Essential Care Tips for Your Doberman Puppy’s Healthy Growth

Living With a Dobie

Living with a Doberman is a challenge that comes on a daily basis. No matter how old, you cannot ignore a Doberman, they are in your face, on your lap, they are a helping you out kinda dog, and yet, they do not seem to intrude into your personal space

A Doberman is a working dog, he is ever alert and ready at all times to take care of his ‘family and environment’. with tremendous adaptability to what to do in almost all situations.
Some sports to enjoy with your Doberman:

agility

Obedient

Flyball

Treking

freestyle frisbee

Protection

Health

These health conditions have been identified in the Doberman Pinscher. Items marked with asterisks (***) can be identified through testing. Screening tests are not currently available for the other conditions listed. It is important to know the status before breeding a dog or bitch – clinically affected dogs, dogs exhibiting symptoms for any of these conditions should NOT be bred.

The text below is intended as an aid to those seeking health information and should not be used to form a diagnosis replacing regular veterinary care by one’s own Veterinarian.

CARDIOMYOPATHY – is suspected to be an inherited disease in Dobermans. Research is in progress in several institutions. An echocardiogram of the heart will confirm the disease but WILL not guarantee that the disease will not develop in the future. A 24 hour holter will record Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)

*** HIP DYSPLASIA – is inherited. It may vary from slightly poor conformation to malformation of the hip joint allowing complete luxation of the femoral head. Both parents’ hips should be Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certified – excellent, good, or fair rating. There are other hip labs that are qualified to certify hips.**

*** vWd (VON WILLEBRAND’S DISEASE) – is an autosomally (not sex linked) inherited bleeding disorder with a prolonged bleeding time and a mild to severe factor IX deficiency. Von Willebrand’s factor antigens of 70% 180% are considered to be within the normal range for Dobermans. When dogs are tested through the Elisa assay blood test for vWD, they are tested for carrier status only NOT the disease. It is believed that carrier status tests (Elisa assay) are inaccurate if a dog is ill, received any medication or vaccination within 14 days of testing, pregnancy, bitches in heat or lactation. Stress conditions (infections, parasites, hormonal changes, trauma, surgery, emotional upset, etc.) may have an effect on the outcome of the vWD blood test and might be a contributing factor for bleeding tendencies. vWD carrier status is quite common in Dobermans. A DNA test for vWD is now available – genetically: clear, carrier (inherited one disease gene), affected (inherited two disease genes) – results are not effected by stress conditions, etc. Learn about DNA labs

WOBBLER’S SYNDROME – is suspected to be an inherited condition in Dobermans. Dogs suffer from spinal cord compression caused by cervical vertebral instability or from a malformed spinal canal. Extreme symptoms are paralysis of the limbs (front, hind or all 4). Neck pain with extension and flexion may or may not be present. Surgical therapy is hotly debated and in some surgically treated cases, clinical recurrence has been identified.

*** PRA (PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY) – is an inherited condition in Dobermans. Clinically, visual acuity is diminished, first at dusk, later in daylight. The disease progresses over months or years, to complete blindness. A screening test is available and can be performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) will certify eyes for 12 months from the date of evaluation.

*** ALBINISM – “13

Want a Dobie Puppy?

SO, YOU WANT A DOBERMAN PUPPY?

We thank you for your questions about Doberman Pinchers, and applaud you for not just rushing out, and buying on impulse.

You are right to question the different breeds of dogs, and how they might fit into your house, family, and life style.

Do you live in town? Or the country? What is your lifestyle, and how will a large, energetic dog fit into that. Dobermans are not known for tolerating temperature extremes. They are considered to be, basically, an indoor pet. It can be good to speak with your neighbors before you acquire your new dog. Sometimes fears can be put to rest by discussing this with them first, rather than springing a surprise on them.

Most of the Dobermans I’ve known were bundles of happy, exuberant joy. I think Dobermans need to be a part of the family, and don’t much like to be left behind….just how much on the go are you? could you take the dog with you, on errands? on vacations? will you be able to handle a dog with this much high energy?

Do you have a fenced yard, or an enclosure? Who will take care of the dogs needs? Will you be working outside of your home? And if so – what will you do with a large dog while you are at work? Many breeders are reluctant to sell or place a Doberman into a home with no fenced yard. Mistakes can and do happen, and many dogs are still killed yearly, by automobiles. An enclosed, fenced area where the dog can eliminate is better than a loose dog that could rack up hefty veterinarian bills if run over. To lose your Doberman, to a preventable accident, would be heartbreaking, for the owners, and the breeders. If you are a working parent, who will take care of the Doberman, give her exercise, and take her out to potty during the day? Who will be in charge of walking her in the A.M. rush? Late at night before bed? Who will give her that much needed daily exercise?

It’s my experience, that many parents want a dog to “teach responsibility” to the child. But most children learn by watching, by example – not by being told to do things. Which, again, shifts the responsibility of care back onto a parent’s shoulders. If you’re a single parent? This can become more of a burden than one remembers – especially if you’re considering a puppy! I think we all forget just how much work that new puppy can be!
If there are children in the home, maybe an older Doberman would work better than a young puppy. Not every dog of every breed is going to come out in a cookie cutter mold, personality- wise. A puppy might grow up to be very protective, so that if you have visitors, your Doberman might need to be monitored. When you take in an older Doberman, you have a better idea of what the individual dog is going to be tolerant of, and usually know in advance, what she doesn’t find acceptable. You’ll have more of a
finished product, so to speak.

Puppy, Or Older Dog?

Do you have children?

I think the ages of your children could be a very important factor in this decision…. How old are they? Puppies and babies are not really a good combination. I know some folks have warm glowing visions of them growing up together, but really its more frequently a case of the blind leading the blind, and can have some problematic consequences. Again, a Doberman Pinscher is a high energy animal.

There are some medical conditions that can arise in Dobermans…. Some of those may come on as they get older. Are you aware of what these might be? Please do explore our web sites for more information on this, as
well other Doberman related issues

Owned an operated by: Michelle Vargas

info@fearlessdobermanpinscher.com

(502) 234-1587

We follow the Doberman Pinscher Club of America
Code of Ethics.For more information
visit the DPCA at

We do not condone or support the breeding of
the "white"/albino Doberman as it is a genetic mutation.

MEMBER OF THE
DOBERMAN PINSCHER
CLUB OF AMERICA SINCE
2002.

MEMBER OF THE OLEAN
KENNEL CLUB

WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE
IMPROVEMENT AND
PRESERVATION OF THIS
WONDERFUL BREED FOR
THE FUTURE GENERATIONS!

WHEN WE BREED
WE ONLY BREED TO
BETTER THE BREED!

ALL AKC PUPPIES SOLD WITH A
TWO YEAR WRITTEN HEALTH
GUARANTEE/WARRANTY,
AND
EARS CROPPED,
TAILS DOCKED,
DEW CLAWS REMOVED,
AND
AVID MICROCHIPPED,
UP-TO-DATE SHOTS,
WORM FREE,
CRATE TRAINED,
AND
HEALTHY.

DOBERMAN RESCUE FOSTER MOM VOLUNTEER.Feel free to look around
at our site and see what
we are so very proud
of! Any questions or
comments, don't
hesitate to contact us

Doberman care tips