A TOP class Crufts winning Doberman has been battered to death in its own home by burglars.

Emma, a 12-year-old bitch, was found dead by her owners having been bashed over the head.

A motive for the break in at Anne Mayhew's home in New Milton remains a mystery as nothing was stolen. Anne said: "Emma wouldn't have hurt a fly - she was the kindest, sweetest dog you could want to know.

"She was probably the easiest target - she wouldn't have barked, she would have just stood there and wagged her tail."

Anne made the grim discovery after returning home to her three-storey house in Howe Close with her partner, Paul Coleman, and six-year-old daughter Katy-Anne on the youngster's birthday.

Housewife Anne, who has kept Dobermans for 21 years and owned Emma's mother and grandmother, said: "The dogs were downstairs in the garage and we came straight upstairs, but the dogs were whining.

"Paul went down to let them into the garden and he shouted you'd better get here quick'.

"The back door was open and the window had been pulled down and Emma was dead on the floor. The other five dogs were very quiet and trying to hide. It was awful."

A post-mortem examination carried out at Seadown Veterinary Practice in Hythe found Emma died as a result of a blow to the head.

Emma, whose show name was Bohemeann Groovy Little Em, had been to the prestigious dog show Crufts three times and had won her class once.

She had also had three litters of puppies, which have included other Crufts qualifiers and winners.

Anne, 48, said; "My dogs are my life - they are like my children and they are part of the family. We are so upset and we haven't even told Katy-Anne yet as we don't know how she'll take it - Emma was her favourite. Emma was killed on her birthday, which makes it even worse."

She said Dobermans are worth about £700 but Emma was "priceless" because of her prize winning past.

Thieves have repeatedly targeted Anne's house, where she has lived for 18 years.

She also rears birds as a hobby and only three weeks ago, six golden pheasant eggs worth £120 were stolen from her porch.

Budgies have also been stolen and attempts to break into her aviary have been made.

Anne has installed a camera and security lights, but she said: "I think this was aimed at me, but whoever did this should not have taken it out on my dogs."