Doberman Puppies For Sale

Doberman Newsletter

familydobes — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:02:33 -0700

This short newsletter has to do with the coming of the change of seasons. I used to be really good about hot/cold warnings and remedies, and then I moved to Scottsdale where we only have two seasons, hot and really hot. I start to forget about changing weather and what people should be reminded of etc. From what I understand it is already snowing in parts of the country where we are finally for the second week in a row under a daily high of triple digits. At night it is even finally cool enough to open windows! Anyway, some of you are experiencing mud season and others change for the cold. If you are going to continue to exercise your Doberman Pinscher outside, you have only two choices for foot care. You can use the Doggie boots (cabela’s brand work the best) o you can condition the dogs feet and limit exposure. You can prevent snow from building up in the pads with some Vaseline smeared between the toes, but remember to wipe it back out before letting your Doberman Pinscher tromp across your carpet ;-) For body temperature, sweaters/coats/vests all work if you get the dog accustomed to them, and if you have boys make sure they can still relieve themselves with the fit of the coat. I prefer the Neoprene vest from Cabelas since it is bright orange (safe and visible) and even if the dog gets wet they will stay warm. The key is a dry dog can be warm enough if they are moving around, running etc, but once they get wet they lose their core temperature very quickly, so keep them dry and they will stay warm. The biggest concern for Doberman Pinschers in the winter is ears if they are cropped. Ears that are cropped have reduced blood flow and as they stand erect in cold wind, they are quickly robbed of body heat. They can frostbite in just a few minutes to a few hours depending on the wind chill factor. When it is below freezing outside, massage the tips of the ears often with your bare hands to 1) feel their temperature, 2) transfer heat from your hands to their ears with friction and conduction and 3) increase blood flow. There are also some handy Ear muffs made and sold for Doberman Pinscher, and although they look silly, they work rather well.

So pay attention to the weather and keep your Doberman Pinschers healthy and safe J For those of you in California, Florida, AZ and other mild winter climates, take the time to enjoy some time outside and rub it in to the people you know in colder climates J

Sadly I had to share this next story not because it involves Dobermans, but rather love of dogs and a dogs love for us, patriotism and other great emotions that I just wanted to share since it was kindly shared with me.

To Whoever Gets My Dog

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. the shelter was clean, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to.

And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.

The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too.

"Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice.".........

"To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner.

I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls... the more the merrier.

Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them.

He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet.

Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals:

"back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats.
Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening.

Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots.

Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet.

Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time.

I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank. Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough.

I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter.

I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank.

Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me."

Thank you, Paul Mallory

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered. His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball His ears perked again.

"Yeah Ball You like that Ball "

Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room. And when he came back......he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

Facebook Fan

familydobes — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:45:07 -0700

Just wanted to ask anyone on facebook and on my mailing list to become a fan here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-the-best-European-Dobermans/136232667509

This will give you the fastest updates on new pictures, videos, and litter announcements as well as special offerings.

Also a reminder that people are not taking full advantage of the forum lately, and I would like to remind people to ask questions there, but more importantly share your experience and information with others who may need it.

http://www.dobermanplace.com/Forum/

We would also like to announce our AA litter has arrived which is thrilling and proved to be an excellent pairing!

We also have some great older trained dogs available right now.

Thanks everyone for your continued support! We also added Doberman stamps to the Zazzle store. Yes they cost more than regular postage, but how fun to have your dog as your stamp!!! If you want me to make one specifically of your dog (or any other product) just let me know!

Today’s training tip is on positive behavior shaping through markers. Fancy talk for teach your dog cool tricks with clickers J I added some fun new books to the recommended list as well. There is more in depth information with our Online training partner Ty Brown here. With Marker training the idea is that using a marker (most people use a clicker, I use the word yes) helps a dog (or child studies now show) mark exactly when the behavior was given that will be rewarded. Here is a short article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clicker_training

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

Very blessed

familydobes — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:53:44 -0700

Very Blessed

Well it has been a day of reflection here at the kennel again as I sit and watch the cute Puppies playing and adjust the Live Webcams. The puppycam has been such a wonderful tool allowing others to feel as though they are interacting in a personal way with the puppies. We have had over 22,000 views so far, and though I think our puppies are much cuter than the famous Shiba Inu Puppy Cam, we have yet to log millions of viewers. We have several cameras to choose from to watch the puppies grow live in real time, watch their play time and feeding, even teaching moments as their mothers teach them a dogs body language and boundaries. It’s a marvel people can get anything done at all with such a wonderful distraction such as this! Perhaps the limiting factor for the Webcams is my bandwidth…. I will have to look into how to stream it to an unlimited source. For those of you who are enjoying the Live PuppyCam, please only watch one cam at a time so others may log in as well. When well intentioned folks open each camera in a separate window, it takes away a spot someone else could be actively watching the live puppycam. I sit here amazed at where technology has brought us with the ability we have to watch a live webcam of puppies at all. Virtual puppy raising can now take the place of well intentioned but misguided pet ownership. People who want to enjoy puppies without the responsibility can do so from the comfort of their own home, and there is no puppy to drop off at the pound if things don’t work out. For the people who research and prepare thoroughly for Doberman puppies, it is a way to connect long before it is safe to see them in person. It also allows the perspective puppy owners to help alert us to any dangers while the pups are young. I am so grateful for the many calls we receive when it appears something is wrong, even if it isn’t. It gives me great peace of mind to know other concerned people are helping me watch over the cute little Doberman puppies.

Aside from the wonderful Puppycam I also sit here amazed at the quality of dogs we have been blessed to share our lives with. The time I spend training rewards me in ways that I can’t even put into words. I remember the first time I worked one of my Dobermans bird hunting and watched with awe as the dog did something I never in my life would be able to do. He sniffed out where a bird had been who knows how long ago. He followed where the bird had walked just as if he could see tiny footprints in the sand. I have had so many of those moments with the Dobermans in my life that just leave me with a sense of Awe from scent work to protection, to jumping walls carrying dumbbells, and I still find myself in awe of this magnificent breed. I look at the dogs that surround me today and while I have loved each Doberman that has been part of my life, I can’t believe the quality of dogs that surround me know. I am very blessed. WE worked hard to get to this point and we have goals yet to reach, but I find myself truly blessed to be here now. I am looking over at Kasy’s litter thinking there are some amazing Red Doberman puppies from Parents who both showed and placed at the largest and most prestigious Doberman show in the world. Parents who have both competed and done well in Schutzhund sport, and I think that I am looking into the eyes of the next generation of winners. I look at Soraya ready to whelp and think of the sire across the ocean that is accomplishing so much in the show world. Again anticipating the next generation of champion Doberman Pinschers.

Yesterday I was out back doing some protection training with Uragan best of Island and Texas Von Karpatia, and I had two other dogs outside at the time that I didn’t give much thought to at the moment since we have never trained protection with them (Black Jewel Von wolf Stamm and Family Dobes Hershey). Both Texa and Uragan have many many hours of training in protection, which is why I get such a thrill out of being bit by them J But it took only moments for Hershey and Jewel to see what was going on and that they were being left out because they didn’t know this game, so Jewel came up behind me and took a bite out of back side while Hershey swung around the front and grabbed hold of the arm that Uragan had. They all started working as a team, and fell into the behavior naturally. Two dogs that I had not even thought of as protection prospects were learning from their pack how to play the game. Effectively I might add, my backside is still sore!

My gratitude doesn’t end just with Amazing dogs that have amazing abilities either. Because of what I do, I have been fortunate enough to meet many wonderful people along the way. People who teach me many things, and other people I am able to teach. This really has been a rewarding journey so far and I look forward to our bright future. Thank you all for being part of it.

Boys and Dogs again.

familydobes — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:59:54 -0700

You know everyday my youngest Son reminds me more and more of myself. Today I was sitting working on the computer when I happened to hear my boy talking to the dog saying things like "Coco don't worry it's just an ipod, see.... " I turned my head and couldn't believe what I saw. That little boy of mine is so much like me it frightens me. He talks to the dogs just as if he were talking to a real person, and he expects them to obey. He simply wanted to share something he was enjoying and thought she might enjoy it too. He doesn't bother with training, he just expects the dog to work with him and it does. It reminds me of how much easier it was for me to train dogs when I was 8 than it is today. Simple. Pure. Trust and love. Enjoy the pictures and a flashback to your childhood. Just promise me for you it wasn't dressing them up :)

To my good friend... I pass you a sigh...

familydobes — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:26:16 -0700

THIS IS A TERRIFIC STORY,

Puppy Size
This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll want to share this one with your loved ones andspecialfriends)!

'Danielle
keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this,' the mother told the volunteer.

'What is it she keeps asking for?' the volunteer asked.'Puppy size!' replied the mother

'Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.' 'I know..... we have seen most of them, ' the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office

'Well, did you find one?' asked her mom.

'No, not this time,' Danielle said with sadness in her voice. 'Can we come back on the weekend?'

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed

'You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply,' the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. 'Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend,' she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. 'It's this weekend orwe're not looking any more,' Dad finally said in frustration.

'We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,' Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning . By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.One by one she said, 'Sorry, but you're not the one.'

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!' She screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,' Mom said.

'No notsize... Thesighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said.
'Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!'

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said. Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, 'Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!'

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.
They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. 'Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that takeour breath away.'

I hope your life is filled withSighs!!!Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Life is too short and friends are too few.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

Love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don't

.

I Appreciate You!!

Dobermans

familydobes — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:03:57 -0700

I love learning and seeing new things so I thought I would share a new experience I had just the other day. Hessia Betleges (Holly) was due to deliver her most recent litter this past Friday. I was looking forward to being with her when she whelped since she has decided to adopt me as her human. I get teased that it’s because I’ve spoiled her rotten but I’m denying it!

Friday morning I got a message that Holly has gone into labor and delivered one little black female. A couple of hours later, I was on my way over to help deliver the rest of her pups. Evidently, I wasn’t paying quite as much attention to driving as I should have been. It’s true that police officers really have a knack for picking the most inopportune times to notice that you’re speeding! Fortunately, even though I was going over the limit in a construction zone, I got one of the city’s nicest officers who let me go with a warning and wished good luck with the upcoming delivery. While I was being delayed, it was decided that Holly’s labor wasn’t progressing as quickly as we would like. To ensure that both Mom and all of the pups end up happy and healthy, Holly was scheduled for a c-section.

Let me point out that first we had to GET TO the veternary office which meant transporting a Mom (in labor) along with her newborn pup. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, my vehicle happens to be white. Yes, that also means my interior is a wonderful cream color. It’s great for the Arizona sunshine, not so much for messy moms in labor! Luckily, a kiddie swimming pool just barely fits in the back of my SUV with the seats down. One hurdle covered, mom rides in the pool. Hurdle two comes once I get in the car and realize that Holly, being the wonderful mom that she is, is going to repeatedly attempt to climb over the front seat and actually into the towel lined basket which is safely holding her puppy. I know I must have gotten stares while struggling to drive and simultaneously arm wrestle a nervous mom into the back of the car. It made for one of the longest half hour rides ever. Despite the wrestling match, we made it safe and sound to the office.

Although it can be a common procedure, I myself have never seen one. Luckily for us we have a great friend “in the business” (veterinary that is) who was nice enough to come back into the office on her afternoon off to help us through it. I was a nervous wreck worrying about Holly and the puppies. Thank goodness my friend was there with me. Because of the special circumstances I was able to go along when they took Holly in the back and stay with her during the whole procedure. I have worked in medical practices in the past and have been able to observe surgery a couple of times. I found it surprising and also a relief that things are not done much differently with our canine family members than with humans. Being able to watch the surgery and help with the puppies as they came out was amazing. Each puppy needs to be stimulated and dried off as they are born then they move to a heating pad to wait for Mom to wake up and nurse. One of the greatest sounds I’ve ever heard is the gurgling cries of a newborn puppy taking its first breaths! Imagine a teeny tiny version of Chewbacca, the Wookie from Star Wars, and you’ve got new puppy cries. So cute!!

I’m happy to report that Holly and her five puppies are healthy and doing great. After this experience I have a new respect for our Moms who go through a c-section, and still take such good care of their puppies. They’re tough as nails!

-----------------------

I’m a very lucky person. Not only do I get to live with three great Dobermans, but I also get to work every day with many more of them. One of my favorites happens to be Casa di Oro Donna Delana (Ruby). It’s no coincidence that Ruby is also the Mom of our girl Madde. I never really understood the power of genetics and great breeding until I started working with Family Dobes. You hear about the importance of choosing great males and females whose traits complement one another to produce a well balanced dog. I never realized just how much of a dogs physicality and personality will show in their offspring. Being that her Mom was bred to a male living in Germany, we never got the pleasure of getting to know Madde’s Dad. I have, however, become very attached to Ruby over the last year.

It’s been amazing to watch little Madde grow into almost a clone of Ruby. They look alike, bark alike and even have the same mannerisms. Everything from how they play with a toy, to how they jump up to greet you, is similar. It’s really a cool thing to see these traits passed down even though they live apart. I can’t enter a room with either one of them in it without getting paws on the shoulders and a nose in the face. Every time I walk out and come back it’s like I’ve been gone for days. Neither of them really plays fetch. Ruby has learned much better than Madde to eventually bring back the toy but both of them would much rather play keep away. Both get the same gratified look of “This is way more fun!” as you chase them around for the toy.

Ruby is responsible for destroying many sprinkler heads at the house. Somehow this even got passed down to Madde. At my house you can’t fill the water jug without getting soaked because she feels the need to attack the water stream the whole time. The neighbors probably thought I was crazy laughing outside alone once when Mother and Daughter were together and I was trying to fill the water buckets. Both scrunching up their faces the same way, one on either side of the bucket, they rhythmically alternated biting the water stream until all three of us were soaked. I couldn’t help but laugh at how much fun they were having!

Another similarity is both of their loves for Schutzhund work. You can’t bring a sleeve or a tug around Ruby without her getting giddy and bouncing to get it. We’ve worked a little bit with Madde at our dog club but she has nowhere near the formal training that Ruby has. Despite this, she tries just as hard to play the game. We never had training gear at the house until recently when we placed an order for a starter kit (puppy sleeve, tugs, etc.). Would you believe that somehow Madde knew what was in that box before we even got it open? She went bizerk for the sleeve and tugs as they came out of the box. Another example of like Mother like Daughter!

Some people will say you can train any dog to do anything. That might be the case for some people but if you really want to know what to expect look to the parents. It’s completely true that it’s the greatest adults who produce the best pups. Never disregard the health and temperaments of the parents. Madde and Ruby are living proof of “what you breed is what you get”!

Denise Meister

a Day in the life of a European bred Doberman puppy

familydobes — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:02:30 -0700

Saturday July 25, 2009.....well since the last time i wrote about you, you have still not had an accident at ...

Kids and dogs scietifically

familydobes — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:18:21 -0700

Research: Babies reading emotions of dogs better than adults

July 20th, 2009 @ 10:43pm

By Paul Nelson

PROVO -- Researchers at BYU say their new psychological study shows babies can read the emotions of dogs very well, maybe better than you can.
Here's how the experiment went: First, researchers put up two pictures of the same dog.
"On one side, it had a positive or happy expression with [its] ears up and mouth open. On the other side, the ears were pinned back; the mouth was also open bearing teeth," explained Ross Flom, associate professor of physiology and neuroscience at BYU.
Then they played an aggressive bark and a friendly bark and had the subject match the bark with the correct picture. Flom says babies do this better than adults do.
"Infants will tend to look longer at the display that matches what they're hearing," Flom said. "[Adults] tend to treat both the aggressive and non-aggressive bark as aggressive."
How can you tell what babies are thinking? They're not filling out questionnaires or anything.
"They can answer questions based on some of their behavior, by how long they look or where they look and the types of events they prefer to look at," Flom explained.
He says as babies we're born with the ability to read emotions from a broad range of species, but that ability gets weaker as we lose constant contact with those animals.
"Because they're always being exposed to humans and human faces and voices, that takes precedent," he explained.
Out of all the things to study in the world, why study the connection between babies and dogs?
"Canines and humans have such a long history of coexisting," Flom said.
Flom says younger babies can also recognize emotions in humans speaking in other languages. However, as they lose contact with people speaking other languages, that type of emotion recognition is also lost.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com

a Day in the life of a Champion bred Doberman puppy

familydobes — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:02:57 -0700

July 20th well my little pink promise, i went home at lunch time today and found you to have green snots and sniffles from your little nose, you were playing perfect, you are eating and drinking, peeing and pooping perfect, just green snotty snots, so i called dr. b and she is preparing an antibiotic for you and mom will pick it up after work, you seem to be fine other than your green snots....you were playing tug of war with sol or should i say sol was dragging you around the house with the rope tug it was so cute, i need to be on top of you with a camera to capture these shots...love you...xxxooo(i think your diagnosis is kiss hug and love overdose!!!)

July 21st Tuesday July 21st, last night you had to sleep in the bed... you were so snotty and had a little fever, i called steve he said you would be okay this morning after 2 doses of your antibiotic you are less snotty and no fever, i think you are adjusting to the nj climate it has been really humid since you came to nj, i know that you are not too sick you were being pulled by sol, you are so strong you hold on for dear life with the toy rope and sol pulls you... you are so damm cute. i LOVE you more than life...you have the brightest personality and so full of life even if you are snotty with green snots....you are now going up 3 steps, growing taller and even eating a whole bowl of food....your poops and pees are getting bigger....xxxooomom

Day in the life of Dobes

familydobes — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:39:40 -0700

July 4th [i]Good morning it is 0643 here in NJ and I am so excited this is how I count the day I am going to get my familydobes puppy i do not count today it is here already, so it is Sun, Mon, Tues 3 days...and Wed is the day i get her....now i have a great surprise to tell steve the puppy needs to be at the airport at 5:15AM as per continential.... the spokes person telephone consultation was amazing with the instructions all i kept saying was thank goodness steve knows what he is doing....so my puppy will arrive in newark nj at 2:34pm, i find myself having a case of eye trouble and not seeing myself being able to concentrate that day at work....for now i must go train my sol and enjoy the 4th of july....happy birthday america.....okay it is the afternoon of july 4th and i am so excited to have my pink promise...i have rearranged my crate situation, and i have installed my 3rd crate into my truck(it was a project and a few blonde moments,,,as i was so frustrated that it would not fit, Sol is in the yard barking his head off at me, as if he knew i was doing it wrong..Sol is off lead and at my side as long as society lets him and when i am upset, anxious or just plain crabby he senses my every emotion, i just imagine how my pink promise will be....gosh i love those familydobes...on monday i am making the appointment for my vet to check her out and get clearance for the ear cropping procedure...which reminds me i interviewed and studied a lot of vets who do this ear cropping sort of reminds me of my days of interviewing the plastic surgeron....so now i am ready for my arrival and i did not want my neighbors to know all about my doberman life i would be making welcome home signs for my pink promise....

July 6th It is July 6th and only 2 more days until my pink promise comes to NJ, it is now to the point that I can sleep and I am so excited to meet her, I can only imagine what type of personality she will have....I am ready for her...I want her here now...maybe she could fly tomorrow??? I was reading a Royal Cannine book on puppy imprinting and I am looking foward to all of this....“ God turns the ordinary into the extraordinary... ”

~Erwin Tippel

Now why are you not awake... i keep checking on the web cam and you are sleeping....pink promise i can not wait to see you....okay miss sierra tango i have now made your vet appointment for 7:30pm on monday july 13th..Dr B is looking forward to meeting you and love on you, you will like her she is a nice vet and your brother and sisters love her....i see you were awake and now sleeping...lazy....

July 7th dear pink promise lady... i tried to blog on you this am and this forum would not let me post it so your breeder is going to add it in for me... but for now i know that you have been to the vets, and had your shots and you weigh 10lbs...i have all of your supplies packed and ready to go to come get you and your aunt anneliese is coming with me to get you....i am so excited it is in 18 hours and i am so looking forward to meeting you and smelling your sweet little puppy breath, and clean you all up if you are so nervous and had an accident.... see you soon....

July 8th GOOD MORNING MY PUUPY IT IS YOUR DAY TO COME TO NJ.....I AM SO EXCITED I HAVE MY TRUCK PACKED WITH YOUR TREASURES...TOWEL, LEASH, SHAMPOO, WASH BASIN, PAPER TOWELS, WATER, COLLAR, GARBAGE BAGS, FOOD.....I CAN NOT WAIT TO MEET YOU....IT WILL BE IN 8 HOURS...THE AIRLINE BETTER MAKE YOU A PRIORITY AND TAKE YOU OFF BEFORE ANY LUGGAGE OR HUMANS.....THIS IS SO EXCITING, YOU WILL SLEEP IN A SMALL CRATE NEXT TO MY BED AND SOL WILL BE IN MY BED KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU....WHAT ELSE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEW LIFE IN BELVIDERE, NJ... YOU HAVE A FENCED IN 6FOOT YARD, 2 SISTERS AND SOL....HE HAS YOUR PERSONALIT I BET HE IS ALSO A FAMOUS FAMILYDOBE....LOVE TO YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHER DOBERMANS AND THEIR OWNERS IN THE WORLD....
I just watched you being taken from your litter mates, how exciting is this... see you soon....I just confirmed with Aunt Anneliese that we are meeting at her house to come get you at 2:34pm xxxoooo
well sierra we are home safe and sound...hope that you feel comfortable as i write this you are nestled in your crate... this is going to be short because i am so sleepy and your Familydobe friend Sol has training at 0615 in the am we have to leave at 0430 am for the training, i have lots of video tapes of your arrival, i wonder how your litter mate made out in travels... i am so proud of you your kennel was dry.. you went out side to pee pee, came home and fit right in with the 3 other dobermans in the house and have ate and went poopies outside..and most importantly i am in LOVE with you already... i am so blessed to have a familydobe puppy so much...that i wish i had 101 dobermans

July 14th at 12:18pm I can not believe it has been one week since you have been home, you are an angel...i can not tell you how lucky i am to have you...you got home from the airport last wednesday july 8th and to my suprise you were dry no accidents, you made pee pee's in newark, nj and then at aunt anneliese's house..home we went where you met Sol, Kayla and Xena all of these doberman's were so happy to see you... then for the next four days you traveled to warwick,NY in your carrier(you had to stay in the Yukon and have no exposure to any other dogs or people, but it is interesting you are 6 weeks 4 days old at your first trial it was the Tri State Doberman Club Trials...maybe that is a sign of how your next 7 years are going to be. Now on Sunday your mom fell down a hill and did some serious damage to my left leg, i got crutches, knee embolizer and an ankle cast...amazing enough I was going to the truck to check on you my little pink promise...never made it there, but there were lots of people willing to take you and help with you...i said no way i am so very protective of you, i was so sure to give feeding and bathroom instuctions about you while i was in the ER, for example the pink promise can not go to the bathroom around or near where other dogs go, and no one can feed you like i feed you...i let you eat out of my hand, yes you are spoiled rotten. gosh i was so happy to get you back in my sight,. so we made it home on sunday night, you are amazing you decided to sleep through the night since sunday night. you are pulling at the comforter, digging up the kitchen floor mat and hauling around remote controls...great work!!! your accident in the house was MY fault i did not respond to your bark shame on me... you have now made it to be alongside Kayla and Xena in the crates, because Sol does not want you in the bed he is very angry with you there, and nothing for nothing he was here first....this week on Thursday you are going to go for your check up, i ordered your akc paper work from your father/breeder steve so you can get your udc scorebook and this afternoon i am researching dates for you to get in your first confirmation show ring and your PTT...i will have every letter behind your name before long.. thanks for being part of my life Sierra.... i will write more soon...

July 15th well well miss pink promise today you actually went up 2 full steps and have learned to follow your big sisters and sol....can you believe you are even in the bigger crate...you are growing way too fast, but you still smell like a puppy and you are so sweet....you are eating lots, drinking out of the big bucket and even making bigger poops and pees.....you are sleeping almost 6 hours straight through at night time....mommy is learning how to "stack" you and getting your UDC scorebook....i just love you to pieces...today i have to work and then take Sol to the trainers...you will be ok, during the day Robert is going take care of you and then at 4pm i am loading you in your little crate for a trip to warwick ny by the time you start training you can drive us there.....xxxoo mom

July 16th well well mommy woke up this am before you and i had to check on you...i can not believe you slept from 10pm until 6am your such a big girl...it is amazing NO accidents and you are such a sweetie, the smell of you, and your little heart pounding and your razor sharp teeth are just so amazing....i am home for lunch and can not wait until you are old enough to be social, today at 4pm you are going to the vets i have your poop all packed and ready to be tested xxxooo mom

friday july 17th well you weigh 10.7, the vet said that you are perfect...she asked who your breeder was and mommy gave all the information to her, she will be getting a dobe in no time, you are contagious people love you to death....i have a funny story for you to remember mom has carried you in the airline carrier each and everyday... everywhere like an infant and on the way into the vets you must have gained so much weight that the bottom of the carrier fell out, you were fine, i had a heart attack and now suffer from ptsd of fear of you flopping onto the ground...well you are doing well and now it is time for mom to make the ear cropping appointment...(pleae anyone against it... let's talk about this people have plastic surgery to look good and my dobe is a hot redhead and she wants to look even better so i am getting the ears cropped)... i made an appointment with a nice man who does the laser cropping, i have checked out all of his creditials and references, he is the man, you are going on august 4th which is a great day it is my grandmother Nanny's birthday God bless her, she was a great mentor in my life, and would laugh at me as a teenager all the girls had pictures of wedding dresses and houses, i had doberman's.....i am now living my dream and pink promise you are a part of my dream...you are now going up the steps, hopping and doing great chasing after me in my white robe in the morning, you are even barking and surprising yourself....no accidents and even last night you slept in a 700 crate alongside the bed, Sol is NOT happy with you in the bed, he is a typical male and NOT sharing AT ALL... i try to reassure each and everyone of you(dobes that is) there is enough of my love for both of you....in the morning you are going to go to the Schutzhund club with us and stay in the car while Sol and do tracking...soon you will be doing this also...love you pink promise .....

July 20th monday morning here.. pink promise you are going to get me fired from work, all i can do is think about you and the dobermans in my life and the ones that i want to add to my loving collection of all of you...maybe i can start a doberman support group for those who are addicted. this weekend you seemed to be really growing and adjusting to life here in NJ, we got new toys this weekend, a tire rope, and some ropes for you to chew on... (it is amazing all new puppy toys and do you play with, an empty water bottle...)your teeth are razor sharp... i started to think that you would be carried like a baby in my arms for the rest of your life. this weekend you have made it clear that you do not want to be carried, you grunt and snort to get down....now you run around the yard like you own it....you have now discovered that you are too big to fit through the back stairs... you are climbing 2 steps at a time...growing and growing...this week i am going to research the best dog food for you, i learned that the food i have been feeding you has changed ingredients..i want what is best for you....

A Day in the life of Dobermans

familydobes — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:09:25 -0700

07/03/2009 Introduction....
Well here I am staring daily at the www.familydobes web site, actually more than daily, every free minute. Let me begin with my connection to www.familydobes.com, I was 39 years old and for a year prior to my 40th birthday my fiancé stated I could have anything i wanted for my 40th birthday, i.e. a cruise, at one point he even suggested 2 elephants and a camel....my passion for Dobermans has been since i was a young girl and i always had a dream to own a "real" Doberman and not a white picket fence what I wanted was to have a working dog you know one of those mean...tough dogs that are loveable behind closed doors, so with much undercover research for about 6 months i surfed the web to the point I erased the history....after all he know all I wanted was Doberman...he had just gotten me 2 Doberman puppies from another kennel on April 6th, how could I now asked for this trained adult working Doberman, so one night over the nice dinner I made him, I say i have decided i what i want and it is so simple...and i showed him Sol from Familydobes...in 2 days i was on a plane meeting the owner of FamilyDobes...Steve and truly his family of 4 children and his wife....all of who I fell in love with, i guess i could not ask to take a dog and the 4 children....lol i immediately bonded with Sol and he and I worked great together Steve was so kind and patient....even when he was teaching me my handling techniques and i did not know my left from my right....so i fly home with this wonderful 40th birthday gift, Sol fits in with my other dogs and my fiancé... it is now 5/16/09....i see the a litter of puppies born and say this Sol is so awesome I want and need to have another Family Dobe... once again I secretly research and keep the puppy cam minimized on my computer screen even at work....at this point i have arranged to meet with a trainer and join my local Doberman club who all of the members are super impressed with my Sol and can not believe how much drive and bonding he has with me...in such a short amount of time...Sol has come into my home since 5/16/9 and it has been nothing but pure paradise...I sleep sound each and every night....to be continued with my desire for my next FamilyDobe....

On May 24, 2009 I see that Ruby the greatest female dobe in the family dobe kennel is having her puppies i think to myself am i nuts but i really want one of her puppies (this mom Ruby) jumped in my rental car when i there visiting Steve and bringing Sol home...she was so sweet and loveable to me and Steve's family but also a great protector over the children... i thought to myself i need to have one of those puppies...but really secretly kept this insane thought in my head... so on June 18th i make the offer to take the pink collared female to NJ, and then on June21st (the actual day of my 40th birthday i wake up and see my name typed into the Family Dobes Selma reservation tab! I could not even eat (did i mention since getting my Sol i have lost 12.8 lbs) and now this pink promise is what i have decided to refer to as with my conversations with Steve. it is my pink (for the collar) and promise (to the puppy, he, my fiancé and myself that she will get the best care and training that i have to offer her, and i promise to make it...in this doberman world....so now it is a couple of weeks until she comes to NJ, how do i tell family and friends i am up to four dobermans and will be training 2 of them...less is best...if you are not a Doberman/Schutzhund lover you would not understand....now i have ordered another crate for home and my Yukon (i bet the UPS man thinks i have lost my mind)...did i mention that i have a 17 year old son who is so happy that i have all these Dobermans because he is an only child so you can imagine where all my attention has been for 17 years.....so now that i know that the pink promise is my dog...i watch every minute the puppy web cam...what a great invention. and on June 30th i send Steve an emergency text message....OMG where is the pink promise? he writes back look closely she is sleeping near the blue collared puppy.....as i am writing this blog i see that Steve just fed the puppies....what a miracle the web cam is....On July 8th is the arrival date for my pink promise which i have decided will not sound so "professional' at the trials...is going to be call Sierra Tango...the date i am going to take off 4 days of work to be with my puppy can not come soon enough....i am SO SO SO excited... i am so ready to just smell her puppy breath... in the mean time my Sol and i are training 2x daily and 2x week with a professional trainer and today at the trial field i heard a Tri-State Doberman Club member say "you should be so proud of that Doberman, he has the best bite I have ever seen." and my trainer...world famous trainer John Soares has been complementing on Sol's bite work and believes we will be famous...stay tuned....I love my Dobermans

Doberman Newsletter

familydobes — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:04:21 -0700

Warm weather is here and downright hot weather for some of us! With that comes many concerns for our dogs, and with the approaching Holiday there are things that are worth repeating for those new to the list since last year.

Naturally it has been hot for some time now across the states and all of you know it is a bad idea to leave dogs in hot cars. What we want to focus on are some alternatives so you can still take your dog with you. I still go to several training groups each week, shows etc. So my dogs need to come along. On short visits, I leave the Truck running with the AC on and take a spare key with me so I can lock the doors. I don’t want anyone letting my dogs out or stealing a running car! Although it would take quite the fool to decide to steal a truck full of Dobermans! I also hunt for Shady spots to park, even if it means walking a long distance. Some places you go your Dog would be welcome if you ask permission ahead of time or if it is a pet friendly location. I laughed hysterically yesterday when I went to the DMV, the first thing I saw was a sign on the door that said “No Pets” I tend to notice those kinds of things. Then I noticed right at the front counter a welsh corgi laying at some lady’s feet. It was not identified as a service animal, so I laughed. But many people will welcome your dog to their business if it is well mannered. The leading economists show businesses are recognizing pets as family more and more and welcoming them to draw customer loyalty. I think it is great so long as we only take dogs with good manners and don’t ruin it for everyone else. Also you may have learned the hard way, that uncontained pets in vehicles can make for some very costly repairs. Zenny once ate my cruise control and seatbelts in my Tahoe before I started putting up a barrier.

One thing I do after any summer exercise or even just coming in from outside is to wipe them down with wet towels in the hot summer it helps cool them off and don’t they look great with that glossy wet coat! So use some common sense, include your pets when you can, leave them when you can’t.

Also this time of year many people go camping and want to take the dogs. I think that is great so long as you don’t have a dog that likes to bark at everything and gets on other campers nerves, be polite and keep them on lead or in an exercise pen, or at your side all the time so you don’t intimidate others. Know there are risks and be prepared, such as snake bites, ticks, other wild animals that carry disease and may think your dog is dinner… RV camping is very dog friendly, tent camping can be, and so can backpacking if you are well prepared. I like having the dogs along for company, and they can warn me of dangers I am unaware of.

Now the fireworks warnings... They are loud and dangerous for dogs. My dogs do well with the noise of it all, since we work on that for Schutzhund and other things, and they are so high in prey they like to chase anything that moves. You can certainly see the problem… Anyway, if your dog is afraid of loud noises, or if you are unsure, please don’t take them to a public park to watch fireworks, work on noises and manners in public first. If you are leaving to go watch a show somewhere, remember how terrifying it could be for a pet left home, make sure they are in a safe secure place where they can’t be hurt or hurt themselves. You also don’t want to develop lasting fears so consider all your options for a pet friendly fourth of July celebration.

This information was passed on to me and I want to share it with all of you

We all prepare ourselves for emergencies, but do your preparations include your pets?

Proper emergency planning can help save the life of your pet. The American Kennel Club has prepared the following checklists to help pet owners pack a portable pet first-aid kit and prepare for an emergency evacuation. Preparedness is important in any disaster situation and these checklists can be applied to any emergency that calls for evacuation from your home. Evacuation Checklist for Pets

Dog medicine(s), i.e. heart worm, flea, ear mite medicine, etc.

Dog Bowls

Dog Food (1-week minimum, 2-week suggested), dog treats, etc.

Can opener

Leashes: walking leash, short leash

Harness (to attach to seat belt)

Extra dog tag, (masking tape, laundry pen) Cell #, Hotel # and Room #

Pet records stored in waterproof container or plastic sealable bag

Crate

Dog bed/blanket/toys

Supplies/paper towels, rug cleaner, toilettes, towels, flash light

Current dog photograph(s) with your notification information: useful for fliers should your dog go missing or must be left at shelter

Dog friendly hotel listings/ telephone lists

Shampoo

Litter/portable litter pan

Duct tape

Bottled water

Pet First Aid Kit

Portable First Aid Kit for Pets

Water-proof storage container for kit

Antiseptic/anti-bacterial cleansing wipes/Alcohol prep pads

Eye wash

Eye and skin wash in one

A sock (foot wrapper)

Latex surgical gloves

Electrolyte powder (add to water on hot days)

Emergency space blanket

Small flashlight

Bottled water

Medicated balm

Leash and collar

Soft muzzle

Speak to your vet about what to pack in case your dog has a sudden allergic reaction

Flexible bandage

Gauze roll

Bandage scissors- to cut gauze and to clip hair around wounds

Wood splint

Paper towels

Plastic baggies

Small cold pack and hot pack (self activating)

Cotton swabs

Antibiotic ointment/packets

Tweezers

Space for copy of dog’s papers & vet records (sealed in plastic bag)

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

Doberman puppy for sale

familydobes — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:10:36 -0700

   We have had a very fortunate summer here at FamilyDobes with the production of some world class Doberman puppies for sale. One of our most Noteworthy Doberman litters this year was produced with the help of some very respected people in the Doberman world both here and overseas. Escada Vom Excalibur who has both her Schutzhund 1 and an AD as well as her ZTP where she was V rated was bred to Casa Di Oro Gregory who is currently a Schutzhund level two dog working towards his VPG-3 He also has his ZTP. A litter of 7 outstanding puppies in structure and drive was produced from which we kept one of the red girls, “Family Dobes Prada.” She is stunning to look at, and has great temperament and drive even at a very early age, and we are deeply indebted to Cornelia and Dagmar for helping this dream come true.

   Other notable litters of champion bred European Doberman puppies for sale this year include a first time breeding from Athena Raiden Sky who earned her ZTP with very high ratings. She is a working girl who prefers to lounge around the house and be loved on unless someone is willing to put on a sleeve and go to work! She loves her protection work. She was bred to our Champion Red Male Uragan Best of Island who is also a Schutzhund level one dog now (we are working on his 2 and 3) and also earned his ZTP. They produced a mixed litter of both red and black Doberman Puppies for sale that bring together some of our favorite lines in the world with such legends as Eko Royal Bell, Fedor Del Nasi, and Una Betelges. These puppies have correct structure and very nice heads and we expect them to be outstanding working family companions.

Casa Di Oro Donna Delana “Ruby” who earned her ZTP was also bred to our Champion Red Doberman male Uragan Best of Island. Ruby has had other successful litters producing Doberman puppies with stunning conformation and exceptional working drive just like hers. You would never know what power lurks behind her kind eyes when she is quietly hanging around the house babysitting my one year old or laying at my feet as I work on my computer. Send her outside though for a bite sleeve or bite suit and you will see those kind eyes filled with fire and fury as she very effectively handles threats to her family or property. This litter of all red Doberman puppies for sale should prove just like their other offspring to be ideal working Dobermans that are still welcome in any home.

   We have also enjoyed this year the addition of our PuppyCam! The Puppy Cam streams live video 24 hours a day for people to check in on their new Doberman puppies for sale. This way they feel more a part of the process of their growth and development and can see their personalities develop. It is a great way to connect with your future Doberman puppy!

   This year is off to a great start at Family Dobes, and if you are looking for the best European Doberman puppies for sale and have not yet found yours, you certainly found the right place! Watch for more exciting things to come from FamilyDobes this year!

Wisdom of Dogs

familydobes — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:07:40 -0700
"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." Dave Berry "No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation." Fran Lebowitz "Of all the things I miss from veterinary practice, puppy breath is one of the most fond memories!" Dr. Tom Cat "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life ,his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." unknown The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. Anonymous Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. Ann Landers If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. Will Rogers There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. Ben Williams A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Josh Billings The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. Andy Rooney We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. M. Acklam Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. Sigmund Freud I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. Rita Rudner A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. Robert Benchley Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. Franklin P. Jones If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. James Thurber If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. Unknown My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. Joe Weinstein Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! Anne Tyler Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. Mark Twain You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!' Dave Barry If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. Phil Pastoret

Live PuppyCam

familydobes — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:30:22 -0700

The Live Puppy Cam

Have you heard about the New Internet sensation? People all over the world, 4 million users logged on last summer to watch a litter of puppies live on a video stream. Articles on MSNBC and Today told the world about the sensation. People were taking a quick break from work to watch and get a lift for the day, as Ben Williams once said, "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." I couldn't agree more. There is something magical about puppies, and there has been for thousands of years. The bond that was formed between man and dog has outlived most relationships, and I suspect always will. The Puppy Cam is one way people can feel like they are part of the growth and development of a litter of puppies without the accountability and responsibility that comes with raising puppies and finding them qualified forever homes. No one is allergic to enjoying the puppies on the puppy cam either. There just are not many things in the world as cute as puppies, through all their stages. The helpless sightless and deaf newborns cuddled and nursed by their mothers to the older puppies who roughhouse with reckless abandon until they collapse in a dog pile for a nap. The moment they wake the games are on again. It is fun to watch the puppies grow live on camera with real time streaming video. It is a good way to escape whatever is going on in the world at the moment and join a different world with unconditional love, quick forgiveness, wild play, and peaceful rest. The thrill of the sneak attack, determination, and the value of companions for everything from sparring partners to pillows :) Watching young puppies live on the Puppy Cam reminds me of all the essential elements in a life of joy and happiness. Watching puppies live on the puppy Cam gives me an injection of goodness. It is almost as if you are there, and you can even communicate with those caring for the pups via Email or phone if there are concerns. We hope bringing the puppy Cam to you brings a piece of our joy into your life. Feel free to share it with family and friends, and feel free to share your feelings with us!

Our live puppy Cams are specifically broadcasting live streaming video of our Champion European bred Doberman puppies for sale. We feel we raise some of the finest European Doberman Pinschers around, and we are proud to both show them off and share them with you. Sometimes some of the puppies you are watching will be available to new forever homes. If you are ever interested, the first step is to fill out the puppy application and email it back to us. If you are an approved home, we will talk about the type of Doberman puppy that will fit your lifestyle, and tuning in to the Live puppy Cam will let you follow your Doberman puppies progress as it grows and learns. You will get to see the Doberman puppies interact 24/7 which gives a clear sense of what the puppy is overall, much more so than a short one time visit to your breeder. You get to see them when they are tired, and when they are playful, and how they interact with other dogs, as well as the people that interact with them daily.

A Red Doberman and Her Binky

familydobes — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:22:59 -0700

Just a few weeks ago we were lucky enough to welcome a new four legged member into our family, a Red Doberman. At a little more than a year and a half old, she is a beautiful red female Doberman. However, her looks are only one of the things that make her special. She is one of the most affectionate, mellow, sweet natured Dobies that you’ll ever meet. Everyone that gets to know her is immediately jealous that we share our home with such a great girl.

Because of her gentle nature, she has gotten along famously with our other 3 dogs. She and our Madde are especially fond of each other. What they say about opposites attracting evidently carries over to dog as well. Don’t get me wrong, Madde is our princess and we couldn’t love her more. On the other hand, she is definitely the boss and what she says, goes. She’s not always polite about it either. Despite this, the new Red girl and Madde play together like they were raised together. Their favorite toy is a terribly beat up old 4 legged squeaky toy who has lost 2 of its legs with the other two not far behind. They tug to a chorus of vicious sounding growls but it’s all just a game. If one happens to let go, the other is right there shoving the toy in their face like “C’mon we were just getting started!”

We noticed right away that she seemed to prefer soft, cuddly toys. This is something we no longer have many of at our house because of the other two Dobies. They think the reason we give them stuffed toys is to make stuffy murder scenes all over the house and back yard. In contrast, she is not a shredder at all. She would much rather take a soft floppy toy and bounce around like a bucking bronco, shaking the toy up as she goes. Then we noticed that’s not the only reason she likes soft, cuddly things. The first time I saw her do this I laughed so hard I nearly cried. It was bedtime and our 3 Dobes were settling into the king size mattress that they graciously let my husband and I share with them. We were trying to get comfortable but the bed kept giggling in one spot. Looking over, we see her with the corner of our comforter fluffed into a little mound in between her two front paws. At first I thought she was trying to shred the blanket just as the other two dogs would have been doing in the same situation. But no, there she was with the mound of comforter in her mouth sucking away on it while she kneaded the outside portion with her front paws! This went on almost every night as her way to fall asleep.

It didn’t stop there though. One evening I was relaxing on our Lazyboy with a light fleece blanket over my legs. Oftentimes one of the girls will climb onto the recliner to cuddle and she was acting like this was what she wanted to do. She got her front half on my lap but instead of hopping up the rest of the way she started pawing at my legs. I tried to coax her up to get comfortable with no luck. She just kept pawing at my legs like she wanted me to move so I started to scoot over. When I did this she leaned over, grabbed my blanket in her mouth and started dragging it off of me. Once she had gotten it down she gave me a look like, “Thanks! That’s all I wanted” and went on to do her bucking bronco routine shaking the blanket all over as she went. After it was sufficiently shook up to her liking, she plopped down in the middle of the living room and pulled a tuft up in the middle with her mouth. Sure enough she went to town, sucking away and kneading like a nursing puppy. We have now gifted this blanket to our Red girl and named it her "Binky”. Some people have children who carry a blanket and suck their thumbs. Evidently we’ve got the canine equivalent living at our house!

The Underwear Dog

familydobes — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:01:01 -0700

Todays guest post is from a good friend of mine, who has one of the finest looking Dobes I have ever seen

The Underwear Wonder Dog

People tried to warn us, "Doberman's love things that smell like their owners". Of course they do. All dogs like things that smell like like their owners, don't they? Little did we know when sweet, tiny Madde came home with us that our laundry would never be safe again...

First off, I acknowledge that I'm not the worlds most fantastic housekeeper. This doesn't mean that we're terribly messy. Like most people we occasionally have clothes that don't find their way straight to the hamper. Not a big deal right? That's what we thought too. As is turns out, Madde's favorite thing in the whole world is socks. The dirtier and smellier they are, the more she loves them. It started when she was small. She would get ahold of one and, after a victory lap or two, start trying to see how many holes she could put in it. Annoying for sure but not dangerous. At least we live in Arizona and wear a lot of flip flops. As she got older, her habit switched from chewing to swallowing. The first time this happened it nearly scared me to death. I can't begin to tell you how frightening it is to wake up at 3am with your 4 month old puppy shaking uncontrolably and giving you a look that says "Somethings wrong, please make my belly stop hurting!". My thought was automatically, "Oh no, she ate a sock and it's stuck".    I panicked of course and called her breeder and another friend who manages a veternary office. She was still drinking water and keeping it down so they advised me to give her some time to see if it passes.

Lucky for both of us after 5 hours of sitting and waiting, the whole time imagining the emergency surgery I was sure she was going to need, out came the sock! I have never been so happy to see a dog go to the bathroom. It was amazing that after it passed she was completely back to normal. I had no idea at the time that this was going to become a regular occurrence in our life with Madde.

After this first scare we started to be more cautious. Clothes didn't get left on the floor. If they didn't make it to the basket they were set up on a counter or a dresser. For any other dog this probably would have been fine. With Madde, not so much. The next scare came on Halloween night after attending a friends party. I had dressed up as a witch, complete with red fishnet stockings. Tired from a late evening, I undressed and set the costume up on our dresser. We finished locking up the house and returned to find Madde in the bedroom looking at us innocently with an odd little puff of red between her lips. My husband gasped as we both realized what we were witnessing. She had gotten a hold of my stockings and proceeded to gobble them up just like the famous spaghetti noodle scene out of Lady and the Tramp. He ran at her and before she could slurp down that last little bit of stocking he grabbed it and started pulling. It was like watching a clown show at the circus. He pulled and pulled and pulled until finally the end of the fishnet came out with a hack. As funny of a sight as it was to see, we both knew how lucky we were to have caught her in the act. There was no way she would have been able to pass something that size. We were so grateful for our good timing that evening.

As she's grown, Madde's tastes have expanded to anything underwear related. Now a days we have switched to a covered hamper which stays behind a closed closet door.
She has stolen from every imaginable place, laundry baskets, counters, sinks, closets, bags, backpacks. She has even stolen from the covered clothes hamper. Not by flipping open the lid like you might think, but by sniffing out the desired item then nibbling and pulling it out through the holes. I think she's singlehandedly keeping Hanes in business at this point. We do our best to keep things out of reach but when you have a Dobie you come to the conclusion that most of the time they can outsmart you... Especially if it's something they want badly enough!

Denise and Madde

Boys and Dogs

familydobes — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:14:30 -0700

You know I have given a lot of thought the last few years about how dogs along the way have shaped me into what I am. I have realized that no matter what, boys just can’t grow up into men without good dogs to point them along the way. Naturally I believe Doberman Pinschers are those good dogs  They love us unconditionally, and every boy exploits that, asking dogs to do things they probably shouldn’t, to go places they shouldn’t go and even to take the blame and wrath of mom and dad when we have done something wrong. That unconditional love I think teaches us about forgiveness. Not one of my dogs ever held a grudge for something stupid I asked them to do, and most of the time they would love me enough to do the stupid thing and let me learn a tough lesson. I remember “Teddy” a purebred “Heinz 57” (I was sure that was a breed until much later in life, my parents had convinced me so!) Teddy was my first exposure to protection dogs. I was only 8 at the time and mom had just given me a brand new winter coat, we lived in Midvale Utah at the time, and I was going to need that coat to get through the winter. We didn’t have much growing up, but I had Teddy. I can’t tell you what movie it was or tv show that inspired me to teach a dog to bite my arm, or why I thought that coat would do me any good, but Teddy and I worked on it all day one cold Saturday. Thanks to the terrier genes he had in his family tree, he was happy to play the game once we got started. He shredded that new coat, and with it my arm to some degree  But he would quit when I asked him to, and I think it was that moment that changed the rest of my life. I had no idea how to train a dog, I just knew I loved him, and we did everything together. His training paid off one day as we were coming home and some neighborhood dog made a beeline for me while Teddy was pulling me down the street on my roller skates. Before that dog got close enough Teddy took care of it. I don’t know how he didn’t get hurt or killed, but we had love and loyalty between us. He learned to pull me on skates or sleds and stop when I asked him to, he would sit and shake, and sometimes he would stay until I turned my back  We just worked things out, it is a magic that happens between a boy and his dog. Teddy went through two broken legs and surgeries to boot, he survived a patio roof collapse in a storm, he lived on love heaven knows as I wasn’t the best at feeding and cleaning. He taught me to swim and chase sticks and run through fields. There were many good dogs in my life like Teddy, and the most influential was of course Gretta a Doberman. Those stories will have to wait for another time though… The point is I am what I am for good or bad in large because of the dogs along the way. A boy just isn’t a boy without a dog. I had a sad call today from someone whose boy had just lost his red female dobe yesterday and his parents knew what it meant to that little boy. I reflected with sadness on those times I felt the same pains. I came in from that call back to the family room to see this:

Naturally I started crying and remembering naps just like that one. You can see Coco is wide awake but doesn’t dare disturb her little boy. Ethan has always been like that, when he threw tantrums as a one year old, it was always on Zenny’s bed under his watchful and concerned eye:

And with Texa’s new puppies, you guessed it, the dog that won’t even let my wife in the puppy room:

I sat and thought a long time about all of this today and I was so filled with gratitude that we get to share our lives with such special dogs. I am so grateful my three year old son has found what I found, a true friend. So here is a tribute to all those dogs along the way that shaped us into what we are, it must be similar for girls, as Grace loves the dogs every bit as much as Ty and Ethan, but where the red fern grows helps us to cement it into our boyhood minds. I hope this sentimental moment finds all of you well and enjoying your lives with these special friends, I hope you too are learning from them and slowly learning to love and forgive like them. I hope you shamelessly ask for what you want and need instead of beating around the bush with hidden agendas and I hope you enjoy a nap in the soft grass under the warm sun. Chase things in life you want with enthusiasm, and hang on to what you catch with all your might until it is time to let go. Smile for no reason, and wake up knowing each day is just your favorite thing. Try new things and be loyal to your friends, and fiercely defend your loved ones. Enjoy mud and swimming, and chewing on your favorite treat. Finally although Cliché, may we be the people our dogs think we are. Life is too short not to share it with a friend.  thank all of you for sharing yours with us.

Good arguments for dogs :)

familydobes — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:53:18 -0700

1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you.

2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.

3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.

4. A dog's parents never visit.

5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.

7. Dogs find it amusing when you are not so sober

8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

9. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, ?If I died, would you get another dog??

10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.

11. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.

12. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting.

13. If a dog leaves, it won't take half of your stuff.

WHO IS YOUR REAL FRIEND?

This really works...!
If you don't believe it, just try this experiment:
Put your dog and your spouse in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, which one is really happy to see you?

Current News

familydobes — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:26:30 -0700

Well Cora is here from Europe where she has had a very successful show career and is beginning her work career. Everyone who sees her is amazed at her beauty and way of movement. My kids are blown away with her temperament and how she is willing to walk calmly on a leash for even my smallest children. She is exceptionally sweet and still has a ton of drive for the Tug, a ball and good old fashioned play. WE are excited to have her as part of our program.

We also have our P litter on the ground that was much awaited, and as the pups grow we are convinced more and more everyday that we picked the right pairing. The pups already at a very young age are showing great independence, drive and confidence. These pups are sure to be well known in the Doberman community.

Upcoming litters include a Half Red Half Black litter from Athena who like Uragan (the sire she is bred to) has earned her ZTP (Breeding evaluation) In Europe with the highest scores. These pups are sure to be great sport prospects and protective family companions. Both Uragan Best of Island and Athena Raiden Sky are great house dogs with my family, get along well with the pack, and love to work.

Next is a litter from Casa di Oro Donna Delana "Ruby" also bred to Uragan, and those who met her pups from last year can understand why some people were on a waiting list ever since her last litter. These will be some of the highest quality Doberman Puppies available anywhere. Ruby also earned her ZTP in Europe and is both an impressive working dog as well as a beloved family companion. She is my wifes favorite dog moving ahead of Coco since Ruby does not give kisses ;-)

Temperatures are hot here at the kennel and it is often time to remind folks how to care for their Dobes in the heat. Heat exhaustion can really take a toll on Dobermans, their short coats don't offer them much protection from the sun and they heat up very quickly. Wiping them down with wet towels while outside as well as other neat cooling products make for better summer recreation. Be sure to keep them drinking plenty of water so their bodies have the ability to cool down. Everywhere you go be sure to take water and dishes for your dog as you can never be sure of what you can find at your destination. I don't like to recommend other peoples products very often but here is a good choice:

http://www.vkrpets.com/K9%20Cooler.html?gclid=CNjezeWXt5oCFSQeDQod4xexdQ

Also here in Phoenix you have to be careful of the temperature of pavement, use alternatives when you can, or go early morning or late evening for your walks. If you have to walk at the hottest parts of the day consider boots to protect your dogs tender pads.

Online dog training material

familydobes — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:27:48 -0700

Many people ask us all the time about some training resources, and our forum is one great place to start, we also have phone and email which many people have taken advantage of, and now we have partnered with a friend of mine that I used to train with (I have trusted him even with my own dogs in the past) who offers some online training courses many of you may find very helpful. His courses are much cheaper than private lessons, and you will see some good results. Try it out and see what you think!

Online training Now!

Also wanted to pass on some good advice :)

An Old Farmer's Advice:

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight
And bull-strong.
*Keep skunks and bankers at a
Distance.
*Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a
John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner
Than you.

* It don't take a very big person to carry a
Grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't Never gonna happen anyway.

* Don't judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best
Answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get
Older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't Bothering you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever
Have to deal with, watches you from The mirror every mornin'.

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a
Lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot
Easier than puttin' it back in.

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some
Influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
--

Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight,

he'll just kill you.

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

Kennel updates

familydobes — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:11:33 -0700

Well it has been a while since we have posted, it seems like time has flown right by! It is already triple digits here in Phoenix and slowing down our training goals. Elsewhere in the world people are seeing spring and it will roll right into summer. We have kept very busy here at the kennel but wanted to pause and Share exciting news about our newest litter. Escada Vom Excalibur was bred in Germany to Casa di oro Gregory to create a very special litter with high drive, steady nerve, correct structure and great health traits. This is a pedigree not often found in America and we are thrilled to be bringing it to America. So thrilled we are keeping a pup for ourselves to become part of our program in the future. She had seven beautiful puppies a mix of reds and blacks, and we are thrilled with their quality. Escada thankfully is a careful and caring mother and we expect big things from this litter.

We are also excited that Ramon and Questo Betelges just earned their ZTP rated V1A (in Europe) which of course we knew would happen, but makes us all the more excited that we have bred to these outstanding males.

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

Newsletter with health warning!!!

familydobes — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:34:55 -0800

Sadly here is another thing we need to avoid with dogs, it isn't internet panic it really happens

Gorilla Glue poses danger to dogs

March 6th, 2009 @ 10:50pm

By Ed Yeates

SALT LAKE CITY -- Dogs have discovered Gorilla glue to be quite appetizing. But when it's ingested it suddenly grows into a huge, ugly alien inside their bodies.

Gorilla Glue is a great bonding material. You can buy it in any hardware-lumber store, variety store, even craft shops. People who do a lot of handy work love this stuff, but then so do dogs.

The glue has the consistency of honey, and for dogs has a somewhat sweet overlay. When a Murray Labrador named Ruby lapped it up, she got sick.

"We couldn't figure out what was going on. We'd been watching her and watching her for two weeks sort of going downhill," Ruby's owner, Jane Rice, said.

"The initial surprise was the dramatic X-ray. I could not believe that the stomach was full of whatever it was," said Dr. Eric Belnap of Redwood Veterinary Hospital.

Whatever it was, was a large, hardened mass in Ruby's stomach, and it had to be surgically removed. Belnap said it was almost like a Nerf football. "I was in shock. It looked like a big piece of lava rock," he said.

The glue slipped through Ruby's mouth and down the throat. But inside the stomach, it reacted with hydrochloric acid and grew into a huge mass. Apparently the glue was so appetizing she had eaten most of it, burying the remains in her favorite backyard spot.

"She had buried the bottle, and my husband had found it coming up out of the ground," Rice said.

That's all in the past now. Ruby is alive and well, fully recovered, with no apparent side effects.

Ruby's initial symptoms, within the first few days after eating the adhesive, included vomiting and a loss of appetite. Veterinarians suggest owners keep Gorilla Glue high up away from a dog's view.

More tips to keep your pets safe

As we head toward warmer weather, safety hazards for your pets abound, both inside and out. Ordinary objects in your home and yard can be a serious threat.

Temma Martin with the Utah Animal Adoption Center warns pet owners, especially new pet owners, that dangers can be found all around the home and "pet proofing" is a must.

"Be very cautious about accessible wires and giving (your pets) people food," she suggests. "And there's always some new product people are just bringing into their homes that we're discovering could be dangerous. Sadly, it can go beyond just common sense."

Here are some tips to keeping your pets safe:

Home Décor

Windows

Avoid vertical blinds, pooling drapery, ornate tassels and long cords that can become strangulation hazards. If a dog gets caught in any of these, he could panic and bring objects around him crashing down.

Think twice about mini-blinds, which can get bent beyond repair when a curious dog tries to see the outside world.

Fabric shades, café curtains and draperies are excellent choices for homes with dogs.

Furniture

Provide comfy beds in each room or designate one piece of furniture as your pet's place. Cover this piece with a washable throw and teach your pet that this is the only piece of furniture he is allowed to frequent.

Make sure slipcovers are machine-washable, especially if a light-colored solid is your upholstery of choice.

Leather and vinyl furniture is easy to clean, but can be damaged by too-long toenails! Be sure to clip your cat's and dog's nails regularly!

Walls

Use washable semi-gloss paint in areas where your pet may sprinkle spittle on the walls.

Washable vinyl-backed wallpaper is easier to clean than traditional paper-backed wallpaper.

Relegate antique wallpapers or fabric wall treatments to the top half of the walls; paint or hang a washable wall covering below.

Floors <UL

Machine-washable area rugs are easier to keep clean than wall-to-wall carpeting. If urine soaks into carpet backing, it's nearly impossible to remove. If you do decide to stick with wall-to-wall, it's a good idea to stock up on carpet care products, especially enzymatic cleaners made specifically for pet accidents.

Roll up vegetable-dyed oriental rugs until your new dog is fully house-trained—and if rugs have decorative fringe, don't put them back down until your pet is well past teething age (over 8 months)!

Tile, sheet linoleum and Pergo® are pet-friendly floorings that allow you to easily wipe away accidental droppings.

Seal hardwood floors with polyurethane to prevent urine odor from lingering.

· Keep Your Pet's Eating and Sleeping Areas Tidy

Spill-proof water bowls help prevent drooly drinkers from spilling on the floor.

A large, absorbent placemat under food and water bowls will make for easier clean-up after messy eaters.

Frequently wash your pet's blanket and bedding; use a lint roller on pillows.

Scoop the poop out of your cat's litter box at least once or twice a day.

· Cleaners
If you use a product that contains ammonia to clean up your pet's urine, you won't be able to smell remaining odors, but your pet will! In fact, ammonia-based cleaners can actually attract pets and encourage them to urinate where they've made mistakes before. Instead, have on-hand a special enzymatic cleaner specifically made for cleaning up pet messes—all major pet stores carry them. For best results, be sure to follow the directions on the product label.

· Grooming

Regularly trim and file your pet's nails to keep her from shredding furniture.

Brush kitty or pooch regularly to remove dead skin and hair that will otherwise end up on furniture and floors.

Wipe off your pet's paws and mouth after meals.

Trim the hair around your pet's bottom to help keep excrement from clinging.

Make it easy to give your pet a good rubdown after outdoor romps. Place a machine-washable area rug by the door and keep a towel handy near the entry.

· Animal-Friendly Decor
Here are some fun ways to spruce up your home for your companion animals:

Internal Dutch doors between rooms make it easy for you to manage which pets are allowed where. They also eliminate the need for awkward baby gates.

Outdoor cat enclosures can be attached to the house with a cat door to allow free access for your feline friend.

Fenced-in yards should have a buried, inward-facing section to prevent dogs from digging and tunneling.

If you have cats, be sure to install high-quality metal screens on all windows.

Install a folding (hinged) cat perch under a window for kitty's viewing pleasure.

How about a built-in alcove for your dog's crate?

By adding a porthole to a kitchen cabinet, you've got yourself a new place for a cat litter tray! Not only will it look clean and neat, but the porthole will keep dogs from getting in and munching on cat waste.

A small lift along a wall where the litter box or food and water bowls are placed would make cleaning and feeding a lot easier for senior pet owners. The lift would be used to raise and lower the litter box or food bowls.

If you're really handy, how about an outdoor septic disposal system for dog waste?!

And remember to increase your pet's roaming privileges slowly, room by room. Going from restriction to complete freedom can set a pet up to fail.

Adapted from articles by Jacque Lynn Schultz, Director, ASPCA Companion Animals Program Advisor, and Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, Senior Vice President, ASPCA National Program Office

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

801-636-8006

Doberman puppy for sale

familydobes — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:34:40 -0800

It's been an exciting and busy time at Family Dobes kennel your stop for the best Doberman Puppy for Sale anywhere in the United States. We have some beautiful Doberman puppies from Farra that were sired by Ramon Betelges some of the only puppies from Ramon in America! If you want a high quality Doberman puppy for sale, why not have one of the best? Farra is a Balkan Sieger show winner and has been an exception family companion. The Doberman puppy for sale you would choose from her would be either a Red European Male Doberman puppy for sale or a Red Female European Doberman puppy for sale. Either way you are sure to be satisfied since all of our Doberman puppies for sale come with a health and temperament Guarantee. It is important when you get a European Doberman puppy for sale that you deal with someone who will be there for you throughout the process, and really stand behind your Doberman Puppy. I have seen so many people be taken advantage of when they buy a Doberman puppy for sale and do not receive what they thought they had paid for. We want your experience to be positive with your Doberman puppy for sale and that is why we stand behind them with more than just words. We can help you with advice on health, training and behavior as well as many other things you will experience with your Doberman puppy for sale.

                We also still have some great young trained Doberman Pinschers available right now and have some great prospects for fully trained Doberman Pinschers for sale. A Fully trained Doberman will have on and off leash obedience as well as specialized protection training. If you have unique circumstances let us custom train a Great Doberman for you so that you can feel safe and secure the way you deserve to!

                We also have one other very special litter coming in April that we are keeping kind of quiet, but if you are looking for an outstanding sport dog for Schutzhund, mondio ring, French ring, or other dog sport, or if you simply need the finest Protective companion available, this is a well titled, well health tested set of parents to bring you the very best Black Doberman puppy for sale anywhere. This bloodline is not currently available in the states, so this represents a rare opportunity indeed! Are you interested in a sneak peek? Email us for details.

Here you can find some other great resources for your Doberman puppy for sale

http://www.bestdoberman.com

http://www.bestdobermans.com

http://www.dobermanplace.com

http://www.dobermansource.com

http://www.dobermanstore.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

http://www.dobietalk.com

http://www.familydoberman.com

http://www.thedobermanplace.com

http://blog.bestdoberman.com

http://blog.bestdobermans.com

http://blog.dobermanplace.com

http://blog.dobermansource.com

http://blog.dobermanstore.com

http://blog.familydobes

http://dobermanpuppies.blogharbor.com

http://familydobes.wordpress.com/

Stephen Parsons
Quality Doberman Pinschers

www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797

801-636-8006

Exciting kennel News!!

familydobes — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:36:00 -0800

Well first off we want to announce that we finally have puppies from Ramon Betelges here in the states! Farra Whelped a huge litter of Red puppies last night that should be more than outstanding. Many people have been waiting for a fantastic Red litter to come along, and this is it!!!

Also We still have four adorable black females in Holly's litter that will be ready for their new homes in just two weeks, and we had three really nice black males flown in from Betelges Kennels for the people who were looking for black males cropped and docked.



If you can live without caffeine or nicotine; If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; If you can resist complaining; If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time; If you can take criticism and blame without resentment; If you can ignore friends' limited educations and never correct them; If you can treat the rich and poor alike; If you can face the world without lies or deceit; If you can conquer tension without medical help; If you can relax without liquor; If you can sleep without the aid of drugs; If you can have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, or politics .....

Then you have almost reached the same level of spiritual development as your dog.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Microchips work

familydobes — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:12:45 -0800

Today's entry is a tragedy about a dog that was dropped off at a shelter to be euthanized. The microchip was scanned and found to be one implanted by me and never registered to a later owner. Thank heavens for that! They got hold of me so we could bail him out, he has been picked up by Utah Doberman Rescue. He needs a qualified home right away, some proper nutrition and Vet care. It is such a tragedy that anyone would do this to a dog, especially one of our breeding!!! Thank heavens for Microchips or this young boy would have been murdered today, but because he was microchipped they gave me a call. How can people do this to any animal? Why did they never call me back? We do the best we can to screen potential homes, this individual turned out to be a young lady who told me she was being stalked and she needed a Doberman for protection. We talked about trained dogs vs. puppies for Personal protection. They chose to go with a Doberman puppy from one of our friends litters that was sired by a level three personal protection dog (PPD3) After about 6 months I could never get hold of them again. I am heartbroken that this has happened. Anyone interested in "Pal" contact me immediately.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

practicing for the AD

familydobes — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:39:41 -0800

Many people don't know what an AD title is, or much less why I would want to pursue them, so I thought I would give a brief tutorial. In the Sport of Schutzhund AD is the title given for Endurance. It is abbreviated from Ausdauerprüfung which means Endurance exam. In this exam the dog must travel 20 km (about 12.5 miles) in under two hours including any rest breaks. There are a few Vet checkups throughout as well to make sure the dog is doing fine. The handler normally rides a bike with the dog on the right side, but may trial two dogs at once with one on the left and one on the right. Crazy people have even been known to run the AD exam! Not me! Any dog wishing to participate in Koreung tests which are breed surveys, must have passed the AD. Training for the AD is in my opinion more rewarding than the actual title, as it gives you and your dog so much time together during training without obedience, compulsion, mistakes and frustrated nerves. It is time when I sit and talk with the dog, and encourage them to keep going, and we see a lot of country. I have been training with 4 different dogs right now to make sure I will have at least two ready for the test. I have a little different setup than most people as I will be using a recumbent Trike. This way I can pack squirt bottles to keep them cool, water and dishes for both of us, medical kit etc. It is also much more comfortable for me! So here is a picture of our gang during practice

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

American vs. European Doberman

familydobes — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:53:04 -0800

American vs. European Dobermans

It is time I weigh in on the debate since it is the question I get asked nearly every day in phone calls and emails. Everyone wants to know which is better American bred Dobermans or European Dobermans. By American bred I don't necessarily ,mean dogs just born in America, I mean dogs bred to the AKC standard, or dogs in America not bred to any standard. Nice of me to lump them into that category huh? European Dobermans to me are dogs bred to the FCI or international standard or their direct descendents as long as they continue to be bred to the FCI standard. It seems funny to me that we call them European since the FCI standard is used even in central and Southern America. But the first thing is to understand that there is a difference between the two standards.

The second thing to understand is that it doesn't make one better than another, it creates preference. It does mean that one group will be suited more to what you are after than another group. Contrary to what most people think about me, it does not mean that I don't like American Bred dogs. In fact two of the people that dislike me the most have the most amazing American bred Dobermans I have ever seen. I can appreciate their beauty and their closeness to their standard, the same way I can appreciate the beauty and grace of Arabian horses while still preferring Quarter horses. I like to train Quarter horses, I like to ride them, rope off them, cut with them, I like to be with them. It is the same with Doberman Pinschers. The Arabian horse wins most every endurance event, that is what they were created for. They are graceful, efficient and correct in their movement, but a quarter horse is like the American muscle car, it is just raw power waiting to explode. So is this about Cars, or horses or Doberman Pinschers? It is about Doberman Pinschers of course!

The point I am trying to make is that the American Doberman was bred by fanciers and breeders to evolve into a different type of dog in type, structure and temperament than the original Doberman from Apolda Germany was. What most people fail to understand is that the "European Doberman" or those bred to the FCI standard also evolved to a different form than the original Herr Doberman dog. Today's European type Doberman Pinscher is larger and more heavily boned than it's ancestors. It's temperament is still adequate for "Work" (by this we mean dog sports, personal protection, Police work, Search and rescue, etc.) but it is considerably less "sharp" than its predecessor. I don't think I would have liked the original Doberman Pinscher very much, they were small compact muscle bound dogs with very sharp temperaments, fiercely loyal to their owners but wary of anyone else. Many judges and handlers were bit at shows and otherwise by these "Devil dogs" as they came to be known by the US military when they were pressed into service with the Marine corps. They provided a more than valuable service to our country and our soldiers, and they were perfectly suited for their job. They saved lives, they protected lives, but they were loyal to their handlers alone for the most part. The European Doberman Pinscher of today is still very protective and loyal, but much less suspicious. The American bred Doberman on the other hand as a generalization (naturally there are exceptions) has had the working temperament bred out of them, as a "job" was not part of their standard. In Germany the dogs were not allowed to be bred unless the dog met the breed standard of conformation, passed hip examinations, passed a temperament test, and at least one parent had to have a working title such as a schutzhund title.

This is why the working traits have been preserved. Now there is also indiscriminant breeding going on over in Europe and elsewhere but the dog remains fundamentally different. In America I see two basic groups of Dobermans evolving in the last 100 years. The first group is the result of the Dobermans incredible popularity in the early 70's when they were literally mass produced. The AKC did not have any breeding regulations, nor does it today with regards to health, temperament or structure. They have a standard that constantly gets revised but it is voluntary to adhere to. This first group of people are the group I call backyard breeders. Not because the dogs are actually bred in the back yard as I like to joust with so many people that pass out that label, but because they don't have a clear goal and standard in mind in their breeding program. Their motive is only to produce puppies. These are different than the group I label as puppy millers. Puppy mills to me are people who on a large scale produce puppies with only a profit motive, no standard to breed to or clear program goals, and most importantly the condition the dogs and puppies are kept in. This one point gets me in more arguments than any other. But between the Back yard Breeders (often abbreviated byb's) and the puppy millers often abbreviated (pm's) they ruined what the Doberman was as well as what it became. They produced dogs that now range from 45 pounds on up to over 120 I hear people boast from time to time, and there is not a set of traits that really identifies them as a group other than their coloring and the fact that they are registered as Doberman Pinschers. There is too much variability in the group and fails the fundamental definition of a breed which is that "parents produce like offspring." There is now so much variability in structure, temperament, marking and even color that I would not call the offspring "Like" meaning the same as the parents. There was another group in America that was breeding dogs with a goal in mind, they are the show people. They were breeding dogs for the conformation ring. Now I will say something here that likely will offend many people, but it doesn't make it any less true. The goal was the structure alone of the dog, temperament was not fussed about, nor were health traits. I know there have been some big changes in the last few years with very good health testing, but one of the most talked about and bred to studs not long ago also had a history of very bad temperament, but he was gorgeous so they kept breeding him. One of my favorite kennels despite their lack of appreciation for me :) had wobblers in their lines and now the whole line has been retired in favor of healthier lines now that health testing and genealogy has become more important.

The American Doberman Pinscher is a beautiful dog and I can appreciate their elegance and grace. In my opinion they lack the structure and power to do their original job. The Doberman Pinscher was the only breed of dog ever bred specifically for personal protection. There are many breeds that do this job well, but they were bred as multi-purpose dogs. The Doberman was created by Herr Doberman specifically to be a companion and guard to it's owner. I have not met any American Champion Dobermans that could adequately perform this job and if someone has one please bring it over and shut me up as I put on the bite suit. This to me is why I prefer the European Bred Doberman Pinscher. They still can do the original job they were bred for. I love the story of how the Doberman came to our nations aid in time of war not many years ago, but if the same call came out today for Doberman Pinschers to be war dogs, the ones America could send would be predominantly European dogs. The AKC champions would fail us, the Back yard Bred dogs would fail us, and the puppy mill dogs would fail us. I now understand very clearly what it takes for a dog to actually do this kind of work, and so much of it is bred in to them.

Let's be specific about some generalizations in the breed standard. American bred Doberman Pinschers are typically smaller over all, they are shorter at the withers and lighter than the European Doberman. They are also finer boned. Those physical traits make them less suited for working dog sports that I enjoy. If they were slightly smaller and still had adequate bone they may make better ring-sport dogs than the standard European Doberman. Very few Dobermans do well in French ring primarily because of the palisade wall they must scale and jump off. The typical Doberman is too heavy to jump 7 to 9 feet with all his weight on his front end and not sustain injury. The American bred Doberman lacks the drive and temperament and is too fine boned also for this task.

Although health testing occurs with most reputable American Doberman Breeders now, it wasn't always the case and in my opinion we see higher frequency of many maladies, and some others that typically do not show up in the European dog.

So which dog is better American or European? You can see now it comes down to what you want the dog for. They both can make great family pets, which is what the majority of people getting Doberman puppies are interested in. Generally the European Type Doberman Pinscher is going to be better suited for working dog sports, but an American bred dog can still do great with obedience, agility, flyball etc. Some even track well despite their lack of selection for it. I did Search and Rescue with American bred Doberman Pinschers, one was a grandson of my favorite show kennel. But doing SAR with my European Dobermans has been much more rewarding and easier to train. I used to pheasant hunt with my American bred Doberman Pinschers back in 1998 but I have no doubt whatsoever that Ruby and Athena today would hunt faster with more desire, drive and stamina. But I never did have a good protection dog from American lines. I had some that learned the job, but none were as powerful or as driven for the work, and if I found dogs that were, they were not as stable in my house with children.

Both the American bred Doberman and the European Doberman are good dogs for their intended purposes, it really does come down to preference. You even have some people crossing the two which although not my goal, since the gene pool is very shallow anyway, it may save the genetic health of the breed in the long run.

Naturally my preference is and remains the European Doberman Pinscher because of the jobs I do with them. I prefer the health, temperament, size, structure and working ability of a European Doberman that is why I have them, and that is why I breed them to share with other people.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Time for change

familydobes — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:20:07 -0800

Life comes with many seasons and we have to learn to enjoy each one, I think that is the real secret to happiness. Here at the kennel we have had seasons of mourning and seasons of joy. Right now we are raising Holly's Doberman puppies and have a few females still available for sale. There is a video for your enjoyment here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZB3_NOeZHQ We are also very excited about the coming of Fara's litter, this is the second time we have tried to breed to Ramon Betelges to get some of his offspring here in the states. We are happy to announce that Farra is due to whelp February 22nd. These will be some of the finest Champion Red Doberman puppies anywhere in the world. Ramon is a dog I continue to believe will win the IDC. He has won several big and important shows already this year, placing ahead of the winner of the IDC last year. We are very fortunate to have his Champion bred European Doberman puppies coming. So it is a season of new life in contrast to the devastating losses we have had this past few months.

It is a great season for training here in Scottsdale with weather warming up to the 80's nearly every day, days of cold Utah winters are long forgotten, but I still remember That July and August are coming!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Busy at the kennel

familydobes — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:36:14 -0800

You know this time of year I am forgetting how most of the states are experiencing winter while it warms up to 80 here :) Although I am enjoying it I am sure I will complain June through August again, perhaps spend more time back in Utah or over in Denver with all of our good friends there. Because of the weather here, I never sent out my winter warnings like I usually do, things like icemelt burning feet, tips of cropped ears being frostbit if overexposed etc. There are some old posts on my old blogs so I will resurrect one :) This was from last winter:

As I got back from this mornings run and the kids all had icicles hanging from their faces it occurred to me to talk about cold weather and dobes. I know many of you are living in warm Florida and California and the rest of us are jealous! But here it was 0 Degrees Fahrenheit this morning and we went for our morning 3 miles. Naturally I have to dress warm or my bald head freezes, but what about the dogs? Dobes still enjoy a good romp in the snow from time to time, you just need to pay attention to a few things. Because their feet are warm, it melts the snow and then it re-freezes and balls up in their feet. At best it causes discomfort, at worst it can cause frostbite with prolonged exposure. One quick and easy fix is to rub some Vaseline in between their toes and pads before you go out to play. It’s great on the carpet when they come back in too! Just kidding, be sure you wipe it back off before coming inside. Dobes can be out a short time without coats etc. providing they stay dry. A wet dog is a frozen dog. If you will be out a little while, or if conditions will be wet, I really like the orange neoprene vests Cabela’s sells. Also how much movement the dog is allowed affects their warmth. If they are walking slowly on a leash, they may not generate enough body heat to be in the cold unprotected, when they are running free alongside the four wheeler for 2-3 miles, they stay warm enough so long as they are dry. Then it is quickly home to the heated tile of the sunroom to dry off and lounge around.

Also cropped ears not only are more exposed to the cold because they are erect, the bloodflow has been changed by removing part of the ear, so you need to frequently massage the ears when you are out in the cold, you will feel how much colder the tips are and you need to be cautious they frostbite very quickly. There are some "muffs" made by various crafty people out there custom for your dog, and they do work and are a great idea as they hold in a little heat and protect the ears from the wind. They do look silly though :) Send us some pictures if you have them!!

Here in sunny AZ we have our own risks too though, the nights are still cold and the days warm up which can really stress the dogs as they bounce back and forth between extremes. We try to mitigate this by keeping them warm while it's cold and then work with them once it has already warmed up. I must say it is enjoyable!! Remind me of that when July comes okay?

On another note we have a litter announcement, most people love to hear when Zenny has puppies as he seems to be the all time favorite of everyone who meets the dogs. He was bred to Hassia Betelges who is owned by the legendary Betelges kennels and Holly just whelped 11 healthy black puppies. There are four females available if anyone has been waiting.

We also imported a few male puppies from Betelges kennels to satisfy everyone who hoped for a male from Holly, and we also brought in a 9 month old male that is cropped and ready to go. If you are interested in any of these dogs, please feel free to drop us a line!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you.
2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.
3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.
4. A dog's parents never visit.
5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.
7. Dogs find it amusing when you are not so sober
8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.
9. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, ?If I died, would you get another dog??

10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.
11. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.
12. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting. 13. If a dog leaves, it won't take half of your stuff. WHO IS YOUR REAL FRIEND? This really works...! If you don't believe it, just try this experiment: Put your dog and your spouse in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, which one is really happy to see you?