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DPCA BREEDERS EDUCATION Q & A - Page 1 (2001 - 2002) |
Q: from Duane Wyland
Date: 28
Dec 2002
Time:
21:45:39
Comments: Blood lines
Are there any current books or articles that state which are the preferred Doberman blood lines? I have heard that Franckenhorst is one of the best. How do I find out more information on the best Doberman lines?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I'm sorry to tell you there are no preferred lines. Each breeder has to stand on his or her own merits. Look for the past top breeders and what they stand for:
Have they consistently produced top dogs generation after generation?
Are they reputable with their peers?
Have they produced some top sires and dams?
Are they still actively breeding or are they one-shot, lucky people who happened to breed one good dog or one good litter?
Do they research their prospective buyers?
Do they health test all breeding stock?
Are they members of a Chapter Club or Parent Club?
It's kind of like asking which car is the best. Its probably the one you bought that you were satisfied with.
Q: from July
Date: 28
Dec 2002
Time:
19:16:05
Comments: Doberman Health
They were about 7 and one was about 5 years. The lumps were seeming to grow out
of the skin (not under, like I said before), kind of like black moles, they were
very soft and one particular lump was kind of cauliflower-ish.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I would certainly have a Vet check them. They could be a form of skin cancer or some kind of warts. Only a Vet would know for sure.
Q: from July
Date: 28
Dec 2002
Time:
15:29:08
Comments: Doberman Health
Recently at a friends house I found that most of her dogs had bumps and lumps
under the skin and some under the eyelid. Is this a common problem to Dobermans
or only to specific lines?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
You didn't mention the ages of her dogs. Most time when Dobermans are 7 years of age and older, they, as well as all other breeds, will develop benign lumps. Some of these lumps may turn cancerous or even be cancerous but most times they are soft, movable lumps that don't hurt the dogs unless they interfere with walking, seeing or eating. These benign lumps can easily be removed but if they are not causing any problems, almost always are left alone. They will usually grow in size however and require removal.
Q: from Gerry
Date: 26
Dec 2002
Time:
03:00:20
Comments: Doberman Health
I just noticed some sores in my 11 month old Kane's mouth on the gums and inner
lips. They look like human canker sores, could they be just that? My
wife has a pretty bad cold/flu right now, could this just be a sign that he got
it too? Should I take him to the Vet or just keep an eye on it for a while
first?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Gerry I would take him to the vet...as far as I know they normally cannot catch most things that we get. I think they can only catch most from other dogs. I could be wrong but for safeties sake please take him to your vet.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I'd take your dog to the Vet immediately. It could be nothing but then why take the chance and wait until things get worse?
Q: from Stevie
Date: 26
Dec 2002
Time:
20:19:30
Comments: calcium and ear crop
I worked as a vet tech and in the 70's and 80's the vet I worked with would
always place the Doberman pup on calcium tabs 2 weeks prior to ear crop and then
continue it there after. I have recently read that some vets feel that calcium
or supplements actually can cause certain problems especially CVI. I have a 5
month old Doberman whom I have had on calcium since 12 weeks and it has helped
his ears somewhat. I have also read where now it seems that calcium isn't needed
for cartilage like once thought. I am caught in the middle with my thoughts on
this could you give me some insight on the subject? thanks. Am I hurting the
health of my pup by keeping him on calcium?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
There is no longer a need for added calcium, particularly for cartilage/ear problems and in fact, added calcium can and does cause other problems.
You haven't hurt your pup for the two months that he has been on the calcium but if I were you I would quit supplementing now so that you don't end up harming him.
Q: from Kim Paterson
Date: 22
Dec 2002
Time:
06:59:39
Comments: Breeders of Dobermans
There are two breeders I have read a lot about on the Internet and I am thinking
about making contact with. One is Wittrock Dobermans and the other is LeGard
Dobermans. Any information, positive or negative, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot for your help.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Sorry Kim, but this site is not set up to deal with referrals. I'd suggest you go to the DPCA site and contact either the Membership secretary or the Chapter Club secretary who will give you referrals to people in the area you might contact for information on breeders.
*** *** ***
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
You should ask any breeders you talk to for references just like the breeder should ask for the same from you. Have a list of questions handy. Ask about health testing of the parents and give them your list. If the parents are not tested and x-rayed, consider that a red flag. Ask about anything that concerns you and tell them what you will expect from them as a breeder. Those are a few of the things that I advise.
The main thing is to interview the breeder and ask for references from them and have questions ready for the breeder's references that you may contact too.
Unfortunately we are not a referral service (you can go to www.DPCA.org for that) and we don't give positive or negative feedback on anyone.
Q: from Johnna
Date: 20
Dec 2002
Time:
03:25:46
Comments: Taping Ears
How long after having a Dobie's ears cropped do they need to be posted? Is
there a certain length of time or a rule to follow?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
You will need to post and tape the ears until they are standing perfectly straight up with out pockets and etc. This normally takes about 6 months or can be even longer. They stand earlier sometimes but for the perfect standing ear you will have to plan on some time to be spent taping and taping. Please refer to the ear taping article that is on the this site. You can print the article to have on hand if you like.
Maybe we can refer you to someone that lives nearby that can guide you through this process. I can also refer you to a booklet by Bonnie Wittrock titled Ear Crop Aftercare. You may call Bonnie at 503-472-6688 or e-mail her at bwittrock@macnet.com. She also has a section in her booklet about problem solving. She covers the whole process in depth.
Q: from Polly DeRoy
Date: 14
Dec 2002
Time:
13:12:55
Comments: Doberman Health
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to have been given some of the most
wonderful Dobermans in need of a good home. I have had all 4 colors. so I know
of the skin problems in the fawns and blues.
My most recent dog is a two year old blue male. He has the worst ears that I have ever seen. First the crop was botched (they are way to short and look like a pit bull's ears) and second they were pegged poorly. As a result one ear flops on top of his head and the other flops down. Do you know of anyway this can be fixed at his age? Can I just try to re-peg them? He is a wonderful dog and I feel I owe it to him to try to fix his problem.
Thank you for any information you can give me.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
I think that problem will be hard to correct but it is worth a try. What have you got to lose?
Here is a method that Dr. Tully told me of years ago and it did work. You tape the ear down to the side of his head to stretch the pockets out and leave it on for at least 3 weeks. You will probably have to change the wrapping and because of his age you may have to tape it down longer.
When you do take it down the ear should just hang there like the other problem ear. You then tape the ear correctly, as if you were training it stand upright all over again. To use your words re-peg them once you have both ears hanging. When you re-peg them, pull the ear out to about the 10 o'clock and/or 2 o'clock position and put tape around the base of the ear, all the while stretching it up and out. You should see the pocket pop out when you do this. When you do this make sure that the tampon or whatever you use doesn't ride up the ear hole. Keep it pushed down tight.
On the ear that is flopped down just re-peg and hope for the best. I have a feeling that taping it may not work on that ear. You may be able to fix that ear surgically but in that case you will need to find a veterinarian (an experienced ear cropper) to take a look at it and to guide you. Depending on where you live, maybe we can recommend one near you.
Q: from BK
Date: 09
Dec 2002
Time:
20:11:55
Comments: Very Dry Skin
Our 7-month-old red female has very dry flaky skin; otherwise, she appears to be
generally healthy. We recently changed her food from Nutro to Pro Plan
(large breed) and have been (at the suggestion of our Vet) giving her Linatone
for the past month. Since we have not seen any noticeable improvement
should we be concerned? She does not seem to be bothered by it (i.e. - she
does not scratch) – it looks like a bad case of dandruff.
Someone told me to get her thyroid levels checked? Any other
suggestions/comments/recommendations?
Thanks
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
When you make a change in diet you need to give the diet some time to get into the system and take over before you notice any results. I would add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and fresh raw hamburger to the kibble too. I use a product called Missing Link which is a pretty good additive for skin and coat too and well worth a try. I do think that there are better products out there than Linatone and Missing Link is one of them. I feed Missing Link, Flax Seed Oil and Olive Oil.
If you have been feeding your other
diet for a month or more it is most
likely not working for the dog. You should see a change with the above
suggestion in about 10 days to 2 weeks.
You can also mix baby oil with water or use rosewater topically to help with the flaking. Brush her every day too. She probably has a lot of dead hair.
I suggest (is reasonable price wise) buying a 20 tooth hack saw blade and making the baby oil/water mixture (50-50). Put the oil on her and use the blade using short, firm (not hard - just enough to where you see hair coming out) strokes starting at the base of the ears ( you can do the head too) and all over the body and legs. You will be amazed at the amount of hair that comes out. Use the blade and your hands with the baby oil still on them.
This is hard to explain in writing so I am hoping you understand. After you do this take a soft wet towel and wipe her down in the direction of hair growth. Her hair coat will absorb the baby oil. Do this daily until you get all of the dead hair out and then you can do it weekly (or whenever you decide) as a regular routine (such as when you do the toenails and any other grooming).
Dobermans, like other breeds, need regular grooming. This will almost stop the hair shedding all over everything that she lays on in the house.
When you bathe her, soak her down really good and use a diluted shampoo. Massage it into her coat gently with the growth of the hair, not against the growth of the hair. Use a dog shampoo too. Rinse well. Try this and I think that you will be happy with the results.
In the summertime you can use a sunscreen on her too to prevent sunburn that is often associated with the reds who love to lay out in the sun.
Feel free to ask me more questions if you need to clarify anything written above.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Is it possible your puppy might have a staff infection? Are you brushing her? Many times brushing on a short coated dogs just causes the skin to flake. Is she laying by a heat register? Is this something fairly recent? Is she clear of parasites?
The food you have her on is not bad, but as to the large breed type, I wouldn't go that way. Too much protein. Regular Pro Plan would be a better choice. I'd add an egg yolk to her food once or twice a week and some canned meat or cottage cheese but it doesn't sound like it's the dog food causing the problem.
It's dry skin unless it's a staph infection. The Linatone should help too.
Q: from Mistie Mayo
Date: 08
Dec 2002
Time:
22:59:23
Comments: Breeding the Doberman
My boyfriend and I have a four year old male Doberman named Amadaeus. We
would like to find a female to breed with, but we are unsure of the best way to
go about doing it. We thought to put out a flyer but what information
would need to be on it? We would appreciate any advice possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, M. M. Mayo
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Dear Mistie,
You haven't mentioned the health testing done on your male. You will need
to have his hips and elbows x-rayed and sent to OFA (your Vet will tell you how
this is done). He will need his Thyroid tested and the result should be normal.
He must have an x-ray of his heart and cardiac tests such as EKG and Ultra-sound
echo done as well. He should have a DNA test from Vetgen to determine if
he is a vWD affected (a bleeding disorder) dog or not.
Once all of the above is done you
should get a professional to tell you if your Doberman meets the Breed Standard.
It is very important that he have 42 correctly placed teeth and a scissors bite.
The Doberman Standard has a Disqualification on teeth in so please make sure he
has no Disqualification.
From there, my advice is to enter him in a local dog show. If he is a big
winner, people will flock to him in order to use him. If he loses, no one
will want to use him.
He must finish his Championship
before being bred however. Male Dobermans are a dime a dozen therefore
only the best that meet the standard for the breed and have a beautiful pedigree
of top quality champions will get the best bitches.
If you put out flyers, you will get only lower quality bitches and needless to
say the puppies won't look very good and will not be very easy to sell.
So, good luck. I'm sure you will do well in your upcoming shows.
Q: from Bob
Date: 03
Dec 2002
Time:
14:54:12
Comments: Doberman Temperament
A family friend purchased a "Superior Sized" female Doberman from a notorious
puppy mill. They are experienced Doberman owners having had many over 25+
years from well respected DPCA breeders but are now recognizing temperament
problems with this particular Doberman. This Doberman is now 1 year old
(90 lbs.) and is becoming increasingly more difficult to handle (jumping
on/nipping only the women) in the household. The dog has received basic
obedience training and does well with its male owner and trainers but does not
seem to respect/obey the women in the family.
They have asked me to help them find someone professional to evaluate the dog to
make sure that this does not become a serious problem in the future. Any
thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I would make sure it's the women in the family who are taking this dog to Obedience. The dog just doesn't have any respect for the women and knows he can get away with anything. It shows the dog is smart enough to realize he can't dominate the men so this is a problem that will get worse as he gets older if the women don't do the training and making sure the dog knows who's boss.
Q: from Carol Fontaine
Date: 27
Nov 2002
Time:
18:15:39
Comments: Reputable Breeders
How do I check the reputation of a breeder who does not live locally. I want to
make sure that I am not buying from a back yard breeder or a puppy mill.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I would check with the local Doberman club to see what some of their Show members have to say about these people. They usually know the reputation of all those in their area.
You could also write us back with the breeder's name and the name of the sire and dam if they have puppies and we can tell you if we've heard of them, etc.
Puppy Mills churn out litter after
litter. They don't show their dogs but just breed the heck out of them.
They usually have their own stud on the premises and rarely if ever do any
health testing on any of their dogs. They have kennels usually and the dogs for
the most part are not house pets. They advertise extra large King Dobermans or
Warlock dogs (which is a totally incorrect term as Warlock was a medium-sized
great show dog in the 50's and early 60's). They also rarely give shots other
than maybe the first shot and only worm the puppies once if that. Additionally,
they don't do ear crops and tend to let puppies go younger than eight weeks of
age.
You can also ask Vets, Kennel Clubs or see if they are members of DPCA.
*** *** ***
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Go to the DPCA web-site and go to the breeder referral page and check out the breeders that are listed in your area. Devise a battery of questions so that you can interview the breeder just as they should interview you too.
Take along a complete list of questions. If there any red flags popping up for you at your interview listen to your gut instinct.
1. Are both of the parents tested, before they were bred, for all of the inherent diseases that Dobermans have that have a test? For example:
vWD
thyroid panel
Holter Monitor
Echo-cardiogram
X-rayed for hip dysplasia (and even elbows)
eyes tested (CERF)
How are they raised.
What about temperament testing?
2. Could I have a list of people that I may contact who have puppies your? Call or email them in order to talk to them about their breeder.
Often a reputable breeder will ask you for referrals from you so that they can find out about you.
Also, please remember that a reputable breeder normally doesn't have more than one litter at a time and certainly not more than one or two litters per year.
We have a multitude of great articles on this site for you to read that may also answer some of your concerns. Articles, for example, like Buying A Doberman and Are You A Breeder Or Do You Just Breed as well as a multitude of others. You can check them out on our Article Menu.
Q: from Nichelle Sanders
Date: 29
Nov 2002
Time:
03:02:59
Comments: Doberman Health
I Just recently discovered the BARF diet. I haven't
tried it yet because I need a few more answers. I love the concept of this
program and it only makes sense to feed your Dobe natural food. As I was
trying to do more research on this, I kept getting websites which were selling
pre-packaged "barf" food. I thought the whole basis of this was staying
away from packaged food? They say their ingredients are 95% meat and
veggies, so what's the other 5%? And how do I know that what the company
tells me is true and not just some testimonial to get me to buy their products.
I'd rather just stick to the natural basics so I'm looking for a good book to
read on this that's not endorsed by a company that sells these products.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
What you hear about the benefits of feeding the raw diet (BARF) I have found to be true. I have been feeding my version of the diet for over 3 years now and I am very happy. Before I got started I found that the inexpensive book by Kymythy R. Schultze, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats, The Ultimate Diet, to be very informative. For me it is a small book and to the point and easiest to follow. There are other books. I do my own buying and preparing.
I have only found one company so far that prepare a totally raw diet as prescribed in the above mentioned book but it is local to my area in California. Kymythy's book tells you what the different foods have what nutrition and everything that the dog needs and why.
It took me a while to let go of feeding kibble (I fed Solid Gold's Hundenfloken). I do feed my own mixture of grains, not a lot though. You can get this book from www.dogwise.com and also at www.4mdogbooks.com and it costs under $10.00. There is a web-site for them too. It is www.hayhouse.com
Q: George Kent
Date: 24 Nov 2002
Time: 17:40:18
Comments: Doberman Temperament
What are the differences in temperament and personality traits between males and
females?
A: from
Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
There are definitely differences in males and female Dobes generally and there
are exceptions of course.
Males tend to be more a woman's dog IF the woman is very much "into" the dogs.
The males are usually very loving, laid back and tend to be more Velcro in their
attachments.
Bitches love everyone, especially the men in the family. They usually are "busy"
and take the lead if they are raised in homes with males. They boss the males
around.
Males can sometimes act a little dumb when it comes to figuring things out
whereas bitches catch on more quickly.
Males will have their feelings hurt quicker if corrected. Bitches listen but
shrug it off and are on to the next thing.
Most women who raise Dobermans usually have males and are totally devoted to
them and vice versa. We most always have bitches that we love but it's the males
who are our best friends.
Judy Doniere (who for the first time in years only has 2 bitches now and they
seem to have "male" temperaments) LOL.
Q: from Jim W.
Date: 23
Nov 2002
Time:
11:33:44
Comments: Ears
My female Dobe had her ears cropped about 2 weeks ago. The vet I took her to
just put foam in them with NO tape. That's not good is it? When I took her
back to get her stitches taken out he said that she had the strongest hears he
had ever seen. He told me to go ahead and leave her props out that her ears
would be fine. Have you ever heard of such?? She has been without
her props for about a week now. And now her ears have fallen slightly and are
bending back at the tips. Should I put her props back in and tape them myself??
Please help. Thanks.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Put them back up in props immediately. Never leave ears down that are falling. Please go to our ear taping pages and look through the different methods of taping ears featured there. Bookmark the pages if you wish as they will be invaluable to you.
It is rare that they stand like hers have done but its not uncommon. Good luck.
Q: from Nancy Clause
Date: 22
Nov 2002
Time:
19:44:43
Comments: Doberman Health
My one year old female black and rust Doberman has bumps under her skin.
There are a lot of them at times and they pop up in different locations on her
body. Is this a skin condition or an allergy?
She eats Nutro Max dry dog food supposedly for a nice coat and healthy skin.
The bumps seem to bother her, since she is scratching and chewing at them lately. (She was spayed at 8 months of age.)
Any suggestions?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Nancy it is very likely either hives or an
allergy to corn and wheat which are found in Nutro. Please switch her to a food
that has no corn or wheat such as Solid Gold for example. You can go here to
compare the various brands of food and their ingredients
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/wolfepack/foodcht4.html
Q: from Evie
Date: 20
Nov 2002
Time:
18:19:48
Comments: Doberman Demeanor
Do Dobermans generally find a quiet empty room to sleep?
Do they never stand up and look out the window while riding? Do they not pant?
Are they alarmed at and react to a burst of anger at one's spouse?
Are they cross when awakened by family members?
Are they shy about something out of place, like a grocery bag?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
This one is a bit of a tough one, but I will try. How old is this dog? Not much of these behaviors sound like a Doberman. I will try to answer you questions one at a time.
Are they shy about something out of place? They shouldn't be, but they should notice something out of place. If they do react, it should be a very mild reaction and they should almost immediately recover and check out the out of place object. A Doberman should not by shy.
It is not particularly normal for them to find a quiet empty room to sleep all of the time. Any dog sometimes needs time to themselves. Read the article on this site about the crate, your dogs best friend.
Most Dobermans are very curious and do look out the window and later settle down and take a nap while riding in the moving car. When you stop the car it is normal for your Doberman to wake up and check out what is going on. (that is being alert)
I like to warn people about fighting and arguing around a dog. They do get alarmed sometimes and they can take the initiative to help out which can turn out to not be a good choice.
Dogs can be momentarily be startled when suddenly awakened from a deep sleep but they should recover quickly enough to make the correct choice of recognizing their person.
Please take a look at an article on this site that talks about proper Doberman temperament and behavior.
Perhaps you can contact a animal
behaviorist in you area to help
you as well. I hope this response offers some help for you. There are articles
along with our Breed Standard, that describe
Doberman temperament in the article section of
this DPCA Breeders Education website.
Q: from
Leslie Dale
Date: 21
Nov 2002
Time:
05:00:51
Comments: Grading the Doberman Puppy
Wondering if my puppy has a hip problem: He is thirteen weeks old and has a very strong side to side swing in his hips when he walks. It is very noticeable. It seems to straighten out when he trots or runs. He definitely doesn't look like he is "standing in motion" as the article suggests. I know someone can't say without seeing him but does this sound normal? Or should I start saving for hip-replacement surgery!? :)
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
I think that I would check and see if your puppy has his hip out of place. He could have hit himself just right while running and playing. A doggy chiropractor can put it back into place. It should be checked now as you are just noticing it to keep it from becoming a permanent problem. The only way that I know of to check for hip dysphasia at this young age is through what is called Pin-Hip x-rays and I am not too sure about that. I would have it professionally checked out. Or??? Is he pacing? which is moving the front and back legs on the same side forwards and backwards at the same time?
Q: from K.C.
Date: 20
Nov 2002
Time:
02:50:48
Comments: ear taping
How long do you normally keep ears taped? How often should taping be changed?
A: from
Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Until they stand
properly...usually until they are 5-6 months of age although each dog is
different and some have needed taping until around a year of age. Normally it is
until they are done teething.
The tapes should be changed once a week. The ears should be well cleaned and
left out of tapes until they start to droop and then immediately put back up for
another week. Check them constantly for icky odors and if any are noticed change
and clean the ears sooner than a week.
Q: from
Char
Date: 19
Nov 2002
Time:
03:18:01
Comments: breeder unknown to us
Thanks for all your help!! It is greatly appreciated for as Rage has become my
child in this short time and we love her deeply ... however, today I did get
some tuna into her and a lot of pedialytes.
She does move around somewhat and she seems to be in some pain. She goes out to the pottie and we are keeping her very warm when inside. I have 3 blankets on her and she is being force fed baby food every hour ... not a lot as I don't want to upset her stomach. She responds to our voices and wags her little tail but she always tends to hold her head down ... could she have had some kind of a stroke since all of her blood work has come back negative?
She was given to me from some guy who got her from someone else. I have tried to track down where she was born but no one seems to know.
She was severely neglected and we were not aware of what a Dobe should look like which is why I thought she was okay for her age. (I was told she was only about 15 weeks old when I got her and I have had her only 2 weeks)
Believe me, if I knew these people I would injure them myself ... this is plain out cruelty. I just hope it is not too late for my little Rage as she has brought such joy to us in such a short time.
What has me puzzled the most is she was fine one minute and then the next she wasn't. I know this might sound strange but she went from playing to laying in about 30 minutes.
Can anyone help us?? We have said so many prayers but she is showing little improvement. We refuse to let her give up. if she is to remain blind that is something I can handle but just let my little girl survive this.
Thanks again and if you have any further advice we would greatly appreciate it.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I would certainly take her to another Vet. She appears to be injured somewhere.
How do you know she's 6 months instead of 15 weeks. What do her teeth look like? Does she still have baby teeth? If so, she's not 6 months but is actually younger than 5 months.
Are you positive she's a Doberman? She could be a Manchester Terrier or even a German Pinscher. I can't believe a Doberman can be only 15 pounds at that age. Dobe puppies of 13 weeks of age normally weigh that much. Please take her to another Vet tomorrow.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
One time ago, many years ago, I placed a dog with
a lady back East and sent him to her at 12 or so weeks of age weighing 35
pounds. She returned him to me at 7 months of age weighing 35 pounds. My vet at
the time told me to feed him small meals six
times a day and slowly but surely he improved. He would never be what he would
have been if he hadn't been neglected but he improved.
It looks as though you are doing everything that you can and she is responding. Just keep in touch with the veterinarian and do what he/she says to the letter.
Frankly, I don't know what else to tell you and I am praying for her too. Thank you, too, for keeping us posted.
*** *** ***
A: from Dr Patricia Edwards, DVM, Barchet Dobermans, USA
This puppy needs a
complete workup by a competent Vet. I would start with a complete history
and blood work and go from there. Something is seriously wrong and the
puppy may not live much longer if she doesn't get some good medical attention
soon.
Q: from
Carol Fontaine
Date: 17
Nov 2002
Time:
16:45:28
Comments: Breeding the Doberman
I am looking for a Doberman puppy to add to our family. I live in VT.
Can anyone help me find a breeder?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Unfortunately we're not at liberty to sell puppies on the DPCA Breeders Education site but I can tell you that you could go to www.dpca.org, then click on Breeder Referral on the right and follow what each page offers in order to check out clubs, members that can help you as well as the DPCA's breeder listings on that site.
Just so you know, many breeders ship puppies all over North America and some do internationally as well.
Q: from
*name unknown*
Date: Nov.17, 2002
Comments: Doberman Health
I have just recently gotten a Doberman puppy that is about 13 weeks old and very
skinny Now she hardly eats and acts like she is in pain. All she does is sleep.
Last night her mouth was bleeding from her biting her tongue (I think). What can
I do? I can find no answers on the internet ... it just talks of diseases. Do
they get kidney stones a lot and what are some of the signs?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Take her to the veterinarian. This does not sound good at all. You need to notify the breeder as well. Take her temperature too. Normal for a dog is around 101.5 degrees.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
I concur with Marj and would like to add that this is likely a very serious matter. It is imperative that you take her to see your vet immediately. This is NOT normal and it is highly unlikely she is biting her tongue in her sleep.
*** *** ***
from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
This is a terrible situation. I'm very surprised the Vet did not keep her and put her on electrolytes as I think she needs much more supportive care than can be given at home. Perhaps another Vet should be consulted today.
Just so you know, vWD can cause bleeding but
certainly not anything like this condition that she apparently has. She's
been horribly neglected prior to your getting her. If she's 6 months and
only weighs 15 pounds, personally I'd worry that anyone can save her, but having
said that, where there is life, there is hope.
For now, get some liver juice and using a syringe (without the needle of course)
give her some by mouth. She needs so much of everything. I'm sure
she's infected with worms.
Keep her very warm. Feed her by stomach tube if she can't or won't take nourishment by mouth. Everything you give her should be bland but nourishing. I'd feed her as much meat as she will eat…ground round at first. She needs plenty of liquid as well. I'd probably give her the milk formula that is sometimes fed to puppies. My own milk formula consists of canned evaporated milk, an equal amount of water, an egg yolk and a big blob of honey, all mixed together well. I'd also include Vitamins A, B, C, D and E in the milk formula. She needs everything and anything you can get down her and she needs it every 3 or 4 hours.
Feed her no large kibble at first as I doubt her stomach could handle it. Baby cereal added to the above mixture would be enough bulk for her.
Watch her stools closely because she can't afford to get diarrhea.
You didn't mention where you purchased this pup. If you got her from any breeder I'd call animal control if I were you and have that breeder investigated.
Please advise US where she came from as well as we need to find out who did such a thing to your poor baby. Please write and give us the details of your purchase, etc.
Is she purebred? If so, o you know the names of her sire and dam?
Good luck to you but unfortunately my best advice for you is to get her to another Vet immediately.
Q: from Ellen
Ball
Date: 14
Nov 2002
Time:
17:14:27
Comments: Breeding The Doberman
How much should I expect to pay for a stud service to a high quality young stud who hasn't been titled yet?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
First of all, this high quality dog should have all of his health testing done before he is even bred. His fee should be probably between $500.00 and a $1000.00 or a puppy back depending on the quality of the puppies that he has already sired. I am guessing however that this particular dog is not proven.
Your bitch should have all of her health testing done too before you can make a breeding decision for the total Doberman, which is supposed to be health, temperament and conformation, all in one package.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I guess whatever they charge is what you should expect. Many people start off a youngster with the price of a puppy. Average stud services range from $800.00 to $2000.00. Some stud owners will take a puppy in exchange for stud service.
What price do you expect to ask for puppies? It really makes no difference as to the first or last services. It's what the market will bear and how bad you want to use this dog.
Q:
from Roger Froment
Date: 11
Nov 2002
Time:
03:44:59
Comments: Dobes in Japan
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Our household always had a Doberman. Up until I
came to Japan (a couple of years), my wife and I also had a Dobe. We got her
from the SPCA at 10 months old.
My wife and I have a 2 year old daughter that we want to raise with a dog. The Doberman seems to be the only natural choice for us. We have the time, space, energy and love to give. All the Dobes that I've been around were female. Dragon is a male. I do feel that I have the confidence to raise him but are there any areas that I should look out for? i.e. - male vs female ...
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Roger, there are some differences in dogs and bitches but it's a matter of the individual animals. Dogs tend to be more of a "woman's" dog while bitches seem to love everyone. With an older male (actually with any older pup) the important thing to remember is since he may not have been raised around young children, you'll have to constantly supervise both the dog and your child. This goes without saying for any animal of any age interacting with young children. No being together unsupervised…period. This is for the safety of both the child and the dog.
Q: from Roger Froment
Date:
11 Nov 2002
Time:
00:06:49
Comment: Dobes in Japan
The dog in question does lead sad life. He seems gentle, well trained for
show. Although the breeder loves the dog with pride. From the looks of things he
is over the Dobe standard in size. So, useless to the breeder. I want to "Save"
Dragon, but I don't want to have an under socialized nightmare.???
Some things in Japan are over priced. For example, A Cheeseburger at McDonalds is the same as back home in the States, but breeders in Japan start their Dobes at $1000 and the show winners seem to be upward of $5000.
Was the burger a cheesy comparison?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Why don't you ask the owners if you can take the dog home on trial for a weekend. If they don't know you however, I doubt they'd let you do it. If not, I'd then spend time with the dog at their home. See how he reacts in the house and to you and your family.
He is just 12 mo. old and he is still a puppy. Dobes, especially males don't mature until around 3 (and many not until much later than that). If you give him plenty of love and attention, have someone home with him during the day and use a crate for housebreaking and at night but leaving him supervised in the house he should be fine.
You haven't mentioned. Have you had a Doberman before? Does your wife equally want a Dobe and do you have children?
Q: from
Roger Froment
Date: 10
Nov 2002
Time:
16:02:49
Comments: Dobes in Japan
I live in Kurume City, Japan. I am in the middle of trying to find the right
Dobe for a house pet. I have found a number of breeders that have beautiful
dogs. I have also seen a few places that made feel sad as returned home.
The "Top dogs" are in a price range that only the rich and overly proud would pay for. In your years, what have you seen Dobes sell for. I have found a breeder that breeds for show. He has a reputation and a good track record with other breeders that I have talked to. He seems to only breed for show. His forte is young dogs. He has a male that is 12 months old. He has been trained as a show dog, but lives in his crate. Do you feel that a Dobe with this sort of history can develop into a healthy house pet? My wife has been told that a dog that has been crated will likely be predisposed to marking. I have no intention to breed, so neutering would be on the list. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Also, does anyone know anything about the amount of time a dog would have to spend in quarantine at the Japanese customs?
P.S. Great link!!!
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
It's sad that the dogs must live in crates.
You didn't say how long the dog stays in them. Does he have any time as a
house pet? How many dogs do they have and how often are they allowed out
to be played with etc. This does makes a difference. If the dogs are just
crated for rest or bed time,
that's fine but if they only get out to go outside and then back to a crate,
that's not good.
I can't believe you can't find several good breeders who breed for show but do
have pets from these litters available.
The prices here for pet males (and they go with a neutering/and limited
registration) is anywhere from $800.00 to $1000.00 U.S. and that is usually with
ear crops included. They are sold at 10 weeks of age.
A male of 12 months is still very much a puppy and with proper, loving training
there should be no problem with housebreaking.
I'm not sure but I would think if the dog was from England or Australia, there
would be no quarantine. If from the U.S. or other countries it used to be
6 weeks but that was many years ago. I don't know what it is now, but call
your Dept. of Agriculture or ask a Vet. for the correct answer.
Good luck.
Q: from
Melissa
Date: 08
Nov 2002
Time:
00:54:26
Comments: Ear Cropping
Have you ever heard of taping the ears after the cropping surgery and without a
bridge?
The vet recommended taping the ears after surgery (leaving the stitches open to air of course) due to the puppy being between 12 and 16 weeks of age.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Actually yes I have but IMO you must really know how to tape ears and what to watch for as far as the ears go. Please go to our ear taping pages to check out the different methods of taping in order to find the one that is best suited to you.
Q: from
Kirt Allen
Date: 06
Nov 2002
Time:
04:47:09
Comments: Dachshund gestation
I have a 2 yr. old Dachshund -- we took her to be bred. She was with the male
for about 3 hours, then the male lost interest in her the next day. Since she
has been home she is different. She doesn't want to play fight anymore, she just
wants her belly rubbed. How can I tell if she is pregnant? Are there any signs
to look for?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Good gosh, tell me, did they breed? You will have
to wait a few weeks to really, visually tell. The fact that she has a noticeable
personality change is a sign for me. Also when their nipples develop they will
be a reddish pink at the base and at about 4-5 weeks a clear discharge from the
vulva shows. You can have her ultra-sounded at approximately 21-28 days. I don't
normally do this because shortly after the 28 days you can usually visibly see
that she is pregnant. You look for an slight bulging at the lower loin
area. Hopefully you will get more answers, because this is hard to explain.
Q: from
Patricia Warf
Date: 05
Nov 2002
Time:
14:38:48
Comments: Doberman Health
I just lost my Dobie of 10-1/2 years. He had an enlarged heart, making it hard
to breath. We were at the vets where they brought him back once but not the
second time. Any information on enlarged hearts would be appreciated thanks.
A: from Marj Brookes, Manorie Dobes, USA
I am sorry that you lost your dog. Heart disease is an inherent problem on our breed and we need to be testing our breeding stock prior to breeding and every year after we get our baseline.
For more information on this subject please go to the following web addresses to read about this disease:
Q: Beverly
Date: 29
Oct 2002
Time:
15:14:16
Comments: Doberman Health
My 2 month old "RED" Doberman seems to have very thin coat on back ... any
advice about this would be appreciated. She is very healthy.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Have you had her tested for a thyroid condition?
Q: from Perry
Jackson
Date: 28
Oct 2002
Time:
17:06:27
Comments: Doberman Temperament
Hello. I am considering a Doberman (from a reputable breeder of course). I have
read just about everything I can find on the internet (this site is the best by
the way).
My question deals with Dobermans and cats. My wife has 2 cats. If I raise a puppy with the cats I assume I should not have problems. I just wanted to ask an expert. Any advise appreciated. THANKS
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
I have always had cats along with my Dobermans ... they even sleep together by choice believe it or not. If they are raised together *properly* there will be no problem. It is up to you to make certain the puppy understands that he cannot be too rough on the cat. Its all in the training...
REPLY:
Theresa Cahill
Date: 24
Oct 2002
Time:
10:06:54
Comments: cropping ears
OK I realize the part about a competent vet but how long or where is the
measuring point to get those long airplane length ears that are known in the
show ring??
I have heard of people flying in others from places like Georgia because they like how they did someone else's ears. Will I be penalized if my vet can do them if I get the right measuring guideline to use as to the length. I have heard that to the inside of the eye is the good length.
Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you
in advance.
A: from
Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I just take them ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. Don't cut off any length. I always stand over the cropper and make sure they go to the top. Then all that's left is to just make them pretty with the clamps as well as good aftercare as well.
*** *** ***
Q: from
Theresa Cahill
Date: 22
Oct 2002
Time:
14:59:31
Comments: ear cropping
Hello. My bitch is pregnant and I want to prepare for the pups' final
appearance. When do you crop the ears and where would I find the right
measurements for where and when to do the procedure?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Hi Theresa. The age of cropping is usually anywhere between 6 - 12 weeks of age with 12 weeks being the outside that one would want to go. I myself prefer 6 weeks as I have found the puppies don't take it quite as hard and tend to recover faster at that age but you take a bigger risk with the potential for disease too.
As for where and when to do the procedure, I'm not really sure exactly what you mean. The where would obviously be at a qualified veterinarian's clinic...preferably one who has successfully cropped Doberman ears previously. The when I believe was answered in the first paragraph. If I am wrong about either of the latter questions, please feel free to send in another query and either I or someone else will surely answer it for you.
Q: from
Denise Vance
Date: 21
Oct 2002
Time:
17:13:41
Comments: Doberman Health
I have a fawn, male Doberman. He will be 6 in December. At this time, he is suffering from megaesophagus. I have all the confidence in the world in my veterinarian.
We have ruled out a thyroid problem, myastenia gravis, and have tests pending for Cushings and/or Addison's disease. At this time, he seems to have developed a condition where patches of hair are falling out on his shoulder/leg area. If anyone has any idea what could be causing his condition, I would very much appreciate the help. He has had no major health problems until this condition developed in June of this year.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Your dog seems to be a little old to suddenly developing megaesophagus, but it does happen. When it is found in older dogs, it's usually a faulty vagus nerve innervention to the esophagus preventing passage of food from the throat to the stomach. Pneumonia is a common occurrence in this case.
Raising the food dish is a help in preventing this. Unless there is some other thing not diagnosed along with this, the falling out of patches of hair does not seem to be associated with this condition.
Since Fawns are a double dilution, many do have coat problems but these are thinning of hair mostly on sides of bodies and underlines. The neck and back are the last to lose hair most times. If it's patches, then I'd have another evaluation done on your dog...possibly at a University to diagnose the problem.
Q: from
Lynn Martin in VA
Date: 21
Oct 2002
Time:
14:27:02
Comments: Temperament Problems
Having difficult time with 8 mo. Doberman. She is very hyper, jumps and
nips, digs and seems to need to chew or something until exhausted -- then she
sleeps.
I have tried changing diet to lamb and rice, using shaker can, water guns which get her to back off but she comes right back and circles, etc. She growls at me sometimes and nips really hard.
I have had 2 Dobermans previously and have not experienced this kind of behavior. Any suggestions?
She has been spayed. Didn't help. She wants to be top dog obviously over me. I do work on leash with her also - cracked a knuckle on one of her lunges.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
The only suggestion I would have is to take the pup to formal Obedience training and once she learns to behave, try her in Agility. She would love it and probably would work off her energy.
This may be a hereditary situation. Do you know anything about the parents and/or littermates? Is she alone most of the day? If so, this could account for her hyperactivity. If not, then she needs formal training right away.
I would not allow a pup to growl or act this way. It will only get worse, not better.
Q: from
Jean
Date: 19
Oct 2002
Time:
00:58:10
Comments: Cropping ears in Philadelphia
I was wondering if anyone knows or recommends a vet in Philadelphia, PA who does
good ear crops and who is knowledgeable of the Doberman breed. I know many who
do cropping but I don't know their qualifications. Thanks
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
There is a good woman Vet in the PA area but I can't think of her name. Contact Marj Datskow. Her e-mail address is : datelis@aol.com. She may know of someone good in your area.
Q: from
Marsha
Date: 18
Oct 2002
Time:
03:23:32
Comments: Doberman Conformation/Handling
My 5 month old male Dobe broke his toe yesterday,( it was the middle toe on his
right hind paw). The vet told me there was nothing you could do other than
cage rest. Should I be concerned of any permanent damage such as splay foot or
problems with his movement?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Usually broken toes heal with no problem to the foot. Make sure it's not sticking up or out however. Do not tape the foot. Just use crate rest or keep the pup quiet for several days until it heals.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
From my experience with broken toes, you leave them alone like your vet has advised. In all of my experiences the toe healed and went back to normal.
I had a Doberman with cat feet break a toe one time and I was advised to leave it alone and the foot did return to the cat foot once it had healed.
I have seen cases where they have been taped up and oddly enough. that didn't appear to be the correct choice.
Q: from Bob
Date: 10
Oct 2002
Time:
16:44:09
Comments: Doberman Health
We have a six-month old red female. She vomits after waking in the middle
of the night and early morning hours, usually multiple times. We are
trying to isolate what might be causing this to happen. Our vet said to
try to give her Pepcid before bed but that does not appear to be helpful.
She is otherwise generally healthy.
We recently changed her food from Nutro puppy large breed to Pro Plan puppy
large breed. Could the food switch be causing the problem (is Pro Plan a
good food)? We also let her chew rawhide bones before she goes to sleep
(by the way is rawhide ok for Dobermans in general?).
All responses are appreciated!
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Dobermans, Canada
Did she have any problems with throwing up before you changed her food and what was the reason that you changed?
Rawhide is okay for Dobermans in general but as always, the rule of thumb should be there can be too much of a good thing. I was once told that the pure white bulk rawhides were cured with strychnine so I personally avoid those. I certainly do not wish to take any chances with my kids.
*** *** ***
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Did she vomit before you changed the food? Are the rawhides a new addition? I personally am not crazy about giving rawhides (I chose raw bones), but I don't think as a general rule they will hurt the dog. Maybe she should be on adult food. I learned one time that dogs have a harder time digesting the milk products in puppy food after 4 months. I am not sure that it is true but.....
Q:
from Courtney K.
Date: 09
Oct 2002
Time:
14:07:07
Comments: affects of second-hand smoke on puppies
Could you please send the answer to my question (and soon) because I'm using
this information for a science project.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
There have been no clinical studies on the effects of second hand smoke on pets. Fortunately, the amount of smoke our pets are exposed to is much less than the amount we inhale. Their environment, even within the house, is a little bit different than ours because they're down within a few feet of the floor and we're usually up five feet from the floor. Obviously the smoke concentration will be different between those two places. However, owners whose animals are prone to respiratory infections should steer their pets clear of smoky air.
Q: From:
James
Date:
05 Oct 2002
Time:
16:56:17
Comments: buying from America
Can I import a pointed ear Doberman from America? If so how do I go about this?
Thank you.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Yes you can import a cropped dog but it depends on
where you live as to how long the quarantine is if any and you can't show it if
its cropped.
Q:
From: James
Date: 05
Oct 2002
Time:
11:50:36
Comments: Ear Cropping
Is it against British regulations to have their ears pointed? If so how do
I go about it?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
It is my understanding that you cannot have it done in Britain but I believe you can import a cropped dog although it cannot be shown. Perhaps other breeders can write in and clarify this but its likely to be a bit of a wait for you right now since the American Nationals are on therefore very few people have the access or the time to go online right now.
Q: from Becky
Date: 02
Oct 2002
Time:
17:11:06
Comments: Breeding the Doberman
How old should a male be before he is used for breeding?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
I truly believe that a male should be as close to 24 months as possible so that all the necessary health testing can be done on him prior to using him at stud. The hip x-rays cannot be sent to OFA until the dog is 24 months.
If you are determined to use the dog at a younger age do not use him before he is a year old and at least get preliminary x-rays of his hips before breeding.
Q:
Alexander
Date: 01
Oct 2002
Time:
19:55:34
Comments: obedience training
Is there difference between Doberman sexes (male VS. female)
which would perform/get trained better for obedience trials?
if yes what would be the reason? Who would be more preferable for that kind of
training? Thank you. Alex.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
It is my belief that a male, if neutered, is the better dog for it as they are more willing to please. A female, if whole, is cranky and always coming into heat and yet if spayed they tend to work as good as if not better than the males.
Q: from Ida
Date: 28
Sep 2002
Time:
00:42:58
Comments: Grading the Doberman Puppy
What do the letters WSO mean in front of my puppy's registration. Also why
would it say on my certificate Limited Registration and in the corner it states
Offspring of this dog not eligible for registration. Is there a problem with my
puppy?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Hello Ida,
It probably is WS0***** and not WSO***** which is just part of the dog's individual registration number that is assigned to him by AKC. The 'Limited Registration' and 'Offspring of this dog not eligible for registration' simply means that this particular dog was sold to you by the breeder as a PET and as such cannot be bred but if it is bred then the puppies will not be able to be registered. It is simply the breeder's way of ensuring that dogs they bred that they themselves consider not to be show quality prospects are not allowed to reproduce. It is very common. In Canada we have Non-Breeding papers as opposed to Limited Registrations.
So, in effect, it is a small means for breeders to protect the years of heartache and tears, testing, disappointments, etc. that we breeders go through to ensure that our kennel name and our breeding stock and ultimately our reputation remain unsullied.
It does not mean that your puppy is inferior...it simply means that we as breeders do not consider it to be of the superb quality, that we have as a picture in our own minds, that we require to breed and to reproduce.
Because your puppy came from the same dogs that the others in the litter did, essentially he is the same as all of the other puppies in the litter except maybe for a *minor* fault that we as breeders may not want to breed into our line. Other than that, it is a beautiful puppy and as such, one that you can be proud of just as you should be proud that you found a breeder who thinks enough of her dogs and her bloodlines to put pets on restricted registration.
Q: from
Heidi
Date: 23
Sep 2002
Time:
22:58:53
Comments: Lazy Ear
I adopted a 12 month old male Doberman who had a "lazy" right ear. I have
continued taping it and it would stand for over a week but then begin to droop a
little again. He is now 18 months of age, and his ear is doing much better
-almost perfect -just lazy occasionally. Is there any specific ear taping
methods or nutritional/ herbal remedies that might help completely fix his ear
for good? Has anyone heard of the Aktivas tent up ear inserts?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Hi Heidi,
Yes I have heard of the Activa tent up ear inserts but have no personal experience with them whatsoever. I suspect now that your boy is 18 months what you see is what you're going to get. However, having said that, it likely wouldn't hurt to keep on taping until he is two.
I knew a breeder whose boy had the same problem ... he was re-cropped at 24 months (he had really heavy, thick ear leather) and believe it or not, they stood.
Q: from
Lucy Guest
Date: 25
Sep 2002
Time:
18:41:43
Comments: Doberman Temperament
My Doberman puppy is 12 weeks old and weighs 22 lbs. We have had him for 6 weeks
and just got a Yorkie who is 9 weeks old and weighs 2 lbs.
We were told if we wanted a Yorkie to get it now while our Doberman is still a baby. The Doberman won't leave him alone. He can start out being gentle but then gets rough and bites him. Any suggestions as to how we can get these two to be best buddies and how long should it take?
Thanks, Lucy
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Getting the Yorkie while your boy was a puppy was a mistake.
I have had Dobermans for years and occasionally a Pomeranian as well as a cat. My puppies learn while very young not to bother the little guys. All I do is be consistently firm with them. They bother the little guys, they get crated.
It may take a little while depending on how firm and how consistent you are with them.
Q: from
Jennifer
Date: 21
Sep 2002
Time:
01:26:49
Comments: Shedding
My husband is allergic to all cats and some dog fur/dander - in spite of their
short coats, do Dobermans still shed a lot and can we still consider buying a
Doberman? We truly love the breed and hope that his allergies won't
prevent us from buying one. Can someone please tell us how much hair to
expect around the house?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Unfortunately they can and do shed a lot. Constant brushing helps but believe me, they shed just like any other dog can do.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Before you decide whether a Doberman is for you I'd go visit several people with them or a breeder who has several. Spend a few hours with them. See if the allergies flare up.
Dobermans, like most dogs, will shed at least twice a year. Show breeders have bred out most undercoats which are usually responsible for allergies. The coats are very short but they still will shed some.
About the only breeds that people
with allergies seem not to mind are
Poodles, Bedlingtons, Smooth Cresteds or any hairless breed and breeds that have
hair and not fur.
It would be very sad for a dog
(puppy or adult) to find they will be gotten
rid of once they've become attached to their family. Make sure you get the
right dog and keep it for a lifetime. Dogs are not disposable.
Q: from
Tiffany Skidmore
Date: 18
Sep 2002
Time:
18:34:27
Comments: Doberman Temperament
I guess I directed my first question in the wrong direction but thank you to
Judy Doniere for the great information she provided about my 2 year old bitch
possibly going into heat. I have absolutely no intentions of breeding my Dobe.
She is getting spayed next week. I have had her about 6 weeks and got her from
some very good friends. She is already very loyal and protective of me and our
home. Overall, she has a very sweet temperament.
My concern is this: my Aunt was visiting for the weekend and had sat in the floor. My Dobe came over and laid beside my feet. When my Aunt went to reach above her head to pet her, she growled at my Aunt. I was not sure if my Dobe was in heat and maybe that is what caused the irritability. I have now learned from Judy that she is not in heat.
Something similar happened last night. My Dobe was lying on the couch with my brother that she knows very well. My neighbor and her 12 year old boy came over. The boy went and sat in the middle of my brother and my Dobe Ellie who was now sitting up. She again growled at the boy when he went to pet her.
I'm wondering if anyone has any insight about this. I'm very concerned. I do not want a dog that may bite someone. Was she just letting them know that she did not want to be touched? Was she being territorial or is this basically the temperament of all Dobes?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
This behavior should not be acceptable nor is it, thank God, common in Dobermans. I'm not saying it doesn't occur, just that it isn't common.
Please get your Ellie to an obedience class in order to get some help for her as quickly as possible before she takes it upon herself to hurt someone in the mistaken assumption that it is okay to dominate people.
I have sent your query to a couple of breeders in the hopes that they too can offer some insight into your Ellie's improper behavior.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
This is a BIG problem you have. Yes, she WILL bite someone. You've got to act right now to end this. You didn't say what you did to her when she acted that way. Personally I'd have grabbed her, given her a firm shake and yelled at the top of my voice NO, NO!!! I'd have made her sit and have the person...young boy, aunt...whomever...get a cookie, or some tidbit and while SITTING coax her over and extend their hand (palm up) to her. Have them let her sniff the hand that originally held the cookie (the cookie should now be in their other hand behind their back). See if she'll come up and sniff. Then have them gently rub her UNDER her chin, never reaching over the top of her head. Once she accepts this, have that person say GOOD GIRL and then give her the cookie with the other hand. Try this several times during the visit. All the time, keep the bitch on a lead and if she tries to growl again, a quick firm yank on the lead and a loud NO!
I'd enrol her immediately in an Obedience class and let her know she's not "top dog" and that YOU are. I would never let her growl ever again at a person.
Is this something that has just started? Have you taken her to the Vets yet to see what caused the bleeding? If I recall you said she wasn't in season. Then why is she bleeding? That's not normal. She may have a problem. Check this out first. They can do a smear to find out if she's in season.
Find out from her previous owner when her last season was. If it was around 5-7 months ago, she most likely is coming in season. If it was just a couple months ago then something else is wrong. Has she had a temperament problem with previous owners?
This is NOT a normal temperament for any Doberman.
Q: from
Karen Kurowski
Date: 13
Sep 2002
Time:
17:13:10
Comments: Other
What is the average life expectancy of the Doberman?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
The average lifespan of a Doberman is about eight although some live to around ten and a few even up to fourteen or fifteen years of age.
Q: from
Sandra Carswell
Date: 10
Sep 2002
Time:
17:49:35
Comments: Congenital Cardiac Registry
What is this? We recently lost our 31/2 year old boy to DCM. In all
my Research I have not seen a reference to this.
"Congenital Cardiac Registry "
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
You can go here to see what this is all about:
http://www.offa.org/ofacard.html
Q: from Jenn
Date: 11
Sep 2002
Time:
05:30:39
Comments: Doberman Health
Hello. My Dobie just turned 12 wks old today and got his ears cropped yesterday.
There is no slowing him down. I'm worried to let him out too much for fear of
him making them bleed. There is no tape on the ear, just foam between the ears.
He shakes his head a lot, sometimes making the ears bleed again. Any
suggestions? Is it common not to have tape on the ears (just foam)? Help, first
time cropping experience.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
He won't hurt himself any more than he's willing to do tolerate so try not to worry too much about him. Within a week you'll be wondering why you were so concerned! <S>
The method the vet used is one of many and is fine. The foam will be taken off once the edges of his ears are healed and the ears will then be taped up.
*** *** ***
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
There are many ways to keep the ears up after cropping. Foam is one method, cups are another. I personally just glue the ears one over the other on top of the head after cropping as it's easier on the pup or pups when they're together.
The reason for no tape is you cannot tape over raw edges. The ears need to heal first before taping.
Ask your Vet or breeder if they would approve of another way such as the method I use (mentioned above) in order to put them up for now.
The ears will heal shortly so the head shaking should subside. The reason for the head shaking is mostly because he wants to shake off the foam on his head .
Please read the excellent ear care instructions complete with pictures available on this site.
Q: from
Tiffany Skidmore
Date: 10
Sep 2002
Time:
00:05:28
Comments: Doberman Temperament
I have a 2 year old female Dobie named Ellie. She
has not yet been
spayed. I plan on doing this in the next 2 weeks. I have only had her
about 1 month and got her from some friends. She is very sweet with a great
personality. My question is...how will I know she is going into heat? I live by
myself so it's only been her and I. She is already very protective and loyal to
me. I had a family member stay with me this weekend. My aunt was lying in the
floor and Ellie laid down about 3 feet away from her, right below my feet. My
aunt went to stroke her head and Ellie growled at her. I also can take her
outside in my front yard and Ellie will stay right beside me, but lately she has
been wondering off with her nose in the air and is a little irritable. Could she
be in heat or is this just the Dobies temperament? Thank you for your time.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Well to answer your first question, a bitch comes
into "heat" about every 6 mo. She will bleed from the vagina...just like
women. She will stay in
heat about 3 weeks. It is imperative you not allow her to stray or be
around any males at this time, otherwise you can expect maybe 12 puppies give or
take a few in 2 months.
You have no idea how much work it is taking care of the bitch and a litter of puppies. Puppies like all babies do just 3 things. Eat, sleep and poop. A litter of pups around 5 weeks can be very smelly and very difficult to keep clean more than 10 minutes at the most. When you wake up in the a.m. the aroma as well as the noise they make is devastating. Unless you have a top-notch, well-bred bitch and a planned breeding to the best possible male you can find and a reputation around the country for breeding outstanding Dobermans, you will find no one running up the path to your home to buy them.
We haven't even talked about costs....Thousands
of dollars!!!
So....GET HER SPAYED TOMORROW! Unless she's in season right now and then
you wait a couple weeks after she is done and have the surgery.
DO NOT allow her outside a fenced in yard unless you are walking her on a leash.
DO NOT walk her at all if she is in season! Not only is there a
possibility of the next door mutt breeding her while you are walking but you
will leave the scent for every dog within the next 10 miles to beat a path to
your door and hang around.
As to her temperament. Don't let anyone she doesn't know well play rough
or lay down with her. Its just not a good idea. She doesn't know
them and they don't know her so just play it safe. That's with any dog of
any breed.
If she's got her nose in the air and leaving your yard....don't let her. Keep
her fenced in or she may be hit by a car, stolen or get lost. Just use
everyday common sense.
Q: from
Marc Wouters
Date: 01
Sep 2002
Time:
16:17:11
Comments: Doberman Health
My pal is a 15 month old Dobe. He's very beautiful and his parents are both
champions. The problem is that about once a week he refuses to eat and starts
eating grass with the result of throwing up.
My friend is a quite tall male but weights only 33 kg and looking quite skinny. He was not selected to take part of our national championship because of his weight. Other Dobes in his class put 4 to 5 kg more on the scale.
We try to give him the best food available (400 gm 3 times a day) but once a week he lets us down by refusing all food. Our vet can't find a problem and told me not to worry about it. My question is how to deal with this situation and should I worry or not.
If you would like to see a picture of my pal please send me a request.
Many Thanks, Marc Wouters, Belgium
A: from
Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Marc, first of all, has your Vet checked for
Worms, Coccidia, Giardia or any problem that might be medical?
If he is otherwise healthy, I'd start force feeding him. He will never be
in show condition if he doesn't develop a rib spring and muscle tone. I
would start with soaking a good Kibble in hot water and letting it sit until it
becomes mushy when squeezed in your hand. Put papers on the floor and have
the dog sit on them. Have it next to a counter so you can have easy access
to the food. Many people like to make balls or bullets ahead of time.
I'd start out with 2 cups of Kibble at first. Do this am. and pm.
Have the dog sit facing to the right (if you are
right handed) stand to his
right side. Take your hand over top of his muzzle and with your middle
finger, place it right behind the canine tooth on top and his mouth with
drop open a little. Now with your right hand, take ball and open mouth
wide with head looking up a ceiling, place the ball to the back of his mouth
while pressing down and out a little on the tongue and placing ball as far back
in the mouth as possible. When you release the tongue, it will slide the
ball down his throat. Hold his mouth shut and muzzle still up. Watch
for ball to slide down by looking at outside of his throat. Once you see
it go down, repeat procedure until all food is given. Once you're
finished, show him your happy and say that's a boy, good boy etc. Give him
a small dog cookie after. Keep him occupied for a little while in the
house. Don't let him outside or an opportunity to vomit up the food.
Repeat at night.
Once he's eating 4 cups per day for about 3 or 4
days, increase the amount of food from 2 cups to 3 at each meal. If he's
doing well for a couple weeks, it might not hurt to increase another cup per
meal. No more than 8 cups per day. Limit his exercise to practically
none while doing this until you get his weight back to normal. He should
be up to 80 lbs in a few weeks by this. Depending on size & bone, will
determine his ultimate show weight. Many dogs of 28 inches weigh between 80 and
85 lbs.
Hope this helps.
Q: from
Care Hall
Date: 30
Aug 2002
Time:
01:51:31
Comments: Other
I have a red Dobe who is almost 2 years old. I would like to find a stud
for her. She is a 10th degree show dog, both mother and father have placed
1st numerous times. If you know of any studs please let me know.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Sorry, we don't do that sort of thing on this education site. If I were you I'd go to some dog shows and find some breeders that can evaluate your bitch for you.
Please make sure she is health tested also before you breed. You can do hip and elbow OFA, Cardio Echo and EKG, Thyroid and CERF to name just a few test that should be done prior to breeding.
Q: from
Alex
Date: 30
Aug 2002
Time:
01:41:40
Comments: Other (Getting a puppy)
Hi. I'm from Toronto, Canada. I'm having a very hard time finding the puppy I
want. Show, Obedience, Red, Male, American bloodlines. It's been three months
since I started looking seriously.
I've read all available books in chapters/Indigo. I've surfed the net here and in Russia. I went to the shows and spoke to breeders there. I've made a questionnaire for breeders and have sent it twenty letters via E-Mail to every Ontario breeder (except 3 that had no e-mail) Six replied, three filled it out. Everybody claims to have health, temperament, EUROPEAN bloodlines, etc. but the quality that I've seen leaves a lot to be desired. It seem money is what's important. The only dog that I have found so far is in Chicago area which is 1000km away. Can you please help me? thank you.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Red males are not that hard to find. You
state you've sent breeders
questionnaires...have you sent your qualifications to them as well? Items
such as your name, address, life style, experience showing Dobes, fenced yard or
not, personal references? Most breeders get lots of inquiries but respond
only to those that they know something about. We are not just going to
sell to anyone who calls or writes to us.
You could start with the Doberman Pinscher Club of Canada asking for reputable breeders in your area and go from there.
Q: from Emily
Date: 29
Aug 2002
Time:
22:10:30
Comments: Doberman Health
Would a capped elbow be considered a fault in the show ring or a blemish?. Could
a dog with a capped elbow be shown successfully? Thanks!
A: from
Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
If you mean a hygroma of the elbow (where
fluid collects), no it's not a
fault but it doesn't look too good. If it's not too big and doesn't make
the gait look bad or interferes with movement, it can be shown. I see it
frequently when judging. Some I ignore and some make the dog look too bad
to ignore.
Why don't you wait until the dog is better or as
a last choice have it drained
and a steroid injected. Make sure you pad whatever the dog flops down on
as that is likely what is causing the problem.
Q: from
Tammy Williams
Date: 27
Aug 2002
Time:
13:05:05
Comments: Breeding the Doberman
Is it proper or improper for the owner of the stud dog to ask questions about
the health testing that has been done on a bitch? Do I have a right to
know?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
It is not only proper, it is essential. You have an inherent right to know. Ask to see test results and keep copies of the same for yourself.
Q: from
Irene
Date:
26 Aug 2002
Time:
15:24:41
Comments: Doberman Health
At what age do you test for Thyroid function and is it a test any vet can do?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada
Most dogs contract hypothyroidism between the ages of 4 to 10. It appears to affect males and females equally, however spayed females are at a higher risk than unspayed females. Dogs should be tested at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 years of age. Since this is an autoimmune disease, dogs can test negative at one age and develop the disease at a later time. If a dog does not acquire this disease by 5 years of age, odds are very good that it will remain negative.
Hypothyroidism is not easy to identify. Part of the problem is that chronic or temporary illness, reproductive hormones, drugs, obesity, and exposure of the dog to temperature extremes can affect the test. Sometimes the only sure test is to supplement with thyroid hormone; if symptoms subside, the diagnosis was accurate. Therefore, the best way to test for thyroid is to run complete thyroid profiles (e.g. T3, T4, free T3, free T4, T3 and T4 auto-antibodies, plus thyroglobulin auto-antibody and TSH where indicated) rather than just one or two analytes (e.g. T4, TSH, free T4). This is a bit more expensive but far more reliable for accurate diagnosis. This test can and should be run yearly.
The veterinarian draws the blood and sends it to one of several laboratories with the equipment for conducting the test. The blood sample should be taken when the dog is otherwise healthy, is not approaching or in a heat cycle, and is not taking pharmaceuticals such as steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or anti-seizure drugs. The latest tests include measurement of two forms of the thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (levothyroxine) and a search for antibodies that could indicate autoimmune thyroiditis, the genetic form of the disease. Interpretation of the numbers recorded is as important as the numbers themselves, for the relationship between the hormones is complex.
There are more than 50 different symptoms of hypothyroidism. Classical signs include chronic skin disease, hair loss, weight gain, lethargy and slow metabolism, although behavioral changes (aggression, hyperactivity, poor concentration, passivity, phobias, anxiety or neuromuscular events such as seizures), and many other signs of metabolic imbalances also can occur. This condition can mimic other disorders.
Q: from
Marsha Smith
Date: 25
Aug 2002
Time:
17:52:07
Comments: Breeding the Doberman
I just recently whelped my first litter of Dobermans May 7.2002. It was a
very large litter, 13 puppies! I still have three puppies remaining and my
question is: At what age do I need to separate them? They are getting VERY
rough with each other, all three of them have lesions all over their back and
neck area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Separate them NOW! Actually, they should have been separated at 10 weeks.
You are not too late. Do things with them
individually daily. Things like
taking them for walks, play ball with them, etc. Feed them separately.
You can start training them to do just about anything and you should. Find
them their new homes as soon as you can.
Gastrointestinal motility disorders such as bilious vomiting syndrome are becoming a well recognized phenomenon in companion animals.
The treatment involves an accurate diagnosis and management of underlying disease conditions. Often, control of the underlying disease alone does not fully resolve the motility disorder and dietary and medical intervention become necessary.
Diet is key and should be chosen based on the knowledge that liquids tend to empty from the stomach faster than solids and carbohydrates pass faster than proteins and fat. Diets that are warmed and low in acidity should be fed frequently in small amounts to enhance transit. If motility disorders do not respond to diet alone, often therapy becomes critical.
Apparently drugs such as Tegaserod and Prucalopride appear to have positive effects on canine colonic motility, the latter particularly on the stimulation of gastric emptying. It has been documented that colon disorders also respond to ranitidine, nizatidine and possibly misoprostol.