One week to go before we see a whole new look! The look that at the end of the day completes "The Doberman Standard". Cones coming up... a week from today!!!
One week remaining for each of you on the wait list to complete your final preparations too!
As far as food goes, I think I mentioned earlier, there are several good foods to choose from. The pups are eating Victor Professional and are thriving on it. My adults eat Victor HiPro Plus. But the choice is yours. If you select a brand outside of Victor please let me know when you arrive to claim your pups and I'll give you some kibble to ease the transition from Victor to your chosen food. For those who've decided on the heavily marketed grain free products I encourage you to do some research regarding health risks associated with grain free diets. Lots of controversy out there regarding dog foods now and my opinion is everyone should invest some time in research and not rely on marketing. I refrain from recommending one food over another because its seems one week something is the greatest thing ever created and the next it's determined to be a killer. Doesn't matter if we're talking eggs or dog food.
I finally got everyone weighed for the week and those weights will be the last set I'll do here at home. The pups are getting too big for my scale! They'll be weighed one last time while in my care though. Pre-operatively. I log those numbers for week eight. Pretty impressive gains over the past 9 days though averaging about 4 pounds each. Growing quick!!!
Personalities are developing quickly too. Ready for that one on one they crave at this age. They're very happy in the company of each other but I think happiest with one on one human/dog companionship. It's what they were bred for and it seems pretty obvious Karl Dobermann knew what he wanted and how to get it when he created the breed. So many innate traits that I see repeat in these pups regardless of parentage. And in the parents themselves. I'm sure it's true of other breeds. Each carries unique traits specific to breed. But I always say there really is no better dog than a Doberman. A dog bred for the purpose of "personal" protection. And with that job comes the Velcro nature we, as fans of the breed, enjoy and appreciate. It's a trait that can be troublesome too though. While we love and value it, it's important the pups learn early on that they're ok in their own skin. To avoid separation anxiety later in life it's important for them to have alone time. To accomplish this, my recommendation is crate training. Crate training that begins day one. Their first night at home. Often people are so excited to have a puppy in their life the pup ends up in the bed with them. New place, new people... new bed. For the pup that's the new norm. I urge people, for the benefit of the pup, to make day one the real new norm. Don't wait a week to decide what you want your norm to look like. It's easier on the pups to have an established routine from the start. Bedtime day one... in the crate they go. Morning... out they come. The first night they may put up a bit of a fuss and may wake you with a whine because they weren't expecting to have to hold it ALL night! But by day two or three they should settle right in and be able to make it through the night as long as not allowed to drink loads of water prior to retiring. Pick it up a few hours before bed. And when they do their business outside praise praise praise! And treats. Can't forget to take a handful or pocket full of treats with you in the middle of the night during those early days. If they do good reward them. Always remember to reward good behavior. It's ok to use that stern voice to tell them they're a "bad dog" when they're being bad... but you have to tell them they're a good dog when they're being good too. When you look at them and they're just sitting there, not causing you any trouble... they're being a good dog. Let them know you appreciate it. Acknowledge it like you would if they weren't being so good. But remember... always remember to love them -good or bad! One day, not so far away, you'll think back and laugh wondering where those days of badness went. Love your pups. For me and for them. Do right by them and they'll do right by you.
:-)
Pages are updated.
One week remaining for each of you on the wait list to complete your final preparations too!
As far as food goes, I think I mentioned earlier, there are several good foods to choose from. The pups are eating Victor Professional and are thriving on it. My adults eat Victor HiPro Plus. But the choice is yours. If you select a brand outside of Victor please let me know when you arrive to claim your pups and I'll give you some kibble to ease the transition from Victor to your chosen food. For those who've decided on the heavily marketed grain free products I encourage you to do some research regarding health risks associated with grain free diets. Lots of controversy out there regarding dog foods now and my opinion is everyone should invest some time in research and not rely on marketing. I refrain from recommending one food over another because its seems one week something is the greatest thing ever created and the next it's determined to be a killer. Doesn't matter if we're talking eggs or dog food.
I finally got everyone weighed for the week and those weights will be the last set I'll do here at home. The pups are getting too big for my scale! They'll be weighed one last time while in my care though. Pre-operatively. I log those numbers for week eight. Pretty impressive gains over the past 9 days though averaging about 4 pounds each. Growing quick!!!
Personalities are developing quickly too. Ready for that one on one they crave at this age. They're very happy in the company of each other but I think happiest with one on one human/dog companionship. It's what they were bred for and it seems pretty obvious Karl Dobermann knew what he wanted and how to get it when he created the breed. So many innate traits that I see repeat in these pups regardless of parentage. And in the parents themselves. I'm sure it's true of other breeds. Each carries unique traits specific to breed. But I always say there really is no better dog than a Doberman. A dog bred for the purpose of "personal" protection. And with that job comes the Velcro nature we, as fans of the breed, enjoy and appreciate. It's a trait that can be troublesome too though. While we love and value it, it's important the pups learn early on that they're ok in their own skin. To avoid separation anxiety later in life it's important for them to have alone time. To accomplish this, my recommendation is crate training. Crate training that begins day one. Their first night at home. Often people are so excited to have a puppy in their life the pup ends up in the bed with them. New place, new people... new bed. For the pup that's the new norm. I urge people, for the benefit of the pup, to make day one the real new norm. Don't wait a week to decide what you want your norm to look like. It's easier on the pups to have an established routine from the start. Bedtime day one... in the crate they go. Morning... out they come. The first night they may put up a bit of a fuss and may wake you with a whine because they weren't expecting to have to hold it ALL night! But by day two or three they should settle right in and be able to make it through the night as long as not allowed to drink loads of water prior to retiring. Pick it up a few hours before bed. And when they do their business outside praise praise praise! And treats. Can't forget to take a handful or pocket full of treats with you in the middle of the night during those early days. If they do good reward them. Always remember to reward good behavior. It's ok to use that stern voice to tell them they're a "bad dog" when they're being bad... but you have to tell them they're a good dog when they're being good too. When you look at them and they're just sitting there, not causing you any trouble... they're being a good dog. Let them know you appreciate it. Acknowledge it like you would if they weren't being so good. But remember... always remember to love them -good or bad! One day, not so far away, you'll think back and laugh wondering where those days of badness went. Love your pups. For me and for them. Do right by them and they'll do right by you.
:-)
Pages are updated.
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