DPCA BREEDERS EDUCATION Q & A ARCHIVES - Page 7, 2004


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Q: from Royal

Date: Thursday, December 30, 2004
Time: 8:30 PM

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

I have an Isabella male that I would like to breed but I'm concerned about potential combinations and problems.
A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

After reading the articles on this website about health issues, etc., you need to think real hard about breeding your girl.  If she has puppies that end up having problems, you will have to answer to the new owners and be responsible for each of those puppies for their lifetime.  Breeding is a very big undertaking. Being a  responsible breeder means knowing when NOT to breed.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

And your question is????


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A: Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Royal,

You will have to learn and then ask yourself a lot of questions about breeding any Doberman let alone the possible color. Your dog must be tested for all of the inherent diseases that plague the Doberman breed before you breed so that you can make the best possible breeding decisions on health. Go here to read about our health problems: http://www.dpca.org/gendisease.html and here too to learn even more http://www.dpfa.org. 

Your Doberman should go through a simple temperament test (WAE) that is put on by the DPCA.

In this article you can learn about how to use the test in making a breeding decision. http://www.dpca-breedered.com/breeders_tools.htm You can find out more about this test by going to http://www.dpca.org/wae.html  

We do have a lot of articles on the web-site in the articles section about breeding. You should read and study the Doberman Pinscher standard http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCABreedStandard.htm. You will need to garner as much knowledge about the Doberman as you can before you make the decision to breed and bring a litter of puppies into the world. This endeavor is a huge responsibility to say the least. Here is a good article about making the decision to breed or not: http://www.dpca-breedered.com/useorneuter.htm 

I have found some of these articles for you. Please go to our pages at www.dpca-breedered.com and find even more articles and read them. If you go back into a few of the questions in the Q & A Archives you can find some answers to similar questions to yours about whether or not to breed your Doberman.

Breeding the fawn (and the blue) Doberman does have it's own downside too. Does your fawn Doberman have a normal coat or does he have the alopecia skin problem that often comes with the dilution factor. You can read about this too in an article that is on our articles page http://www.seattle-attorney.com/storm/sup.html. If your fawn Doberman does not have a normal coat it is recommended that he not be bred. He will sire this problem in his puppies.

Here is the color inheritance chart: http://www.dpca-breedered.com/colorinheritance.htm 

You can also go here and find a mentor maybe in your area to help you evaluate your dog for breeding. http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCA_mentors.htm

This is just a start for you. These articles should help you answer some of your questions. If you should have a specific question feel free to ask us again.

I hope that this helps you.

 

Q: from Nickie Robinson

Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Time: 2:19 PM

Comments: Feeding a Doberman

I am in search of the best food/diet for a Doberman. As well as supplements. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

There are some very good quality dog foods on the market today. If you are looking for a good quality kibble, be sure to read the labels and try to stay away from foods that have artificial preservatives or coloring. Dobermans can be sensitive and even allergic to these ingredients. I don't recommend canned food as it causes tartar build up. Some people feed a raw diet, but this takes some work and research on your part. he The recipes must be followed explicitly to ensure the correct nutrients are given. There are many books on the subject.
Whatever you decide to feed, be sure it is a high quality food, (not bought from a grocery store). Though they are more expensive, it's worth it to have a healthy happy Doberman.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Nickie,

Oh boy, you are going to get an different opinion from everybody that you ask this question to. I feed raw and pretty much make up my own balanced diet.

If you are going to feed a kibble, I would pick a high end natural kibble. I am trying to think. I take a publication called The Whole Dog Journal. In one of the 2004 issues they had an article rating all of the kibbles. You can find them on line and find that issue and I believe that you may be able to read it on line or you can at least get that issue.

When I did feed kibble, I fed Solid Gold's Hundenfloken. I added fresh raw hamburger to the meal. You can add yogurt too. For additives I fed

400 units of vitamin E 2x a day, 1000 mg of vitamin C or Ester C 2 times a day. I fed a fish oil cap once a day. I fed a tablespoon of Sunflower oil and 1 tablespoon of Udo's Choice oil that contains the omegas 3 and 6. You can feed flaxseed oil rather than the Udo's Choice oil for these important omegas. I fed kelp too although the Hundenfloken has seameal in it.

I have seen dogs that are fed the Flint River Ranch kibble that look good. Some of the kibbles that are fed give a dog a puffy look like it creates a inflammation look to their bodies. This is just my opinion about the kibbles. I hope that I have helped with the additives. I liked the Hundenfloken because it has a lot of the additives in it that I give to my dogs that are eating the raw diet. The additives mentioned above should be fed regardless you are feeding kibble or the raw diet. 

If you are interested in the raw diet, you can get the book Natural Nutrition For Dogs and Cats, The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy R. Schultze. You can get this book for under $10.00 from www.bookwise.com or info@4mdogbooks.com. I suggest that you get the book and read it before you start this kind of feeding. There are other books out there about the raw diet, I think this is the easiest one to read for starting.

If you don't have your Doberman yet, normally the reputable breeder will have a diet recommendation for you. Look at the breeders dogs for their condition too. I am assuming that you don't have your Doberman yet. Is that correct?

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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Hello,

There are hundreds of dog foods out there to choose from.  If you ask a hundred people they will swear their's is the best.

Most good brand foods are good for most dogs.  Occasionally dogs/puppies develop an allergy to some, get the runs from others or just don't seem to maintain their weight or get too heavy on others.  Like people, dogs are individuals and their needs vary.   

You should find a good brand you and your dog like.  If the dog likes it, his coat stays in good condition, and he is keeping his weight at the normal level for his age, then stick with that. 

It should be a food that has all the supplements added in.  You shouldn't need to add others if it is a quality food.  You might ask your breeder or someone who is a breeder and maybe shows dogs what brand they use.  Look at their dogs.  If you think they are in excellent shape, you might try that.  Keep your dog on the same food over a month or so and you should know if he is doing good on it.  Then stick with it.

Q: from Nancy
Date: Monday, December 27, 2004
Time: 6:15 PM

Comments: Pregnant Doberman

My 5 year old Doberman is 50 days pregnant now and light brown discharge is coming from her vulva.  Is this normal because I have read it is?  

A:  from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Nancy,
I discharge is normal and we would all probably describe the color differently. Me, I like the discharge color to be more towards a clear discharge, maybe a slight hint of color. I am thinking that you should take a sampling of it and give it a sniff test and check for a smell of infection or not. It you are suspect you should have a qualified person (veterinarian) check this further.


We do also have articles on our web-pages about the pregnant bitch to read for more education about pregnancies. The following are good ones to read...the first really doesn't talk about the discharge but please read it anyway. It will be helpful to you.
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/pregnancy_timeline.htm
 

Another must read does describe the normal discharge during pregnancy:

http://www.dpca-breedered.com/changes_bitch_foetus.htm


I hope that this helps. I suspect that you may be going to the vet in the end.

 

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Nancy:

A discharge can be normal during pregnancy. You should watch for a dark green or black discharge or strong odor. I would not hurt to have a veterinarian check it to be sure.
 

 

Q:  from Bernice Vespie

Date: Monday, December 27, 2004
Time: 6:44 AM

Comments: Doberman Conformation/Handling

My vet cut one ear shorter than the other...what can I do? This is a show dog.

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Bernice:

I would depend on how much shorter it is and whether or not it is distracting. If it's very distracting you can have the longer ear trimmed to match, but my recommendation would be to leave it alone unless it's real obvious.

 

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Bonnie,

Not to worry unless it is a major flaw. You need to make sure that the shorter ear is stretched up well and does not have a pocket. There are most always no two ears exactly alike. Is there a person in your area that shows and breed Dobermans that can help and mentor you? If so, this person have look at you puppy. Take a look at the DPCA referral list that is on this web-site and see who might live near you. I believe that we have a mentors list too, so check that as well. If we don't you can find these lists at www.DPCA.org too.

If you live near me in Northern California, give me a call (717-539-2050). I am on both the mentor and the breeder lists.

 

Q: from Orlando Robinson
Date: Sunday, December 26, 2004
Time: 5:53 PM

Comments: Doberman Temperament

I have a male Dobe, 2 yrs old - who has no confidence around people and new situations - very skittish. Any suggestions. I have a female same age, same environment but very outgoing.

I purchased the male at about 13-14 wks the bitch at 9 weeks.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Orlando,

This is a hard one to explain in writing. You need the help of a trainer or a behaviourist that knows Dobermans. Knowing the breed is the key word.

You can try taking him for outings ( leash walks) without the outgoing girl along so he has to deal with things. He just lets her do the greeting. You will need to encourage him to go up to people when he acts skittish. You can do this by stopping and engaging in a conversation with the person and encourage the dog to come up to him/her and be by you. He should always be on leash of course. Have the person pet him while you are talking, just stroke him on the head.  A common thing that we all do when they are younger is that we tend to pull them away from people so they don't bother them. In doing this we are telling them to be afraid. Now you have to reverse this. A good obedience training class is an idea too. Again, the trainer should know Dobermans to help you the best.

Can you talk to the breeders of your dogs for suggestions? Do you live near the breeder. If not can you tell us where you live and/or where you got your Dobermans from and what breeder.

Maybe we can help you with a referral. You can lookup breeders in your area by going here: http://dpca.org/breeder.html 

Also, here is an article that you can go to and print if you like for further study about the critical periods in a dogs life. http://www.dpca-breedered.com/superpuppy.htm The article talks about the certain critical periods and tells the breeder what to do and what not to do during periods and why. 

Since you got your male at 13-14 weeks the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,4th and the 5th critical periods would interest you. This is the time that the breeder had him. He came to you during the 5th period. By reading this you should get some insight to possible reasons and learn a lot about behaviours. There are other articles on our article pages too.

Let's see what the others suggest too. They may suggest to go here http://www.dpca-breedered.com/page1.htm and find a breeder in your area to help you. Some breeders can help with this sort of thing better than others.

I hope that this has been a little helpful.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Orlando:

I recommend that you get him out around people and lots of activity.  Take him to the car wash, take him to shopping areas, etc.  Expose him over and over again to people and activity

 

 

Q: from Jessica Kelloway

Date: Sunday, December 26, 2004
Time: 3:29 PM

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

Hi, I am currently looking to buy a puppy but am having problems finding quality breeders. I am very much for the breeders code of ethics especially the part about only breeding to better the breed because there are plenty Dobermans in this world that need homes if you aren't breeding strictly to better the breed don't breed at all .

The problem that I have been running into is INBREEDING you can not have quality anything in mind when you are inbreeding. I was wondering what standards the breeders on the referral page have to meet to get on it because some of the referred breeders have gone so far as to breed ½ brothers and ½ sisters.....I find this disturbing. These are not quality breeders and are not breeding to better the breed. I have seen the result of "line" breeding , some results may be good and you might have brought out the best of that line but a lot of those dogs also have every flaw of that line but instead of it being a slightly noticed flaw it gets worse and worse the more the inbreeding takes place. 

I have had at least one Doberman in my life at all times and know what a wonderful breed they are. I hope that the breeding among the members of the DPCA and AKC is strictly monitored for quality and not quantity. We need to protect our breed, it already is grossly misunderstood.
 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

 

Hello Jessica,

 The breeders names that you find in the DPCA breeder referral are supposed to follow the DPCA Code of Ethics. You should be able to find the code of ethics on the www.DPCA.org web-site. Click here for the COE: http://dpca.org/ethics.html

To the question of inbreeding and your opinion. Bear in mind that this is your opinion. I would like to point out that although a 1/2 brother to a 1/2 sister breeding is a close breeding but it not an inbreeding according to the definition of inbreeding. It is considered a line breeding. Inbreeding is pretty much as close as incestuous breeding such as daughter to father , mother to son and brother to a sister. Inbreeding is not done very often, but it is done to obtain improvements and/or 'fix' desirable physical characteristics or mental attributes through the mating of closely related animals. It is the opposite of out crossing, which refers to breeding with totally unrelated animals within a given breed.

Line breeding may be referred to as the happy medium between inbreeding on the one hand and out crossing on the other. By strict definition, it is an acceptable breeding program based upon the mating of somewhat distantly related animals, i.e. cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, rather than brothers and sisters.

Breeding a 1/2 brother to a 1/2 sister is a close line breeding by my definition. Any breeding that is made by most DPCA members are normally well thought out. We take a lot into consideration. Health, longevity, temperament and structure are four important considerations that are taken. There are many components to each of these four  things to consider also. 

You can steer clear of these types of breeding if you so choose. There are litters amongst the DPCA breeders that are not this close of a line breeding.

One of the questions that you can ask the breeder is why they did do this type of a breeding. They should have an explanation and most likely a long explanation. There are articles on our pages that can help you with questions to ask the breeder and how to determine a good breeder. You are right though, we should be breeding quality and not quantity. In my opinion, this sort of a breeding could be for good reasons by the breeder. Just interview the breeder as they should interview you. Be sure to ask about health decisions too. Breeding pairs should be tested for all of the inherent health problems that plague the Doberman Pinscher. DPCA breeders also adhere to the Standard of the breed too. You can read the standard here:

http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCABreedStandard.htm

Also there are a lot of articles on our pages that explain and discuss the standard. There are articles about Doberman temperament and also articles about Doberman health. I personally think that it is an advantage to buy from a DPCA breeder because they/we have to learn all of these things to breed quality Doberman Pinschers.

Additionally, it is the purpose of the DPCA to preserve and protect the Doberman Pinscher. Please read the Constitution and Bylaws which tells the purpose of the DPCA:

http://dpca.org/constitution.html

I hope that this helps some.

 

Q: from Tim

Date: Friday, December 24, 2004
Time: 4:40 PM 

Comments:  Doberman Health

Are there any "home remedies" for preventing bumps on a dobe's elbows? I have hardwood floors in my house. Is there anything else I can do besides provide soft places to lay (which I already do)?

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Preventing the development of these bumps known as bursas is difficult. Keeping the dog from slamming down on hard surfaces can be a practice in futility. However cushions and rugs are the best way that I know of. 

 Many are quick to have the bursas drained if they are fluid filled.  I do not recommend this as it can introduce infection and create scarring causing the bump to harden. Then they are more difficult to get rid of. And surgical removal is a last resort, IMO. 

Message the elbows a few times day, while you are sitting with him/her watching TV for instance. I found this to be very successful. If you are diligent and patient and the dog is young, often they will go away on their own with time.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Tim,

I am assuming that your dog has calluses on the elbows.

You have to soften them up. I have done it by putting bag balm on them. Do that for a few days and then wash the elbows. You will then need to squeeze out the dead hair that you will most likely find when you squeeze them much like squeezing a pimple. You will really have to clean them out. The dead hair that has been pushed into that area and that is what is causing the puffiness and the elephant looking skin. After you get them cleaned out you will have to medicate them with an antibiotic cream (use the cream rather then the ointment). You will need to have patience and diligently keep after these and keep them cleaned out. You may have to do this several times and for many weeks. During this time provide soft places both in the house and out in the yard and encourage him to lay on those areas. You may want to check with a vet with this method. I have been successful years back doing this. It does take a long while, like a few months. You need to ready the area to be able to grow hair once again. Once the hair can grow in again and it starts to grow, it will take at least eight weeks to fill in with hair. You will improve these elbows. Like I said I was successful in doing this many-many years ago and now I do all of the preventatives to keep it from happening again to my dogs.

I hope this better helps you.

Q: from Sarah Clawson
Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Time: 11:05 AM

Comments: Doberman Health

My 2 yr old red Dobie has VERY flaky dry skin and she sheds a lot.  What can I do to help? 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Sarah,

It is common at this time of the year for this to happen to our Dobermans. The air is dryer now. Anyway, you can give in her food at each feeding a tablespoon of a vegetable oil, such as olive oil, sunflower oil, some people like peanut oil. Better yet, you can add flaxseed oil to the diet too in addition to the oil. She should get the Omegas 3 and 6 in her diet as well. You can give her 400 units of vitamin E twice a day and also fish oil capsules daily. All of this will help from the inside. The fish oil caps and the Flaxseed oil have the omegas 3 and 6. 

Topically I make a mix of 1 part of baby oil or Skin So Soft (I like this), a capful of Listerine and put it in a spray bottle and then fill it with water and shake it to mix it well. Spray that on her twice a day and wipe her with the hair with a towel. She should look nice and shiny in no time.

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A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

You might consider changing the food you are giving. Supplementing with flax seed oil or fish oil with a sufficient amount of Omega 3 helps as well. Check with your vet as to the dosage for your dogs weight and age.

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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Hi Sarah,

In the winter when the heat is on, many dogs will get dry, flakey skin just like humans.  You can try some additives such as Vitamin E, Derm Care or Caps, Fish Oil etc. You should try and get Omega 3 and 6 in her diet.  Possibly changing foods if the above don't seem to take care of the problem.  Keep her away from registers where she might like to lay.  If it's just a coat problem and not any underlying medical problem, these should help.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Sarah:

There a lot of different supplements you can add to the food to help the coat but the first and foremost is that you are feeding a good quality pet food.  Some people are feeding raw diets with great success.  One of the supplements I add to their food is sea kelp, I think it helps with coat and dry skin.  Also, if you bath your dog, be sure you do not rub against the coat always rub and dry WITH the coat.  Going against the coat can cause dandruff to be stirred up.

Q: from Amanda

Date: Monday, December 20, 2004
Time: 4:48 PM 

Comments: Blue Dobermans

I know that blues have problems with their skin but on average how big are they supposed to get we have 4 Dobes and 2 are blue. Our blue female is well over 1 year old and not even close to the size of her mother or father which are average size Dobes. Please help with some info. Also she is having her first heat and is being very aggressive towards all the other dogs and towards us. What should we do to help out with that?

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Dobermans are supposed to be standard size regardless of color.  If the breeding was indiscriminate, there's no telling if the pups will resemble to parents in size, phenotype or temperament.

As for the aggression, you will have to monitor that.  If she is aggressive toward the other dogs, a fight may ensue and you'll have to keep her separated from the others. Aggression toward you is unacceptable and you need to get professional help from a qualified trainer as soon as you can if you are not sure how to handle her.

Correct the problem while she is young.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Amanda,

Now I understand, I think? Blue Dobermans are the same size as other Dobermans. According to our standard male Dobermans are between 26 and 28 inches tall with 271/2 being the ideal height. With the females it is 24 to 26 with 251/2 being ideal. The height is measured from the highest point of the withers to the ground. Dobermans are considered a medium sized dog. They should have heavy bone and appear bigger than their dimensions. The Doberman Standard is here:http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCABreedStandard.htm

Bear in mind that the Doberman usually gets their height by the time that they are approximately 10 months old and they develop their body mass or substance usually by 2 years of age or a little older. The reason that she may be much smaller is probably genetic and if she were a black or a red she could still be small. Maybe there are a couple of small framed Dobermans in both sides of her background. You would have to find the individuals in her pedigree and try to see them or ask questions of the breeders of the background to maybe get a more understanding as to why your girl is so much smaller than her parents.

Since she is having her first heat she is most likely not wanting the other dogs sniffing her and pestering her and her being snippy and not wanting them around her is normal. The heat cycle affects different individuals in different ways. There will come a time in her heat cycle (like soon) where she will take on a totally opposite behavior and want to play and court and so on. I would separate her from any male dogs before she changes into this behavior. In the meantime, she is just telling them "NO!!!!!!!!, leave me alone, I hate this!" 

After she is finished with this heat cycle, and if you are thinking of spaying her, try to do it before her next cycle in approximately 6 months.

I hope that this helps.
Q: from Melanie Hellmer

Date: Saturday, December 18, 2004
Time: 5:14 PM

Comments: Doberman Health

My Dobe's pads crack and bleed occasionally in the winter months, is this common, as I feed him vitamin E, Flax seed oil, safflower oil, and fish oil. Any suggestions??

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Melanie:

I don't know if this is common since I live in a very mild winter climate and have never experienced the problem.  However, you can treat pads with tea bags.  Soaked tea bags help to toughen the pads, perhaps that would help.  Also, if the dog is out in the cold for long periods, perhaps that could be creating the problem as well, try limiting exposure.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Melanie,

I have not had experience with this except for with an injury. It sounds rather unusual. I would talk to my vet about it and see if there is a topical to treat this. When you do get it treated there are products on the market that will help toughen the feet. Anyway, my advice is to see and talk to your vet. I am interested in what the others have to say about this. I would think that you would need something to treat the cuts and to soften the pads too.

Does his skin appear dry too, his nose and his other parts of his body?

Your additives to his diet are good and they are good for him to have always.  
Q:  from Pete

Date: Friday, December 17, 2004
Time: 3:19 PM

Comments: blue Dobe skin cures

Anyone know home remedies for skin problems with blue Dobermans approx 6 months?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

I don't know quite what you want to know from us on your question. Can you be more specific? In the meantime I can refer you to a article about blue Dobermans that is on our article pages. http://www.seattle-attorney.com/storm/sup.html

If you have another question after you read this, let us hear it.

I hope that this article helps you.

Q: from Lisa Burnett
Date: Sunday, December 12, 2004
Time: 3:11 AM

Comments: Doberman Health

I have an 8 year old female Doberman who has re-occuring tendonitis which is particularly bad at the moment - what can you recommend for treatment of this condition? She has regular (every 3 months) acupuncture and her current medication is oroxine for a thyroid imbalance. I have been icing the swollen hock area and also rubbing in myoton cream.  

 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA 

Hello Lisa,
Are you sure that you are diagnosing this swollen hock area correctly? I have treated my own tendonitis by giving (say it is in my forearm) rest. I would imagine a doctor could recommend Advil for inflammation for me (human). I have done that for a dose or two to help with the pain and swelling of it and I have put ice packs on it to help get the swelling of the tendons down. The important thing is the resting of it and using it as little as possible. With tendonitis my arm doesn't noticeably swell up. The tendons do swell inside.


I was under the impression that an accurate thyroid panel reading cannot be given to a puppy. I am not familiar with oroxine, so I can't comment about this.


I see that your e-mail address is bigpond, so I am thinking that you may live in Australia. Maybe I would try an second opinion from another vet about why the hock area is swollen. It sounds as though you have been
treating this for quite a while.

 

Have you talked to your breeder about this? 


Do you think that your girl could have Bursitis on her hock like a dog gets on it's elbow. With Bursitis, there is fluid in the area as well and if it is that then it needs to be drained. Sometimes the bursa may need surgery. Usually they are caused by an injury of some sort. It is like a bone bruise maybe. Usually with a bursa, a person needs to make sure that their dog has a nice padded bed to lay on to keep them from banging the injured area and re-injuring it. I would recommend a trip to a second vet for another opinion.

 

I hope that this little bit of history is of some help.
 

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A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

This  is really a question for a health professional as we are not veterinarians but you might want to investigate a holistic vet that may be able to recommend some more natural remedies to compliment the present therapy. As with any injury, rest and patience is paramount for optimum healing.

Q:  from Reagan
Date: Sunday, December 12, 2004
Time: 11:14 PM

Comments: Doberman Temperament

Is the Doberman bitch or dog dominant? I have heard arguments for both sides and for neither. I've also heard it's moot if you are going to get the dog fixed which I planned to do.

Any info will be greatly appreciated,
Reagan

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

http://www.dpca-breedered.com/spaying_castration.htm

Hello Reagan,

Both the dog and the bitch Doberman can be dominate and they should be dominate and strong. You and your family should be dominate (alpha) over them though. Above is a link to an article on our pages about neutering and spaying that may help answer the question that you pose.

I have found the neutering and spaying has little difference on the dominance of your dog. You have to establish early on in your dogs life that you are the boss. Dobermans are very obedient and thrive well with the human in his or her life being the boss.

I hope that this is a help to you

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A:  from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Reagan:

It all depends on the individual dog. I've seen dominance in both sexes but mostly in males. If you neuter the dog at a young age you can usually pacify their dominance traits.

Q:  from Tracie

Date: Sunday, December 12, 2004
Time: 9:03 PM

Comments: Doberman Health

When is the best time to have your Doberman cropped and how much does it usually cost?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Tracie,
The best time to crop the Doberman's ears is between 7 weeks and 10 weeks. The ears have been successfully cropped at 12 weeks and as late as 16 weeks.
The average price is around $300.00. Most reputable breeders have the ears cropped, stitches out and the ears are healed and ready to tape when their puppies go to their new homes. The ear crop is included in the price of the puppy.

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

The best time for cropping is between 7 and 9 wks.  Prices range from the mid $100's to $300. per puppy.

*** *** ***

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Tracie:

You should crop a puppy between the ages of 8 weeks and 13 weeks ideally. Costs vary from state to state but you can count on an average cost of $200-$300 a puppy.

*** *** ***

A: from Bonnie Dunlop, Botrina Kennels, Canada

Hello Tracie

Usually the ears are cropped at 6 to 8 weeks of age and it costs about $200.00 (Canadian) for the surgery and then there is all the aftercare and supplies needed to tape the ears for the next 6 months. Find a vet that does cropping and go see him/her. Read the DPCA Breeder Education articles on the topic.

When you do your research for a vet, you also want to research breeders that could help you with the taping of the ears following cropping as well. You will need someone that is good at taping. There are also articles on the DPCA site about taping ears which you may find very helpful.

Q: from Jim

Date: Friday, December 10, 2004
Time: 5:10 PM


Comments: Doberman Health
 

How do you feel about annual vaccination boosters?  I'm reading that they are not necessary and might actually be harming the dogs.
 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Jim,

What you are reading is true according to the latest studies. I forget what school or schools.

It seems the U of C at Davis is one. I believe that we have the new shot protocol on our article pages
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/vaccination_protocol.htm
 

You can have a titer done to determine whether or not that your dog needs a booster. Your veterinarian can guide you. I don't give my dogs the annual boosters. You may be able to go the University of California at Davis web-site too and read more.

I hope that this helps.

*** *** ***

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

 

The new recommended general protocol for booster vaccines against "Core" viruses is every 3 years after the initial annual booster. This is subject to susceptibilities in your local area. Check with your vet and get a 2nd veterinary opinion if necessary. No one wants to over-vaccinate their dog, but going unprotected can have devastating results. There are lots of articles about this subject on the internet as well.
 

Q: from Baker O'Brien
Date: Friday, December 3, 2004
Time: 5:57 AM

Comments: Doberman Conformation/Handling

This is a serious question.

How do I prepare the beef liver for bait so that it has that almost jerky-like texture? I am training a Dobie rescue puppy and need good bait.

Thank you.

 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

 

Hello Baker,
This is how I prepare the liver and it comes out so that it doesn't mess up my pockets and ect. For the jerky like liver, I would guess that you would have to have it cut up to be thinner slices than what I cook. First I wash it and then boil it until it is cooked. Then I wash it again to get all of the filmy stuff off and put it into the microwave and dry it out. You can salt it if you like or you can season the water that you boil it in. I cook it in the microwave on each side. The length of time would depend on how think or thin each piece is. It may be easier to cook it in the pieces that it comes in and slice it after the boiling of it.
I hope that this helps.
 

*** *** ***

 

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Baker:

The way I prepare liver for the bait is as follows:

Parboil the liver for few minutes to quick cook it. This helps remove excess blood from the organ than can cause a "stickiness" when it's broiled if not removed.

Put on a broiler pan and sprinkle with garlic powder and broil on one side until brown; then turn and broil on the second side until brown.

Hope this helps.

*** *** ***

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Boil the liver for about 15 minutes or so. Then rinse it very well under running water. Be sure to remove all the residue. Pat dry with a paper towel and lay on cookie sheet. Bake in oven at about 250 degrees for about 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness. Turn over and bake the other side until it looks dark brown. It can be bagged and frozen for future use.

 

Q: from Elizabeth
Date: Friday, December 3, 2004
Time: 7:46 AM

Comments: Ear Cropping

I have a 15 week old Doberman male who had his ears cropped at 12 weeks of age. The vet I was referred to insisted that there is absolutely no reason to tape or post a Doberman's ears after having them cropped. He stated that a Doberman's ears have a natural tendency to stand and that it is actually the muscle that holds the ears up. I took his word and sure enough, the ears stood straight up within 3 days!

 

It has been 3 weeks now and I have seen NO problems. They are perfect!

 

My husband has had Dobermans all his life and was very nervous about my decision not to tape, but he is now very pleased! We will never tape or post again, it is not necessary! I also might mention that we had a medium to long (show crop) done, so it was not a short crop that helped his ears go up on his own.

 

My question is, have you heard of this technique? and what are your thoughts on it? Also, for anyone who is interested and are in the Chicago area, please visit with Dr. Hammer at Norwood Park Animal Hospital for more insight on his theory.
 

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

 

Dear Elizabeth,

Consider yourself VERY lucky. I would say that if the ears were cropped at 12 wks. and they had lots of lift to them, it's possible that they might stand, however I'd say you are one in a million. No, ears cropped (as a rule) must be taped in order to stand. I doubt this Vet has done many ears to be able make a statement like this. All of us have been breeding and cropping for years and if it was that easy, we'd ALL be flocking to this Vet or any other that could guarantee no taping. You're just one of the lucky ones. Congratulations.

 

*** *** ***

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA


Hello Elizabeth,


Way back in the 60's I used a vet who liked to do the ears at 12 weeks and I had an occasional puppy whose ears stood up after the crop. It was rare. I still had to tape the ears for perfection.


So with that in mind I have a couple of questions. First, what sort of apparatus or wrapping did the vet do while the pup was in stitches and after the cropping surgery?

 

The next question would be, are the ears standing straight up at 12 o'clock position without any pockets at the base or the edges curling inward or outward?


Thank you for the report. I would love to see a photo.
 

*** *** ***

 A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

 

That's very interesting. Perhaps your vet would be willing to share his theory and technique with us as we would love to believe there is a better alternative to posting and taping. What is his success rate? Do every Dobe's ears stand that he crops? We would love to know his secret.

 

 

Q: from Bonnie
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Time: 8:30 AM

Comments: Raw Diets

My Doberman "Heidi" is a year and a half, and I have always fed her kibble. She has always seemed hungry, even though she has maintained a very good weight and body condition. I currently feed her twice daily. I do not believe in feeding table scraps to dogs because it promotes begging, but she was curious one day when I was peeling potatoes, so I gave her a piece. Now she is addicted. She has also found a liking for apples when she thought I was peeling potatoes. Recently she stole my banana off the table and peeled it and ate half the banana before I caught her - not the peeling. How would I go about feeding her veggies in her diet on a regular basis - along with her kibble? Are there any fruits and veggies I need to be leery of ? Do they need to be cooked first? Can this be fed on a daily basis? Thank you very much for your help and thoughts!

 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Bonnie,

I successfully feed a raw diet. First of all fruits and vegetables are safe for your dog and I feed raw vegetables everyday. I don't think that there are vegetables that are not safe for them but there are some that are better than others. Another thing they get more nutrition from the vegetables if they are chopped up small. I make a mix of  2 underground (carrots, yams, beets, etc.) 2 above ground (green beans, broccoli and etc.) and small amounts of two leafy (spinach, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens and etc.). I use the juicer and the food processor to make a months supply. I also add to that mixture which you don't have to, but I will tell you, garlic cloves (chopped) olive oil, apple cider vinegar and whole eggs including the shell.

To help you learn about the raw diet, I recommend the book, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats, The Ultimate Diet, by Kymythy R. Schultze. This book cost under $10.00 and it tells you about the things that you can feed, the vitamins that they are rich in and why. For example the reason why the vegetables are chopped up small. You can buy this book at Borders, Barnes and Noble or at www.dogwise.com or info@4mdogbooks.com. 

I like the book because it explains the diet simply and thoroughly. She does warn against feeding onions.

I hope that this helps. I strongly suggest getting the book for further knowledge.

Marj

PS: Kymythy also explains to give fruit a half hour away from other meals because they digest fruit at a faster rate then meats and vegetables. They can speed them through their digestion too quickly and cause stomach upset. She also says that too much fruit can cause loose stool. My dogs have not had this problem and they on occasion, like during harvest time, eat a lot of extra fruit.         

*** *** ***

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Fresh fruits and veggies are great for dogs as long as they are given in moderation. They should not exceed 10% of the daily caloric intake, per the College of Veterinarian Medicine at the University of Florida. You do not want to interfere with the balanced nutrition ratios your dog gets from her (hopefully) good quality kibble you are feeding.

That said, Bananas, Raw apples (not the seeds), carrots, tomatoes, green veggies like broccoli make a great alternative to fattening dog biscuits. Use them as reward in training.  Supposedly cooked is easier to digest, but vitamins are lost in the process. Be aware that some of the above can cause gas.... and  we all know what Dobermans are known for...!  So moderately.   A few pieces a day is enough.  By the way, no onions, they are toxic to dogs.

Q: from Lois Harder
Date: Monday, November 29, 2004
Time: 1:09 AM

Comments: (Other)

What is a good treatment for the Dobie bumps that the Min Pins and Dobermans seem to get or a prevention from them getting them? Is it a staph infection or is it maybe due to stress from weaning the pups?
 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Lois,

I have been very lucky myself and haven't had a problem with this foliculitis problem with my own personal dogs. However whenever I have had a bout with this problem I have been able to recognize it and start treating it immediately with antibiotics.

After a round of antibiotics which is usually about a month and I feed them a product called Grapefruit Seed Extract. This claims to be a homeopathic antibiotic.

For myself, I like to see if the dog is going to get this problem. This way I know if it is a problem in the line. I feel that the tendency for this problem is inherited, so I need to know for the future.

By the way, the antibiotic of choice these days seems to be Keflex (Cephalexin). In the old days we used Erythomycin.

The old way seemed to "knock it" more successfully to me.

I also think that daily wipes for the young puppy such as say, Listerine mixed with water, a touch of Skin So Soft and a few drops of bleach will help control this too.

I have found that if a person hits this right away for a long period of time (like 1 month) it has a strong chance of not coming back again. Most people treat it for only 10 days and it never seems to be enough time to combat the problem. It just keeps coming back and each time that it does it will be harder to treat and to eliminate all together.  

This is my opinion and my experience with this problem. I hope that this along with the other answers helps you.

*** *** ***

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Lois, it could be either one or even an allergic reaction to an external source. You should see a Veterinarian as she may need to be on antibiotics.
 

*** *** ***

 

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Bumps can be caused from many things. It could be from stress if the dog is young. It could be an allergy. It could be a non-contagious type of staph usually treated with antibiotics. If medicated shampoos such as Seborex or Chlorhexiderm don't improve the condition, take the dog to the vet and have a skin scraping done so it can be properly diagnosed and treated.
 

Q: from Glenda
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2004
Time: 8:28 PM 

Comments: J Bar S Dobermans 

I heard from someone that this is not a good breeder to get a puppy from...what do you think?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Glenda,

We cannot answer your question directly, but we do have some articles on our pages about how to find a good breeder and some questions that you need to ask and the like. Also you can go to www.DPCA.org and click onto the link, Public Education Committee for more information about this subject.

Here are our articles:

I hope that this helps you in your quest for a quality well bred puppy.

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A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

I personally have not heard of them, but before making a judgment on any breeder based on what you hear, find out the facts. Ask a lot of questions. What was the reason the breeder was considered bad? Do they health test? Do they breed too many dogs? Are the conditions not sanitary, etc.


Don't take just one opinion as gospel. Unfortunately someone may say things to try and persuade you to buy a puppy from them instead. Fortunately, this is not common practice among reputable breeders.


Get input from as many sources as you can. If the consensus is the same, then consider another breeder. Don't be afraid to ask the breeder all your questions. You must feel comfortable and confident with the breeder, as they should be there for you for the life of the puppy.
 

*** *** ***

 

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Glenda:

If you go to www.dpca.org and check for a breeder referral person in your area, you should be able to get some good information about this breeder and a referral to a good one if this is not. Hope this helps.
 


Q: from Jim
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Time: 3:57 PM

Comments: Doberman Health

Regarding Marj Brooks' answer to Christine on supplements, dated November 14.

 

What brand of vitamin C do you give your dogs? Should vitamins E & C be given for the life of the dog or just through the growing stages? Regarding the raw egg, how many times a week is a raw egg recommended? I'm feeding Innova puppy food, in your opinion should I supplement at all?

Thanks,
Jim

P.S: You ladies do a great job.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Jim,


I feed a raw diet and put it together myself so I feed Vitamin C a little different now. I give a Ester C powder in the morning and in the evening I feed a product called Meta C. I give at least 1000 mgs each feeding which is twice a day. In the days that I fed kibble I gave (I think) 500 mgs of Vitamin C twice a day and the same with Vitamin E (400 units 2 times a day) and I do so for the life of the dog. The reason that I feed Vitamin C twice a day is because they use it up in a few hours and they need it 2 times a day. This is what I had learned and I forget where I read it. The Innova and the other foods claim to have all of the vitamins in it but oftentimes it is not enough. Vitamin C and E are one of the vitamins that it is hard to give too much of. The two vitamins are helpful for the soft tissue too. There are probably a lot more benefits.

 

Another good product to give is fish oil. Oh, by the way, you can get all of these vitamins at Costco at a most
reasonable price. Wal-Mart also carries the three mentioned products.


I hope that this helps and thank you for the complement too.


PS: I forgot about the raw egg. That is a source of protein. If you choose to feed the raw egg, it is more balanced if you feed all of it including the shell. I also like to give fresh hamburger. I always did that too. You probably don't have to give too much.


Just a note, If your puppy looks to be swollen in the knuckle area of his front legs or all of a sudden starts limping it could mean that the balance of the diet is off and back off of the protein just a little.

 
*** *** ***

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

 

I use a common brand of Vitamin C.  Ascorbate is wonderful stuff, and can be used throughout the dog's life. It is also a great anti-inflammatory.  Too much can cause loose stool though, so keep a check on the amount. Start with
250mg. Vitamin E is found in Innova and should not have to be supplemented. I believe there can be toxic levels of Vitamin E so don't over do it.  I personally don't give raw egg anymore, but if you choose to, be sure the eggs are fresh. Dogs can get Salmonella poisoning.
 

 

Q: from Alyne
Date: Monday, November 22, 2004
Time: 6:08 PM

Comments: Doberman Health

My question is similar to Monica's on this page. My Doberman female (4 mo) has a lump at the back of her skull and it seems to be getting bigger. It is not quite the size of a golf ball but it is soft to the touch. I am very concerned. I just started treating her for demodex and I'm starting to really worry about this pups health. What can cause this kind of lump on the tip of the skull? 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Alyne,

It sounds as though your pup may have bumped her head and it is filling with fluid in that area of injury. I would take her to the vet and let him/her suggest treatment. Has she been diagnosed with demodex? How are you treating this? 

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Dear Alyne,

If the lump is on the occiput it is from a bump.  Possibly going in and out of her crate or she just banged herself on something.  Many times these fill with fluid.  Really nothing to worry about if this is where it's located.  Make sure the Vet checks it out first.  It will eventually go down.

*** *** ***

A:  from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Alyne:

If you are talking about a bump on the top of the head, it's likely a head trauma injury like a bump on something. It will take several months to go down because the fluids need to be reabsorbed back into the body. If it's behind the back of the head and in to the neck it could likely be a hemotoma caused from a vaccine. Either way it would be best to have a vet exam and diagnose.
 

Q: from B. Short

Date: Monday, November 22, 2004
Time: 1:17 PM

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

I have a litter of Dobies, mommy is Red  (#7),Daddy Black (#4). I got an entire litter of Blacks, some do have a grey tint but I don't think it is a blue, (I have a blue and he was much lighter at birth than they are, but what are the odds that I would get all black from these two? Her previous litters have always been almost all red. But this is the first time I have breed to this male. Just curious? 

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello B. Short,

I had this happen years ago too and yes it is possible even though you can get both reds and blacks with the combination  of breeding a #7 to a #4. I can say that blues do vary in shades of  the blue color. I would think that you would know the actual color by now. You also would have to be breeding a #8 to a number #4 to get the dilution color.

Have you seen the color chart on our pages?

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Hello,

You didn't say how many pups you had in your litter.  If it's not too many, that wouldn't be unusual for having all blacks.  You also said the sire is #4.  Are you positive?  If the sire is a Type 1 or Type 2, then all the pups would be black out of a type 7 bitch.  Otherwise it was just the toss of the coin as to the colors.

*** *** ***

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

B. Short:

You could get an all black litter and it's rare but you could also get an all red litter from this type of breeding but I would be inclined to think that the black dog is either a dominant black or a throws blacks and blues. How do you know what his color type is if you have not bred him before?

 

 

Q: from Leah Brown

Date: Monday, November 22, 2004
Time: 12:57 PM

Comments: excessive shedding

Hi,

I had my first litter of Doberman pups on 02/14/2004 and it will be my last since my female is no longer with us as we lost her when the pups were 4 weeks old. She produced 5 blk/ rst and 5 blue/rust and 1 red. The runt was # 5 in the birth order, she took his umbilical cord all the way off so I do realize he was not suppose to live and with my help and hernia surgery he has defied the odds. He is 72 lbs now at 9 months, and thinks I am his mother.

Anyway for about a month he has been shedding, and I mean shedding. He has no bald spots on him but I am concerned that this could be a health issue. He is a housedog, the weather is changing here and I didn't know if this could have something to do with the problem.

Thank you for any opinions.

A:  from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

 

You may want to have the vet check his thyroid.  If he is not just "blowing coat", it could be hormonal or possibly low thyroid. It may also be diet related.  The vet may be able to recommend good a supplement.

 
*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Chances are that he is just shedding his baby coat.  If he isn't looking hair (balding) in spots then I don't think it's anything to worry about.  Take a rubber curry like they use for horses and strip away all the dead hair.  A couple days of good brushing should do it.  If however, you see patches and it's the outer coat that is coming out, take him to the Vet.

I'd put him on Dermacaps as it has Omega 3 and is good for coats. 

*** *** ***

A: from Darlene Young , Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Leah:

Shedding is a common thing for this time of year with weather changes.  You can get a curry brush and start brushing him every day to get the dead hair out.
 

 

Q:  from Spann Cordle

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Time: 6:34 PM

Comments: Doberman as a service dog

I'm in the process of trying to obtain a sponsor for a service dog due to having Cerebral Palsy. With the health problems of the Doberman do they make good service dogs? I live in a one bedroom garage apt. will the dog be too hyper for closed in areas?

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Spann,

I cannot tell you which breed is the best for you to get for a service dog.

A good service dog is based on the temperament. The Doberman is not supposed to be hyper. The Doberman with the proper Doberman temperament will be a highly trainable dog and has the qualities to make for a great service dog. There are articles on our pages about the Doberman temperament traits that we should be breeding for. First here is our Standard: http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCABreedStandard.htm

Here is an article that could be of interest to you too:

http://www.dpca-breedered.com/breeders_tools.htm

I have known both breeds to be great service dogs. I would think that you would need to also take into consideration the health of the service dog prospect. Both breeds, actually all breeds, have their health concerns.  I would demand that the parents of your chosen puppy would be tested for all of the inherent health problems of the breed including being x-rayed and found clear of hip dysphasia. The parents and grand-parents and as many generations as we have had the testing for should have had breeding decisions made on the results of the testing. Other testing for Dobermans should include having a complete thyroid panel done, tested for Von Willebrands Disease, heart testing (a sonogram and a holter monitor test) and the C.E.R.F eye test too. Breeding decisions based on health should be made with the results of this testing. This is not a guarantee but it is start on our breeding for health and longevity. 

I hope that this is a start in helping with your question.

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Dogs of good breeding should each be considered.  You would have a problem with a Dobe in extreme weather because of the short coat.  Of course I am biased and think a Dobe would be better but then I'm sure good Shepherd breeders would say the same of their breed.

*** *** ***

 
A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Spann:
Doberman Pinschers do indeed make excellent service dogs and I believe so can German Shepherds. I would make the choice based on your preferences of their breed temperaments, adaptability to weather, house manners, etc. Both have their health issues as do most other breeds.

There is a program within the Doberman Community. Joanna Walker is renowned in this endeavor. You can locate her through the DPCA website.

*** *** ***

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Dear S.C.

Dobermans do indeed make great service dogs but it depends on the dog itself.  Getting a young dog may be a little to active for you in such a small area.  I would contact some of the service groups and see if they have any Dobes in training that would be suitable for your needs.

Q: from Richard Parker

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Time: 4:48 PM

Comments: Breeders

I need help from the experts. Can I trust House of Hoytt Dobermans located in Knoxville TN. I don't want to be taken in by my heart. My wife and I enjoyed our Dobermans till they passed 21/2 years ago and are ready to bring them back in our home. Help!

A:  from Judy Bohnert, Equinox, Canada

Hi Richard...my reply to you is DEFINITELY NOT! I am sure others that write for the Q & A page will tell you the same if not more.

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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Richard,

Go to the DPCA site: www.dpca.org and you will find DPCA breeders referral or e-mail to DPCABREEDERREFERRAL@EARTHLINK.NET  You will find very ethical breeders in most states.  Find one that isn't a puppy mill.

*** *** ***

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

I can't stress enough how important it is do your homework and research ALL breeders you are considering purchasing a puppy from. Get documentation on the health testing they do. Ask to read their purchase agreements prior to committing. Try to find other people who have had dogs from this kennel and find out what their experience has been.  Some breeders are good salesman, but that does not necessarily mean they are reputable.

 

Q: from Janet
Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Time: 2:54 PM

Comments:

I have had dogs all my life (mostly German Shepherds, and am considering purchasing a Dobie (for indoor pet/watchdog only). Any advice for a first time Dobie owner? Since I am so familiar with Shepherds, how does a Doberman's temperament compare?

 

A: from Marj Brtooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

 

Hello Janet,
Our pages are chock full of articles describing the ideal Doberman Pinscher. I would suggest reading the Doberman Pinscher Standard and also finding and reading these articles as well as the German Shepherd Dog and compare and decide on the differences for your own preferences, needs and etc.


The Doberman Pinscher Standard:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/DPCABreedStandard.htm
Articles about the Doberman temperament:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/tempnaturenurture.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/suspicion.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/breeders_tools.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/formfunction.htm
Articles about discussions of the Standard.
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/dobes_in_detail.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/how_the_standard_works.htm
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/doberman.html


These are just a few articles of info about the breed that we have to offer. There are more, just take a look. Another place that you can go is to the DPCA Website and click onto the Public Education site and find more.


I hope that this helps.
 

*** *** ***
 
A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Your best bet is to read all the articles about the Doberman on this site as well as www.dpca.org site.  Read all the books you can.  Go to dog shows and talk to breeders and exhibitors of both breeds and then decide.

*** *** ***

A: from Bonnie Dunlop. Botrina Kennels, Canada

Hello Janet

First of all, you should go back to the DPCA Breeder Education website and read every single article written. There are also many good books on Dobermans that you should get your hands on and read from cover to cover. Then you need to research breeders and find one that is honest and spend some time with that breeder and his/her dogs to learn first hand about the temperaments.

Don't be in a huge hurry to get a Dobe. Education, education and more education is very important when wanting to learn about anything.

Spend some time with Dobermans to see for yourself what the temperaments are like. Asking to assist a breeder with daily chores and just being around them will tell you a huge amount about this breed. The Doberman is a dominant breed and you need to keep that in mind as they can manipulate you faster than you can imagine. Learn to read their body language and learn their little idiosyncrasies before you decide whether or not this is the breed for you or not. Research and education are of utmost importance. Spend some time with a trainer/handler to watch how to train this breed. I can't emphasize enough to educate yourself about the breed.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Janet:

A Doberman can be a wonderful companion and house pet. They can be great with children and good protectors. I usually recommend a female for a first time owner as they are smaller and I feel easier to train. Males mature much later and are larger than females. You should get some good books on Dobermans and read up on their temperaments, etc. There are also some great articles on this website on how to raise them with children, etc. Check out this site http://www.dpca-breedered.com/article_menu.htm for further information on temperament and raising a Doberman.
 

 

Q: from Jason Gibson

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Time: 11:53 AM

Comments: ear cropping

 

I have just got a Doberman puppy and was wondering if there are any reputable vets in the Philadelphia area that do ear cropping.

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Your breeder should have supplied you with that information if the ears were not already done. You can look up breeders in your area on this web site and contact them. Perhaps they can put you in touch with a experienced vet close to you.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Jason:  I would recommend you go to the DPCA website www.dpca.org and look for a mentor in you are or go to the breeder referral contact for your area and contact them for a recommendation.

 
Q: from Debra Jennings

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Time: 10:28 AM 

Comments: mild hip dysplasia

9 month old neutered male...any info to help vet who has him on ligaplex for joints, long story.

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Debra:

Unfortunately, none of us are veterinarian's on this website.  If you are concerned about the medical treatment your Dobe is getting I would recommend locating an orthopedic specialist in your are and take him there to get a second opinion.

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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

If his dysplasia is mild and he is not in any discomfort (which if it's mild, he shouldn't be) I might just put him on glucosamine & chondroitin with MSN and Omega 3.  If his hips don't get any worse, he might develop a slight arthritis in his hips but if it's mild shouldn't be too bad.  If it is a severe case, your Vet might want to do a pectiniotomy.  That is cutting the tendons that hold the hips in place.  I've seen dogs that would come into the Vets not walking and walk out the next morning.

 
Q: from Sharon
Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Time: 8:32 AM

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

I currently have a 10 1/2 old male Dobe puppy. We had his ears cropped, but the posting did not take. Will this effect our ability to breed him?


Also, what is the best route for finding a quality female with which to breed him?

 

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Hi Sharon,

First of all, you're going about this the wrong way.  Unless you bought your puppy for top show/breeding quality, he should not be bred but neutered.  If you want to get into breeding, even though you may only want one litter, you should buy the best female you can from a very top breeder who has a history of good dogs.

You must be sure the parents are all health tested for OFA, vWD, Thyroid, Heart etc.  You must do the same when thinking of breeding your own dog/bitch.

You should talk to several breeders and learn learn learn.  There is much more to whelping a litter than just putting to purebred dogs together.

As to the ears not standing.  You most likely didn't post them long enough.  Most ears can be taught to stand with constant taping.  Your breeder should have told you how. 

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Sharon:

Before you breed you male you should first have him evaluated to determine his quality to our breed standard.  The ears, standing or not, should have no bearing on his overall conformation quality.  Normally it's the female's owner that seeks out a male for breeding.  You should read some of the excellent articles on this web site about breeding Dobermans.  It's very important that you have your male completely health tested as well.  The basic tests involve Thyroid, VWD, OFA/Hips and Cardio workup.  I would suggest that you go to www.dpca.org and find a mentor in your area that can help you learn more about the breed.

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A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

I recommend you read all you can on this website before you think about breeding your dog.

Q: from Richard Parker

Date: Sunday, November 14, 2004
Time: 1:37 PM

Comments:  Raw Food

I have read many articles on the benefits of a balanced raw food diet for Dobes. Your opinions please.

A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Richard,

I feed my dogs the raw diet and I am very happy with the results of the diet with my dogs. I just answered a question on the raw diet and I recommended the book, Natural Nutrition For dogs and Cat, The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy Schultze as a book to read to help the person get started on the raw diet. There are a lot of books out there about feeding the raw diet. My opinion is to go for it because I am happy with this way of feeding my dogs and cats too. They do seem to be healthy, actually in  a lot of ways healthier.

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A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Dear Richard,

Personally I do not feed a raw diet.  I have been a breeder for 50 years and have fed a good brand of Kibble with meat added.  Until I see a problem, which up until now I haven't, then I will continue to feed the same.

Q: from Christine

Date: Sunday, November 14, 2004

Time: 4:38 AM 

Comments: Breeding the Doberman

I have a 16 wk. hopeful show male pup. What supplements do you recommend?

  1. Giving 400 e 500c fish oil no calcium - breeder said yes and vet said no.  

  2. Feeding kibble and dry large breed in elevated bowls - someone said the elevated bowls can cause bloat.

  3. Are occasional egg yolks okay -should they  be raw or cooked?  

His ears are still not standing even for five minutes. I go to the breeders partner to have them done. Is it that difficult to do on my own. He is very far from where I live but I don't want to ruin my boys ears.

Thanks.

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Tails should be docked at the 2nd joint, but the length of the tail can vary depending on the length of the vertebrae. What is long to one person is not to another.  If your handler thought it was a  just little long, I personally wouldn't put the dog through re-docking. The dog will finish based on his merit.  A long tail can end up too short when re-docked as well.

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A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

Christine:

You can ask 10 people what supplements to give your puppy and you will get 10 different answers. Vitamin C is a great supplement that helps to assimilate calcium for the ears. Some breeders give calcium and some do not and most vets will say no due to joint issues that can be caused by giving too much calcium supplement. Be sure he's on a good puppy food, check the label. Some people feed raw food and swear by it as a great diet. Basically I would listen to different opinions and input and make my own decision based on what I think is right. The breeder should be a great resource.

On the ears, there are many different processes for posting them. On this website there are many articles. Read them and have the breeders' partner show you how and give you advice on wrapping. You can learn to do them yourself.

Hope this helps.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Christine,

You also need to give Vitamin C, at least 500mg two times a day. I build mine up to 1000mg two times a day.
Vitamin E and C are great for the soft tissue.

Your puppy is 16 weeks and he is about the start teething or he has started. During this time he will use whatever calcium he needs for the teething process. I can tell you what I have done during this time.

I have given calcium supplements at times depending on what the individual puppy is doing. I like the product Pet-Cal and I usually give just one per day, not what the label says. Calcium tends to accumulate in the system, so you do have to be careful. If you notice his knuckles on his front legs to swell and knuckle over, stop the calcium until the legs are back to normal. You do not want his legs to do that. If they are doing that now, he needs calcium. I also like to use the Pet-Tabs along with this regime. This is hard to explain.

Your breeder says yes to calcium, so what does he/she recommend?

Yes, you can give the egg and raw is best and the whole egg , shell and all, is good. You can run it through the blender or you can grind the shells in a grinder to a powder for calcium. Fresh raw meat is good too. I find that yogurt is better than cottage cheese for the calcium/phosphorous ratio.

Just keep taping the ears.

Why not get a lesson from the breeder? Have the breeder explain to you the step by step method while he/she is doing the taping. You can also refer to the articles for taping ears on our article pages. I personally like Carol Petruzzo's method of taping ears. The best taping method is sometimes different for an individual cropper I have found.

If you can, leave the wrap on the ears for at least 7 days, I like 10 days if I can get that. The weather has turned cooler, so you should be able to do this. When you take the tape off, let them stand and air out as long as they are standing perfectly at 12 o'clock. When they are not at 12 o'clock, re-tape them right away. By the way, during this teething time, the ears usually need to be taped constantly.

I hope that this helps.

 
Q: from Gypsy's Mom

Date: Saturday, November 13, 2004

Time: 2:13 PM

Comments:

As soon as I let my 8 month old female Doberman out to urinate, instead of going in the yard, she crosses the threshold of the door and urinates on the porch. Regardless of how often she is let out for potty breaks. Usually is fine in the house but will occasionally "sprinkle" in the house for no reason or  when excited when my husband comes home. Any suggestions on how to correct the urinating problems?

A: from Darlene Young, Darwin Dobermans, USA

 

Gypsy's Mom:

This is not an uncommon problem with young females before they mature and have their first season. This urination in front of your husband is a submissive behavior and you should not scold her for it or else she will be encouraged to continue. It's not a conscious thing for her do this and drawing attention to it is not a good idea. For the urinating on the patio or just outside the door, I had a male do that for a long time until he grew up in to adulthood. It could be she doesn't feel comfortable leaving the house to explore the backyard or it could be she just does not want to go outside of the house. I would walk her out on a lead to the outer yard area you want her to go in then turn her loose with you there until she relieves herself, then praise her and play with her a little, then go back in the house. Another possibility is to somehow block off the patio area, take her beyond that when you let her out and turn her loose and go back in to the house. Either way you are getting her away from the threshold before she can relieve herself.

Hope this helps.

 
Q: from Ken
Date: Monday, November 8, 2004
Time: 10:48 PM

Comments: eyes


I was wondering about blue Dobermans and the color of their eyes. I know about the skin conditions with the blue coat, but what about blue eyes and blue coat. Does anyone know if blue Dobes with blue eyes have more health problems?

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

Dear Ken,

I've never seen nor heard of a blue Dobe with blue eyes.  Some have had lighter and even a yellow eye but blue?  Possibly if the pup will end up with a lighter eye, it may look blue as a youngster but will change as he gets older.  Some red puppies that will end up with a light eye show blue when they are young, but it will usually change to green or yellow if they are going to be light.

The Albino Dobe is the only one to have a light blue eye.  They are very photophobic as well. 

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobes, USA

Hello Ken,

Blue Dobermans have brown eyes. Our standard asks for a dark eye too. The Standard says about eye color: "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." 

If your blue Doberman is a baby and still has blue eyes, they will or should turn brown.

I don't see where there would be a correlation with eye color and coat health and I don't believe that it would make a difference in the health of the over-all dog. If your blue Doberman is older than a young puppy there could be something not right with the health of the eye or the eye color doesn't meet the Standard. I don't know how old your blue Doberman is that we are talking about.

I hope that this helps some.

 
Q:  from Tina

Date: Monday, November 8, 2004
Time: 6:30 AM

Comments: Doberman Health

My puppy in now 7 months old and I was wondering when I can switch her over to adult food from puppy food.  I know they generally say at about a 1 yr. old but I thought I had read somewhere that this does not necessarily hold true for Dobermans.  Any advice please!!
 

A: from Susanne Smith, Alpha Dobermans, USA

Definitely switch to adult or a quality "large breed " puppy food.  Too much calcium / protein is not good for large breed dogs such as Dobes.

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A: from Marj Brooks, Manorie Dobermans, USA

Hello Tina,

My advice is to switch your Doberman puppy off of the puppy food.

Feeding is a personal choice, but I would recommend that your puppy be given Vitamin C (1000 mgs 2 time a day) and Vitamin E  (400 units 2 time a day) in addition to fresh raw meat (beef) to the kibble. Some kibbles tolerate these additions better others. Vitamins C and E are helpful for the connective tissue.

I don't feed kibble but when I did I did choose a brand that I could add these additives and others to.

This is my opinion.

Q: from Katherine Hoffman
Date: Sunday, November 7, 2004
Time: 8:12 PM 

Comments: Doberman Health

I have a male, neutered , who is 8 months old. He has quite a few bumps on his neck that seem to be growing; they are not red & don't have any fur missing. But they are hard although they don't seem to bother him. Has anyone had this before - do I need to be concerned?

A: from Judy Doniere, Toledobes, USA

It may be nothing to worry about but it could be serious.  I'd see a Vet a.s.a.p. and have a biopsy done on them, especially if they're getting bigger.  I'm sure you aren't referring to hives???