SizzleDog

I think there is a major difference in *who* does the cropping. I'd venture to say that most anti-cropping people have never seen a specialist crop ears. My dogs were cropped by a vet who only does Doberman ears - she is flown all around the country to do ears for litters of show prospect puppies. Her methods are humane and precise... the end product is a clean crop, minimal pain, very fast healing time, and puppies that could care less that their ears are fixed to a styrofoam cup! To date, I have taken care of eight puppies cropped by this particular vet/cropper. All of them have come to me just days after cropping. They play normally, they sleep normally... in fact, their littermates and the adult dogs chew on their cups/ears... the pups rarely yelp. The puppies I've had in my home have had their cups chewed on by my two adults, and they have never cared. Once the ears heal (the pups in my care have taken 4-9 days to heal) the ears are put into posts, and after the initial "ick this feels funny!" stage, they ignore the posts. I guess it's like women and bras... I'm guessing that all you women out there had a beastly time getting comfortable when first wearing a bra, but you quickly stopped noticing it... I bet that most women here can't feel their bra right now (if wearing one) One good thing I see in post-cropping aftercare is this: it makes the dogs VERY tolerant to having thier head and ears examined by vets, trainers, owners, etc. I do thing cropping should be regulated by breed clubs - i.e. you CANNOT crop without an experienced mentor present unless you have passed a rigid, difficult examination from the breed club. Croppers should have to apprentice under experienced croppers. I would rather see a "master cropper's crop" over much else. But if I can't get that crop (and it's a very expensive, exclusive crop that takes months of pre-booking) I'll have no crop at all. No crop is betterthan a bad or mediocre crop any day. Education is also important. Many people see puppies in posts (ears have been healed for months) and they recoil in horror, thinking that the ears had been cropped days prior. These puppies have had perfectly healed ears for more than two months (they're chasing an adult dobe through some rivergrass): [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/30May301.jpg[/img] This puppy doesn't even notice that he's putting pressure on his ear posts... [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/23May092.jpg[/img] Even while still wearing the cup, this puppy isnt' hindered in any way: [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/08May069.jpg[/img]

Ears should be done by a specialist in the breed - a veterinarian experienced in cropping that breed's ears - arount 8 weeks of age. I don't think you'll be able to find such a specialist on such short notice. These decisions are usually made before the puppies are born, so the cropper has time to perform the surgery. If I were you, I'd leave your dog's ears natural. Wait until your next dog - when you're better prepared - to have the surgery done. It's a very delicate and precise surgery, and you don't want to rush into it without knowing exactly what you're delaing with.

Reserve both days... ah well, we'll see how he does in Freeport IL this weekend! From Des Moines... [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/DM92105smallPRE.jpg[/img] And NO I didnt' dye him black! He just looks black in the photo!

I've been reeeeally busy with class, work, and training. and of course I have photos! [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/28Aug014.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug223.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug212.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug214.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug192.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug190.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug118.jpg[/img] Those are all photos from Peterson Pits, which is a nature reserve just outside town that allows offleash dogs during certain times of the year.

We'll be there, both days we'll be int he ring by 8:30!

I'm finally back from the dark abyss of Nointernetland.... and it's good to be back! The new duplex is awesome - new carpet, new flooring, new woodwork, new doors, new bathroom, new gate on the fence, new kitchen.... new everything, and it's awesome. This weekend was our first show with the little red dude, and he had a blast. He won his class both days, but just wasn't mature and/or happy enough about showing to cut it in Winners. The judge reeeally liked him though,a nd she said that he'd have gone RWD if he'd been a bit happier-looking in the ring. But tha't sokay - when one considers that his first experience in the show ring was rough and mean (baaaad handler from when he was in th epuppy classes, owned by someone else) he did great. He'll be ready in 4-6 months... until then, we're just entering him in shows for him to have fun and gain his confidence back. Here's the pretty boy at ringside... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/21Aug040.jpg[/img]

I noticed that the Doberman is listed as a large version of the German pinshcer, basically. Then, the German pinscher is listed as a terrier. Dobermans aren't terriers. I'm sure of a good way to describe then other than they are a medium sized, shorthaired guarding breed. This is quite an undertaking, stick with it! :D

I hav eto back DOber up on this one... the pups are eating Pro Plan right now and are doing great. I started them out on Innova puppy and Merrick's canned food, and I had constant problems with runny poo and flatulence. Coats dulled up, the whole caboodle - something I would have NEVER expected from a super premium. Back on the PP, and coats are inproving, firm stools, no more weight fluxuation, etc. I'll keep my boy on it until it's apparent that he needs to be switched, because he's doing fantastic on it now.

[quote]Dobermans bred for show are often more slender, elegant and less aggressive than working lines. This dog responds to gentle correction. Hit, slap or otherwise abuse this breed and you're asking for trouble. (Keep in mind, small children often dole out "abuse" unintentionally.)[/quote] Riiiiight... my chunk of a show boy is so slender and elegant, and he doesn't have a protective/aggressive bone in his body... yeah right! And please, I welcome the author to tell me that Ilsa responds to a gentle correction... AFTER, of course, she drags him for 100 yards, flat on his @$$, becuase a squirrel crossed her path... :wink:

Anyway, to get away from the cropping debate (if we want to debate it, let's open a new thread for it), to answer the questions... 1. Trice is almost 13 weeks old. 2. NZ stacking is nearly identical t US/Canada stacking, but a lot of photos of NZ wins have the dogs stretched out a bit more than over here. I've actually got two puppies now - I'm babysitting Trice's sister, Vega. She's the pick bitch in the litter, and Trice was pick dog. Lucky me, I'v got three lovely reds to show off!

I guess I'm in the minority, I prefer cropped ears - but ONLY if they're done correctly. I'll take a natural eared dobe over a badly cropped one ANY day! If you're going to crop, you'd better get the dog already cropped or be "in" the breed so you know the good croppers. Ilsa and Trice were both done by the same cropper, who my breeder has flown in from across the country to do ears. They aren't just taken down to the local clinic and chop-chop, their ears are expertly and artfully done by a master cropper.

Uncropped ears are allowed in the States, but it's really frowned upon. Trice's daddy is uncropped, and he's surprisingly doing VERY well here - I guess it's more acceptable for a foreign bred dog to have natural ears... Here's one of his latest win shots here in the States. [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/TylerBOWmajor1crop.jpg[/img]

I agree Kiwi - Here's an example of how different the stacking techniques can be from country to country: AMERICA/CANADA: [img]http://home.earthlink.net/%7Edabneydobes/zaredbis.JPG[/img] GERMANY: [img]http://www.dobermann.com/miratio/lucifer.jpg[/img] NEW ZEALAND (very similar to USA/Canada, but a bit more stretched as a rule) [img]http://www.kobra-dobermanns.com/photos/ChickenStacked_250x212.jpg[/img] GREECE: [img]http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6666/coppo_risto.jpg[/img]

Actually, Dobermans need to have their hocks parallel to the ground. Here's a win shot of how the rear feet should be. Stacking standards definitely vary from country to country... [img]http://home.earthlink.net/~dabneydobes/Agador6months.jpg[/img]

Here's my ameteur shot at stacking Trice... [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/DSC_0077.jpg[/img]

Wow what a crazy puppy! He's got more energy and drive than Ilsa ever did at this age, and just look what *she* turned into as an adult! So far I'm just thrilled with this little guy. At nine weeks he's already tugging and lunging for Ilsa's *huge* jute roll - he can't get his mouth around it, but he's surely trying! Doesn't have as much working drive as a working bred puppy, but seems to have more than your average American showdog (after all, one half of him is European) Not a peep out of him last night, and his kennel was dry. I have to go out and buy him more food today... it'll be fin to take him in for socializationa nd attention! Here are some new pics... [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/2311f7ed.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/362e6299.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/b4cfbb97.jpg[/img]

zheelah - you have a PM!

Nope, Drake went bye-bye on Sunday - I've only got the two red monsters now!

kendalyn - very few conformation Dobermans are uncropped here in the States. The few that are are either imported or couldn't be cropped for some reason or another. I'm shocked and amazed that Trice's sire is almost finished here in the US, especially since he's an uncropped dog. However, I think judges are more lenient about uncropped ears if they know the dog is an import... they aren't supposed to know, but the truth is that most judges know who the dogs are! ;) To give you an idea of how difficult it is to show an uncropped Dobe to a championship... I can count on one hand the number of uncropped champion Dobes. A sibling to one of the highest winning dogs int he country right now is still struggling in the classes with her uncropped ears (couldn't be cropped due to an ear injury), while her brother is going on to win BIS and BISS left and right. Basically, it's not cost effective to show an uncropped dog unless the dog is a stunning example of the breed. Danes and Boxers have a mch better shot at it, but Dobermans are still "old school" - we like our ears cropped, and it'll be awhile before the fancy relaxes its opinions on the matter. Here are new photos, by the way... ;) [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May026.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May033.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May036.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May041.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May043.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May044.jpg[/img] [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/02May047.jpg[/img]

Alright guys, have a seat... through a series of very interesting events, I've got my show boy a bit sooner than I'd anticipated.... introducing Trice, my new 9 week old show boy! [img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/ForLeah/BLUECOLLARAsm.jpg[/img]

ILSA - I was originally going to name Ilsa "Cairo"... but when I go ther, she just didn't look like a Cairo. On the ride home we pondered possible names, and decided that she needed a big, tough, German Frau name. Elsa was so overdone, so I changed one letter and the name served a double purpose - it was a bit more unique and referenced an Indiana Jones character. The Ilsa int he IJ movie was seductive and intelligent, wily and snarky. A bit evil, yes, but in a way that benefitted her and her situation - she didn't care about anybody but herself, so the name fit my DoberGirl very well. DRAKE - this was an impulse name that worked out pretty good. His registered name has "Ice Man" in it, so I needed a name related to his reg'd name. Since Bobby Drake was the Ice Man in the Marvel comics, we decided that his name would be Drake. If his name would have had "Ice Melt" in it, Drake would have been named "Mel" - the breeder liked it, but I didn't care for it much ;)

I do this as well - Ilsa will shred her bedding unless the crate is covered. Crates should be like dens - nice temperature, cozy, and feel safe. Some dogs feel threatened by being contained in a space with no "protection" from the outside world. I know people who have several dogs and all the wire crates are right next to each other - the dogs take comfort in each other, so the crates don't need to be covered.

APRI is basically a mill registry - a registry for BYBs and mills who dont want to be bothered with the AKC's requirements, or have been barred from the AKC.

I didn't fall for Ilsa at all - in fact, the first time I saw her was the day I picked her up from the breeder. I had thought that I wanted a black girl, but when the breeder sent me a photo of Ilsa's sire - a big red boy - I knew I wanted a red. I put in my reserve for a red female. When the litter was born, Ilsa was the only red in the litter. Since I had put the reserve down first, I got her! Looking back on it, I should have taken one of the blacks - Ilsa was the noisiest, most in-your-face attention seeking puppy of the entire bunch. She's kept those qualities with her, and she's now one of the noisiest, most in-your-face attention seeking ADULT Doberman I've ever met! Ah well... gotta love her, even if she *is* a pain in the rear end!

Ohhh I hear ya - I worked in a Petco salon for about 4 years, and it can get really hectic. The idiots really come out of the woodwork around the holidays, so watch out!