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DPCA BREEDERS EDUCATION Q & A ARCHIVES |
Q: from Tina Melvin
Date: 7-November-2007
Comments: weight chart
What is the ideal weight of a 4 week old doberman pup? How rapidly should they
gain?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
There is no set amount of weight for any age Doberman. It depends on their bone
& substance etc. At any age, the puppy should be well rounded. No ribs or bones
anywhere showing. No indentions at the loin (waist). It should look filled out.
Is it still nursing and seems quiet or is it crying or listless?? Is the mother
taking good care of it? How are the other pups in the litter doing??
Here is what it says about the white hairs:
"Allowed Colors: Black, red, blue, and fawn (Isabella). Markings : Rust, sharply
defined, appearing above each eye and on muzzle, throat and fore chest, on all
legs and feet, and below tail. White patch on chest, not exceeding 1/2 square
inch, permissible. Disqualifying Fault : Dogs not of an allowed color."
I hope that this helps you.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Susan:
It would be beneficial to you to read our standard. Cowlick's are not of concern
and are not penalized in the show ring in this Country. White, if it is over a
certain area of coverage (see the specific's in the standard) can be a problem.
This is an excerpt from our standard "White patch on chest, not exceeding 1/2
square inch, permissible" Often it does go away as the puppy matures. Please go
to
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/DPCABreedStandard.htm and you can read up on the
coat and what is considered a fault or not. It would be good for you to read it
and understand it.
Q: from Carol
Date: 4-September-2007
Comments: I have a nine year old male Doberman and want to get a puppy. I want
another male. Do you think I will have any problems?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
While your dog may be fine, he is older and may not like puppies of any age just
because he's an older dog. Normally, I would NEVER suggest having 2 males in the
same household unless you keep them separated. I would still suggest this if
you're bent on getting another male and your old boy may not even like a bitch
puppy because they jump all over the older ones and if
they are not used to puppies, they may snap or attack the puppy. I'd keep them
separated regardless.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Carol:
It is not recommended to have two male Doberman's together. They normally will
not get along.
Q: from Beth R.
Date: 30-August-2007
Comments: Litter size
How common is a singleton litter? Are there concerns about the pup from such a
situation?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Beth:
There are a lot of concerns from singleton litters, mainly being able to
socialize the puppy to outside environments. Please check our
Article Menu for articles on this exact subject.
Q: from Tina Hall
15-August-2007
Comments: Ear cropping
Can you please tell me a good vet to take our Dobe to in York or Dover, PA. We
don't have him yet...but just want to find someone who will do a good job.
Thanks so much!
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Tina:
If you go to the DPCA website and go to the
page that displays mentors all around the US, you can find someone in the PA
area and check with them. They might be able to help you. Mentors are located in
the Judges Educational Committee page and you can also go to the Breeder
Referral page and locate someone in your area as well.
Q: from Susan
Date: 14-August-2007
Comments: Age to be placed in a home
We have found a wonderful breeder whose pups were born on July 9th. Due to some
circumstances surrounding ear cropping of this litter (she flies someone from
out of state to do the cropping), we will not be able to bring our Dobe home
until around 11-12 weeks of age. Shall I be concerned about getting the Dobe
this late? Such as bonding with us versus her litter mates and socialization.
The breeder assures us that they will be very socialized, which I am confident
they will be. I am just concerned that this seems a bit late to separate the
pack of puppies from each other and should be with their human family at an
earlier age. Your thoughts? Thank you!
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Susan:
If this breeder is doing their job right they would be doing individual things
with these puppies so that they can get their early socialization. Often we will
have lots of folks come in, old, young, etc and play with the litter to give
them that early contact experience. There are a lot of other things they can do
like introducing them to various surfaces, locations, toys, etc. They should be
crate training them so that they can sleep individually in crates at night. The
puppy will bond with you no matter what age she comes to live with you. Once she
leaves the littermates she will forget who they are quickly and bond with her
new environment.
Q: from Jamie
Date: 13-August-2007
Comments: Cropping
When do you crop their ears
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Jamie:
Between the ages of 6 and 12 weeks, usually around 8 weeks.
Q: from Paula Russell
Date: 13-August-2007
Comments: Breeding
My husband has a male Dobe approx. 14 months old and wishes to breed him. He has
found a female for him but I can't seem to locate any information on breeding. I
am curious as to how often a female goes into heat, how long does it normally
take for her to become pregnant (numerous visits etc), requirements of the owner
of the stud, etc. Any information you can give me so that I can STOP my husband
and have him give up on the idea of breeding and if I can't - at least make sure
he knows what he is getting into and the ramifications of this would be
wonderful. Thank you.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Paula:
You are smart to discourage your husband from doing this breeding. Though the
cost is usually bore by the female's owners, there is a lot of background health
testing that should be done before doing any breeding. Both parents should be
tested for any genetic health issues first. Their hearts should be checked by a
certified cardiologist since Cardiomyopathy is common in Doberman Pinschers.
Their blood should be checked for vWD with DNA testing. They should see a
veterinarian for a complete health check. They should have their hips and elbows
certified and they should have their thyroid checked. All of this can add up to
over $1000.00. Then once the puppies are here, they should be wormed, tails and
dew claws removed and the entire litter cropped prior to placing them. There is
no money to be made by doing such a breeding. You may also check our website
DPCA Breeder Education for many articles on
breeding and raising puppies. There are also sample sale contracts there for you
to get an even better idea of the criteria reputable breeders operate under.
Q: from Hannibal
Date: 10-August-2007
Comments: puppy breeding
When do puppies stop sucking milk from the mother
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Hannibal:
Usually puppies will keep nursing as long as the mother will allow them. Most of
the time, once they start getting their teeth the mothers will start weaning
them off. This is usually 3-5 weeks depending on the mother. We usually start
introducing food to the puppies around 3 weeks and have them completely weaned
off the mother by 5-6 weeks.
Q: from Pallab Paul
Date: 4-August-2007
Comments: Conformation
My 19 months show Doberman still looks skinny. What should I do to increase her
volume?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Unless a dog is sick, has worms or just is a picky eater, the most common reason
for any dog to be skinny is they are not eating enough. Make sure the kibble is
a good quality and add some canned meat and moisten. I'd try 3-4 4 cups twice a
day if she will consume that much. If she won't, give her what she will eat at a
meal and feed 2 or 3 times a day or about 6 - 8 cups total daily until she
reaches her normal weight. Depending on her height and bone size, she should
weigh anywhere from 55 to 65 lbs. Less if she is small and more if she is a
bigger bitch. A dog in good weight is one that you will never see any bones
showing. All should be covered. Make sure she is in good health first with a
trip to the Vet.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Pallab:
I would have your veternarian weigh her and look at her to see if she's in the
right weight for her age. A female Doberman should weigh between 55 and 70 lbs
based on her size and substance. Average is around 63 lbs. If she is indeed too
thin then perhaps increasing the amount of food she is given. She should be fed
twice a day and between 1-2 cups each meal based on her weight. If she is not
gaining weight under these normal circumstances you may want to consider a
higher protein food.
Q: from Bonnie
Date: 1-August-2007
Comments: Heads
Hi.
Why is it some Dobermans have pointy heads? I have seen pictures of some pups &
some adults - not related with a point on the top of their head, not with a nice
round head.
Is this a sign of poor breeding?
Thanks!
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Bonnie,
I think what you are referring to is a more prominent occipital bone. Some dogs
(mostly males) have this in varying degrees. This usually means that the head is
still growing and many times it won't disappear until the dog is over 2 years of
age. It does run more in some lines than others depending on how the head
matures. A lot of times puppies actually bump this occipital bone and it becomes
filled with fluid making it look even more severe. I would not worry about it.
It usually disappears with age and the dog will end up with a nice looking head.
No, it's not called for in the standard, but the Doberman standard is written to
describe an adult Doberman, not a puppy.
A: from Mark Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Bonnie,
Dobermans are not supposed to have neither pointy or rounded heads. The head is
to be wedge shaped but better yet here is what the Doberman Pinscher standard
says about the head:
HEAD
a.. Long and dry, resembling a blunt wedge in both frontal and profile views.
When seen from the front, the head widens gradually toward the base of the ears
in a practically unbroken line. Eyes almond shaped, moderately
deep set, with vigorous, energetic expression. Iris, of uniform color, ranging
from medium to darkest brown in black dogs; in reds, blues, and fawns the color
of the iris blends with that of the markings, the darkest shade being preferable
in every case. Ears normally cropped and carried erect. The upper attachment of
the ear, when held erect, is on a level with the top of the skull.
a.. Top of skull flat, turning with slight stop to bridge of muzzle, with muzzle
line extending parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat and muscular. Nose
solid black on black dogs, dark brown on red ones, dark gray on blue ones, dark
tan on fawns. Lips lying close to jaws. Jaws full and powerful, well filled
under the eyes.
a.. Teeth strongly developed and white. Lower incisors upright and touching
inside of upper incisors true scissors bite. 42 correctly placed teeth, 22 in
the lower, 20 in the upper jaw. Distemper teeth shall not be penalized.
Disqualifying Faults: Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch. Undershot more than
1/8 of an inch. Four or more missing teeth.
a.. Go here to see how the Illustrated standard explains this and you can see
drawings of the Ideal head.
http://www.dpca.org/JEC/illustrated_standard/Head/head.htm
I don't know if I would call it poor breeding in all cases, maybe more like not
breeding to the standard of the breed. One must know the standard and breeding
to it is part of being a good breeder. At the back of the head is a part of the
skull that is called the occipital bone or occiput (caudal boundary of cranium).
You can see where this is within the illustrated standard.
If you would like to have a copy of the illustrated standard, here is how you
can get it. If you are interested in a copy of your own Illustrated Standard,
please contact Doug Jensen at djensen@mail.esu10.k12.ne.us, or you can mail $5
(North America) to: DPCA c/o Doug Jensen, 2704 N. Webb Rd., Grand Island, NE
68803-1342.
I hope that this answers your question and helps you too.
Q: from Debby Roush
Date 1-August-2007
How long will a healthy Doberman live?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Debby:
That is like asking how long will YOU live. A Doberman will live as long as
their own individual health will allow them to live. There is an average life
expectancy in Dobermans just as there is in humans but it really is just an
average and not a prediction.
Q: from Bobby Naghsh
Date: 31-July-2007
Comments:
How to get a mail 2 year old Doberman to behave better and listen better. He
understands everything but doesn't do things he know. He jumps on everyone,
sticks his knows in between everyones legs, cries when tied, pees on every wall
around the house, eventhough there are trees around, pees while playing, acts
like an ediot. Whould nodering make him a reall dog, stop playing around and be
a guard dog, a reall dog?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Bobby:
It sounds like you need to locate a good trainer in your area to help you with
how to train your dog. Perhaps a Doberman is not the right breed for you and you
might need to contact the breeder to get some help or perhaps taking him back an
re-homing him.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Bobby,
I am thinking Bobby, from what I am reading of your description and the actions
of your Doberman that you are going to need professional help. In doing this you
probably need some help from a qualified dog trainer that has had experience
with the Doberman Pinscher. You need this person to teach you how to train your
Doberman and how to be consistent and teach and help you how to manage him.
I can understand your frustration, but it is you that has to learn how to
control your dog. Part of your being a responsible pet owner is for you to train
your pet to be a good citizen in society. We have answered similar questions as
yours before in this forum. You do need help and you also need to learn that you
need to be the leader of the pack so to speak. Your Doberman is acting out
because he does not have a leader and he needs one pronto.
I advise you to look for a trainer and a behaviorist that is near you and go to
this person for the guidance that you very much need.
Maybe the breeder of your dog can recommend someone or you can go the
www.DPCA.org and click onto breeder referral
and then your state and look for a breeder near you for a recommendation too.
You may be able to call your local Obedience Club or Kennel Club for a
recommendation.
He is two years old but it is not too late make him a good dog.
If you can get the National Geographic channel, check your local schedule and
look for the program, The Dog Whisperer and tune in to that to get an idea of
the problem and what needs to be done.
You need to find a person like this person to help you.
Please get serious and do this as soon as possible. You will be doing your
Doberman and yourself a huge favor, trust me.
Thank you for writing.
Q: from Judy Ingram
Date: 25-July-2007
Comments: ears
My puppies ears have been trimmed for 2 months. The vet says they are too thin
and will not stand. What can be done?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Judy,
I don't like to refute your veterinarian, but I tend to disagree with him. Refer
to our articles about ear taping. You can either go to
our articles page to find them or just read a few
questions and answers (a couple of Questions ago-you won't have to go too far)
and find the links and click onto them.
You will just have to keep taping. Most ears do not stand until the puppy is
about 6 months old and many even longer.
Can your breeder be your mentor. Is the breeder living reasonably close to you?
If not, can your breeder refer you to another breeder near you to help you with
a taping method.
Just keep trying. Is your vet the person who cropped your puppies ears?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
If they are taped correctly and keep on taping, they should stand. We have
several good articles on this web site showing how to tape ears. I assume this
Vet did not crop the ears. Hopefully you had someone who is experienced crop the
ears. Go back to them or the breeder also for help.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Judy:
You need to keep wrapping them. Please check our website for the various ideas on how to wrap ears. DPCA Breeder Education
Q: from Nancy Broock
Date: 19-July-2007
Comments: ear corrections
Is there any way to correct a puppies cropped ears if they tend
to over stand - fall towards the pup's skull?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Nancy,
You will have to continue to tape the ears. The ears have formed pockets. These
pockets are formed at the skull on the top of the head and on the backside of
the ear. To help this problem you have to be careful not to have the taped ears
tipping over the top of the head when you place the lower piece of tape around
the ear. Pull the tip to about a 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock angle and insert the
post deep down into the ear then put the lower piece of tape onto the ear base
or bottom of the ear close to the head the head. In other words you are taping
the ears angled to the outside. Of course tape the posted ear as you normally
would to the tip. If you look closely you will see the pocket pop out when you
do this. Be sure that when you do this that the post doesn't ride up in the ear
hole. Keep it pushed down into the ear tight.I hope that this is understandable
and helps you.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Depending on the pups age and how long it's been since cropping, you should be
able to correct the ears. You have what we call "dimples" close to the base of
the ears. I would suggest you go back to posting them but make sure that the
"dimple" is pushed out by putting a cotton ball against it on the
inside and then add your post. The post MUST be put down snug in the ear and not
allowed to pop out causing the ear to again lay or lean over towards the other
ear. Leave this up for about 4 to 5 days. Take down and see how it's doing. If
it's still going over again, you will need to put something like one of the
popcorn bits that come in packaging boxes against the dimple to pop it out. Use
surgical adhesive to hold it in place. You might want to use this method instead
of the cotton ball in the first place. Make sure the ears don't get raw or sore.
If they do, take them down immediately and
wait until they are healed.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Nancy:
Please go to the website under the articles there are many suggested methods of
wrapping ears to correct different problems. DPCA Breeder Education . Be sure
you brace the ears at the skull so the can't pitch in while they are in wraps
and over time that should correct the problem.
Q: from M Hupp
Date: 17-July-2007
Comments: cropping ears
Can a Dobe have ears cropped at 1 to 2 yrs old?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
This is not recommended. This type of surgery at that age is cruel and unusual and the likelihood of the ears standing is very slight.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
It can be done but I would totally be against it. Chances are the ears would
never stand anyway. It is inhumane to subject an older dog to this. If you got
her uncropped, leave her that way. NO NO NO!
A: from from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello M. Hupp
I feel that the answer to your question would be "no".
It can depend a little, but I feel that to be successful in to having the
cropped ears stand, that they would have to be cut very short depending on where
the natural and well developed fold is in the ear itself. You would have ears
that only were about an inch to an inch and a half tall and that would be
unattractive. With the ears cropped any longer or past that fold, it would be
next to impossible to get them to stand straight and up to erect.
Also the surgery at this age may be much more evasive for your buddy to go
through. You should talk to your vet about this for a second and professional
opinion.
I hope that our answers help you in your decision.
Q: from Claudia
Date: 12-July-2007
Comments: Temperament
I've been reading everything I can about Dobermans for several years. I think
that a Dobe is a great match for me. However, I don't have much hands-on
experience on training. Would it be more beneficial if I were to get dog that's
a little less dominate as a first pet instead of a Doberman?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Claudia,
You will want to find a reputable and a knowledgeable breeder of the Doberman. When you do, you will want to interview the breeder as the breeder will you. You should be able to talk about this question with the breeder and the breeder should have the knowledge to help you manage your new puppy. You would have to do this with any kind of dog that you get.
There are articles on our pages that you can read now to help
you determine whether or not that you can handle a Doberman.
The Doberman is an obedient dog and you can start training him/she the moment
that you bring the puppy home. I always tell people this, "whatever you do not
want you puppy to do at 90 lbs, do not allow him to do it at 9 lbs." In other
words, if you are not going to want the puppy on your furniture as an adult,
don't allow it as a puppy.
The same goes with the puppy jumping on you or whatever.
The bottom line is that the breeder can help you with your establishing a
relationship between you and your dog. You will always have to be the "leader"
or the boss starting from day one.
If you do decide to go ahead and get a Doberman puppy, but the booklet,
SuperPuppy How to Raise the Best Dog You'll Ever have! by Peter Vollmer. You can
get this book either by calling 800-342-7877 or logging onto
www.superpuppy.com.
Again, find a breeder that you can talk to about your concerns
and questions. All of them. Try to see their dogs and the puppies. Remember too,
the breeder should be a person who will be your mentor to be called upon for
help with your Doberman for life.
Have you located a breeder yet? If not, check the breeder referral page at
www.DPCA.org to look for breeders in your
state and near you.
If you need to just call and talk to someone for now, you can call me. I help
with this all of the time. I am in California.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Claudia:
I don't think it's an issue a Doberman being your first pet. Find a reputable breeder in your area that can mentor you in this endeavor. There are also a lot of articles regarding the Doberman and their temperaments on our website DPCA Breeder Education.
These articles can prove to be very beneficial in selecting the right puppy for your lifestyle. Also, if you go to www.dpca.org you can find a list of mentors in each state and perhaps there is one near you that can also help you out.
Good Luck.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
First of all, I would visit several good Dobe breeders who have been in the
breed a min. of 10 years. Visit their dogs. See the difference in them.
Some may be more laid back and easy to live with, others may have more prey
drive and be somewhat hyper and wanting more attention. Age sure has a lot to do
with it as well. Most puppies are very active and need constant training and
attention.
Make sure you find a breeder close to you that has the temperament of what you
are looking for and they will help you in training.
If you are a "Golden Retriever" type person, maybe a Doberman is not what you
should have. Dobermans are alert, obedient, energetic, watchful and loyal. If
you want this type of temperament then that is what you should get by all means.
How you train them as puppies is what you
get in an adult.
First, find the best breeder of show dogs you can find and go from there.
Q: from Todd
Date: 7-July-2007
Comments: Registation # WZ
In your news letter I received with my Dobermans papers one of the articles said
I should not breed if my dogs registration # started with a WZ. Could you please
tell me the reasoning on this? I couldn't find anything on this site about this.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
The WZ on your Registration papers means that in your dogs background you have
Albinos in some generations. Albinism is a Disqualification in the Doberman and
is a genetic trait that is not healthy in the Albino as I'm sure you are aware.
It doesn't affect the health of your normal colored Doberman but we have this WZ
in place so breeders do not use dogs with WZ for breeding. You can go to our web
site here and read about the Albinos.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Todd,
Judy Doniere has explained this to you the best. The WZ in the dog's number
tells us that the dog has the albino factor in his ancestry. Since albino is not
a recognized color, it is recommended not to breed them even if it is a
descendent of an albino Doberman.
You can find an article on our pages: The History of the Albino Doberman. You can
also find information on the DPCA pages. On this
page you can look at the "Z" list.
With these articles you will learn why it is not recommended to
breed the Albino Doberman or Dobermans of any allowed colors that carry the
albino gene.
Your breeder should know all about this too.
Hopefully this information will give you the answer that you are looking for.
Q: from Cindy
Date: 6-June-2007
Comments: Temperament
I have a 15 week old male pup who is very bitey and has been from the beginning.
We have been trying different techniques including a spray bottle and a soft
drink can with pennies in it to distract him but he is still biting us when he
gets excited any comments or suggestions for decreasing this behavior would be
welcomed. A trainer is our next step.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Distraction is the best idea. Try shoving a soft toy in his mouth when he comes up to grab you and let him know that's what he should bite. He is still teething badly and his need to chew is just being a puppy his age, but always give him something that will let him trade your hand for a toy.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Cindy,
Your next step is now. A good trainer could be some good hands on advice for you. We do however, have some articles on our pages that can help you too. Please read them for the education. I hand both of these articles out in my puppy book with each puppy. http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/outmeansno.htm Reading the first paragraph in this article could be helpful. http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/nipnipping.htm http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/PDF/Dominance.pdf
When your puppy is biting you he needs to be stopped, not
necessarily distracted. You need to hold him still and tell him in a firm tone
"No-No bite". Hold onto him until he stops. By holding on hold onto the skin on
each side of his neck and look him in the eye and give him a quick shake and
give your command in a firm voice but not yelling, "No-No bite". Hold onto him
until he quits squirming and he is listening to you then let him go and say
"good dog" (use his/her name). This would be how his canine Mother would teach
him. Praising him too is also what his canine Mother would do. She would do it
by gently licking him, you can do it by stroking him. Then you give him a toy or
something and engage in playtime or just walk away and come back later to pet
him or whatever. If he starts in again, go through the process again. You must
win every time. If he doesn't "get it", his canine Mother may have to nail him
good with a firm growl.
You have to be the boss and be in control of whatever he is going to be doing
with you. You need to be serious with him.
His canine Mother may find it necessary to take him to the
ground and hold him in place by growling at him until he calms down and/or
submits. The
sooner that you get this under control, the better. He is growing and getting
bigger and stronger by the day.
I also suggest a booklet, SuperPuppy How to Raise the Best Dog
You'll Ever have! by Peter Vollmer. You can get this book either by calling
800-342-7877
or logging onto www.superpuppy.com.
I hope that this helps you get this problem handled soon.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Cindy:
I would recommend you see a trainer so they can see what is happening and what
is causing the problem. They would be best suited to help you in person. I do
know that the more attention you pay to it the worse it will get, so telling
them "No Bite" and holding their mouths and any other reaction will play into
what the puppy wants, which is attention.
Q: from John Cruikshank
Date: 29-June-2007
Comments:
Hi I bought a Doberman Pinscher from Europe. It's a European Doberman and is 3
months and is black with brown paws and is now growing white hairs. What could
that be?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello John,
Where are the white hairs. It is not uncommon for a Doberman to have a few white
hairs on the chest or on a toe. Sometimes they will get little white hairs
around a play bite wound that they get from playing with littermates or an
injury. One time in the 60's I saw a Doberman female get white hairs
dispersed throughout her black coat. While it was disturbing we were told that
it would go away and it eventually did. This was an unusual pheromone and I have
only seen it this one time.
Our standard addresses white on a Doberman Pinscher as " White patch on chest,
not exceeding 1/2 square inch, permissible."
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
John:
Without seeing the dog in person it's difficult to tell you why it's growing white hairs. Go to www.dpca.org and find a local breeder or mentor that can look at the dog and offer you some advice.
Q: from LuAnn Damon
Date: 26-June-2007
Comments: canine active hepatitis
Our AKC registered 6 yr old female died June 4, 2007 of canine active hepatitis.
Is this a disease that can be tested for at birth? We contacted the breeder but
she has not responded.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello LuAnn,
I don't believe that we can test for Canine Active Hepatitis (Copper Toxicosis)
at birth. Here is an article that is on our pages about Chronic Hepatitis.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/chronic%20hepatitis.html and here is
another
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/liver_diseases.htm. Here is an article about
Canine Active Hepatitis
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/CAH.htm.
Here is one that I found by Googling Canine Active Hepatitis.
http://www.auntjeni.com/copper.htm
and one more
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4086350&dopt=Abstract
I think that the best that you can do is interview the breeder as the breeder
should interview you and buy a Doberman whose parents, grand-parents and even
more generations are test for all of the inherent diseases that plague the
Doberman and further ask if there have been incidences of CAH in the lines that
they are breeding from and make your decision based on that.
A breeder that does all of this testing will tell you that they are concerned
with health of their line when making breeding decisions. There are no
guarantees but at least you know that they are trying to breed a healthy
Doberman.
I hope that these articles can give you even more information about the disease.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
I'm sorry for your loss. This is a disease that can be genetic and seen in many
lines. It is not different than Cardiomyopathy and CVI which are also genetic
diseases. Dobermans in general are predisposed to all three diseases and are not
related to any particular lineage. It's unfortunate but this is one of the
diseases that take our Dobermans at a young age. This is not a disease that can
be tested for at birth, you can however, run yearly blood panels as part of a
normal physical and hope that you can catch it in it's early stages but
unfortunately that is not usually the case. By the time the dog shows signs of
the disease, it's usually in it's final stages but blood work can show subtle
changes prior to this.
Q: from Susan Adams
20-June-2007
Comments: wae
a test called the wae you folks give could you state age requiered.thanks
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Please go to www.dpca.org and you will find the requirements for entering a
WAE
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Susan, the instructions for entering a WAE are posted to the DPCA website.
Please go to www.dpca.org and do the research
there. You can also contact Ellen Hanley at
ellenpoppy@aol.com for further information regarding WAE testing as she is
the DPCA Coordinator.
Q: from Randy
Comments: Glue?
What type of glue is used for the ears? I got a response to my other question
about gluing the ears together on top of the head so the sutuers can heal. What
kind of glue is used.
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Dobermans, Canada
It's called skin bond and can be found at any prosthetic supply
Q: from Randy
Date: 18-June-2007
Comments: ear cropping procedure
I'm getting 2 Doberman puppies and want to crop their ears. I have been calling
a lot of places and was wondering if it really makes a difference if after the
surgery the puppy goes home with his ears untaped. Then returns 10 days later to
get them taped, or should they be taped right away. Most vets I have talked to
say the dog goes home with the ears down so the sutures can heal then they tape
them up. I just want to make sure I do the right thing since you can only do
this once!
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
My procedure is to glue the ears over the head, one on top of the other with
sutures exposed. Once they are healed we post them. You can find some good post
articles on this web site. If they are left hanging, the will shake their ears
and may bleed or get hematomas. Plus they are harder to get to
stand.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Randy:
There are many vets that tape the ears over the head flat until they heal and
the stitches are removed. I however, believe they should be put up immediately.
There are several different thoughts on this. I use Styrofoam cups and glue the
ears to them until they are healed, then I begin the rolling process. Having
said that, there are breeders out there that don't put the ears up until they
are completely healed and instead tape them over the head. I don't recommend
letting them hang as they can shake their heads and get hemotomas on the edges
or cause bleeding.
Q: from Tamee
Date: 17-June-2007
Comments: Behavior in mating season
I am a first time owner of the breed and so quite out of water. My
brother-in-law has an American Bull Dog female and obviously we don't want them
breeding so have kept them apart. My Doberman though is now showing signs of not
eating and seems to be very focused and intent on getting to the female. Should
I house him on a different property until her heat is over?
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Dobermans, Canada
Yes, I would Tamee...it is quite hard on most males when the bitch is ready and
it sounds like she is.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Tamee:
You should keep them as separated as possible and if that means boarding him
somewhere else, then that is probably what you should do. Also, when she is out
of season and you bring him back home you will have to carefully introduce them
back together. He will be very interested in her until he realizes that she is
no longer in season.
Q: from Gloria Pascoe
Date: 5-June-2007
Comments: Weight Loss
11 years and 4 month old Dobermann losing weight gradually, now weighs in at 30
kgs, ribs, spine and pin bones very prominent. Happy, eating well and blood
tests are normal, vet not really concerned!! just says the dog is a happy old
person! Thoroughly wormed, eats well - what on earth can it be?. Already
investigating a higher carbohydrate food. Sleeps well like old dogs do and plays
with his great grand daughter (under HIS terms) Heart is sound and there are no
ominous lumps or bumps.
I am very worried about him, good muscles on hind quarters, for an old dog, but
his back end is is starting to fail, front has much muscle wastage. I would
really appreciate suggestions on how to manage this,. Thank you.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Gloria,
You need to take him to a good veterinarian and have blood tests and other tests run until you determine why that this is happening. Good luck.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Gloria:
If your veterinarian thinks he's in good health other than old age you could
either go with what he says or get a second opinion.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello mak reyes,
Let me refer you to some of the articles on our list about pregnancy. I don't
know exactly what a bitch weights when she is pregnant but it considerably a lot
more than her normal weight as the pregnancy advances towards the whelping date
her weight will increase. A common (average) weight for the puppies when they
are born from my experience and depending on the size of the litter is around 16
oz give or take a little.
There is an article on our pages that talks about this a little. Within this
article is a chart that tells you when to start feeding your pregnant girl more
food.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/PDF/Euk_Repro.pdf Scroll to Management of the
Bitch: Pre-Breeding To Whelping and read that and it has a chart to examine for
a guideline.
This is another good article to read for reference.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/changes_bitch_foetus.htm
Go to our articles page and in the Breeding &/or Genetics section, you will find
a number of articles that should help you during the pregnancy stages and for
the actual whelping and the raising of your letter. Look at the other sections
to for a wealth of education about the Doberman.
I hope that we have helped you and good luck.
If you have more questions. please ask.
Q: from Amber Bloom
Date: 1-June-2007
Comments: growth
I have a 5-1/2 month old male Dobe pup, and he weighs 53 pounds. I would like to
know if he is of good size ? He does have big feet and big knuckles, is not
small boned His father is 115 pounds and his mom is 85 pounds. Please let me
know the growth chart of Doberman puppies.. The breeder said his line is slow to
mature and grow....Is there such thing as that? Help!!!!
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Amber,
I would venture to say without looking at your puppy and by your description of the size of his feet and knuckles that he is within the range for a normal sized Doberman at this age.
The sire at 115 lbs and the dam at 85 lbs are either are carrying too much weight or they are oversized. The average male, that is standard sized in height (26-28 inches tall) and has heavy bone and substance that is described in the standard, usually weighs in the 80's or low 90's on the average. Some can be more but 115 lbs is a high for a Doberman who is a medium sized dog in height. The female (24 to 26 inches) is a bit lighter in weigh and not as tall as the male, can weigh from 55lbs to about 65 lbs or so on the average. I have a female that is around 70 lbs but she is right up there at 26 inches too, maybe 261/4 at that. She does carry heavy bone and she does have substance too.
I am not sure that we have a growth chart on the articles pages or if there even is one available. If your breeder says that he is okay in size at this time, I wouldn't worry. Also the breeder says that the line grows slow. He will have his height at about 10 months. He will gain muscle mass as he grows older and may gain a tad more height as he gains muscle. He will gain weight with his maturity too. I wouldn't worry yet. At this time he is within the normal range for his age.
Marj
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Amber:
Each Doberman grows at a different rate, there is no specific "growth chart" as
there is in humans. I would say that 115 and 85 lbs are overweight or oversized.
You male should be within 75-90 lbs at full growth and a bitch would be between
50-60 lbs average at full growth. Without seeing your puppy and his bone, etc.
it's hard to say whether or not he's within normal ranges. Your veterinarian
should be able to tell you if he's in good weight for his proportional bone
size.
Q: from Bonnie
Date: 30-May-2006
Comments: Returning Puppy
Hi. How do you typically handle a returned puppy that you sold?
I whelped a gorgeous litter of pups in December, and the puppies all went to
their new homes in March. I have an owner that is returning a puppy to me be/c
he now has health issues that is restricting what he can do with the puppy - he
feels he needs to do what is best for the now 5 month old puppy. (I did put in
my contract for all owners to contact me first if they need to find a home for
ANY reason for their puppy). This pup is coming back to me tonight. I requested
the AKC papers back and all vet papers proving the shots he had taken him for. I
am going to have him sign a release of ownership before he leaves. He also does
not expect, or will not be getting a refund since the puppy is being returned
under no fault of the puppy.
This owner did not want cropped ears, so the ears are natural - which I think
may make this puppy harder to place. Do you know of any alternative ways to have
ears cropped at 20 weeks? My guess is it is way to late and the cartilage has
already strengthened.
This puppy is also not neutered. Would you neuter him before re-homing? He is of
good quality, but will probably not be a show dog be/c of the natural ears.
Do you typically try to sell returned older pups? I do not want to give him away
'free' as I am afraid of where/who/what would happen.
I also am planning on keeping him for a little bit to learn what this puppy has
and has not learned in the past couple of months.
Have I forgotten anything??? Thanks again for your support & help!
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Bonnie,
I believe that 20 months old is getting to be a bit too old to crop the ears. I cannot say this for sure without seeing the puppy. I would take the puppy to your veterinarian that does your cropping and see what he/she suggests. An veterinarian who is an experienced ear cropper can tell you by examining his ears. You don't want to do this if the vet feels that his ears will not stand a chance to stand erect. We are often still taping ears at this age though and that is what tells me that it this not impossible.
I would recommend that he be neutered at the right age for him which would be more like close to a year old. I would require this of his new owner in the contract.
I probably do not have to tell you that you should have the puppies ears
cropped before you place them in the future. This often happens and yes they
are harder to place. This is one of the reasons why that I recommend cropping at
a younger age and having the cut ears healed before they leave
the breeders home.
There are people out there that want uncropped Dobermans though.
Check with your veterinarian and good luck.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Bonnie:
You will see on this website a few examples of contracts. I see that you had one
on this sale. Normally we do not refund money on a returned puppy, instead we
usually offer a replacement because normally it's being returned due to a
problem with the puppy. But, when there is a situation such as this you just
have to make a decision. If the health of the buyer is a real issue that might
be a reason to offer a refund. It's really up to you and what was in the
contract.
On another note, most breeders are hesitant to sell an uncropped puppy for
exactly this reason. It will be difficult to place him with natural ears but I
would definitely have him neutered before he is placed.
Q: from Debbi Zacher
Date: 23-May-2007
Comments: dog trainers
What is the average cost of hiring a private dog trainer to come to your home to
solve behavioral difficulties?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Debbi:
This really varies with the type of training, the area the training is being
performed at, whether you have them come to your house or you go to theirs. I
would recommend you do a search on line for trainers in your area and get an
average cost from that.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Debbi,
I do not know the answer to this question. Hopefully one of the others do. I can
maybe find out though if nobody can give you an answer. Let me know.
Comments: demand for Dobies?
My husband and I love the Doberman breed. They are our favorite of all dog breeds. We own a large farm and we have been tossing around the idea of breeding and selling Dobie puppies. However, we are wondering what the demand is for Doberman pups. Where we live there are very few to be found. In fact I think we are the only ones that own Dobies in our county. Can you tell me what the market is for Dobie pups? Thanks so much!
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Jessi,
This is a tough one to answer. The market for selling Doberman Pinschers is
better than others depending on where you live. From your short description of
where you live, this does not sound like a good market area. There is so much to
consider when you think of breeding Dobermans or any kind of dog. it is not a
profitable business venture, trust me. It is a labor of love. There is so much
to know and do.
We have answered this sort of a question before and I am hoping that I could
direct you to looking through our Q&A archives and see how this question was
answered. Also on our pages there are many articles about becoming a breeder and
what it takes.
Can you do this and then ask us questions if you need to later?
I found a similar question and answer on page 7 or here:
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/QAArchives7.htm. Look around for more. We have
answered this question a few times.
Good luck and please come back if we can help you more.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Jessie:
I don't think there is a great "market" for Doberman puppies; most breeders do
not make any money. In order to breed there are many costs that you will incur.
Both parents should be of good conformation quality and preferably Champions of
record. Showing your dogs is not inexpensive and completing a championship can
be very costly. Then you should fully test each of the breeding pair. The costs
of testing can run up to $500.00 or more. You should test for thyroid, heart,
hips, elbows, vWD and brucellosis. Then you have the cost of raising the litter.
You have tails and dew claws and ears to do before placing them in their new
homes. These are all the things an ethical breeder must first do. I suggest you
become involved with the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and learn what you
can about the breed and the ethics of breeding good dogs. You can go to
www.dpca.org to begin that process. Look for a
breed mentor in your area and go to shows to see and learn. Good Luck.
Comments: Doberman colors
My question is this: I have a female Doberman that is dark red and rust, I want to breed her, but I don't know if I should go with a black and rust male or a red and rust male. I am not sure what color pups they will throw. Can you help me with this?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Jody,
If you breed your red Doberman with another red, you will get all red Dobermans.
If both the sire and the dam happen to carry the gene for dilution, you will
have a chance for fawn puppy. If they don't they will be all red. Red is
recessive.
If you breed her to a black Doberman you have chances for all four colors
depending on the color heritage of the parents to be.
You can get all blacks if the black male is dominate black. If he carries the
recessive for red you can get black and red puppies and if he carries black with
a dilute for black you can get black and possibly a blue puppy and if he is
black recessive and carries the dilute gene and if your red female carries the
dilute gene, you could get all 4 colors.
There is a color chart on our articles page to study just in case I am confusing
with my words.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/colorinheritance.htm
After studying the chart and you have more questions please don't hesitate to
ask.
Thank you.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Jody:
If you go to www.dpca.org you will find a
color chart on the breed. The surface color is one thing but there is also an
array of hidden color dominance traits within each of the inpidual dogs. It all
depend on their heritage. A red dog or bitch can carry dilution producing red's
and fawns. A black dog can carry dilution and produce blacks, blues, reds and
fawns. You must double on the diluted factor in order to get blues and fawns.
There are also many articles on breeding located on our
Article Page - a subsidiary of the Doberman
Pinscher Club Of America and specifically a chart on color inheritance here
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/colorinheritance.htm
Q: from Cindy Onofrey
Date: 8-May-2005
Comments: Choosing A Puppy
We are planning on getting 2 puppies -a male and a female from the same litter,
we are previous dobe owners who have done this before. What are the pros and
cons of this? I've heard that this is not recommended.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Cindy:
This is not recommended and I as a breeder would not sell littermates to the
same home. Often the pups become so attached to each other they lack good human
socialization skills. It takes very experienced training to raise two together.
I have kept littermates but always share them with my co-breeder who lives in
another home. This allows the puppies to become more individualized and not
dependent on each other.
Hope this helps. I can think of no pros to doing this.
Q: from ???
Date: 7-May-2007
Comments:
When are all the shows on the East coast?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello ?
You can find out where all of the shows are on the east coast in a number of
places. Here are two;
www.AKC.org
www.infodog.com
Enjoy the shows.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Dear Annonymous:
Please go to www.akc.org and events and shows and find your answer.
Hello Jaclyn,
There are a couple of things that you can do. If you live near the breeder of
your puppy, you can contact this person and ask for help or ask if they
know of another breeder near you that you can contact for on hands help. You can
also go the www.DPCA.org and go to Breeder
referral and click onto your
state and hopefully find a breeder near you to contact and ask for help. Most
all of us are very willing to help.
We also have a couple of articles on our pages. This one has several methods all in one article and I personally like #11, puppy ear taping by Carol Petruzzo which is illustrated: http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/ears11.htm
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/ears1.htm for all of the methods.
Here is another great illustrated article on how to tape the ears by Eve Auch here: http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/PDF/Auch_Ear_Taping.pdf
I hope that something here helps you.
Comments: castration?
I have rescued a 6 1/2 yr old male Dobe, Major. He is not fixed. I have heard they are going to start banding on dogs like they do on live stock. Is this true and is it better on the animal than the nip and cut? His father had a year or so of cancer and lost his battle, Major was then just feed and had no contact with people. He is great shape, a bit to fat. So is this an option? Vet checked and in good health.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Angie,
I am not familiar with the banding method. In fact I would venture to say that this what you have heard about this method being done is untrue. I could be wrong, but it actually seems like an inhumane way to do this.
I would talk to your veterinarian about neutering Major and have your veterinarian do the surgery. Neutering a dog is a regular surgery where Major would anesthetised for the surgery to be done in a painless manner for him.
I hope that this answers your question.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Angie:
I would not recommend such a process for castration. Neutering is a
safe surgery when performed by a veterinarian. His age should not be a
factor but I would definitely recommend neutering him as is could help prolong
his life.
Jessica:
We have articles on our website on this very subject. Here's one link to one particular example of such an article http://www.seattle-attorney.com/storm/sup.html. Please go back to this website you posed your question on and check the "articles" menu for more interesting articles on health and genetics.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Sam:
Locate and order a book called Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy R. Shultze and she also has a no-cook book call the The Natural Nutrition No Cook Book. I just recently ordered these books myself and I plan to read them as they were recommended by more than one breeder to me. I ordered mine from www.dogwise.com but I'm sure you'd be able to locate them on Amazon or other book distributors.
Sam:
It's always good to hear that our advice was worth while. Good luck with your Dobe.
Bonnie:
Different Bitches vary from a whelping but the normal cycle time would be 6 months from the previous season or 4 months from whelping.
Samantha:
You are in luck, I just went through this same thing about four months ago and I was recommended this recipe, it does work. Keep in mind though that even after you reduce the smell, when the dog gets wet for the next few months, the odor will return while their coat is wet and go away when they are dry.
Good Luck,
Samantha,
I will forward this to the others to see what they recommend BUT because of the urgency I am writing privately to you. Rush out and get LOTS of canned tomato juice and use that everywhere. You can also buy feminine douche and use that...both DO help a lot and are safe.
A: from
You can go to the DPCA website and find a mentor in your area, they may be able to help you find a veterinarian that does ears. Go to www.dpca.com . There is a link under educational committees that have a list of mentors.
Comments: I have been asked to breed my 2 yr old male Dobie.
I would like to have a simple contract available. Are there any sample contracts out there or where might I look for some.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA Please click here in order to view a Sample Stud Contract. We are currently working on publishing a variety of sample contracts to this site.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Valerie,
There are contracts that are used and a contract should be used. I don't know where you can get a sample contract. I did look on our pages and we do have an article about the legalities of contracts.
Basically you put your agreement in writing. If you want for example, all of
the puppies that you place to spayed or neutered, you specify this in the
contract.
I have written a note to the group to see about getting a few examples up onto
the site. Everybody's contracts are a little different and I am understanding
that you just need to see something to get an idea for your contract. Good on
you though for doing this responsible deed if you are going to breed your dog.
Remember you are just as responsible for the puppies for their lives as the breeder (owner of the female and the resulting litter) is.
We put a sample Stud Contract Up on the site and are looking at posting other contracts as well in the near future so please keep checking back..
Bill:
If you go to www.dpca.org you will find the Doberman illustrated standard posted there. You can read up on the size specifications. Dogs do continue to grow past the age of 12 months but not a lot. This seems like a little small for our standard.
Q: from Cris Mattsen
Date: Friday, September 19, 2003
Comments: Doberman Health
My 3 year old Doberman vomits, in my opinion, often. (once a week or so) It is always a small amount, of greenish colored mucus. Our vet seems unconcerned, and I have been told this is common to the breed. He is not under weight, seems completely healthy, (besides his breath) and this is nothing new, it has been happening for well over a year. Any Comments???
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Well the obvious is does the dog eat grass? Are you feeding anything that could cause the color to be green? Do you give ice cubes? Is there any addition to his diet or vitamins that are given just before he vomits? Does he vomit just mucus or is it undigested food?
Chris:
Ice cubes can cause a reaction in the stomach to the cold and force regurgitation, I have a Doberman that will immediately do that after eating an ice cube or something that is too warm as well. Also, I recently attended a presentation by a Doggie Dentist and he recommended NOT to give dogs ice cubes as they often will break teeth on them.
Comments: Swollen Joint
My 5 yr old Dobe has been limping for a week now. It appears to have occurred after running and excercising. He will still put weight on it and is still active, but the front paw- toe joint appears swollen and is very tender to the touch. Any suggestions? I do have a vet appt tomorrow afternoon but was inquiring if this is something that may perhaps wait a few more days.
mmaldo:
Please take your dog to the Veterinarian for x-rays. He could have a broken toe, they may or may not be able to mend it but at any rate they can give him pain medication.
Comments: Choosing A Breeder
I had a Doberman...it had kidney failure in 2003. I miss the dog who was age 10.