Hard to believe my vacation is sadly over and I've already put in a week of work. Time is flying by! It's always good to get my work week behind me but as for the rest I'd be ok with it if things would slow down a little. Our first cropping appointment is a short two weeks away from tomorrow. I guess it's a good time for some basic info that might be helpful. I know some of you have already asked. I don't really recommend any particular dog food for your pups but I do recommend each of you study the various dog foods available and find one that fits your budget and has a decent rating based on it's ingredients. There are so many foods out there and several sites available to compare ingredients and ratings. I personally like dogfoodadvisor.com As an added bonus, they offer a link allowing you to sign up for email notifications of dog food recalls as they're announced.
Most of you have probably heard me mention Chewy.com for various products from toys to crates to baby gates. They also sell and deliver many brands of food and treats. I find them reasonably priced but it's always a good idea to do some price checking and comparing with sites such as Amazon. Chewy is often lower -but not always. Their customer service though is unmatched.
For now the pups are eating IAMS large breed puppy kibble. I've tried a few different brands over the years but my litters have done well on IAMS. It's not necessary to stick with IAMS but it is important to transition your pups to a new food gradually. For those of you who'd like to bypass buying a bag I can provide a small amount of it for the weaning process.
As far as collars go, I generally start them out with the adjustable nylon collars. Most of them will fit a size 10-12 with room to grow. For those of you who plan to crate train, I recommend going all the way right off the bat. One crate for puppy through adult. The larger crates generally have dividers that can be used the first few nights to help your pup learn to sleep through the night and to keep his or her crate clean and dry. The females can usually get away with a 42 inch but I recommend the 48 inch crate for all. I also prefer the wire rather than the airline variety to prevent a feeling of isolation of claustrophobia.
For those of you who plan to follow up with Dr McBride for taping or at least for cup removal and the first tape and post, I encourage you, with your mind on the future, to check out the fabric covered prong collars she sells. They come from Lola Limited and although they're a few dollars more than on the website it's a wash when factoring in shipping charges. Prong collars in the proper hands are great training tools for Dobermans despite the belief held by some that they are inhumane. I personally find them invaluable for young dogs in training. Young -but not too young. You will also find some pretty good buys on Elk Antler at McBrides office if you go. They're expensive but very competitively priced and last forever! Most importantly, they're safe.
Most of you have probably heard me mention Chewy.com for various products from toys to crates to baby gates. They also sell and deliver many brands of food and treats. I find them reasonably priced but it's always a good idea to do some price checking and comparing with sites such as Amazon. Chewy is often lower -but not always. Their customer service though is unmatched.
For now the pups are eating IAMS large breed puppy kibble. I've tried a few different brands over the years but my litters have done well on IAMS. It's not necessary to stick with IAMS but it is important to transition your pups to a new food gradually. For those of you who'd like to bypass buying a bag I can provide a small amount of it for the weaning process.
As far as collars go, I generally start them out with the adjustable nylon collars. Most of them will fit a size 10-12 with room to grow. For those of you who plan to crate train, I recommend going all the way right off the bat. One crate for puppy through adult. The larger crates generally have dividers that can be used the first few nights to help your pup learn to sleep through the night and to keep his or her crate clean and dry. The females can usually get away with a 42 inch but I recommend the 48 inch crate for all. I also prefer the wire rather than the airline variety to prevent a feeling of isolation of claustrophobia.
For those of you who plan to follow up with Dr McBride for taping or at least for cup removal and the first tape and post, I encourage you, with your mind on the future, to check out the fabric covered prong collars she sells. They come from Lola Limited and although they're a few dollars more than on the website it's a wash when factoring in shipping charges. Prong collars in the proper hands are great training tools for Dobermans despite the belief held by some that they are inhumane. I personally find them invaluable for young dogs in training. Young -but not too young. You will also find some pretty good buys on Elk Antler at McBrides office if you go. They're expensive but very competitively priced and last forever! Most importantly, they're safe.
Lola Limited Collar and Elk
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