20 replies to this topic

[doubletrouble]

Hi Everyone,

I've been a little delinquent on getting new photos posted, and then the message board moved, but here they are!

This was Ella, post-ear repair (recall she was on the receiving end of an attack about a month ago). She was still coming out of the anesthetic in this photo, and looking terribly pathetic, so she was wrapped in a blanket taking a snooze on her chair. Her ear has since healed beautifully. The scar tissue is a little thick, but barely noticeable and I'm sure will flatten in time.

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[doubletrouble]

Here's Mr. Finn enjoying the warm weather this weekend - FINALLY!

It took us over a month to figure this guy out. Unlike Ella, he is not motivated by treats when he's outside, and would rather be running like a lunatic. So in the last couple weeks, I've incorporated obedience training with playtime, so that if he successfully obeys a series of commands, I'll throw the ball again. This way he also learns to pay attention while excited or distracted. He's doing really, really well. I don't always realize much he's improved in 2 months, but other dog-owners at the park have pointed out that he looks much more confident and attentive than he used to.

I've also started crated him during the day, which he's responded well to. We hadn't been, previously, as he hadn't shown any destructive signs. But a few days in a row of coming home to something chewed, I put an end to that before he wound up ingesting something dangerous.

I've been reading "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons, which also has been tremendously helpful. Highly recommended, even for those of us who figure we know it all

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[doubletrouble]

And lastly, a shot of the two together, snuggling as usual

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[mihalik1413]

Nice pictures, I like the one of them snuggling. Thanks for sharing!

Larry

[ella]

They are great pictures. I'm glad Ella's ear turned out to be okay.

Ella

[dobeluvr]

Oh wow, I would love it if my two monsters snuggled like that!! What a great picture. So glad that Ella's ear healed up!

These are two very handsome creatures.

My first dobe wanted to run her fool head off too. She was an escape artist and would try to bolt out the door every time it was opened. She was so much like a greyhound when she ran. Tiki's a little like that too, but Tiki LOVES HER FOOD!

Thanks so much for the update and pictures. The two things I love the most : good news and pretty dobie pictures.

Jane

[RUSTYSMOM]

Now those are some really cute pictures. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

Michelle & Rusty

[oreo5129]

And lastly, a shot of the two together, snuggling as usual 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love this picture of them cuddling, how cute!!!!!!!

[Karen A]

Meg,
Your pics are great! Curiously, is cropping allowed in Cananda? Ella and Finn's best features are their soft, floppy, natural ears I ask because we do a lot of adoptions to Cananda and some have cropped ears. I wonder if people ask about them. Glad you're keeping your head above water with those two! Things will settle with time and they'll both surprise you with their manners. Thanks for loving them!

Karen

[Stef]

Meg,
? ? Your pics are great!? Curiously, is cropping allowed in Cananda?? Ella and Finn's best features are their soft, floppy, natural ears I ask because we do a lot of adoptions to Cananda and some have cropped ears.? I wonder if people ask about them.? Glad you're keeping your head above water with those two!? Things will settle with time and they'll both surprise you with their manners.? Thanks for loving them!

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Karen

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sticking my nose in ... please forgive me ...

Cropping and docking is allowed in Canada, however, when we were talking to breeders - more and more people are asking for natural ears. They will not leave tails natural as those need to be done at 2-3 days and it is impossible to choose a puppy for someone at that early age.

Stef

[Karen A]

Thanx Stef. I forgot you're a canadian too I've had both "styles" and I love them both. I've always had at least one of each at the same time and it was nice because people could see the difference between the looks. The majority of people on the street prefered the natural look from my experience. As much as I like the velvety ears, I like a good looking crop too

Karen

[Stef]

Thanx Stef.  I forgot you're a canadian too   I've had both "styles" and I love them both.  I've always had at least one of each at the same time and it was nice because people could see the difference between the looks.  The majority of people on the street prefered the natural look from my experience.  As much as I like the velvety ears, I like a good looking crop too

                                                                                  Karen

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

People have told me that you get a much different reaction to them with uncropped ears. Allison mentioned it when we were talking about possible choices for us. (I have no preference. I think the cropped ears look nice, but the uncropped ones make them look hound-y and cute!)

Stef

[brownsmom]

I find that people are less intimidated by the natural-eared Dobes. Funny, because, my two that are cropped are the sweetest of dogs, and my natural-eared boy is a little touchier about who he likes. Obviously the ears have nothing to do with the personality, just the perception other people have of the dogs.

[Jennymay]

Cropping is allowed in Canada. Actually, BJ had one of the best vets, that's known for cropping, do his ears. They were beautiful. Beej was cropped, Brody's natural...I get ALOT of compliments on Brody's big, natural floppy ears now... But Beej just had THE look of a gorgeous, big, black, male dobe, with his cropped ears. For being a suck, he intimidated EVERYONE with his look..

[CAB]

Heather - I have also found that people are less intimadated by a Dobe with natural ears. I can't tell you how many compliments my beloved Niko use to get. "Oh, what a cute puppy!" I have pictures of her in my office at work, and you wouldn't believe the number of people that have said to me "What kind of a dog is that?" Had her ears been cropped, there would have been no question as to what type of dog she was.

[CAB]

Hi Meg,

Thanks for the update on Finn and Ella. I love the picture of them snuggling together. Another good book to read is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell.

Cheryl

[doubletrouble]

That's how I understood it to be as well -- you can request natural ears from a breeder, but they dock the tails right away as a matter of course. I have the feeling that Ella was the result of a home-breeding operation, and not through the CKC, because it's very ususal to see Dobies still with their monkey-tails, although personally, I prefer it. It makes me laugh to see her and Finn excited about something, and Ella's tail is whipping around while Finn's little nubbin is wiggling But then again, there is nothing more impressive looking than a properly docked and cropped Dobie. They really are magestic.

The general public, particularly amongst those who aren't dog-people, are simply uninformed and can be completely put off by a dog's appearance. Not many that I have run into even recognize that my two are Dobies ("I thought Dobermans were black?"). Even moreso with Ella because of her tail. One time I was stopped at a cross-walk with Ella, and a woman came up to us to pet her, saying what a beautiful dog she was and asked what her breed was. When I said Doberman, her petting hand literally recoiled as if the mere utterance of the name now made Ella dangerous! The last time Armin and I were looking for an apartment, after being turned down a couple times because I would tell prospective landlords that we had a Doberman, I ended up saying she was a Vizsla mix and then there was no problem! Hey, I might as well use their ignorance to my advantage

People really are strange though. Just the other day, I was throwing the ball for the dogs in the park, and a passer-by said to me, "Dobermans, eh? That's the one breed I'm scared of." "Did you have a bad experience with one?" I asked. "No, they just look mean." Ohhhhkaaaaay then.

Anyway, I can't tell you how great it is to see the training starting to pay off with Finn. He's so much cuter when he's listening And it's just so rewarding to know that I'm doing something right for this boy. He deserves it.

Take care all,
m.

[Cathy]

ELLA & FINN our Valentine's !

We are sooo glad to hear about them!!!!

Thank goodness Ella is doing beter!!!!!!!!!


We simply LOVE that picture of them snugguling!!!!!!!!!


THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US UPDATED!! I can not tell you how wonderful it is to hear how you are doing!!!!!!

Keep up the great work on trying to educate the folks who: " just don't have clue"


The Gray's
(Cathy)

[oreo5129]

Heather - I have also found that people are less intimadated by a Dobe with natural ears.  I can't tell you how many compliments my beloved Niko use to get. "Oh, what a cute puppy!"    I have pictures of her in my office at work, and you wouldn't believe the number of people that have said to me "What kind of a dog is that?"  Had her ears been cropped, there would have been no question as to what type of dog she was.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know what, Cheryl, I have had the same experience. Brady and Adonis have very similar personalities, both people pleasers. Adonis was even more of a people pleaser. He loved everybody with no reservations about anyone. My sister, who is not an animal person, was afraid of Adonis, even though he never did anything to merit that fear. He and Cocoa, my mixed girl would fight, and sometimes very viciously, but blood was never drawn. Now with Brady, she just thinks he is the sweetest, most loving dog she has seen. She pets him, and praises him, even though she knows that when Brady and Cocoa have fought blood has been drawn. She says that Brady is not a vicious dog (and he isn't). She has even gone so far as to call Brady a "she". The only difference in the 2 dogs are the ears-Adonis was cropped, Brady is natural. Strange, huh?

[Daisy]

Hi,
Yes the book Brian Kilcommons has out is a wonderful one, I had one
years ago, loaned it out & never got it back. I highly recomend it..
Has alot of problem solving things for the older dogs
As a breeder & long time dobe person as well as doing rescue, we have tails/
dewclaws cut at 2-5 days of age, & ears cropped from 7-9 weeks old.
There are alot of breeders who dont do any of that as it costs them more
$$$$ & they dont want to take the money or time to do it right. There was
a time not long ago that it was very hard to place a rescue dobe with long
ears & worse if they had long tail as well. I think that has changed alot the
last few years. It is true that the perception of the big mean "Guard Dog"
has ears/tail done. But the Doberman Pinscher standard that was written
when the breed was accepted by AKC & the other registrys states that they
have normally cropped ears & tail/dews cut.
But the temperment of the dog isnt changed by cropping/docking. Probably
50% is in the genes & the other 50% is how they are raised/trained & cared
for in their early life. The GREAT thing is they are such a forgiving
breed, that even when life treats them like crap, they are able to go on &
learn to Love & trust.....So whichever way you like them Long/Cropped
they are a dog that is a Heart Stealer & once you own one,
you dont forget it

JMHO
Daisy