A.K.C. Doberman Puppies For Sale|Hawthorne FL

Three Quarter Of The Way There!

2/28/2023

And these pups are getting too fast for me. Blue seems to have a good internal homing devise. I generally keep the pups in the outdoor pup corral when I'm trying to take their individual photos. If I can manage to get some distance between Blue and myself, he'll typically run back to the corral and tease the pups still within it. He actually wants to rejoin the pack but can't figure out a way in. The others have very good tracking ability and it's becoming difficult to lose them. I set them down pointing away from me, jog a few feet, only to have them right on my heels when I turn around with the camera. Not atypical for age, but I think my jogging abilities have decreased. One thing is evident. Either they are faster than normal or I'm slower. I had a few attempts photographing Brown this week. Once I finally did get some distance away from him all he wanted to do was climb on whatever he could find that would hold him upright. Beige girl I think gets this weeks award for being most inquisitive but that's been fairly consistent over the weeks. Pink was the easiest, pretty content to stay essentially where I placed her and enjoy the flowers. The pups are all sweet and cuddly but their shark teeth and sharp nails are something else all together. I threw a blanket on the ground with plans to just relax and enjoy the weather with them, hoping they would play and explore but to no avail. All they want to do was to compete for the best spot on my lap, claw their way around and bite. A bit much with the whole pack of them doing it. Even if only 4. I am trying to discourage biting but so far have had little luck. They're also right underfoot as I walk along. Each foot fall has be careful and deliberate. For the most part, their follow me is superb! As far as food goes, they've been eating Victor Professional and doing well on it. I've been trying to wean them from mash to dry kibble but they're pretty spoiled in that respect. They did eat about 3/4 of their regular morning intake straight up and dry this morning. So, I guess we're making progress. They're always hungry in the morning. Throughout the day, not as inclined to feast on their meals if not blended with water. I'm working on it but also have to keep their weight up for their cropping appointments.
Leaf duty has continued throughout the week but the pollen is starting to rain down so I think I'm at least seeing light at the end of that tunnel. Finally. I also celebrated my Afghan Hounds 1st birthday this week and of course had to do a photo shoot with him too. I've included a couple. Just because. He's cute :-)

Outside of that, I've scheduled meet ups with each of you this coming week and look forward to meeting all.
The slide show below are some extras taken throughout the week and during individual photo shoots.

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Week Five Photos... Extras

2/22/2023

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Teeth are coming in well. Time to wean them to regular kibble from their much loved mash!

I finally got week five photos uploaded to the individual pup pages and plan to add some extras to this post later this evening. Going to have to get an earlier start on photos next week! The shots were obtained yesterday but it's always a difficult task trying to select the best from a group of photos after each shoot. And some pups are always more cooperative than others. That generally changes from week to week but occasionally I'll get a pup that's simply a natural in front of the camera. Every week! That hasn't happened yet with this litter. This week the red boy had me on my elbows and knees trying to capture a shot of him while under my truck. I usually let them kind of control their outing after placing them where I'd like them to be for pictures. Last week Pink was the easy one. This week not so much. In addition it is was getting late in the day by the time I got to her. A bad combination. The pups have been enjoying their outdoor time and we've had a few days of glorious weather so they've had quite a bit of time outside. Both interacting with me as well as in an outdoor pup corral while I do some general grounds maintenance. Yesterday they experienced my riding mower in fairly close proximity while I sweeped up some more leaves. Then accompanied me on the porch in the evening while I grilled some chicken. They're enjoying their toys as well. They like the soft plush ones but don't get the opportunity to play with them unless outside as they collect too many shavings in their indoor habitat. Outside they collect some dirt and grass but both are easier to digest than shavings for their tiny immature bellies. They have only rubber squeaker toys inside. I hear an occasional squeak but assume more of an accident than really playing with them. Until yesterday. Brown was having a good time with one, both using his mouth for a response, as well as pouncing on it to elicit the desired response. Pretty cute. I'm happy to report everyone is doing an amazing job in their indoor spot using the various areas for their intended purpose. They love their bed but have done a little damage to the corners chewing already. At least they're keeping it clean and doing their business consistently in the shavings. Drinking well too although they seemed a bit slow to catch onto that. Maybe because so much water was added to their mash.
Hope everyone's doing well. I'm still on seemingly never-ending leaf detail. I haven't even started to deal with the dirt I ordered yet. Trying to avoid the various holes in the yard during our photo shoots. I'm still a bit shell shocked from twisting and breaking my foot in a hole a couple years back while photographing puppies. Need to get them filled soon. For the dogs safety too. Hope everyone is doing well and preparing for incoming.

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Happy Valentines Day!

2/14/2023

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Fun day today with the pups watching their reaction to the great outdoors. Had hoped to get them out yesterday but it never warmed up much and I always want their first experience outside to be a pleasant one. Today by mid afternoon it was gorgeous. I took each out individually for their first official photo shoot. They all did well.... explored a little, used their noses and at times took cover under the bushes. I'm usually about 10 feet away from them when I position myself for photos and it's easy for them to lose track of me at this age. Sight still isn't very well developed. It's obvious in fact that their distant vision is pretty poor. And being the baby puppies they are, if they can't see me and get worried they're on their own, they'll begin to howl. I allow very little of that though and step in a little closer. It's all about building confidence, not traumatizing them for the sake of a photo. As such I don't really rescue them either. I step in just far enough until I can tell they've picked up on my movement. Then let them use and develop their senses of both sight and sound. As I walk toward them I call their names (collar colors) and encourage them to join me. They all aced the join up!!! In fact they got pretty good at skipping that step and quickly learned to follow me when I'd set them in my chosen spot for a shot. I think our photo sessions help with recall in the long run. And each week photo sessions become more difficult as they get faster and develop a pretty good ability to stick with me as I try and gain enough distance from them for a decent photo. I wonder if all pups would respond the same of if it's just the velcro nature of the Doberman. Right now photos are pretty quick and easy.

Even so, I don't think I'm going to get them uploaded tonight. Tomorrow's project is set!

I ordered a truck load of dirt, which I received notice today, will arrive tomorrow. As a result I had to quit all things puppy (except feeding and kennel care of course) and get back to leaf duty. Another 5 hoppers and a huge pile of leaves into the burn pit and tended to. As far as the dirt goes I'm actually afraid to see how huge of a pile 18 yards of it is. I assume I'll have a dirt pile for awhile and lots of spreading to do this spring. And hole filling. Because... dogs! I still have at least one digger here and she can dig some massive tunnels in short order. Longest I've measured to date was roughly 7 ft long and about 2 ft wide. Being relatively horizontal they're difficult to fill. And the dirt spread so far and wide I can never retrieve enough to actually fully fill them. Historically most of my dogs have gone through phases of digging but fortunately they generally grow out of it.

So that's it for tonight. Hope everyone had a nice Valentines day. I'll get busy on updating the pup pages tomorrow. At least I got the pages themselves created.

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February 12th, 2023

2/12/2023

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And we're half way there! Four weeks old today!!!

Still a continuation of eat sleep and repeat for the most part. But wakeful periods after feeding are gradually lengthening. And they're getting inquisitive. They're also getting more agile and starting to pester each other. At times one will get irritated enough to initiate a short lived squabble. Feisty little buggers :-) . Probably getting bored. There's not much to do besides pester each other within the confines of the whelping box. Recently they began exploring the hinges that hold the box together and next realized there is life beyond those walls. Getka helped with that discovery I think. She has been spending increasingly long periods outside the box this week. Generally on the ottoman where she can look down on her pups and they can now see her by standing, holding themselves up with their paws on the top of the wall. Watching them, it almost seems Getka is encouraging them to climb. If not, maybe just teasing them. It became obvious she was beginning the weaning process in earnest Friday evening when she would let their cries go unattended. So, yesterday I began the process of rearranging some furniture in prep for the next phase of puppy rearing. A move from the confines of their familiar whelping box to the pup corral in the neighboring mudroom. It was time and their development right on track when compared to previous litters. Yesterday morning I reentered my bedroom just in time to save Blue (Magic) from a fall from the ottoman. I've had pups climb the walls and end up on the floor in the past without incident but it's something I try to avoid. I was shocked to see Blue out of the box actually. They've been standing against the walls for a few days but I've never witnessed any lift. The new set up is welcome, safer and more age appropriate. They've got a shavings area where they will hopefully learn to relieve themselves, a sling bed with a soft topper (a new addition) and a water station. I also started them on mash yesterday and will be feeding them four times a day for awhile eventually decreasing to 3 times daily and hopefully just twice by the time they're ready to leave the roost. Right now they don't eat a whole lot each meal but that changes pretty quickly. Still in the get acquainted phase. And toys... So far the pups have had no toys because Getka is a destroyer of all toys. And toys small enough for the pups I worry could possibly be swallowed by her. But that changed today too with the addition of some small soft squeakies.
I kind of miss having them in my bedroom with me when I first move them but the mud room at this stage is a better atmosphere for them developmentally. They get the opportunity to see more of the world go by around them. Dogs passing through the room, household noises etc. etc. For the most part they settled right in to their new habitat. They filled their bellies right before the move so were due for a nap. The red boy climbed under the cot and began to whine after being under there on his own for awhile. I'm not sure if because he realized he was alone or because the floor was too chilly. Anyway I coaxed him out from under it and placed him on the bed with the others. He quickly fell asleep and within a few minutes looked quite comfy and content. Beige girl was the most wired up and slowest to settle. she was having fun... and the only one who showed any interest in the toys. They all seem to enjoy the fluffy bed and so far with the exception of one poo have kept it clean. Hopefully that continues. Historically I've only used a sling bed that can just be hosed off as needed but its made of mesh and really holds no heat. Unfortunately the back of the house stays pretty cool so the fluffy bed was added for warmth.

I was hoping to celebrate our 1/2 way mark today with an outdoor photoshoot but in addition to being busy rearranging things, our weather has been crappy. Another few days of rain and cold! Even lost power last night for a few hours. Tomorrow though it supposed to reach near 70 and things started to dry a little throughout the today. So... maybe individual photos and another set of weights tomorrow. The rest of the week through Thursday looks good for some group outdoor adventures too! They are always fun.

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Let There Be Sound!

2/6/2023

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Not too much new since my last post. But the pups continue to change before my eyes. It's becoming obvious they're gaining the ability to hear. They bark at unusual or unexpected noises. And they look up at me now when I talk to them. I think their vision is improving too. I'm able to draw their attention while awake either by voice or by scratching the side of the whelping box. And they're getting cuddly. If I sit in the box with them they're quick to walk over and climb on my lap. They're also getting mouthy. Not with me yet but with each other. They're just starting to grasp the concept of play and seem to enjoy batting at and gnawing on each other.

Getka is spending more and more time on the ottoman or even the floor... and at times is sneaking on my bed again. I'm trying to discourage my bed for now. Normally I don't mind. All my dogs are bed dogs based on a rotation system. But Getka still has about a week to go before the pups are ready to start on some solids so I don't want her to neglect her mom duties prematurely for the sake of comfort. The ottoman is hers and serves as her reprieve if she feels she needs one. She's always laying with them when I wake during the night but during the day she's in an out. She's still accommodating and seems she's fulfilling their needs because they're quiet. Probably the quietest litter to date. I have no doubt she finds four easy to deal with when she's managed 12 with ease in the past. Easier for me too... I clipped their nails today mainly just to keep the tips blunt for moms sake. Big difference between doing 16 paws vs 48.

Didn't get the best photos to add to this post but I'm posting them anyway. Because... well it is what it is. I ran into some technical difficulties with my camera. The pups are still maintaining their puppy pile status for the most part, even when awake and playful. And if any in the pile move it blurs the photos. Then to top things off I was playing with the settings this evening and apparently hit a button that made my display disappear. Took me awhile and a little research to figure out how to get it back.

In the link that follows I am including an article that I think is useful for new pup owners regarding socialization. It's one of the best I've come across, if not the best, and I can't stress enough the importance of early socialization for a well balanced dog. Early socialization and lots of it makes all the difference in the world. I hope you'll take the time to read it and take it to heart. It is true you have to use some common sense with young pups until they're four months old and have completed the full series of vaccinations. But if you set your mind to it there are plenty of pretty safe places. Home Depot and Lowes are dog friendly and great places to take your dog simply just to expose them to a completely different environment. Kind of hard... industrial and with automatic sliding entry doors. Typically zero problem for a young pup but far more scary for a six month old dog who's never seen one. I enjoy taking my pups to lunch as well for that exposure and there are many restaurants in Florida with dog friendly outdoor patios. They generally get the opportunity to see people both from a distance and with waitstaff pretty close too. And usually some road and pedestrian activity. But mainly just an opportunity to see the world around them outside of the safe space of home. I tend to avoid places like PetSmart because of the abundance of dogs that traffic them. And NO dog parks! Socialization isn't about playing with other dogs but about exposing your dog to all things you expect them to encounter throughout their time with you. If you enjoy boating, it a whole lot easier to get a 9-12 week pup onboard than it is to introduce such things to a 2 year old. Now is the time to formulate that plan.

Socialization
Click the link below

www.drjensdogblog.com/socializing-your-puppy-why-later-is-too-late/

Trying so hard to be accommodating!

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Pupdates...

1/30/2023

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Basically the continuation of eat sleep and repeat. And the evolution of what I spoke of earlier in the week. All eyes are open and the pups are on the move. Slow and wobbly but progress. Sitting up at times and walking short distances. Kind of hard to catch them in the act in front of the lense though as they don't stay up or even awake long enough. Did I mention they're getting cuter by the day?

I'm late a day on weights but they're posted.

I actually lost a day. In general. Thought today was Sunday. Didn't get too far into the day before realizing it was already Monday. I've been doing some work around the ole homestead and one day is essentially the same as the next here. Trying to get caught up on some grounds maintenance this week while things remain dry and Getka is still the main caregiver of the babes. Burning leaves mainly. I got a lot done the past couple days but still have a few ton left to do. Always the juggler with pups and property it seems!

Starting To Get Crowded At The Milk Bar.

But they're gaining strength in their legs. And determination!

And Getka Takes A Well Deserved Break!

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Hello Pup Pals

1/25/2023

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Pups are doing great. In photos they probably look much the same as they did in my last post. But they're growing. A little bigger and a little cuter. They're trying to get their legs under them and have offered some weak attempts to walk. Not quite there yet though. And they're finding their voices. I've heard a few barks rather than the initial moans and groans of newborn pups. Getka continues to be a great mom to them. Leaves the box on occasion during the day but not for long. And she's not jumping on my bed at night so I assume she stays with them throughout. Their eyes should begin to open over the course of the next day or two. Blue's have already begun. With that comes a greater desire to move about. With purpose. It's always about this time that I grow anxious for them to reach the four week mark when I can begin taking them on outdoor adventures. A couple more weeks. Weather permitting of course. Has been a pretty cool and gloomy winter so far. Hoping that trend changes.

A Job Well Done! Everybody Sleeping.

Let There Be Light

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Messed Up!

1/21/2023

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Well Geez! I guess it must be the brain fog. Went to do a test comment and realized comment option wasn't there. The reason being, I originally set the page up as a standard page rather than in blog form. Corrected now, and ability to comment is there. Brain fog or just too long since I've created a new blog page. Not sure which.
This format as far better as in addition to ability to comment, new posts will appear at the top rather than having to scroll through old posts. Older posts can be accessed by month to the right of the screen as we move forward.

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Ear Crops

1/21/2023

6 Comments

Cropping Appointment
Crops have been scheduled for March 13th which is a Monday so please mark your calendars. I like to get my post-op pups on their way the next day as long as they are behaving the way I know them to behave. Generally people are anxious to arrive and claim them but it also prevents them from messing with each others headgear.

January 14th 2023

Three Quarter Of The Way There!

Week Five Photos... Extras

Happy Valentines Day!

February 12th, 2023

Let There Be Sound!

Pupdates...

Starting To Get Crowded At The Milk Bar.

And Getka Takes A Well Deserved Break!

Hello Pup Pals

A Job Well Done! Everybody Sleeping.

Messed Up!

Ear Crops

January 20th, 2023

D.Cruz

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