SizzleDog

Ahhh, I found my own ride, nevermind... :wink: Went to the Des Moines dog show - HUGE show here in Iowa. Ilsa's sire took a Group 2, YAY for Cruiser! Personally, I think he should have taken Group - the Great Dane that took it wasn't a stellar dane 0 then again, the group judge has a reputation for intentionally not putting up Dobermans... why, I don't know. Anyway... on with the photos! Cruiser waiting for his photo shoot! [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5401.jpg[/img] more waiting... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5403.jpg[/img] The photo shoot for BOB... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5420.jpg[/img] A pretty domino Afghan (he took WD) [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5423.jpg[/img] A neat little TFT (tok Best Puppy) [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5431.jpg[/img] poodle grooming [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5436.jpg[/img] The Toy Group winner... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5466.jpg[/img] Sporting Group 2 (Golden Retriever) [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5475.jpg[/img] Ilsa's whippet buddy Bliss in the group ring... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5478.jpg[/img] Bliss gets a kiss after going Group 2! [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5482.jpg[/img] Dalmatian pic for Corrie [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5499.jpg[/img] Another Dal pic for Corrie [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5507.jpg[/img] A nice Standard Poodle [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5521.jpg[/img] Cruiser in the group ring! [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5541.jpg[/img] More Cruiser... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5544.jpg[/img] Boxer... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5557.jpg[/img] The Stupid Dane That Beat Cruiser... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5558.jpg[/img] More Cruiser.. [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5560.jpg[/img] A nice Samoyed and a Rottie [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5574.jpg[/img] Awwww, Cruiser takes Group 2... oh well, better luck next time... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_5595.jpg[/img]

Bitches are said to get half of their brains at their 2nd birthday, and the other half on their 4th. Luckily my Doberman has at least half a brain! Ilsa started to calm down after she turned two, but she does get a lot of mental and physical workouts. A Doberman will never settle down if it doesn't have a job to do. These are working dogs and need to get out and be mentally stimulated every day. When Ilsa was a teenager, she was constantly on the go - and believe me, it got annoying. She'd pace and pace and pace... and then pace some more. It stopped when I took her out to the dog park every day for 2-3 hours to let her run off steam... but there are still some days when she's full of piss 'n' vinegar! With a little bit (um, I mean... a lot) of training and exercise, you can turn THIS... [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3372.jpg[/img] ...into THIS! [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_4669.jpg[/img]

LOL! We call it [i]treasure hunting[/i]!

I don't really like the idea of having a dog to protect a garden from wild animals. A dog can be injured by a wild animal - not to mention get very sick from contact with a wild animal. $800 isn't nearly enough for a responsibly bred GSD. Also, it will be very difficult to adopt a GSD (or any other large protective breed) based on your reasons for wanting one. Rescues rarely adopt to people who want a "guard dog". As for a GSD getting along with your shih... it all depends on the individual dog. Ilsa (my Doberman) ignores my friend's senior shih tzu. The shih tzu lives with three other dogs (Ilsa two DoberCousins and an American Eskimo) and none of the dog have paid much attention to the old guy. My final verdict: You aren't ready to own a GSD (or a rott, dobe, bully breed, malinois, etc.). Do some more research, especially on what it takes to care for a large dog properly - NO dog should have to sleep outside. Dogs should be inside with their "pack".

What's wrong with buying a new collar? (please remember that this is coming from the freak who buys collars like most people buy potato chips... don't be offended!)

[quote]hmm that brings up an interesting question...perhaps some of our U.S. groomers can answer... Do you or your empoyer require that all clients show proof of vac. before taking them on?......I had never really given it much thought, but perhaps something to think on!![/quote] Yes - here in Iowa, we need to see proof of Rabies, Distemper - Parvo, and Bordatella vaccinations. The state of Iowa does not accept the 3 year distemper parvo shots, which has been a problem since many local vets are administering them now. If a groomer is caught grooming a dog without shot records - or with expired shots - the groomer faces a $1000 fine.

thanks guys! I really hope it becomes a "Staff Pic" - then it'll be judged and possibly put onto a bottle! Yay!

I just entered the Jones Soda Label contest - check out the link at [url]http://www.jonessoda.com/gallery/view.php?ID=246655&category=7&offset=4[/url] and if you like Ilsa's photo, please vote! Thanks guys!

HAHA... I'm a groomer, and we always eat our lunches in the shop. Our food always has a layer of dog hair on it! We also eat the food that falls on the floor, as long as it isn't TOO dirty... :wink: Just brush the hair off and keep eating!

Ohhhh Ginna wasn't the only one mad at us! We tossed Ilsa in a couple times... Mia too! We always had someone int he water to guide the girls, but it was obvious that Herr Dobermann never intended for his breed to be tossed into swimming pools - Dobermans float like rocks! I guess that's what you get when you have a deep chested, narrow, heavily muscled dog with little or no body fat!

Here's Ilsa wearing clothes... [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/clothes01.jpg[/img] teeheehee...

Just got back from the K9Splash... Basically, one of the condemned pools in town opened its doors to the dogs before it's demolished. Our local Off-Leash group charged admission and sold towels to raise money for park maintainence $$$. Ginna says, "No! No, really, I'm fine up here, I don't need to swim... no!" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3767.jpg[/img] "Must get to dry land, must get to dry land..." [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3768.jpg[/img] Ilsa doesnt' quite know what to make of the pool yet... [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3770.jpg[/img] "Ahhh yes, the kiddie pool is much less scary!" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3774.jpg[/img] Ginna is still leery of the water... [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3776.jpg[/img] Ilsa isn't! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3777.jpg[/img] "Aren't I cute?" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3778.jpg[/img] Boing! "Throw the ball, throw the ball!" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3789.jpg[/img] "I know you say this is supposed to be fun, but I don't believe you!" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3795.jpg[/img] Ginna is coaxed into the water... the ramp was very handy! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3797.jpg[/img] Ilsa poses by the deep end: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3802.jpg[/img] In a burst of courage, Ginna checks out the diving board: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3805.jpg[/img] Once she reached the end, she really didn't know what to do with herself! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3806.jpg[/img] Fun at the pool! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3819.jpg[/img] Ilsa checks out the diving board... [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3820.jpg[/img] Mia does the same: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3822.jpg[/img] A gutsy (or possibly just really stupid) Golden Retriever flies off the diving board: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3830.jpg[/img] And decides that it was a lot of fun... so he does it again! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3833.jpg[/img] "Get. Me. OUT. OF. HERE!!!" [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3836.jpg[/img] Ilsa returns to safe waters... [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3842.jpg[/img] K9 Splash 2004! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3850.jpg[/img]

Nawww I didn't show - Ilsa is spayed, and most of my mentors only brought one or two dogs. What really sucked was that there were only tw vendors... and neither carried cool stuff! I was reallly disappointed...

... too bad the entry was nearly non-existent! The weather was nice though. One good thing did come of it though - I got soe great photos! Bouvier [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3533.jpg[/img] Whippets [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3534.jpg[/img] Beagle [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3536.jpg[/img] Dancing Dachshund [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3538.jpg[/img] The Same Dachshund [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3539.jpg[/img] Dalmatians [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3544.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3548.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3551.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3552.jpg[/img] Shar Pei [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3550.jpg[/img] Miniature Pinscher [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3558.jpg[/img] AmStaffs [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3559.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3563.jpg[/img] Alaskan Malamute [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3564.jpg[/img] And the Chessie Pup I'm dogsitting! I took him swimming today... can ya tell? :wink: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3585.jpg[/img]

crazy canine - those GSDs remind me of Dutch Shepherds... another breed that is breathtaking in brindle: [img]http://www.pets4you.com/ABC/images/dutchshepherdlittle.jpg[/img]

kate - Ilsa (the red dobe) is 28 months old. And you're right - Dobes can be big babies, but Ilsa definitely has some Dobermann spirit in her! Loki not as much, but he's only a baby yet. :wink: I think Loki had a better time than Ilsa. He's boisterous and has recently discovered the appeal of girls (he's not neutered yet, but will be soon), so he was VERY interested in Ilsa. She decided to be a stuck-up girl that day, so she spent a lot of time telling him off. As for the photos... I don't know what to tell ya. I think you just have to get to know your camera, and carry it everywhere. Soemtimes you have to sacrifice conversation or on-the-side training at the dog park/etc. if you want to get a good shot. I have a Sport setting on my camera, as well as a shutter button that depresses halfway to focus... and then when you push it all the way down, it'll take a photo instantly. Pair that with quick reflexes, and you've got a good action shot!

Some "interesting" poodle colors... Phantom: [img]http://www.pawsandpets.com/images/dakota01.jpg[/img] Parti: [img]http://www.partipoodle.org/Images/Trader000.jpg[/img] Corded... okay, so not a color... but... [img]http://www.partipoodle.org/Images/Lexxus%20only_small.jpg[/img] Brindle: [img]http://www.i-dog.com/board/messages/5462/31007.jpg[/img] Sable: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/sable.bmp[/img]

What a busy couple of days it has been! Today I drove to Marshalltown/State Center (hillside you'll know what I'm talking about!) to visit one of Ilsa's doggie buddies (Loki). It was Loki's birthday, so we arranged a playdate: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3432.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3434.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3436.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3437.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3441.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3450.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3451.jpg[/img] Happy 1st Birthday, Loki! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3449.jpg[/img] After driving home, I realized that Ilsa was dirtier than I had originally thought... so it was bath-time! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3456.jpg[/img] I'm also dogsitting this week for my neighbors. They have a 120lb GSD/lab? mix named Maddie. Ilsa and Maddie adore each other, which is definitely a good thing. The have a fenced yard, so that means Ilsa is going to get a lot of offleash time this week! One drawback though - walking 200lbs of dog is a wee bit... interesting! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3466.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3474.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3483.jpg[/img] Lastly... Doberman + Frisbees + Camera = Cool Pics! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3369.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3378.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3384.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3388.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3415.jpg[/img] [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/General/100_3417.jpg[/img]

LOL! Just PM me photos, and I'll see what I can do. Thankfullt he Boston Terrier national club has an illustrated standard - critiques are much harder to do with only a written standard. Right now, a doberman listserv is doing critiques... it's AMAZING! Here's the link to the dog photos. These types of "activities" are wonderful for the breed and its fanciers - it "teaches" the standard, which I find fascinating! [url]http://www.isoc.net/mminnich/cyberdobes/index.html[/url]

Okay guys... here's just my opinion - uneducated opinion, mind you - of Divina. her "mom" asked me to do a critique. I did some reading on the standard, looked at a lot of photos... GENERAL APPEARANCE Divina fits the standard relatively well - she appears to be sturdy but not coarse. She does look a bit chunky in certain areas, but that might be just from the photos or her current weight. HEAD Skull is flat at the top (good) and free from wrinkles (also good). Divina's head is a leasing one, with a very intelligent and alert expression - very nice! Eyes could be a tad darker and closer together, but all for all she's got a nice head. Ears have proper carriage and placement. Muzzle is proportional, and is very nice. Personally, I think Divina has a great head. However, one fault I see is that her nostrils appear pinched - this is considered a fault in the Boston Terrier breed... but without being able to see the two extremes (flared and pinched), I can't say how severe a fault Divina's nostrils are - I don't think theyr'e that bad, though. :wink: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/DEV2.jpg[/img] NECK, TOPLINE, BODY Divina's neck could be a bit longer. The correct neck balances the dog - but Divina's neck isn't bad, and only needs to be lengtheded a small amount to be correct. Divina is nearly square - luckily, bitches of all breeds are allowed to be a tad longer, due to the anatomical requirements of carrying and delivering pups. Divina's topline is hard to judge - a roach back is seen as a serious fault, but I don't think she has a roach back. In the first photo I believe that she's being made to stack and isn't used to it - many dogs roach in this type of situation. Even is she does have a roach back (which I doubt), it isn't nearly as severe as some I've seen. Her tailset and carriage look perfect! [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/DEV1.jpg[/img] FOREQUARTERS Divina's forequarters hold her worst fault... :oops: She's got good bone, but her forelegs aren't straight - they turn out and end in weak pasterns. See photos for a better look. She does have nice tight feet though - which I find very pleasing (after all, I am a dobe person!). forelegs would be a bit further apart. Surprisingly, her elbows are fine - they turn neither in or out. [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/DEV3.jpg[/img] HINDQUARTERS Devina has well muscled thighs, good proportions, well defined hocks... in short, a very nice rear assembly. Hinglegs are straight when viewed from the rear - no cowhocks in sight! :D [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/DEV4.jpg[/img] GAIT cannot be determined from photos :wink: COLOR AND MARKINGS White portion of ear could be considered a mismark... depending on the mood of the judge! Markings on forelegs aren't symmetrical, but neither leg has incorrect markings. Facial markings in black could come farther down on the cheek, but that's a minor thing. On the spectrum from undesirable to desirable, Divina's markings lean heavily towards "desirable". Personally, I think Divina is a nice specimen of the breed. Aside from her front, the rest of her is extremely evident of her breeding. Remember that every dog has faults - and most dogs have virtues :wink: Could she be finished? With the right handler, probably... but it would be costly and time consuming. Could she be pointed? Probably... the front may bother many judges though. Does she fit the standard close enough to be recognized as a well bred dog? Absolutely!

Here are my written critiques. People can refer to her website for photos. [u][i]RUSTY[/i][/u] GENERAL CONFORMATION SRC says that he is 28" at the shoulder, which sits the standard's guidelines for height. Please note that dogs taller or shorter thant he standard aren't DQed - it's just a fault. Rusty isn't balanced - he is long, with mismathed angulation front and rear. His topline is choppy, and doesn't create an elegant silhouette. He also doesn't look "doggy". His facial features are actually almost "bitchy" Here is a drawing of the "ideal" dog: [img]http://www.dpca.org/JEC/images/ideal_dog.jpg[/img] HEAD This dog's head is not dry - there is a lot of loose skin. His stop is much too prominent, and his planes are not parallel. His head is of decent length, however, and should not be penalized. He does have good fill below the eyes, but he is a bit cheeky, which is a fault. His eyes are round instead of almond shaped, but it should be noted that many dobes have incorrect eyes (even though most do not have round eyes, but slant eyes). It may just be the photos, but IMO he does not command a powerful, "look of eagles" expression. HIs eye shape, wet head, lippiness, and uneven planes give him a comical, "dumbed down" expression, which is very unbecoming of a Doberman. I cannot address dentition because I haven't seen photos of his bite. Here is a photo of a very correct Doberman head: [img]http://www.dpca.org/JEC/images/dpcaphotos/rddoghead.jpg[/img] NECK Very wet and throaty, lacks proper arch. Here is the ideal neck: [img]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/lhartlep/neck.jpg[/img] BODY Back is not short, brisket is very shallow, with no apparent tuckup. Forechest isn't defined at all, and is very weak. THis dog appears to be out at the elbows. This dog is not square, as is required by thr standard, and is one of the Doberman's most important features. Topline is level, but is choppy and is high in the rear. Correct body: [img]http://www.dpca.org/JEC/images/image9.jpg[/img] FOREQUARTERS Appears a bit toed-in, with hare feet and pasterns are a bit too strainght up (but not too bad). This dog is steeple fronted, and out at the elbows. His entire front assembly to too far forward. The forelegs bear 65% of the dog's weight - a good front is extremely important. HINDQUARTERS Cowhocked. Stifles are not well defined, but extent of deviation isn't severe. Upper and lower shanks appear to be of of equal length, which is also good. He is a bit overangulated. Feet could stand to be much tighter. GAIT cannot be commented on from available photos. COAT, COLOR, MARKINGS This can only be judged by photos, and is far from a complete evaluation. Due to poor coat condition, markings do not stand out as well as they could. Rust color appears to be true, but bose coat could be darker. Coat would be faulted heavily int he ring because of its contidion (as seen from photos only) I'll do the others later if i have time... writing out a critique takes ahwile!

[quote]Anyone of us can look at her dogs and see they aren't breeding or show quality. It's not educational when it's that obvious. [/quote] SRC stated that she thought her dogs fit the standard to a "T", and could probably do well in the show ring. That's one examply of one person who hasn't got a clue.

I udually only critique dobes because that's what I know - it's my breed. (and to make kendalyn happy, I edited out the photos - but I will type out my written critique later and people can refer to the photos on her website). If you'ld like my to try, you can post photos and I'll look at the breed standards... tall ya what I think.

edited

Ohhh... my girl can be a beast from hell sometimes! She's extremely protective of me and the house, and will sound off at the slightest provocation. She's an extremely dominant bitch, which adds fuel to the fire. Most people are smart enough to NOT mess with a 79lb, 28" at the shoulder, heavily muscled, angry Doberman Pinscher! It's funny though - once she's told it's okay, she's the biggest lovey dovey goofball in the world!