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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

We have some special offerings right now of great young adult dogs looking for forever homes Please check out the website to find out more about Jinx, Lexi, Anika, And “Dobie”

Went and saw Marley and Me last night with my oldest son who has been begging me. I had read the book so I was really dragging my feet. I loved the book mind you, and the movie was well done we just love Owen Wilson, but it was very hard after having lost Zenka and Oxa just a month ago. So when someone shared this “Just a dog” thought with me, I felt I needed to pass it on as well, since “Just dogs” have contributed to who and what I am. They give me purpose and determination, but they teach me about love. They love me unconditionally, even if I am unlovable. “Just dogs” know more about being a good person than I do, and I have been so blessed to spend my life with them. So here is to all the “Just dogs” that I have shared my life with. Wish I could write something as powerful as this.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Normally I put together my own holiday warnings, they can be found on my old blogs, but the AKC put this out this year encouraging people to sign up for their health plans and talking about cases they have covered. Truth is it is a good thing to enroll in Pet insurance, and their plans are not bad. Anyway, here is a link to some of their Holiday warnings.

Some Of Your Favorite Things Can Harm Your Pet!

The problems with holiday ornaments may be obvious to many people; however there are many other items around our homes that may not be so clearly a threat to our pets.  It might be a good idea to remind yourself and your children about the dangers of items in the list below. For example, many don’t realize that chocolate is toxic to dogs and can seriously harm them, perhaps fatally. Take time to review your home, garage and yard to see if your pets are at risk, so you can take steps to keep dangerous items out of their way.

What To Do If Your Pet Has Contact with a Hazardous Item

In the event of your pet coming into contact with or swallowing any of these items listed, make certain you get in touch with a veterinarian or animal hospital immediately.  It is a good idea to keep the phone numbers of both your usual veterinarian and an emergency clinic on hand. Where appropriate, if you can safely take a sample (or description) of the item to the clinic, this may help the diagnosis.

A veterinarian or hospital will decide what to do to diagnose the problem and the best course of treatment.  With technologies such as CT Scans and MRIs, veterinarians today have many tools to use to assess how to treat your sick pet. However diagnostic testing can be expensive, with CT Scans often running at $1,000 or more, and then there could be the need to run blood work and other tests, and possibly surgery, for a case of ‘foreign body ingestion.’  In addition, a wide range of prescription medications is now available to treat sick pets successfully. The wonderful advances in veterinarian care mean that decisions about what health care is affordable can weigh heavily on many pet owners, when faced with the stress of their beloved pet’s medical emergency.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Today is a very hard day for us at Family Dobes as we mourn the loss of some of our dearest friends. Today Zenka lost a short but severe battle with Lymphoma and was finally released from suffering, and we believe now again able to run and play and chase cats the way she always did. She was one of the dearest friends I have ever had in this life, and as I reflect back, she was the perfect Doberman for me. There is not a thing about her I would have changed, I admired her courage and sensitivity, her fighting spirit and her persistence in getting my attention. Whatever I asked her for she gave me and then more. She rekindled my passion for dog sport, and taught so many others about the sport. She was happy to bite a sleeve on anyone much to many peoples enjoyment over the years. I never will get over losing her, she was everything I hoped her to be, she carved a mark on the hearts of my whole family, and all of those who knew her at all. She was an amazing girl, and passed far too young, I would have liked to hang on to her forever.

To add to the pain of it all, Oxa Devil Garden who we have had only a short time, also passed today with a very aggressive and advanced Sarcoma. She had such a willingness to work and such eagerness in her play, although she was with us only a short time, she too is greatly missed and can not be forgotten. She too made friends out of those who knew her well, and we count today one of the darkest in our kennels history.

We had never produced any pups from these girls or these lines, so thankfully we do not have to go through this at a future date with their offspring.

But as you all take time to reflect on this season and this short email, realize how many things we have to be grateful for. Zenka filled and enriched my life beyond my imagination, she holds my heart still this very moment while she awaits across what many call the “Rainbow Bridge” I wouldn’t erase my memories of her even if it meant the pain would end for me now, I am so grateful to have spent the time with her that I did. I find it sad and poignant that the woman who had her before me and showed her to her championship also passed this April of Cancer. I am sure they missed each other as much as I now miss Zenka. If you have some Great four  legged teachers around you, hug them all extra tight for just a little longer today than you normally would. Be grateful for the moments and memories you have, and don’t give them up for anything. Treasure even the mischief that may now drive you crazy, read the book or see the movie “Marley and me” Go for a walk and throw a ball, and focus on making some extra good memories. Don’t let the sun go down on regret, I wish I had done more with these girls than I did, had I known how short the time would be I am sure I would have, so why don’t we all project that forward to the ones still with us. God Bless all of you, and may you all have a Merry CHRISTmas despite all of the troubled economy and suffering that is upon so many of us and our loved ones. Find peace and happiness in a cold wet nose with a warm heart that can teach us far more about unconditional love than any other source. They trust, they give, they accept us just as we are even though we could all be so much more. They see only the best in us setting the example for how we should look at our world and those in it. I want to thank Dr Hoban at friends Animal Hospital especially for true compassion, and expert care, she worried for us every day and continued to check in on us. Grayhawk animal Hospital and Sonoran Animal Hospital also treated Zenka as her own in the early stages of her suffering. She was very loved right to the end and will be forever. I want to thank all of you for being a part of my life and sharing the good times as well as the hard ones with me

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

This weeks newsletter is going to be a sappy one, but at the end it will still have good Doberman Holiday tips so if you want to skip the sappy stuff I won’t be offended J

You know I am sitting here reflecting on how awful it is that I need a special holiday to express my gratitude once a year, when I know I should do it every day. Truly we have so much to be grateful for that we often just take for granted. This entitlement mindset that plagues society today gets us off the mark by a long ways. It has been a very trying year for us at FamilyDobes as I am sure it has been for some of you. Some of you have shared your stories and heartbreaks with us, and likewise we have shared with many of you. It was another year filled with adversity of every kind and it leaves one sitting in a very low and humble position where it is easy to see the things that we should be grateful for. In some ways I guess that makes me grateful even for this perspective that comes from being knocked down. I have seen this year true friendship extended to me from so many people I counted on, and even some I had no idea would stand up beside me when I needed it. I am grateful for the wonderful people I meet through raising these wonderful dogs, I am grateful for the stories we hear back from all of you, and how they change your lives as well. Some of these great dogs have even gone as far as to save lives in several different ways. I am grateful that they did their jobs. I truly am grateful to share my life with these great dogs who teach me more about unconditional love and friendship every day than I would have ever thought possible. I am grateful for the many great people who work with me in training and other capacities who make all of this possible. Grateful to those of you who push me to try harder and reach higher and hold on just a little bit longer. I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I am passionate about and to share that passion with so many of you. There are hard times ahead for all of us, we are all going to need that unconditional love and companionship that these magnificent dogs bring, and perhaps we can survive the coming storms. We hope you are all going to have a very happy Thanksgiving and hoping you can see all that you have to be thankful for.

So on to the Holiday tips. It seems like a no brainer, but some people may not know how dangerous a Turkey carcass can be to our dogs. Some of you may even have TOFURKEY around which I think is just dangerous anyway J But even if you know the turkey bones are bad for our dogs, you may not know just how sneaky they can be about getting to it. I recommend you pull the meat and get the bones in a secure trash can right away. Don’t take a chance even for  a minute. Raw feeders often feed chicken/turkey backs and necks to dogs, but it is different when it is truly raw and not cooked. The heat makes poultry bones brittle and that is what causes the problems. Also with Turkey meat there is the risk of Botulism. I have never died from it, and I have always been one of those that cooks the bird and leaves it out all day to pick off of. But safe food handling techniques tell us to take it from the heat source, serve it and straight to the fridge to avoid botulism. Also as always there are goodies around during the Holidays, watch out for candy, and candy wrappers. Remember sugar substitutes can be poisonous to dogs, We have a list on our blogs and forums of the toxic things we know about. If you are have questions, the Animal Poison Control number is 800-213-6680 and www.petpoisonhelpline.com If you are a home again microchip owner your call may even be free. Also a lot of strange people come around during the Holidays and that can cause problems with dogs in all stages. Add holiday festivities and people get even stranger still. It is safest to give your Dog a room off limits to the proceedings where they can be safe and undisturbed. Remember many of you are coming into cold weather, ours is finally tolerable so I forget to warn people about exposure times, frostbite etc, but it is the time of year to be thinking about that in most places. Here we can finally stay out all day and enjoy it! So some basic winter tips are Dry pets stay warmer, cropped ears get cold faster because of less circulation and are prone to frostbite, they have special ear warmers that work nicely although they look silly J Also I like the neoprene vests from Cabellas for keeping the dogs warm in the snow. I never found a good pair of Dog boots I liked, just don’t stay out in the cold that long J Also try petsafe Ice melt, or move to a warmer climate LOL!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Well it wasn’t feeling much like fall to me since it still gets in the 90’s down here, but our FamilyDobes Reunion sponsored by Lisa and Habib Nasrullah in Denver finally did the trick for me. We enjoyed great weather with sleet, hail, cold, wind, rain, even some sunshine to mix it up. Everyone was feeling terrible about the weather and it is one of the things I enjoyed most of all! We had a great time getting together with our Denver area dogs some now fully grown, and others starting out. We worked on some Search and Rescue theory and training, some Schutzhund training and some problem solving. I hope everyone who came had as great a time as I did, I only wish it could have lasted longer. I did try to buy back four of the boys J I can’t believe how much Zenny’s traits come through in his offspring. But a great time was had by all. We will be getting some pictures to share a bit later, but what a great time it was! We decided we will make it an annual event! We hope to be able to have more of them in other area as well. We are thinking Anaheim area in the near future too so the kids can enjoy Disneyland one more time J

I will be in Tampa Florida for just a few days in the first part of November if anyone down that way can get together!

I also have to make a trip down to LA area again the first part of next week if anyone wants to meet up.

Well we wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a happy Halloween filled with my usual cautions… Candy can be harmful to your dogs, as can the wrappers etc. Many people do mean things on Halloween, keep your pets close. Remember if you dress your Dog up for Halloween you have to share a picture, but keep in mind the dog may hold it against you J Glow sticks and other things of that nature can also be toxic, but pumpkin seeds are a great natural dewormer so don’t worry about them J Perhaps we should have a Doberman Pumpkin contest with all of the group? Anyone interested submit your entry by email and we will put them up on the website to be voted on.

Also Daniel in PA has some great video of his Texa X Uragan pup “Ike” eating a motion sensor witch J Watch for it on youtube! Videos like that are fun to share so make some!

 Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

Many people are not interested in Schutzhund style training, but I found this article very useful as most people have a misshapen idea of what a good Schutzhund dog looks like. Whether you do shutzhund sport or any other dog sport I think this applies very well. It is also the “overall picture” I expect to see from any working dog whether it is pet therapy, service work, military or sport. Even if you are just walking your dog at the park, let us try to create these kinds of dogs in our training programs.

2008 WUSV Judge's Meeting

September 24, 2008

USA Director of Judges, Mark Przybylski, attended the 2008 WUSV Judge's Meeting in Darmstadt, Germany. There were 59 Judges there from 30 different countries. The emphasis on the meeting was strongly geared to rules applications, evaluation of exercises, and point assessment based on quality of work, training, and behaviors. This meeting emphasized proper judging in accordance with the current rules.

The dog's temperament must be tested throughout. It starts at the beginning. It is strongly recommended that we use many of the adjective descriptors available to us to note what the animal demonstrates from the onset. This will help place the dog in the appropriate category and rating. In order for the dog to receive an excellent rating he must demonstrate the following;
Must be happy
Must be free Must be correct in all parts of an exercise
Must be well trained
Must show harmony between dog and handler
Must show drive (temperament and character)
Must show balance in drives