pets4ever

Hi, I just thought I'd put my two cents in. I have a one and a half year old male who I got from the breeder at about 5 months old. The breeder didn't breed til two and tests were done, but also titled the dogs. I know I wouldn't buy a dog unless the parents had had their hips tested and otherwise proven. I wouldn't want the heartache of having my dog die from some congenital flaw that was undiscovered due to irresponsible breeding. Also, the part someone said about her not being full grown is so true. Even though Mia is big, it's amazing how much more they grow as they get closer to two years. My boy has really changed in the last six months and I know he will keep maturing physically for a while more. What's the rush? Enjoy your dog and let her be "only dog" for a while. :D Lex and Theo

There is a pet door company called Pet Doors USA that make the best dog doors. They cost a lot but they make one that is very insulative for cold areas and fits in the wall. It doesn't have just a rubber flap, it has plexiglass doors (double doors) and is very quiet. They stay open for a second and don't slam the dogs tail. They also have a steel plate you can put in for security. I don't remember the website name but you can do a search for the above name. Check 'em out! Over time I think getting the best door would pay off. I just made the plunge myself. :Dog_run:

Well she's sure to heal up with lightning speed now that she's home with her family :iloveyou:

You know, a long time ago my cat had to have abdominal surgery (he was shot by my a@@hole freak of a neighbor) and the vet said to feed him baby food meat (like strained beef or whatever) since it was almost totally digestible and wouldn't strain his intestines much or have much waste that they would have to deal with while he was healing. Of course you'd have to give a big dog several jars probably but maybe mix it with a little kibble or something. Check with your vet. It might help her readapt to food easier. :eating:

Wow! Don't visit for a couple of days and look what happens! That must have been scary for both of you. I hope she has a speedy recovery and hopefully will remember that the plastic thing gave her a tummyache and won't do it again :wink:

I used Avoderm a long time ago when it first came out in the eighties- it was supposed to be good for skin and coats cuz of the avocado. It sure doesn't have much meat in it now I read the ingredients now! Yikes! The lamb one does seem better. I have heard that allergic dogs do well on certain brands that contain primarily fish and potato. I don't know the brands that have this, probably several do. I've seen them on sites or in catalogs but my brain is not working....

My dog doesn't lift his let yet at all. He was neutered at about 5 months when I got him, and is almost 7 months now. Actually, I am hoping he never does learn that behavior! I've heard though that if they get to watch others do it, they learn. They just don't feel the need to "mark" EVERYTHING if they have been neutered - so I guess even if he does learn later, it won't be a major problem. What I don't want to have to do is constantly watch him to make sure he doesn't pee inappropriately :roll: .

I wasn't sure if you were asking a specific person or not...sorry. Anyway, it does depend upon the weight of the dog, not to mention your location! My dog was between 40 and 50 pounds and I think it was around $75? (I don't remember exactly) :oops: . He did get the dissolving sutures but had no problems whatsoever. Call around, you'll be surprised at the variation in price...How is your mom's opinion coming around?

Remind your mom that dogs are not, and do not think like people! He will not have "regrets" because he doesn't know any better, and thinks in the "here and now". Dogs don't worry about "what if's.." like people do. They have better things to do! :D Why don't you just let your mom read this whole thread and maybe it will convince her as well as it did you? :wink:

Good for you! I think you will be happy with your decision when all this is said and done. Just think, Ben can go to parks and other places and won't get upset regarding any females that come near. He can make friends easier and be happy with no worries! As far as when, it probably doesn't matter since he's an indoor dog and they really do heal so fast - you won't believe it. As far as stitch type, my dog had the dissolving type of stitches which, when I heard that, was glad because I knew I wouldn't have to bring him back for another stressful vet visit where some stranger will be poking around a vulnerable place while they're on their back (of course it would only take a second and then - the treat! yum!) Of course, I appreciated not having to arrange a trip down to the vet too :wink: . I think they only put one or two stitches per side and like I mentioned before they usually aren't bothered by it. I doubt if you will have a choice and either type will do. Maybe you can remove the stitches yourself if he'll lie still and you have a helper. That would avoid the vet visit. It's easy to do if you're willing.

Crested - Ben is a cutie, I didn't know that was him. I saw one of those dogs at my sons school and it looked like him (no hair). My daughter went nuts for it! Anyway, my dog did have it easy but it was the vet office that said it would be like that. They see hundreds of males done so I think they have a good overview. Maybe it would help you to talk to one or two vet offices and get their take on post-op details with neutering. Also, I think they use halothane or something which is a gas and is metabolized very quickly and efficiently by the body, not like the injections of the old days. I can see your point in wanting to preserve the "original type" of your breed. I still think that Ben's "quality of life" would be better if he was fixed just because he wouldn't have to worry about all those "male dog" thangs. He could just have fun with you which is all that any dog wants! :D

Oh, I just wanted to add since I just noticed that you seem extra worried about post-op pain and suffering. According to my vet office, most males act as though nothing happened! I got one of those big collars at the vet just in case and although they said I probably wouldn't need it, I got it anyway. Well, I just returned it to the vet. Theo didn't pay any attention to his stitches. Nobody would have known that he just had been fixed if I didn't say. Plus the stitches didn't need removal since they were the kind that dissolves away. Even if there was some pain in your dogs case, it would be very temporary and he wouldn't remember it. Like the other poster said (can't remember who, sorry) it's much less pain than cancer, being hit by a car, or ripping a nail digging out. They use a very fast anesthesia which goes away quick as well. My dog wasn't groggy or walking funny or anything. Then think about the female dogs owner who catches them together and tries to separate them or just plain old kicks your dog or throws rocks at him or whatever. There are all kinds out there! Even females should heal in just a few days. They sleep a lot the first day but then are pretty good from then on. I think your friends cat had some sort of infection. Her cat's behavior is not typical or normal. Males have it easy in the "gettin fixed" department. :) Don't worry about that aspect of it!

Crested, At the risk of making you mad...lets get down to the bottom line. Didn't you get your dog to be a companion to you in the first place? You didn't get him to go into the business or hobby of breeding! For him to be a true companion, free him from endless frustration and sexual obsession by neutering him and keep your fantasies out of the deal. Dog breeding is not a money making enterprise generally. It costs lots of money to show, promote and title the males; plus you need to own, promote and and title the females too. Obviously the dogs need to be show quality. It is bad breeding to perpetuate a dog with severe allergies and perhaps other flaws just because he's your favorite dog. Think about his life of all these females out of reach. If he did breed one (and it would probably only be one - yours) it would only make it worse for him. He will be so happy and relaxed and glad to be able to accompany you places and have people happy with him instead of exasperated and frustrated. He can feel what people feel towards him. He doesn't know why he acts the way he does, it's instinct. He is not happy about it. Who enjoys being frustrated ALL THE TIME? Neuter him and enjoy your dog. :fadein: Do the right thing and neuter your pet. Of course this is only my opinion (and that of everyone else here by the sound of it. )

Where is Natural Balance found? Is it at feed stores or is it owned by a store like PetSmart or Petco? It sounds pretty good....

Raider - I just switched from Pedigree to Canidae with my six month old Dobe pup. It is about the same price as the the brand you use except it is human grade ingredients and seems quite healthy when you read the tag. I was wondering about the Diamond brand. I've never heard of it. How does it compare to Canidae? Has anyone used both and developed an opinion? I'm trying to get a food that makes my dogs coat shiny with no flakes and decreases the gas! He tends to be one stinky boy! :-? I almost hate to switch from the Canidae since the ingredient list seems so good and the price is reasonable. I'm going to check out that Wal-Mart brand next time I go there. Maybe a half kibble half natural diet is the way to go, eh? :wink: Does anyone supplement for coats with oil or flax seed or anything like that?

I would DEFINITELY neuter him. I recently neutered my pup and he is as sweet as ever and did not seem bothered by the fact that he just had undergone surgery. He didn't want to lick or chew himself at all. Neutering is a lot easier for the dog (and your pocketbook) than spaying, but even the females heal amazingly fast. As far as breeding him in the future, I know that we all love our dogs and all think "...wouldn't it be neat to have a baby of his/hers, the have such an irreplaceable personality, or ..fill in the blank...." But the fact is...we should only breed the 'perfect' example of the breed. ANY imperfection really shouldn't be perpetuated. Also, are you prepared to follow the show circuit and pay for handlers etc. to promote him? If not, maybe nobody will breed to him except you and the hassle of having a sexually obsessed male won't be worth it. People want to breed their dog to a titled dog, and should if their female is a good one. I know you will be happier and he will be happier if he is neutered. He won't even know what happened but will have a happy and stress-free life and will get to be more active and do stuff with you because you won't have to worry about his behavior or that he'll try to take off after some females scent! A neutered male is a happy male! :D (And they never die from testicular cancer.)

Hmmm...interesting. I'm going to have to look into that. What do you do, click and treat when they just happen to come by your side and slowly tune it to exact heel position?

I think it might be a testing pee since she did it right in front of you. My dog did that too. Of course, since it was right in front of me (as I'm eating my dinner...lovely) I really went to town with the lecture! NO- BAD GIRL -NOT INSIDE, etc. There was no question to her that was she did was not allowed. Then take her outside and show her the "good place to go". PRAISE if she goes. Crating at night is good, withholder water...try all those. Don't worry about the cat drinking. A lot of time, dogs drink cuz it's something to do and it gets to be a habit. A couple licks here, couple there. It adds up to a full bladder. She probably is not thirsty if she gets water with dinner and up til 6 or 7:00. Once she becomes trained and is used to going only outside, you could probably let up on the withholding of the water. She will grow out of it but be consistent and don't give up! Let her be in with you or she'll be lonely and probably learn some naughtly behavior outside that will drive you just as crazy! :roll: Good Luck!

You can get the pizzle at different places but they're called different things. At Petsmart I think they are called bullies or something. At SitStay.com they are called Macho Stix. That I know for sure. They aren't cheap but dogs like them. Anyway, I have a hard rubber ball, made out of Kong type rubber with a bell locked inside. Not a squeaky but that thing is pretty indestructable and my dogs love it. Also, make sure she gets lots of excersize and make her tired! Then she'll spend some chewing time sleeping! :D Another thing I've heard is that you shouldn't give them too many toys to have at one time. Then they tend to play less with them. Give them just a couple of them and rotate so they get a "new" toy every so often. :multi:

I like the look of pretty collars, either leather or nylon. They have such fancy collars available now...I have only used nylon though. I always chose nylon collars since they never crack or rot and they are holding ID tags. Plus, you can throw them in the washer to clean them. However, I really like leather leashes since they are easier on the hands and they last a long time (as long as the dog doesn't think it's a chew toy" :lol:

Of course just because you have a pinch or choke collar on doesn't mean you have to "use" it. I think it truly depends on the type of dog i.e. you might not ever need a pinch collar on a sensitive type or one that learns and obeys quickly and willinglly, but if you have a strong dog that needs corrections repeatedly, a pinch is the way to go. Dogs have such strong necks that they can ignore a choke chains yanking or snapping until it cuts off their air. Meanwhile, the poor human on the other end is getting a sore shoulder/back with all the yanking. I had a dog like that, a VERY energetic, dominant large strong happy girl. I was sore trying to deal with her with a choke, so out of desperation and after reading this book, tried that cruel looking collar. What do you know? she totally started to listen! I didn't even have to yank that hard (and indeed you're not supposed to yank fast but rather do more of a slow version). It really did my hands, shoulders and back a favor. It's like a mother dogs or alpha dogs teeth saying "no more of that!"! :nono: I have never had one break but they will come apart if not adjusted correctly. They should seem "tight" to someone who's used to adjusting a choke. The prongs need to be touching the neck and the collar should not sag. They are potentially less painful for the dog. I have read studies done regarding comparisons of choke chains and prong collars. Of course, ideally it would be great if we never had to use any constricting type of collars but some dogs need it! I'm not a clicker expert though, I've never tried it. It sounds nice though - does it take a long time to teach heeling with one?

Hi, It's interesting that she picks certain colors...however, my queensland did the same type of thing. She was/is a bully and I think they tend to be intense down to business dogs! She didn't want to fight either, but she made sure the other dog knew she was boss, even while they were playing. It's a lucky thing the other dog didn't care and never offered to fight cuz otherwise it would have been one. I never had the opportunity to have her loose in a large group and I probably wouldn't have done it anyway. It's good that yours is friendly to other dogs in smaller groups. That's good, maybe you should stick with smaller groups! :wink: I'm just afraid something someday is going to escalate into a major fight and cattle dogs don't like to back down from a challenge. :agrue:

Hi, I'm not sure I want to do that just yet, if you don't mind. Off subject, what are all those degrees after your dog's names? With the exception of the CD, are they all agility titles? I didn't know there were so many titles out there! Are you going to go after more obedience degrees also? How long have you been showing them?

Hi - I'm back. Anyway, the pup now is only almost five months old. I need to talk to the breeder again and get more details regarding this aggression subject. His parents are working, his father is quite degreed in Schutzhund and the mother, although from working lines, has essentially no "drive" and is into obedience. Of course they have been screened and are healthy with good hips etc. This is a reputable breeder and she has good dogs. This puppy did not inherit the fathers intensity and is instead more easy with a sunny personality. They are not in my area so I am letting the breeder recommend pups to me. I'm glad for that since I trust them to know those pups better than me. The breeder knows exactly what I want and is selecting the best one for me. She thinks that this pup would work out well for me and the good part is that he's older with finished ears and a developed bladder! :) As for the male/female thing, I had said I preferred a female since I didn't want to deal with "marking" that males do. However, after talking to people with males etc. and the breeder, I decided to keep an open mind since they all said if you neuter them at 5 or 6 months, they don't mark or develop other annoying male habits. I told her I would consider a male if he had the right temperament rather than settle for a female with a less favorable temperament. I am going to ask her about the aggression factor that Nancy is talking about though. There are many people who love their male dobes so they can't be all bad, eh? :wink:

Hi, I've read everything I can find about dobermans. I've gone to breeder, individual and general doberman websites and read everything. I've read about diseases and as much about behaviour as they give out (which isn't that much). If you have a favorite site I'd love to have it. My goals are to do competetive obedience and agility like you. I'm impressed by all the degrees after your dog's names. I'm glad to get the opinion of a real life dobe owner! I'm very respectful of leash laws etc. and don't let my dogs run loose...but you just never know what will happen in life, y'know?. I would like to take this dog around with me and other people do take their dogs out too! I just wanted to minimize problems and be able to enjoy my dog out without having to deal with him (or her!) challenging every other dog. My last dog was crazy dominant and was a female! It made everything difficult and I am hesitant to do that again. Of course, if I get a male that is not alpha it would be less a problem. I will talk to the breeder again before I decide. I wonder also, since she is the boss at home, does your female ever show dominance aggression to other dogs? Do dobe females tend to be the same way or maybe to a lesser degree? Are all dobermans more or less the same way towards other dogs? Sorry about all the questions. I only know a few doberman owners and their knowledge is limited to their experience. I gather info whenever I can! :wink: Thanks !