first registered the Vansitar prefix in 1975.

 

In 1976 she acquired a Dobermann from May Hart (Tanunda and InPac kennels), a bitch called Tisha and a male dog.

 

Soon after moving to Perth in 1978 she entered her first dog show here. Her male dog went Best in Group, at a show hosted by the WA Kennel Club; held at East Fremantle Oval – that was in the days before Utility and Non Sporting Groups.

 

The male dog returned to NSW. As Tisha wasn’t that keen on being a show dog and was not known for her ability to share the house with another dog, Vivien had a hiatus from showing.

 

After Tisha passed away, Vivien who had maintained her friendship with the Dobermann fraternity in Perth was visiting Phil and Marilyn Hastie in Wanneroo and thinking about getting another dog. Phil offered her a 9 month old bitch that he had as a stud fee from Michelle Cowin. The dog was Ch Alldobe Witch of the East CD ET ROM, better known as Cher. At her first outing Vivien won the Group and was hooked. As they say in the classics, the rest is history.

 

Viv formed a friendship with Michelle Cowin, Cher’s breeder, and bred several very successful litters here in WA under the ALLDOBE prefix before returning to using her original VANSITAR prefix. Vivien was a very successful breeder producing many Champions and Grand Champions including the first Australian Supreme Champion Dobermann. Vansitar Dobes have completed in Obedience, Agility, Jumping, Endurance and Working Aptitude.

 

One of Viv’s greatest pleasures in being a breeder was the new people she met and the strong friendships she formed with so many of them.

 

Vivien had a great passion and commitment for the Dobermann breed. She became the Head Trainer of the Dobermann Club of WA in 1992 and continued in that role till 2013 when her illness prevented it. She was also awarded Life Membership to the Club and was the President from 1995 to 2013. She was also the Chair of the National Dobermann Council of Australia and a Breed Surveyor.

 

Her commitment to the dog world did not stop there. She has had a very long association with the Utility Dog Club from its inception and the combined group club before that. Vivien has been the President of the Utility Dog Club for the last 5 Years. She also has served on several Canine Association of WA committees.

 

In more recent times Vivien has been the West Coast Rep for KOBIDAN GSPs and has co-bred and co-owned Champion and Grand Champion German Shorthaired Pointers. In 2012 she also became (because you can never be on too many committees) a committee member of the Gundog Club of WA.

 

On the 15th of March 2013, after a battle with Breast Cancer, Vivien Brennan passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home with her beloved Dobermanns.