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June 30, 2009
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Q: from Susan Carpenter
Date: 29 June 2009
Comments: does size equal problems
I have never owned a Doberman before and I didn't do a lot of research
before I got this one. He is two years old now and according to the vet
appointment this past week weighs 125 lbs. and he is 31 inches tall at the
withers. The vet told me he is not over weight, just a giant and a beautiful
specimen. I never knew they got this big!! However, in reading everything I
could about the breed he seems to be just as wonderful as he could be and I
love him dearly! People are extremely intimidated by him. He is a lap dog
and I'm probably not the pack leader. The only aggression I've witnessed is
fear aggression. Mainly towards other dogs and centered around me. Any
suggestions? I used to take him to a dog park and he did fine although he
was actually more afraid the other dogs. I'm sure he could sense my fear of
him getting into a fight. Other owners would so paranoid that he was going
to kill their dogs, I stopped going. And does everyone else's sit on the
couch like a person?
A: from
Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Susan,
Many dogs, especially males, get overly
protective when they are fearful of something. It's not being protective of
you, it's that he's thinking YOU will protect him. Many times it's due to
his breeding and
many times it's because you are the caregiver and you and he have bonded more
than others in the family. I would hope you have him neutered. It sometimes
helps, especially around other dogs. I would NEVER take a working dog (which a Dobe is) to a dog park and turn him loose with other dogs. It's too dangerous
for him and for other dogs. You could never pull them apart and both or one
could be killed or nearly so and you would have a major law suit on your hands
plus the dog being destroyed by the city as a vicious dog.
I would first take him to Obedience classes
where he has to work closely with, but not too close to, other dogs. Call your local
Doberman club for references to a good training classes. I wouldn't do
individual class as he needs to work with other breeds. If they can't help
you, call your local Kennel club. They are in
almost every town.
I would doubt your dog measures 31 inches.
You would need an AKC wicket to measure correctly. I've measured a dog from
27 -30 inches using a yard stick. You just can't measure correctly without a
wicket used by AKC. He may be 29 inches which is a large dog and over the
DPCA standard which is 26 1/2 to 28 inches.
His weight sounds too heavy to me but
depending on his bone and substance and the Vet, it may be ok. I've just
never heard of a dog weighing so much. A 28 inch dog in good weight would go
from 80 to 87 lbs. approximately.
Good luck.
Q: from Sarah
Date: 25 June 2009
Comments: Dancing Doberman Syndrome
We just saw a specialist today to diagnose an issue with our 5yr old male
Dobe who is exhibiting symptoms of Dancing Doberman Syndrome. His symptoms
are also symptoms of several other issues, which seem to have been ruled out
after a days of tests (blood, urinalysis, MRI, etc.). They want to do more
invasive testing, such as muscle & nerve biopsy and spinal tap which we have
declined until we see another specialist. Does anyone know anything about
Dancing Doberman Syndrome or another condition that mimics these symptoms
(picking up of hind legs like dancing, appears to be no pain)?
In over 55 yrs of breeding, showing & judging Dobes. I've never seen a case
of DDS. I'm not saying it doesn't exist but I would doubt many Vets have
seen a case either. I would first consult a Vet Chiropractor and/or a
Neurologist to make a determination of his condition. I would not do a
Mylogram on any of my own dogs. He may be exhibiting signs of CVI but only a
Specialist would make this diagnosis.
Q: from Dirk Stronck
Date: 24 June 2009
Comments: Long natural ears that bleed
Why do my dog's ears bleed at the tips when they have not been cropped? Is
there a solution? I wonder if circulation is the issue.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Dirk,
Your dogs ears could be bleeding because he may be shaking his ears too
much. You may need to take your buddy to the vet and have him/her checked
for possible ear mites or for something that may be in the ears. Have you
noticed your buddy shaking his ears somewhat violently?
While you are at the vet, you may also want to consider having your buddy
tested for vWD (von Willebrands Disease). We do have an
article about this on our
articles pages.
Anyway, that is all we can tell you as this may be a veterinary issue that
we cannot address.
Thank you.
Q: from John Bready
Date: 22 June 2009 :
Comments: Temperament
I bought my female Doberman just before she turned four months old. I pulled
up to her on a motorcycle and she was fine. Now I'm noticing that she seems
timid of strangers and she is scared of any big objects I pick up and she is
frightened of loud noises. What should I do. I hope to Schutzhund train her
but she needs to change.
Sometimes and I don't know if I am explaining this right, but a young puppy
who does have the good strong drives can fly into a situation too quickly and
scare themselves temporarily. Like I say if she can recover
(even with a
little encouragement from you) quickly, it is a good thing.
Thank you.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello John,
I would think that there are a lot of things that you can do. We have a
great article on our article page, Super Dogs Are Made Not Born. This
article tells you the stages in a young dogs life and tells you what to
expect and what to do and what not to do during these developmental periods
of their lives.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/superpuppy.htm Please read the 4th and the
5th critical periods today. Print this article for your daily reference and
to keep.
Check to see if we have other articles to help you learn about dog's
behavior and Doberman Pinschers in general.
Do you have a qualified trainer that is well versed with canine temperament
and behavior as well as schutzhund and other working sport training. If so,
you may want to have this person evaluate your Doberman for this training.
It could be that your girl and you need the help of an expert.
Does your girl recover quickly (like within 15 seconds) from her fearful
reactions? You can encourage her to investigate these people and objects
that she is timid of. Take her for walks and introduce her to unusual
objects and encourage her to investigate. Be patient and never show anger or
a temper. If you catch yourself feeling this way stop and wait and do it
again at another time.
These are just a few suggestions. I would consider seeking help and joining
a local working sport club or group and start learning about all of this
behavior now. A good trainer can guide and teach you.
I hope that this can help you at this crucial time and good luck.
Enjoy your Doberman.
Thank you.
Q: from Chris Klecka
Date: 22 June 2009
Comments: ear cropping
I recently adopted a 20 week old Doberman and he has his tail bobbed but not
his ears cropped. Is it to late?
A: from
Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Chris,
I think that it may be too late. I kind of depends what his ears are doing now.
What you can do is to find a veterinarian who does ear cropping, take you
Doberman and ask his/her opinion about whether or not that this surgery can be
done with success of them standing and a nice ear crop at this late date.
Just for your information, reputable and responsible breeders have this surgery
done and the ears healed before they let their puppies leave for their new
homes. Also, your breeder should be able to be your mentor and be able to help
you raise your puppy throughout his/her lifetime.
If you do not know of a veterinarian in your area or near that will crop your
puppy, you can go to www.dpca.org and go to Breeder Referral, click onto your
state and find DPCA members who are breeders. They may be able to recommend a
good vet to you that crops ears.
Good luck.
Q: from John Alexander
Date: 21 June 2009
Comments: About Tripoli the Doberman
I saw the video clip on youtube of 'Eyes of an Angel", starring John
Travolta, and a Doberman named Tripoli, handled by Rudd Weatherwax. Who
owned the dog, and how can we find its registration, to find descendents of
him?
I am thinking that the dog is probably an actor. One of my dogs was in a
Monk episode.
Thank you.
Q: from Beverly A
Date: 19 June 2009
Comments: Temperament
I have a 5 month old Doberman and we are currently in obedience training at
Petsmart. We have gone to 3 classes and he is picking up on everything fine.
My problem is that he will bark at me some when he wants to play and he gets
a little rough playing with me. What can I do to stop this? I think I have
tried just about everything.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Marj's response to you is right on the money - you have
become his 'littermate' and you must correct this assumption and take on the'master role. Have the trainer you are working with witness the behavior
and give you suggestions based on what he/she sees. Good luck.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Beverly,
Well your playful puppy is playing with you like you are a littermate.
You just need to be assertive and during training train him that this isn't
the time to play. You should have play sessions with him in your schedule.
You can teach him too, to play gentler.
You may want to ask the trainer that you are working with for suggestions
too.
Thank you.
Q: from Mary Callaway
Date: 19 June 2009
Comments: Another WAC question
I have read the rules and standards for the WAC and am unclear about one
test. When the assistant fires the pistol, what is the appropriate response
for the dog? I know the dog is given 10 seconds to recover from being
startled and to be encouraged to proceed with the handler forward to the
stopping mark but the standard is unclear to me about the dog's immediate
reaction to the gunfire (alert to the noise/attempt to approach the
assistant/barking).
Thank you in advance for your help.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Mary,
For the gunshot test, we are checking for sound sensitivity. The dog should
be aware of the sound and alert and also look for where the sound came from.
He should recover from auditory shock within I believe 10 seconds.
As to the standard, he must alert and he must discover (watchful) and be
fearless too after his initial reaction. I have seen dogs hit the end of the
lead and would be in the next county if he didn't have a leash attached to
his handler.
It is encouraged that the dog and handler walk towards the stopping marker
without stopping or pausing, just keep walking.
The WAE evaluator should be able to answer this question for you too. I have
found that they are always willing to answer questions.
I hope that this helps.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
The dog should alert to the noise, turn toward the sound, and
should not take long to recover from the startle. There is no "perfect"
response, to my knowledge, however, the dog should not fall apart, hit the
ground or shake all over (all responses I have seen). Usually the dogs startle,
turn and lo9ok and then have little trouble going forward with the handler - the
handler knows it is coming so if he/she does not make a big deal out of it the
dog won't either. Hope this helps.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
The dog should just alert to it. The dog will be walking away when the shot
goes off, so he should startle a little and may or may not turn around to
look but should recover quickly and keep on walking. He may not startle but
just flick his ears and turn his head. He SHOULD at least make some sort of
acknowledgment that something happened but it’s not a big threat to him.
No, I’ve never heard one bark but he should never turn around to go after
the assistant who shoots the gun. Remember, he is walking in the opposite
direction of the shooter and should continue to walk regardless of being
surprised or startled.
The tester will tell you exactly what you should expect with each test.
Q: from Pat L'Abbate
Date: 17 June 2009
Comments: Choosing a breeder
We have a 15 week old male Doberman. His ears were cropped at about 7 weeks
and we have been taping ever since. His ears are standing beautifully now
except after we take the taping down about 1 or 2 days later the tips of the
ears start to curl back a bit. But they are standing just fine. Is this
normal? And how long does it usually take before the ear stays straight?
Don’t want to keep taping if it will never be perfectly straight.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
You need to continue taping the ears
through teething, or until the ears stand for five or more days straight up.
The ears tend to go down when teething as the calcium is diverted to teeth. I
normally tape the ears until at least four months, if not five or longer,
depending on the dog. If you quit too early you will forever have a problem.
Good luck.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Pat,
You need to keep taping until the ears are standing straight even though
they are standing now. In the end they need to stand straight up at 12
o'clock.For every day that you leave the ears down and not taped, you will
need to tape a week longer for each day they are left down. When taping the
ears this next time, you can reinforce that upper area by using a
Breath-Rite strip in that part of the ears then re-tape the ear in your
usual manner.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Q: from Charlie Edwards
Date: 17 June 2009
Comments:
Please help. We have a 10 year old red female Dobe. The vet gave us a
medication (Chewable Proin 50 mg 3 times a day) for incontinence. She
suddenly began to not want to eat and started to lose weight (From 69 lbs to
54 lbs in 3 months). She would also shake as if she were cold. At first we
thought it was due to cold weather but it is still going on. We changed to a
homeopathic formula from www.PetAlive.com
called Better-Bladder Control. She has started to eat again and regain
weight and the incontinence is still under control.
We are now noticing a greenish/yellow discharge from her urinary tract. In
addition, she has almost no strength in her hips. Her legs sprawl out from
under her on hard surfaces and she has trouble getting back up. The vet says
there is nothing wrong. We don't believe that. Do you know of any vets that
understand what might be going on?
We live in Ft. Myers, Florida (southwest Florida). We don't want to lose her
to a vet that doesn't know Dobermans.
Thank you.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Charles - there is definitely something wrong, no matter what
this vet tells you. You need another vet, and quickly. We have no way to refer
you to another vet but you can check the "Breeder's Referral List" on the
DPCA website. Find a breeder somewhere close
to you and call this person and ask for a name of a vet in the area that they
trust. Then make an appointment and go.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Charlie,
I think that you are on the right track and need to see another veterinarian
for a second opinion. However, we cannot recommend a veterinarian. Here is a
suggestion for you. You can go to the
www.dpca.org website and click onto breeder referral and click on the
state of Florida and find breeders near you for a possible referral to a vet
in your area or close by.
It does sound as though your girl needs veterinary attention.
Thank you and good luck.
Q: from Robert
Kutcher
Date: 14 June 2009
Comments: Choosing A Breeder
I'm
looking for a breeder in the New Jersey
area.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Robert,
To find a breeder in your area, go to
www.dpca.org and click onto breeder referral and click onto your state for
a list of DPCA members that are breeders. You can also go to Chapter Clubs and
do the same thing and contact the club for members who may have puppies
Thank you.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Look at the Breeder's Directory on the D.P.C.A.
website - they are listed by name and location.
Q: from Troy
Date: 14 June 2009
Comments: cropped ears
I just bought a Dobe
puppy and will be able to bring it home in the middle of July. I plan on having
his ears cropped and am looking for advice on holding them up. I have noticed a
device called the "ear halo" and wondered if this would be a good
investment....really any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Troy,
Your breeder or the veterinarian who is going to crop your puppy should be able
to help you with this. You will be taping your puppy's ears to train the to
stand tall at 12 o'clock for any weeks. There are articles on our breeders
education article page about tapping ears.
Actually for your information, a responsible and reputable breeder will have the
ears cropped and healed before the puppy leaves them.
Thank you for you question.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Troy - If you are buying from a reputable breeder the ears should be done before
you get the puppy....this is important. Real breeders do not send pups home and
put the responsibility for ears on the buyer - should be part of your purchase
price and the ears should be posted when the pup goes to you. Just my opinion
but one from many years of experience. You should not have to buy anything -
the vet who crops the ears will put them up in the appropriate device. Perhaps
you should talk to the breeder of the puppy.
Q: from Sandra Diaz
Date: 14 June 2009
Comments: Choosing A Breeder
How do we find a breeder in our
area, and if one has moved? Trying to find out if ReneeTanner, Tanray Dobermans, in Lancaster CA.
Was she a member of DPCA?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Sandra,
Actually Renee Tanner recently passed away.
Her Dobermans are with a friend and are available to be placed in good homes. I
don't know if I should put the name of the person and the whereabouts on this
forum though. Privately I can put you in touch with Renee's good friend who has
the dogs.
Thank you.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Look at the Breeder's Directory on the D.P.C.A.
website - they are listed by name and location.
Q: from Marti Dill
Date: 13 June 2009
Comments: Membership & National show premium
My first
question is - is it required that you be a member of the DPCA to enter your
Doberman in Rally & Obedience trials at the National show in October in Fort
Mitchell? (Yes, I want to join.)2) How can I request
the premium for the National Doberman show in October in Fort Mitchell, KY?
Our first Dobe was a pet. My second is a performance dog and the love of my
life. Yes she is a rescue but that is only because her previous owner thought
more of his newly landscaped lawn than he did of her.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
No, you do not have to be a member to enter the National competition.
We would welcome you to join, however. For the information as to the
Superintendent for the National, go to the DPCA
website and look under DPCA National. Find the Super and contact them and
request a premium be sent to you. We will look forward to meeting you at the
National!
Q: from Lynne Weiser
Date: 11 June 2009
Comments: Breeder Judges
I am doing a report for my club. I would like to know how many Breeder
Judges there are in Doberman's
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Lynn,
You can contact the American Kennel Club for this information. The AKC has a
booklet that lists the judges. You may be able to find this on-line too at
www.akc.org.hank you.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
I really have no idea of the number. Check the AKC website for judges who do
Dobermans, and then check the DPCA website to check if they are members -
most breeder judges will be members of DPCA. A lot of work but it should
give you some idea.
Q: from Ran Niezwaag
Date: 11 June 2009
Comments: landlord issue
I am currently renting in Scottsdale and want to rescue a sweet beautiful
fawn Dobie that was found in the trash. There is no breed restrictions in
the lease agreement, however management freaked when they found out it was a
Dobie and said there was a breed restriction. Anyone know any dog friendly
attorneys who might be able to help?
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Sorry, but we cannot recommend any professional on this list. You might want
to check with an attorney in Scottsdale for a referral. Good luck.
Q: from Rachael
Date: 9 June 2009
Comments: Walking my Doberman Pinschers
I have 2 Doberman Pinschers that are both a little over a year old. I've had
them since they were 11 and 13 weeks old and I've been taking them on walks
and trying to train them to walk right on a leash. Nothing I do helps. No
matter what I do they still try to drag me down the street. I've tried a
choker, I've tried harnesses, I don't know what to do but I would really
like to be able to take them for walks without being dragged down the
street! Please give me some advice!
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans, USA
Rachael - First of all you need to walk them one at a time on
a choke chain - You start out with the dog on the left side and use his name and
tell him/her to "heal" and start off on your left foot with a tug on the leash
forward - every time the dog starts to pull you change direction and tell them
to heal, giving them a snap correction with the leash and collar. Keep the
leash close to you and the dog's head. Do the same with each of them until they
get the idea. I would strongly suggest that you enrol both in obedience class
asap and get them under control. It will NOT get better on it's own. Good
luck,
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I would first take them to Obedience training classes to learn some basic
obedience. Raising two puppies together is not recommended for just that
reason, they are harder to train as you are doing everything together.
If you can't get to an obedience class I would take one pup at a time for a
walk and start using the words heel with the dog at your side and not
getting ahead of you. You will need a choke collar and make sure you pull it
very high under the throat so they can't get it down on their neck where you
have no control over them. Walk a few steps and make her/him sit. Say good
boy or girl and let them sit a minute or so. Then say heel and start off
with your left leg and walk several steps with the dog at your side and say
sit. If they lunge ahead, do an about turn so they can't get going ahead of
you. You will need to do this for several weeks with ONE dog at a time. Then
do the same with the other dog. You must remember, they are pups and want to
run and play but you have to be consistent with your training. Once you have
mastered them both to where they can walk without pulling, you might try
both together but it's going to take a lot of time and patience.
Obedience classes will do it quicker.
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Q: from Rose Hersh
< align="left">
Date: 5 June 2009
Good Morning!We currently have a beautiful 2 yr old female black/rust
Dobie and are carefully
considering another. We have found a wonderful black/rust male but he has
green eyes. Is there such a thing as a purebred green eyed black/rust
Dobie?
Thank you!
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Kennels,
Canada
I'm sorry Rose but
there is definitely NOT such a thing as a green eyed purebred Doberman. The
*only* eye color a purebred would have is shades of brown to black. As babies
they can have blueish-colored eyes but that for the first few
days of life.
A: from Holly Schorr, Pennylane Dobermans,
USA
Rose - Our standard calls for a dark brown eye on a black
dog.....eye color must be as dark or darker than the markings. Never blue,
never green.....this dog is not within our standard and I would advise you to
look elsewhere.
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