Red American Doberman-Update he's 10 months old and huge!

[sisu27]

[QUOTE=tradewind;5842342]
Dobes are fabulous, and very smart…Very easy to teach…Since greyhound was used in the original creation of the breed some of them are more prey driven than others. Start training him to leave the cats (if you have them) alone. There is no limit to what you can teach a dobe…Some members of the breed are prone to heart issues, so make sure he stays lean, well muscled and active. They are extrodinarly attached to their people, so they need plenty of interaction. A nice waterproof, horse style coat like the ones that Rambo makes will be needed in the winter. They really do not tolerate cold at all. They are reasonable with strangers if well socialized young, and will defend you to their last breath if need be…Once a person has a dobe, they generally speaking will always have one…There is nothing like a really good dobe. Have fun with your new pup…[/QUOTE]

Just to clarify the heart disease mention…app 50%+ of all Dobes will die from Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). No amount of exercise will change that.

www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/clin/faculty/mogrady/holter/holterfaqs.htm

They also are extremely prone to bloat/torsion.

http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/Bloat.htm

Totally not trying to freak you out but I wish I had known more about these two issues many years ago when I got my first (of…6??) Dobe. I have lost all of my previous Dobes to one of these two conditions.

That aside…I will never not have a Dobe. I love all dogs but nothing compares to what Dobermans bring to your life.

So…lucky you!!

[luvmyapp]

Congrats!! you are about to be offically ‘owned’
I live with my 2nd Dobe, black and tan male, not cropped. Started taking him to the barn wth me about a year and 1/2 ago - he had just turned 2. Initally, he wanted to run beside us and nip at us;fortunately, that did not last long and my horse is extremely tolerant. but now, he loves to just run beside us, big ole tounge hanging out, smile as big as he is. He shares apples w/his ‘brother’, my app. I think he thinks my app is a just a big dog. Fortunately, my horse loves him back - one day I will get a picture of them saying hello - nose to nose. Or maybe Jackson thinks he is a horse! Jackson follows along on trails and never, ever gets very far from me. He may run ahead to get to pond for a swim, but you can bet he knows where I am. Anyway, just be aware there can be male on male aggression with Dobes. They do not tolerate cold well, as mentioned - Jackson has, oh - maybe 3, or 5 sweaters, coats, pj’s. I am in NC so you may not need ‘as’ many … Yes, he is very spoiled - but he wears it well He loves to play, then settle down and be a big cuddle bug. A very useful website is www.dobermantalk.com Tons and tons of useful info for new Dobe owners. Oh, and realize - ‘Dobe owner’ is just a play on words - they really own you.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Oooh! I have two red dobes, a male and a female (neither is intact). Female is from champion conformation and obedience lines. Male is of unknown origin.

They are velcro dogs. Mine hate going outside in the rain. Male is laid back, female is more energetic. Very intelligent. Both are suffering from allergies now that they are older (didn’t have this issue until they turned 5). Sensitive and eager to please–I agree that they do not need a harsh correction and are a bit on the “soft” side that way–I have to be careful to watch my tone because the female is so attuned to me and takes it so heavily if I am verbally correcting her.

My female, who has killed rabbits and has a hard-core prey drive, HATES our two cats, but tolerates them under threat of death. She fixates on them every once in awhile and I just have to remind her to “leave it.” My male could care less about the cats, but he is not as good with other dogs (he is a rescue and I got him as an older dog). Both are fine with the horses and off lead.

Everyone wants to stop and meet them. I have had cars stop driving on a busy road just to stare at them when we are on walks. I have owned dogs my whole life and never had so many strangers come up to me, as I do with these dogs. They are stunning animals.

Now my random soapbox moment…Despite the breed origins, mine are not good protection dogs, and I’m pretty sure someone could rob the house and they would lick the intruder (unless the person was nervous–that’s the only thing they react to). I think a lot of breeders have gone too far in the other direction after the negative backlash the last few decades and have turned them into golden retrievers. I also think many are bred too large, but whatever. When it is time, I am hoping to find an athletic dobe who can move up the levels of mondio, but they are few and far between unfortunately, compared to malinois and perhaps GSD.

[onelove]

I grew up with a red dobie during the time when shepherds and dobies were THE dogs NOT to have, like pits and rotties now. I survived lol she was my best friend and the best dog ever, incredibly smart. My black dobies, both males, were kinda dumb, sweet but dumb And, in my years in vet medicine, I have never met an aggressive dobie. Choco labs, Chihuahuas, and Shibu Inus, yes. Dobies no.
Good luck. I kinda envy you

[wendy]

I want to know why, exactly, your SO described the dog as an “American” doberman?

and um, sorry, but doesn’t this sound like a scam?

Apparently it was “a hell of a deal” . Something like he is out of a world champion sire but the breeders were business partners and they had a falling out and the other partner won’t release the papers so this dog with papers is worth $2,500, but we’re getting him for free because the other partner who has the puppy wants to make sure he goes to a good home since he doesn’t have papers… One hellofa deal…

most likely is an unregistered unpapered possibly non-purebred that some folks are trying to pull a fast one on your SO to get rid of the pup. Why do they want to get rid of a pup you ask? I would suggest demanding a contract such that you can return the pup within 48 hours if your vet picks up something truly awful (and expensive to treat) on the vet exam you’ll have done the minute you take possession of the pup, right?

Anyway, I hope the pup is nice and fits in well with your home and doesn’t come with baggage from the sketchy background. You might want to get the pup tested for von Willebrand’s disease before neutering.

[onelove]

Yes, dobes are prone to heart disease, skin issues, and Wobblers Syndrome, which I believe (probably wrong though) that is genetic, or there was some debate about it last I heard. Wobblers is a neuro disorder that affects coordination and can often be mistaken for seizures because some do shake. I definitely agree with Wendy. have the puppy vetted immediately, especially the heart. Even a murmur, which can be common in all dogs would have me concerned. And you can be mad at SO until the vet check is clean. Lol

[vtdobes]

[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;5843167]

When it is time, I am hoping to find an athletic dobe who can move up the levels of mondio, but they are few and far between unfortunately, compared to malinois and perhaps GSD. :([/QUOTE]

I don’t know why you would think this…there are PLENTY of working Dobes in the US! Both of mine are from working lines (Schutzund).

When you get serious about a working Dobe you should contact breeders who are members of the UDC.
http://www.uniteddobermanclub.com/

[HydroPHILE]

[QUOTE=vtdobes;5843219]
I don’t know why you would think this…there are PLENTY of working Dobes in the US! Both of mine are from working lines (Schutzund).

When you get serious about a working Dobe you should contact breeders who are members of the UDC.
http://www.uniteddobermanclub.com/[/QUOTE]

Not to mention there are several responsible breeders who are breeding healthy and correct dogs instead of the “too large” dogs.

[vtdobes]

[QUOTE=HydroPHILE;5843232]
Not to mention there are several responsible breeders who are breeding healthy and correct dogs instead of the “too large” dogs.[/QUOTE]

For sure!

[lizathenag]

Jessie

The only sadness my beautiful red long eared Dobie Jessie ever caused me was the day she died.

[vtdobes]

[QUOTE=lizathenag;5843344]
The only sadness my beautiful red long eared Dobie Jessie ever caused me was the day she died.[/QUOTE]

How sweet Same with my red boy who died far too young at age 5.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=wendy;5843187]
I want to know why, exactly, your SO described the dog as an “American” doberman?

and um, sorry, but doesn’t this sound like a scam? [/QUOTE]

I agree, but we know the lady we are getting the puppy from very, very well and let’s just say she is… loa-ded… as in more money than God. We met the parents and the puppy was at her “city house” with her husband while she was at her farm (more like plantation) visiting her horses and kennels (where the pup’s parents were). I don’t really understand the whole situation, but he is supposed to be well bred, but the ex partner won’t sign the papers over or something.

That’s what Lance called it (I think) when he was describing it. I had no clue what to properly call him. I’m a dobie newbie for sure.

The puppy will definitely be very well socialized. That’s one of the perks of living on a dude ranch - new people everyday. Our Aussies are the most friendly, people-oriented dogs around. We are gonig to neuter him ASAP as well, so hopefully he won’t even realize that he was once a “real boy.” I also don’t want to clip his ears because I don’t want him to look mean to our guests.

Pics tomorrow!!

[wendy]

If I understand the situation correctly, which is unlikely, if the co-owner (or possibly the full legal owner of record of the puppy) refuses to sign the papers over, you can’t take legal ownership of the dog and this lady is essentially stealing the dog and passing the problem on to you?

you might want to wait on the neutering- the current thinking is you end up with possible health problems if you neuter before full maturity is reached (2 years or so for a big dog). Plus if you neuter the dog and the ownership thing turns into a nightmare you might be in even more trouble.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=wendy;5843529]
If I understand the situation correctly, which is unlikely, if the co-owner (or possibly the full legal owner of record of the puppy) refuses to sign the papers over, you can’t take legal ownership of the dog and this lady is essentially stealing the dog and passing the problem on to you?

you might want to wait on the neutering- the current thinking is you end up with possible health problems if you neuter before full maturity is reached (2 years or so for a big dog). Plus if you neuter the dog and the ownership thing turns into a nightmare you might be in even more trouble.[/QUOTE]

I don’t fully understand it myself, but this lady is a near and dear friend so I know she would ever intenionally put us in that kind of predicament. Lance and her talked about it for a long time, but you know how men are - I got the 15 second version of the conversation.

Wow waiting until they are 2?? What does everyone else think about this? I want to do what is best for him, but I was hoping to have him neutered by 6 months. I want to do what is best for him so what does Coth think??

ETA: I got to thinking (freaking out) about whether or not the expartner could come after us about taking the dog down the road and called SO. He is going to confirm with our friend that the expartner can come after us for taking the puppy. Do you think a hold harmless agreement is overkill for a free puppy?

[OveroHunter]

Talked to the Puppy-Giver!!

Whew! We’re okay!! “You see what had happened was…” (I have a lame sense of humor).

So anyway, the falling out had to do over the purchase of our puppy’s father. For some reason or another (not my business) something went down and our friend never got the papers on the father. Somehow the father of our puppy accidentally bred the mother of our puppy (also not my business). Both are pureblood red Dobies and they had the litter that our puppy came from. Since she never got the papers on the father, none of the puppies could get papers, so she is just making sure they all go to good homes. The expartner has nothing to do with the litter. We’re A-Ok!!

[BLBGP]

Overo - Sent you a PM. Congrats on your new puppy! When do you meet him?

[OveroHunter]

Tomorrow

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

1. No sorry!- I know there are breeders who are breeding standard size dogs, but I keep seeing all these litters advertising they are oversize. Augh. I should have clarified I didn’t mean everyone was breeding that way. I just don’t like the trend. I saw a 120lb dobe the other day and he wasn’t fat…looked like a Great Dane.

2. I guess I was only aware of 1 sch III dobe (I’m talking US). I know of 1 mondio II male, but am not aware of any mondio III dobes…do they exist? Malinois are definitely the overwhelming majority of dogs I’ve seen at mondio trials.

OP the breeder could have heart scans, Von Wildebrand’s testing, etc on the parents. Would be worth asking for them. My female’s breeder had all of tha and hip xrays, and mullti-generation history on the longevity and cause of death going back at least 4 generations.

[LavenderFarm]

I love Dobies - wonderful dogs. Have owned a few over the years (at one time, had a black/tan, red and blue at the same time). The best ones were the ones I raised from wee pups.

This is Etta James (since you mentioned a red). She came from a shelter as an adult dog. Never was the sharpest knife in the drawer. In hindsight, I think she could have been inbred or something. Sadly, had to have her put down a year or two ago due to age-related issues (she was 10+). Dobes are not known as one of the more long-lived breeds.

She was very large and did look “scary.” She was very gentle. Wasn’t good with cats in the beginning, but became tolerant. Always good with other dogs. She would let someone she didn’t know in the house, but would not let them move far once in (found that out the hard way once!).

You’ll love your new puppy! Be firm but fair … and realize Dobes go through a LONG chewing phase! Chew bones will be your friends.

[JanM]

Overo-I had a Min Pin years ago and the vet almost kissed me when I took the pup for her first exam, and the vet asked me what I was going to do about the ears and I said “Nothing”. The vet was very happy, and when I asked why she was so happy about it she described the ear surgery-Ick!!! I never saw a reason to do that, and never would. I know many people do that surgery, but I don’t see why except for fashion. I guess if someone was going to show the dog, or like one of my pound puppies that came with (badly) cropped ears then that’s one thing, but I’ve never done anything with my dogs except have them as pets.

Good luck with the new baby.