Getka... My Little Tank!
What can be said about Getka? So much really but it's taken so long to develop her page... Maybe an explanation is in order. Possibly.
I've made multiple attempts, but each time I faced a road block. A writers block as they say. Presumably a result of unfinished business.
To begin with, I really wasn't in the market for a pup when our paths crossed. I had only recently purchased Ritz.
It can surely be said, a very unfortunate set of circumstances brought me to Getka. An omen possibly.
What can be said about Getka? So much really but it's taken so long to develop her page... Maybe an explanation is in order. Possibly.
I've made multiple attempts, but each time I faced a road block. A writers block as they say. Presumably a result of unfinished business.
To begin with, I really wasn't in the market for a pup when our paths crossed. I had only recently purchased Ritz.
It can surely be said, a very unfortunate set of circumstances brought me to Getka. An omen possibly.
I was on the heels of near devastation following the unexpected loss of my first Dobe; my love, my Lexi who at the time of her passing had just celebrated her forth birthday and was 2 weeks shy of delivering a litter -planned to be her last.
She would retire and become queen of our castle.
But we didn't make it. Lex had an off day... nothing specific, just seemed a little blah. She spent the bulk of the day in the chair, and then wasn't particularly interested in dinner. Things that I attributed to her being pregnant and just suffering, as I said, "an off day". We went to bed as usual. She always sensed when I was heading that direction and never failed to beat me to it. Always, I'd round the corner to find her laying facing the door with her front legs hanging over the edge... waiting. This night was no different. The next morning though, I knew we were in trouble. I woke to small dark spots scattered across the floor of two rooms. She had obviously been pacing. I assumed she was in the process of miscarriage and immediately phoned my Vet. They too I think, based on my description, assumed the same and I believe were anticipating an emergency c--section upon our arrival. But blood work first. I waited, seriously worried about my girl who I could see obviously declining as we made our way down south to the office. The initial lab came back and the first question from my Vet was about her vWd status. She seemed surprised when I reported Lex was clear for vWd. Her response... "Well her blood is not clotting. It's like water". Obviously, a c-section under those circumstances was not an option or solution. They pushed fluids while we waited for the remainder of her lab work to come back. When I spoke next with the Vet, she shook her head and informed me Lexi's "liver and kidneys were shot". We discussed the possibility of Leptospirosis. But living in the country, with dogs who are known to chase and at times catch prey, Leptospirosis is one of the things I vaccinate for and keep up to date. Regardless, to be sure, she sent blood to an outside lab to differentiate between antibodies due to vaccination vs actual exposure and illness. The lab came back a few days later and verified the reaction seen in the original specimen was a result of vaccination. That left, per the Vets diagnosis, the ingestion of some form of toxic agent which led to death from poisoning. I lost Lexi just a few short hours after arriving at the office. Knowing there was nothing that could be done, watching her decline while I sat with her was utterly heartbreaking! Truly devastating!!! Once home, I couldn't bare, for months, to open or look at this website... I couldn't bare speaking of Lexi. Attempts led to immediate tears and full on sobs. I did what I had to do which was to inform those waiting for Lexi's pups that there would be no pups.. and I grieved. With great difficulty, I managed to bring myself to write of her passing on my Doberman FB Page despite the tears that simply would not quit.
And with that I was done. I wasn't really sure how to move forward.
Lexi, was somewhat of a hellion as a pup but had matured as a four year old to be my soul mate. I missed her beyond words!!
And I hated the phone calls... calls inquiring about availability of pups.
But those calls, one in particular, in the end, are what brought me to Getka. An ad was mentioned in one of the calls and I realized I needed to do a search and delete an ad I may have placed or posted regarding an upcoming litter.
As I searched for an ad created by me I came upon one created by another. That pedigree... that one name drew me in for a closer look. And I found within that ad -Getka... just a four week old baby along with a few other sibling babies advertised for sale. Just babies, but babies with a pedigree not to be overlooked or in my mind passed up. I fully expected my inquiry of her to lead down a path to nowhere but in the end, it led Getka home to me.
Some of you probably wonder why I placed all theses words on Getka's page. I guess it just boils down to an internal need to finish unfinished business before I could truly move on. In time, now that the hurdle has been crossed, maybe one day I'll revisit and redevelop Getka's page and venture on to competing Lexi's memorial page. She's still here... always will be. For now hidden in my pages. It's a mishmash and a jumble as when I see something that reminds me of her I'll visit her page. I talk to her via written word, I tell her things. And remember her. I guess I'm finally healing.
So, what can be said about Getka???
She's phenomenal! A dream come true actually. And Ritzy's best buddy. My calm, sensible, stable and loving Getka. Now at a little over two years of age, expecting her first litter, I find myself having to draw on memory in an attempt to create her page. And photos.. hundreds of photos of Dobermans intermixed with thousands of Dober-babes. That's lot of photos to review in an attempt to select just a few that represent Getka's first 2 years of life with me.
Getka was an easy pup. She went through puppy kindergarten as most of my dogs do and excelled. She sailed through basic obedience. She loved everyone and was loved by everyone. Her temperament? I would describe as quietly confident. Nothing shakes or rattles this girl! She's somewhat laid back, eager to play with the pack but not particularly fond of too much roughhousing. She's a dog who sends quiet signals and somehow manages to earn respect of all those around her. If she's pushed to a snarl -it's game over. Rarely does it ever reach that point and never have I witnessed her get into a ruckus. I wish I could say that for the rest of the girls here. Getka is a gentle soul and of extremely stable character. Her sire is gorgeous, quite the tank of a Doberman himself, and a very popular dog in Europe. Knowing now what I know of Getka, I have to wonder if his popularity there is based not only on bloodline, wins and "a particular look" but carried to a much deeper level based on quality of mind and temperament.
Whatever it is that creates the hoopla, I can say his contribution to Getka is appreciated.
Part of what drew me to her was her substance. Large boned and solid. Qualities I assumed would compliment the line I'm creating well. My assessment of her as a young pup came to fruition as she matured. She never went through a lean and lanky phase. On the contrary, she is as I said, and always has been some what of a tank. She doesn't own the bulk her father does but looking at her it's pretty obvious she's his daughter.
She would retire and become queen of our castle.
But we didn't make it. Lex had an off day... nothing specific, just seemed a little blah. She spent the bulk of the day in the chair, and then wasn't particularly interested in dinner. Things that I attributed to her being pregnant and just suffering, as I said, "an off day". We went to bed as usual. She always sensed when I was heading that direction and never failed to beat me to it. Always, I'd round the corner to find her laying facing the door with her front legs hanging over the edge... waiting. This night was no different. The next morning though, I knew we were in trouble. I woke to small dark spots scattered across the floor of two rooms. She had obviously been pacing. I assumed she was in the process of miscarriage and immediately phoned my Vet. They too I think, based on my description, assumed the same and I believe were anticipating an emergency c--section upon our arrival. But blood work first. I waited, seriously worried about my girl who I could see obviously declining as we made our way down south to the office. The initial lab came back and the first question from my Vet was about her vWd status. She seemed surprised when I reported Lex was clear for vWd. Her response... "Well her blood is not clotting. It's like water". Obviously, a c-section under those circumstances was not an option or solution. They pushed fluids while we waited for the remainder of her lab work to come back. When I spoke next with the Vet, she shook her head and informed me Lexi's "liver and kidneys were shot". We discussed the possibility of Leptospirosis. But living in the country, with dogs who are known to chase and at times catch prey, Leptospirosis is one of the things I vaccinate for and keep up to date. Regardless, to be sure, she sent blood to an outside lab to differentiate between antibodies due to vaccination vs actual exposure and illness. The lab came back a few days later and verified the reaction seen in the original specimen was a result of vaccination. That left, per the Vets diagnosis, the ingestion of some form of toxic agent which led to death from poisoning. I lost Lexi just a few short hours after arriving at the office. Knowing there was nothing that could be done, watching her decline while I sat with her was utterly heartbreaking! Truly devastating!!! Once home, I couldn't bare, for months, to open or look at this website... I couldn't bare speaking of Lexi. Attempts led to immediate tears and full on sobs. I did what I had to do which was to inform those waiting for Lexi's pups that there would be no pups.. and I grieved. With great difficulty, I managed to bring myself to write of her passing on my Doberman FB Page despite the tears that simply would not quit.
And with that I was done. I wasn't really sure how to move forward.
Lexi, was somewhat of a hellion as a pup but had matured as a four year old to be my soul mate. I missed her beyond words!!
And I hated the phone calls... calls inquiring about availability of pups.
But those calls, one in particular, in the end, are what brought me to Getka. An ad was mentioned in one of the calls and I realized I needed to do a search and delete an ad I may have placed or posted regarding an upcoming litter.
As I searched for an ad created by me I came upon one created by another. That pedigree... that one name drew me in for a closer look. And I found within that ad -Getka... just a four week old baby along with a few other sibling babies advertised for sale. Just babies, but babies with a pedigree not to be overlooked or in my mind passed up. I fully expected my inquiry of her to lead down a path to nowhere but in the end, it led Getka home to me.
Some of you probably wonder why I placed all theses words on Getka's page. I guess it just boils down to an internal need to finish unfinished business before I could truly move on. In time, now that the hurdle has been crossed, maybe one day I'll revisit and redevelop Getka's page and venture on to competing Lexi's memorial page. She's still here... always will be. For now hidden in my pages. It's a mishmash and a jumble as when I see something that reminds me of her I'll visit her page. I talk to her via written word, I tell her things. And remember her. I guess I'm finally healing.
So, what can be said about Getka???
She's phenomenal! A dream come true actually. And Ritzy's best buddy. My calm, sensible, stable and loving Getka. Now at a little over two years of age, expecting her first litter, I find myself having to draw on memory in an attempt to create her page. And photos.. hundreds of photos of Dobermans intermixed with thousands of Dober-babes. That's lot of photos to review in an attempt to select just a few that represent Getka's first 2 years of life with me.
Getka was an easy pup. She went through puppy kindergarten as most of my dogs do and excelled. She sailed through basic obedience. She loved everyone and was loved by everyone. Her temperament? I would describe as quietly confident. Nothing shakes or rattles this girl! She's somewhat laid back, eager to play with the pack but not particularly fond of too much roughhousing. She's a dog who sends quiet signals and somehow manages to earn respect of all those around her. If she's pushed to a snarl -it's game over. Rarely does it ever reach that point and never have I witnessed her get into a ruckus. I wish I could say that for the rest of the girls here. Getka is a gentle soul and of extremely stable character. Her sire is gorgeous, quite the tank of a Doberman himself, and a very popular dog in Europe. Knowing now what I know of Getka, I have to wonder if his popularity there is based not only on bloodline, wins and "a particular look" but carried to a much deeper level based on quality of mind and temperament.
Whatever it is that creates the hoopla, I can say his contribution to Getka is appreciated.
Part of what drew me to her was her substance. Large boned and solid. Qualities I assumed would compliment the line I'm creating well. My assessment of her as a young pup came to fruition as she matured. She never went through a lean and lanky phase. On the contrary, she is as I said, and always has been some what of a tank. She doesn't own the bulk her father does but looking at her it's pretty obvious she's his daughter.
More to Come...
