Dobermann Discussions

We made sure Roxy had been tested for VWD, but was not aware of other diseases named here. Also the breeder told me that the vet had said hip scoring wasn't essential in the breed as it mainly effects 'wider' dogs like Rotties and Bull breeds.

Not sure if this was true but made sense? Has anyone else heard this? BTW her hips are fine ;-)

Dobes should be hip scored before breeding.

Yeah i think the parents were scored, but Rox wasn't?

Dogs cant be hip scored untill they are 12mths old. I think the average score for a Dobe is around 16, the breeder should of showed you the score sheets if they had been done, likewise the VWD status report for BOTH parents.
Dawn.

It is believed to be not just hereditery though, which is why they advise no running up and down stairs, avoiding slippery floors etc. So that no unnecessary strain is put on the hip joints while still developing, and no calcium supplements. and avoiding excess weight.
don't know about the average, but Syd's dad is 4.4 and his mum is 4.4 with Rio same dad so 4.4 and mum is 4.5
Agree all dogs should be tested prior to breeding.

We started off with the smallest Dobie bitch in the litter but somewhere along the way we've ended up with one big girl!!!

She now stands 29 inches to the top of her shoulder and people are starting to comment about how big she's got ! She's nearly 10 months old (at the start of November) and nearly freaked when someone told me she could grow more??

Just curious as to the size of the other Dobies on Dogsey - is my baby a monster Dobie?

Y

She has grown (at that height) well over standard, its a shame, but it wont cause a problem so dont worry about it.
Dawn.

Can't see that it matters much but yes She is tall what have you been feeding her on?
Is she very leggy or in proportion ? Time we saw some more photo's I think

i think the average is 8/9 in dobes isnt it??

We (just o/h and I, no kids) adopted a 4 1/2 month-old Dobie girlie stray from the pound 3 weeks ago. Now, obviously I was not concerned with breeding or showing, just wanted to give this darling a 2nd chance and a loving home. She will be spayed soon, as soon as she is ready. We live in the country and has plenty of room to play, and I only work a few evenings a week, so she gets lots of long walks and rambles in the bogland behind us with me, and is having a great time.

I knew there were health issues with Dobies when I got her, but want to offer her as long and healthy a life as I can. Can you knowledgeable peeps please enlighten me what tests I should get done on her and how often so I can offer her the health-care she needs to minimise/detect and treat any problems she might turn out to have? Bearing in mind breeders in Ireland for most breeds are even worse than in the UK, so I don't know if any measures have been undertaken to counter the health problems that have arisen in the breed.

I hope people don't think I was irresponsible to take her on. She had already been bred, and lost or abandoned, and needed someone to take her on and love her. So how could I hold her dubious background against her and not take her on her own terms? She will be joining a positive training class as soon as her new course of vaccination is completed. Obviously she had no records, coming as a stray, and she got kennel cough in the pound, though it cleared up very quickly, so I was delayed in starting her new course.

Here is a pic of her and the o/h from the day she arrived, displaying the propensity shown in the early part of this thread, for blokes and Dobies to want to do that big lapdog thing (I'm sure they will find things tight later on too! ;-) )

Welcome to Dogsey!

Awh she is stunning - how could anyone have abandoned such a cutie?

The vet will be best to advise on tests for her or one of the more experienced Dobie owners will be along shortly to advise although this thread has outlined quite a few.

From the sounds of it she is now going to have a wonderful life. What's her name? And can we see more pictures please?

Wow LolaDobie, she is absolutely stunning, and sooo small. she'll grow fast from now on so make sure she gets plenty of kip!

"Dobermanns can fall prey to some genetic disorders that manifest later in life. One of these is von Willebrand’s disease (VWd) It is worth getting tested for VWd.

Dobermanns are prone to a condition known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Wobbler’s Syndrome is another disease that Dobermanns are prone to. Chronic Active Hepatitis is more common in female Dobermanns. Hips and eyes (PHPV) can also be problematic in the breed."

Hope this helps

If you want to get her tested for VWD type in vetgen and it is $140 which works out as £70. They will send you a kit which contains 3 swabs that you rub around the mouth. If she is a carrier she will not have any health problems. If she is affected it means she is at risk if she cuts herself although the VWD that dobermans get is of a mild type normally causing prolonged bleeding if they are stressed. They do produce some of the facter that clots the blood that is why it does not show up when docked.
Well done for giving this little girl a second chance and i am sure you will be rewarded with love.

Here's my crew..



Thats Willow at a little over 3 years old (note some comedian pinned a tail on her)

This is Chillie at about 5 months (Willows boy)



and Hash Brown also Willows boy.



The boys are 8months old now, Chillie is now bigger than Mum, Hash Has some catching up to do as he was the runt and had a very shaky start to life, only bottle feeding and nursing kept him alive but he proved to be a tough little cookie and is evidently made of rubber as he got run over by a Ford Focus and still bounced back!!

As for all the Dobbie health issue melarky, yes they do have their problems, but are we really ready to allow this noble breed to fade into history?

ohmygoodness :smt026 Dobbies with tails :smt058 :smt049 :smt049

Well Done for rescuing this girl :smt038 :smt038

oh my, they are all beautiful i love their tails aswell

What a gorgeous crew you have Fluffy ;-)

Willow does agility, and is pretty good at it too. She has won out in starters in a big group of 100 dogs mostly against Collies, she has come very close to winning out of the next stage but has been set back a bit because of the pups.

The tail is a bonus giving her balance and the ability to turn tightly.

Hash brown (called that because he was weedy) is now developing into a strong thick set dog, he will be doing agility when he is old enough. Chillie is destined for showing, he already towers over mum and came second in his first show, admitedly is was only against 4 other pooches, but apparently two of the dogs (great danes) have been winning everything but on Chillies first appearance it was a close call for first, and the judge placed him second:smt041

They all have tails even though it was before the docking law came into effect. Many breeders are no longer continuing because they can no longer dock, its a great shame as these dogs are happy and contented and move so much better giving them greater poise and grace than a docked dog, I am sure there are people that disagree there, it a bit like us> :smt021 < showing diehards.

Regarding health issues, our old Dobermann Lady passed away at 15 and a half years old, very old for a Dobbie, her tan (rust) had faded to pale beige. She is a distant relative of Willow and was rarely ever ill.

The important issues have already been discussed here, although I don't believe that HD is a real problem in Dobes. However heart problems are a big problem, particularly in the states, over 50% of all breeds that die suddenly due to heart failure are Dobermanns, so bad is the problem that there are lifetime studies with dogs wearing Holters. They are studied by both canine and human cardio specialists because the developement of the heart is so similar to the human heart, much can be learned.

This statement is likely to prove unpopular, but I do believe that the mixing of Euro and US dogs with our population has triggered a rise in identified heart problems within our country, the vanity of breeders and show winners has pushed them further afield to breed in "desirable" attributes to the breed, with it has come this problem.

No doubt I will be roasted at the stake for that, but I'm thick skinned and it would likely take several hours to even get me medium rare.

Anyhow, if you are considering a Dobe you will have a rarely bettered family pet as a companion. They tend to bond with one person and are a constant source of amusement.

If you are thinking of a pup, check out the lineage, be aware that some breeders do tell porkies sometimes about who the parents really are, (cue the stake and roasting).

Avoid any that have a history in a lineage that may have temperment issues and sudden death syndrome, get the facts right about HD and vWD. Chose your pup wisely avoid those that seem standoffish.

Laminate flooring is a definate no-no, if you have it, buy loads of rubber backed carpet runners. Trim those talons weekly and with great care as you can clip the quick and they bleed like mad. Do not over exercise you dog in the first year of its life, dobes grow fast and you will only cause possible misery later on.

Train your pup, and train it, and train it. Dobes are very energetic and playful, be wary of small children as the bones can choke a young Dobermann j/k , seriously be wary as a young bouncing Dobe can accidently nip in play and likely flatten small children, stop them from jumping up at the yours and others faces which they seem to love doing.

Be careful as your Dobbie will try and eat everything, plenty of toys and chewies there. Willow ate a tin can when she was pregnant, all of it! Mayhap she had an iron defiency ;-)

Gardens are a great source of entertainment and potential death to a Dobe, so check out whats there and either fence it off or move it. Be aware that a Dobe like Willow even though she is slightly on the short side can clear a four foot high fence with ease.

When puppies, feed lots of regular meals, all they can eat and quality food too. Watch the weight when they get bigger, don't overfeed then and guard against bloat. Regular modest meals, dry food soaked, feed after and not before execise and you are unlikely to have a problem.

There is a whole bunch of webbies out there, get the info BEFORE you get your pup.

I forgot to add that we have yet another addition to the crew, our old Border Collie is not impressed and the cat whilst not particularly phased by it, has been voicing his opinion.

I have posted it in the homes forum.

To cut a long story short, we are fostering Ruby. The owner has fallen on bad times, homeless and bankrupt.

This is Ruby



We have only had her for a couple of days but she is an absolute diamond and a credit to her owner. She is very slim and tall, probably needs beefing up a bit as she is more like Santas little helper (The Simpsons) in build and stature.

She is very beautiful and elegant.

She is very well behaved and our dogs although quite good, are hooligans in comparison. She is KC reg and even has a pet passport. The owner spent a fortune on her and fed her on Science plan, had all the shots etc.

She is fine off the lead and comes when recalled, and does not appear to chew things up like our boys do. She seems very social and loving and would make a brilliant companion.

Simply put, we cannot keep her. Its just not possible.

If anyone can rehome her or even foster her for a while it would be absolutely fantastic. In the South West of England.

Go on, you know you want to.