Your new puppy will need time to adjust to its new home. The environment will be different and the pup will be missing mom and its littermates.
Being surrounded by new faces and voices will be strange for your pup. It will all be a little overwhelming. To help your pup adjust with minimal stress, make sure you allow your new pup quiet time to rest.
White noise (fan, static on a radio, etc.) is actually soothing. Try placing the crate in a bathroom, turn on the fan - put the pup in the crate and close the door.
We will send you home with a towel or blanket with mom's and the littermate's scent on it. Keep this with your new pup as it will provide some comfort.
Nationally renowned author and professional dog trainer Liz Palika presents a comprehensive training guide geared to teaching the average owner how to train his Doberman Pinscher and to help his dog become a well-mannered addition to the household. Includes chapters on how to select the right dog for you, canine development, puppy training, housebreaking, formal training, basic obedience, problem prevention and solutions, advanced training, dog sports and how to have fun while training your dog.
New Owner's Guide to Dobermans
This book is great for people new to the Doberman. It gives an overview of the breed's history, temperament, care and training requirements. It touches on the different activities you can participate in with your Doberman and lists addresses to contact for more info. The health care chapter briefly explains all the major diseases and parasites that you must have your dog vaccinated against. For more in depth training methods for the novice, however, it is best to consult a specific manual on the subject (see suggested training book).
Are you concerned about the dry food your dog is eating? Looking for detailed information about certain food ingredients? Confused about inconsistent information about dogfood from pet food manufacturers? Need help comparing dog food brands and finding a better one? Check out the following web site:
"One question I have: The pup started nipping at us even in the truck on our way home from the airport. She does it to everyone and a lot. I thought (hoped) it was due to her thinking we were her new 'littermates' and that's how she acted with them.
"We hold her mouth closed tight for 2 seconds then release and give her a toy to chew or pet her again. Does this sound OK? It's not chewing as much as nipping, so I need to 'nip' it in the bud."
"We are doing the touching, etc. etc. . you talk about on your Web site. She seems to tell already from the tone of my voice when she needs to stop something, I don't say 'no' a lot. I either substitute the behavior with the right thing to do, or I look her in the eyes with a firm voice and she seems to get it. Any advice?"
Thanks, Kathy
ANSWER:
I simply told Kathy that what she is doing is perfect. What you have to keep in mind is the age - 7 weeks. At this age, all the pups seemed to like to chew on hands, toes, nip at skin, each other... This has to be corrected and the method Kathy is using is great.
You absolutely must not allow the chewing on your body parts, though. Definitely not good behavior. As the pup gets older, the tendency to chew will decrease. By 12 weeks of age, there is a big difference in the desire to chew opposed to 7 weeks of age.
Dandruff
October 8, 2002 - "Hi Laura - "Remember me and Kala, from Arkansas? She is doing fine. Weighs about 75 #. Ears came out really good. She is a very high energy dog, but hopefully that will subside a little after she outgrows her puppy stage."
"I have a question that I was hoping maybe you could answer. Kala has a pretty good case of dandruff, although I brush her at least every other day. The vet noticed that several months ago and gave me some EFA caps to give her daily. That didn't seem to help much. Any suggestions on what I should try and/or do?"
Thanks...........Bill Barry"
ANSWER:
"Bill, Great to hear back from you! I lost your e-mail address due to a virus or you would have heard from me checking to see how everything was. Kala is not alone in the energy department. I have heard this from the other owners as well. It is something that will be outgrown. That is the one downfall, per se, to a Dobe pup at this age (~10 months) - she looks like an adult in respect to size but is still VERY much a puppy!! I always found myself having to remind myself that Aggie was still just a puppy.
"In regards to the dandruff - two thoughts: 1. What kind of shampoo are you using when you bathe her? -shampoo made for dogs is pH balanced to their needs
2. Cut down on your brushing her. This is probably the cause. I have noticed with Aggie in the past that the more often I brush her, the more flakes of skin. I would suggest just brushing once a week. If that does not fix the problem, once every two weeks. It is not like the hair is going to knot!
"I understand that frequent brushing will help cut down on shedding. I did something this summer for the first time to Aggie and I am going to keep doing it because I love it. I took some old hair clippers I had and buzzed the hair on her back - short! My husband had suggested doing this about a year ago. I thought he was crazy - buzz a Dobe?! But, by appearance, you can't tell it. It has cut down on the shedding and no flakes. But, I think the main thing for you right now is just cut down on the brushing. Just to let you know where some of the others are at in regards to weight, I know of one male that is already pushing 90 lb. The other female is about the same as Kala. We would love to see some updated pictures. Take care!" Laura
October 9, 2002 - "Laura, Thanks for the response. In regard to Kala's dandruff, I'm going to try three things:
(1) No brushing her as often, per your suggestion
(2) Giving her some more of the daily EFA capsules, per the vet's suggestion
(3) Wiping her down a couple of times a week with a solution of warm water to which is added one capful each of bleach and a mild bath oil, per a suggestion I found in my New Owner's Guide to Doberman Pinchers book by Faye Strauss. She recommends this as an excellent coat conditioner and to help kill any skin fungus - so I figured it might also help dandruff."
"How have your dobbys been around cats. Is there any way we can condition the pups (Trinity) to cats earlier. Is there any cats in your neighboorhood that you could introduce her to?"
Thanks Tara M.
ANSWER:
Don't worry about the pup with cats. If she is brought up with them, there isn't going to be a problem. She will play with them (if they let her!) and will probably become protective of them. They will become family. My mother has 3 Dobermans and 3 Yorkies -- the small ones. The Dobes are great with them.
Just the other day I was speaking to one of the owners from Aggie's first litter (Natasha's owner, Leslie). She told me a funny story about their Dobe who has never been around cats. She said they went out of town and had some friends "babysit". The friends had a cat. Apparently, the Dobe and the cat fell in love with each other -- they would just sit and lick each other!!
Ear Posting Guide for Cropped Ears
If you are going to crop the ears -- and we think you should!! -- here is a link that provides a good guide on how to wrap the ears:
Deciding to Crop Ears
Here is a link to an interesting discussion regarding reasons to crop the ears. We agree that it is better for the health of the ears.
If you wonder why ears ever started being cropped in the first place - and the same for docking tails, the click on the link below for an excellent explanation:
Link to Explanation
Doberman Ear Crops: Different Lengths
Doberman ear cropping information with the different ear lengths shown.
Why Dock Tails?
"Hi Laura, I was wondering - Why do dogs have their tails docked? I know it is a breed standard but why? I know I am like your four year old but I was curious." Tara F.
ANSWER: As I had to explain to my 7 year old who can understand - there is just not any making my 4 year old understand truly other than "the vet just needed to take it off". Anyway, it is definitely a breed standard and I just don't like the way a long tail looks on a big dog. But, I am pretty sure that the tails started being taken off for two other reasons - 1) danger to itself as it would wack things and injure its tail and 2) it wacks you! If you have ever been around a large dog from another breed that keeps the tail, you would understand how nice it is to not have it there. Imagine something about the size of a young kid's arm swinging back and forth pretty much uncontrolled with no regard as to what it might swing into!
