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DPCA BREEDERS EDUCATION Q & A ARCHIVES |
Q & A ARCHIVES Page 12:
Date: 2-December-2007
Comments: Choosing A Puppy
I am looking to purchase my first Doberman and have found a pup I like. The
only thing I'm not sure about is that he has fluffy hair where the other
pups in the litter have smooth hair. Will this change as he grows or is this
a fault. The smooth coat is one of the things I like about the breed. Thanks
for any information.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
The Doberman Pinscher as you know is supposed to have a tight smooth coat
the lies very close to the body. I would venture to say without seeing this
"fluffy" puppy that this will be a fault that will stay with him/her.
Without saying that this may not even be a purebred Doberman puppy, I,
personally, would question it.
To answer your question though, this coat that you describe is a fault and
it is most likely not going to correct.
Please look to our articles pages and also the Public Education page on the
www.DPCA.org website for articles about finding a responsible and reputable
breeder.
Thank you.
Amber:
I'm not sure what you are describing as "fluffy" hair. Some puppies will
have a fuzz to their coats but fluffy does not describe a purebred Doberman
to me. Without seeing it, it's hard for me to determine if it's something
the puppy will outgrow.
Date: 1-December-2007
Comments: Atopy
I have a 16 month old Dobe male who s suffering from rashes on his neck,
along the topline and over his ribs since he was 5 months old. As per my
vets advice I tried different diets for food allergy but nothing worked. he
has no ticks or fleas. Skin scrapings were tested which ruled out
dermadecosis. finally vet said that its atopy and advised me to use mild
steroids like emsolone 10mg as and when his skin condition worsens because
he said there's no treatment for this here in India. Steroids r harmful to
dogs if used over long periods. But when rashes become too much on his body
he starts scratching, his skin becomes dull and dry and he loses appetite I
end up giving him 2 or 3 tablets. I don't want to damage his health like
this. Please help..
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Unfortunately we cannot give you medical advice on this website. It appears
you are seeing a veterinarian, I would recommend if you are not pleased with
the response, find another, perhaps a skin specialist. It sounds as though
he has a staph infection on his skin which usually requires antibiotics but
without actually seeing the bumps it's difficult to tell.
Date: 22-November-2007
Comments: Conformation
Hello ,the answers to my previous questions were very helpful thanx to DPCA
Q & A. Now here is another problem I'm facing with my 2 yr male. He is very
active/playful and full of fire at home, responds to the bait training or to
the ball but when in the show grounds seems to be dull and shows no interest
to both bait nor ball. Someone suggested to starve the dog!!! He stacks
nicely and moves well but to free bait...it's a problem. He is not scared of
other dogs. He is alpha male only home with our own dogs. He is very
friendly and calm to kids and strangers in the public. Kindly suggest what
type of socialization is needed. I tried takng him out to other crowded
places with plenty of dogs. He is not even bothered,but shows some interests
to bitchs. Kindly advise. Thanx once again.
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Please forgive me if I have your name incorrect.
Well, you don't have to starve your dog.
Are you sure that your dog doesn't get anxious when he is at the dog show or
in a strange place. Usually when a dog is anxious often times the lack of
interest in food is an indicator of nervousness or his being unsure in a
different environment or something of the like.
For training and at home, always put the show leash and collar on the dog to
train him to bait and alert for the food.
There are a series of articles on our pages
that can help you and this one in particular may give you some ideas to try.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/conformation.htm
I would also consider taking him to many different places away from the home
environment and work him with the bait and show training.
I could be wrong but I think that he just needs to feel comfortable off of
his home turf. To do this he needs you to take him places and train on him
in lots of different places and environments.
It is worth a try anyway. Like the article says, make it fun.
Dr. Roby,
This is why it's so important to take dogs out when they are young, in the
puppy classes at shows. Males especially can become bored in the ring when
older. I don't think it has anything to do with socialization. He seems
quite social. He's just not having fun in the ring. Perhaps trying to have
someone else show him a time or two and see how he reacts with someone that
he doesn't know real well. Maybe you have done too much "stacking" with him
at home or in the ring. He's got to have fun and like it. Try changing the
bait but only in the ring. Do you bait with cooked liver? If not, try it for
the first time in the ring, not at home where he gets used to it. Try
Chicken or anything that he hasn't tasted before. Unfortunately, there are
some dogs that just never like the show ring and refuse to bait. Those are
very hard to win with. My advice to you if you have puppies, is to enter
them in shows as soon as they are old enough so they get used to it and like
it. Most puppies win and finish early anyway.
Q: from Sam
Date: 11-November-2007
Comments: Submissive Puppy ?
I have been told that when puppies lick other dogs' mouths and muzzle, it is
a sign of Submission. My question is why does my 5 Yr old Neutered Male
Doberman have NO tolerance for puppies of any age. He will normally stand
for an initial greeting from another puppy or dog, but once the dog decides
to Lick my Dobe's muzzle, My dog quickly shows his dislike with a warning
grimace and growl ? I imagine that my dog just has personal space issues but
is there something I can do about this ? Or is that not a reasonable
expectation for him?
A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA
Hello Sam,
Actually your two dogs are exhibiting normal canine pack behavior. The older
dog is establishing with the younger dog his role of leader of the pack or
he is the dominate one of the two. It is a reasonable expectation of him.
It will be hard to put into words about what to do to handle this but I will
try. First I will start by asking a question or two. After the initial
greeting does the older dog and the puppy engage in play? Is the puppy
another male puppy?
Once again, you need to be the leader of the pack. You can control this
behavior and when you first put the two dogs together. Be there and try to
keep the younger dog from groveling and licking and etc. and encourage the
older dog not to growl. You never want it to become to a point where the
older dog really takes the puppy down and bites him/her. You will need to
watch this behavior as the puppy grows older. One day the puppy, if he is a
male, may feel that he will want to fight for supremacy.
I am trying to think of an article on our website that you can read to help
you and better explain this for you.
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/PDF/Dominance.pdf
http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/BEHAVIOR_READING_LIST.htm
You may find more articles to help you on our articles pages in the Behavior
section.
I hope that this is a beginning to help you understand your dogs behavior
and offers you a workable solution.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Dear Sam,
This is very normal for male dogs and some older bitches. They just don't
like puppies running up to them and licking or biting or just wanting to
play. He should be fine once the pup is about 5-6 mo. old and bigger in
size. I just kept my males away from the pups. Once in a while you do have a
male who allows this in puppies but it's rare. I'd say your male is normal
so just keep them separate until the pup is older.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Sam:
This is normal for a male to react this way. In the wild puppies or
submissive adults will do this to the pack leaders to show their submission.
The older males will react this way to demonstrate their leadership of the
pack. Just know that he will react and either let them work it out or keep
him away from puppies that do this.
Q: from Emily
Date: 9-November-2007
Comments: Male socialization?
I had a male Dobe that I took to dog parks as a puppy, did obedience
training and was social, but only with females. He would not tolerate a male
Ever. I am wondering what if anything I can do for my next male Dobe. I want
to ensure that I socialize Him properly and would like him to get along with
other neutered Males. I can accept that he may not be social, but I don't
want him to be aggressive or dominant over other dogs out there. Any ideas ?
Or is this just a Male Dobe trait.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
In my experience, male dogs do not like other male dogs...neutered or not.
Some do, but most don't. I would maybe try an experienced trainer but I just
would never trust these dogs who seem to be dominant and want to fight with
other males. Not worth it. One bad fight and you have a big problem on your
hands.
Date: 8-November-2007
Comments: Exercise Needs
I have a 5 year old neutered Male Dobe and his activity level has not
declined at all ! He is just as active and needs as much exercise as when he
was a 1 yr old. My question is should I expect a decline soon or am I just
fortunate to have a high energy Dobe? He gets one 45 minute hike or free run
at the River trail Every day and by the end he is exhausted. But then an
hour after going home, he is back to his antics. I am wondering if this is
because I have gotten him accustomed to that level of exercise since he was
a puppy, as opposed to owners that just relegate their pups to the backyard
or walk around the block. I am not complaining, it's great exercise for
Myself and him but just curious what I can expect.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Sam:
Dogs are just like people. There are active ones there are sedentary ones
and there are some in the middle. They all have their own drives and
temperament traits. It sounds as though your's that high activity level and
it probably will never change. He may slow down a little as he gets waaaay
older but I would not hold my breath if I were you. It's great that you are
giving him the exercise he so much desires because if you did not, he might
take his frustrations out in destructive ways.
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??
Date: 3-November-2007
Comments: Can anyone provide some info and help on how to trim a Dobermann
for show?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Probably the easiest way to tell you where to trim is that if you see any
hair sticking out, cut it off.
Most of us shave off whiskers on the face. Put a cotton ball inside the ears
and with the clippers, shave the inside of ears to the tip and shave the
outside edges. Shave the hair that hangs down from the flank but only AFTER
you feed them, otherwise the shave marks will be too high. Shave the
underside of the tail but not so close as to cause a razor burn. Round off
the top edge of the tail. If the underside of the neck has lots of hair,
shave closer holding the clippers downwards instead of shaving upwards.
Shave fairly close to the back of the thighs but not to the skin. Shave the
way the hair grows.
If your dog has a neck cowlick, use double sided thinning shears to thin
down so no hair is sticking up from the neck.
Practice on a dog you are not showing so you know how much to take off. If
it leaves light marks or it doesn't look good and you are shaving too close.
Try again on another dog.
You should use a good electric clipper and you'll need a 10 blade and a 30
blade. First with the 30 blade you will want to shave all the facial
whiskers and the inside of the ears. Then you will want to go along the
outer edge of the ear to clean up and make a nice finished edge. Then you
will want to shave off any excess hair off the end of the tail and the
underside of the tail. Just enough to give the tail a smooth edge as well.
Everything on the Doberman should be smooth and finished looking. You can
use the 10 blade to trim the excess hair off the abdomen and flank area and
the neck. Be very careful with the neck. Do not apply much pressure and you
should go with the coat pattern. I would not recommend doing a neck just
before a show. You should practice on a "non-show" candidate as it really
does take a lot of practice to do a neck line. If there are any areas that
need trimming like the edge of the neck line or if there are any cowlicks,
you can you thinning shears and again, go with the coat. Hope this helps.
Personally, I would find someone locally that shows their dogs and have them
give you a hands on training session, that is the best way to learn.
Date: 1-November-2007
Comments: transportation
I will be getting a puppy from a spring litter from approx 2,000 miles away.
I'm debating whether I should make a car trip to pick her up or let the
breeder ship her. I've heard opinions on both sides of this issue. Some say
there is a quick recovery from airplane stress versus a long car trip,
others say it is good for initial bonding. What is your opinion on the
issue? Thanks.
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
It's really a matter of choices. Most airlines have "counter to counter"
service where the puppy does not have to wait in a cargo area before and
after shipping. It's faster to ship but it's always fun to spend the time
with the new puppy by driving.
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Kris,
I never fly puppies without the owner taking them home in a Sherpa bag under
the seat. If you get the pup no later than 10 wks. it will fit under the
seat in the plane. You can bond with her easily and the flight would be
quick, BUT I will not ship any puppy in cargo...ever. I fly very often and
know all the pitfalls of planes sitting on the tarmac for hours. There is no
heat or air conditioning until airborne.
Fly in, kiss the puppy you will be getting and both of you fly together.
27-October-2007
Comments: dew claws
My pup is an import and his front dew claws were not removed. If he is
shown would it be held against him in the breed ring?
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
Christine:
There is not a clause in our standard to penalize dew claws or consider
having them a fault. There should not be a problem.
Q: from Lauren
Date: 21-October-2007
Comments: Temperament
Hi
I was wondering whether you would be able to tell me more about the
Doberman's temperament.... what are they like with other dogs?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Lauren:
Dobermans are fine with other dogs but you should never have two males
together as Dobermans are very territorial and protective of their space.
Two males will most likely not get along with each other, even in different
breeds.
Any new dog brought into a new home with an existing pet already there
should be introduced carefully to insure they will get along. Take them for
a walk on leash together first and see how they interact.
Date: 21-October-2007
Comments: callouses
Are there any creams/salve used for callouses? If so what is the name of the
product and provide links please
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Roby:
You can use Bag Balm http://www.bagbalm.com/ or you can use plain old
petrolium jelly (vaseline). But the best remedy is to keep them from forming
by making sure your dog has "soft" places to lay.
Date: 11-October-2007
Comments: Conformation
I live in India and have male Dobe from Argentina, s/o Inaqui de Black
Shadow, still not yet shown. When I got him when he was 6 months old, he had
these kennel patches on his elbows and thighs, now he is 2 yrs+.
Confirmation wise he is very good and I want to show him seriously. but
these patches kept me from showing bcoz I wanted the dog to be in full
finish. I tried applying petrol gel etc. but in vain. he is housed in a room
with clay tile flooring. I provided him with rugs and soft bedding like a
blanket etc...but he still prefers the floor. kindly advise what to do
...thanx
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA
I think the problem is two fold. First of all, it seems the dog may be hot
and is trying to cool off on the tile floor. Second, most all of us in the
U.S. have our dogs in the homes and many sleep on our beds. If not in our
beds, on a soft mattress in a room that is the same temperature as we have
in our homes. If you put any salve on the wounds, the dog will just lick it
off and continue to make the problem worse.
I would suggest you bring the dog in your home and make him a member of your
family and keep him off any hard surface for sleeping. Dobermans have very
thin coats and they are easily damaged by improper surfaces. Having a dog
for 2 years and not being able to quickly fix the problem means that you are
not doing your job in adequate care. This should have been cleared up within
a month after purchasing him.
Q: from Jennifer
Date: 10-October-2007
Comments:
First time here on your site. I am delighted to find your wonderful website
online.
Fascinating site and well worth the visit again. I will be back soon.
Date: 6-October-2007
Comments: Ears
My 7 mth old pup is still having trouble with his ears. He seems to have
formed pockets, his ears flip up over his head when out of tapes. I was
advised by the vet who cropped him to place the posts at the knob in the ear
and not to go down into the ear. The crop is very long and the bell was
stapled at the base apparently to give it more support. I have trouble
keeping the posts straight up since he works them so much and is very
active. Right now I've retaped them with a backtaped cardboard applicator
from a tampon, a nose strip towards the top and skin bonded it. I also
placed a cotton ball inside to fill the pocket. I'm getting worried that
they will not stand properly.. Any thoughts or suggestions ??
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Emily:
Q: from Missy
Date: 5-October-2007
Comments: Docking Tails
Is there any secrets or products you use to deter the mother from cleaning
the pups tails too much after docking? I had a friend who's bitch was a
little too over zealous in cleaning a tail and took off skin which obviously
never healed with hair when the puppy grew. Would banding be better with
this bitch if she was to breed again?
Would banding be better with this bitch if she was to breed again?
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Date: 25-September-2007
Comments: Choosing A Breeder
I realize this is a bit early, but my fiancee and I are living in
an apartment at the moment and, while we've wanted to get a Doberman for
years, we've been waiting until he finishes grad school and we buy a house.
I grew up with Dobermans, but the puppy applications we've seen were pretty
intense and we're concerned that reputable breeders may not take our
application seriously since we've waited so long to get a dog, have no vet
references of our own, etc.
I know that I could easily get a puppy from a less impressive breeder, but
this is a big commitment and I want to actually know what I'm getting.
What are your thoughts? Is there anything we should do in the meantime?
Thanks!
A: from Judy Bohnert, Equinox Dobermans, USA
Fill out the applications Ysella and if they turn you down then that
particular breeder just wasn't meant to be for you. When the right breeder
comes along they will want to phone you and talk to you about your
application.
Once they get to know exactly who you are and what you are about they will,
I am sure, commit to selling you one of their puppies. Be patient,
determined and above all, BE HONEST.
Date: 20-September-2007
Comments: Ear Cropping
I am trying to help a friend find a Vet in the Southern California area that
does ear cropping. We have been referded to one in Riverside but most of the
reviews online are bad times with the vet office and the Drs in it. We have
searched all of the web. I do appreicate your time. Thank you in advance
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA
Myles, the only vet I can recommend in Southern California is LaBounty in
Studio City. I do not know of any others.
Q: from Gaby
Date: 18-September-2007
Comments: Conformation
I have a 9 month old black puppy, he has an international pedigree and both
parents are international champions and BIS. Since he was six months he
started to grow yellow hair on the back of his ears and neck. He is a very
fine dog and I wanted to show him, but I donīt know if this is a
disqualifying fault.
Thank you
A: from
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.