Can anyone recommend a good book on feeding both puppies and adults (I'm getting a dobe but I don't suppose anyone's written a book on feeding just for dobes). He'll probably be fed Naturediet or Natures menu (supplemented with fresh meat/veg if I can be confident I'm getting portions right and feeding a correctly balanced diet).

Thanks

Jo

Congratulations & good luck with your new dobe from a fellow dobe owner. It's a long hard road but well worth the trip as I'm sure others will tell you!

I can't think off hand of a specific book that is available but any general feed book from your local pet store will give guidelines on weight of dog = food portions ratio. You will find most complete foods will also have this ratio listed on the back of the feed bag & some stores sell plastic food scoop containers specifically for measuring out portions. But the best judge of all will be your dog. Feed too much and he may well leave what he doesn't want. Feed too little and he will lose condition quite rapidly. I've actually yet to see a fat dobe!

However, if you are getting the dog as a pup from a good breeder, then he/she will tell you exactly what the dobe is currently being fed noe and how to gradually increase it. I'm sure you've done some research on the breed so you will know that pedigree dobes have quite sensitive tummies. Be careful about introducing new foods foods gradually and even with little tidbits that you feed as treats. I have been subject to cleaning up after Hugo when he's had a dodgy tum on many unpleasant occasions!

How old, what gender & what colour will he/she be? Do you know his/her background?

Lady G

Thanks Lady G. The problem I've encountered is that the basic books on dog care available in book stores don't tend to contain the level of detail I'm after - ideally I'd like a complete breakdown of all the vitamins/minerals etc large dogs require, plus recommended requirements of fats, carbs etc from puppy hood to old age.

My breeder is fab, couldn't ask for any more support. The pup is currently fed on a dry complete, so obviously any changes will be introduced gradually to avoid upsetting sensitive tums!

I'm probably going to be the overbearing dog owner from hell to be honest - I managed to annoy my local Pets at Home people the other day by pointing out that all the doggy snacks etc they stocked contained varying degrees of artificial preservatives and colours. I wouldn't dream of doing the same in my local supermarket on behalf of myself or hubby!

The pup will be 8 weeks when I get him - I will have been to see him three times by the time I pick him up. He's a brown, from a European/British line. I've met both his parents, who are lovely dogs. I'd spoken to about 15 breeders with pups before I came across this one, which was the first one where I felt everything was right. I had tried really hard to find an undocked dobie - contacted the anti-docking people for info (but was actually quite put off by their attitude, I have to say).

I think I remember seeing a couple of your posts about Hugo's escapades earlier ... how's he getting on ... through adolescence yet?! Do you intend to show him, btw?

Jo

Awww - he sounds cute, have you thought of a name yet? I remember when we first started looking for a dobe and we desperately wanted a brown one too. We found a litter with two brown males but they had both been taken by the time we raced upto Cardiff to look at them - hence the black & tan beast that is now snoring his head off downstairs. I note that white dobes seem to be more common these days but I find them very bizarre looking - they just don't look quite right to me! Also, being of the horsey world, I always thought that white indicated weakness & susceptibility to sunburn & cancer. But I would be quite happily corrected on this from those with more experience.

Funny you should mention showing as both our dogs have just turned two so last sunday I took Bertie Beagle to his first novelty show, just to try him out and have a little fun. He won three little rosettes & I was the epitome of proud motherhood! I also saw two novice dobes being shown & watched them closely. The differences between their behaviour & Hugo's behaviour were quite apparent. I'm not certain how old they were but their calmness in the ring quite frankly, amazed me. Although I did note that they both had the traditional dobe habit of jumping up on the owners & judge once the class was over.

Hugo would need a lot of work & training at ring craft classes to learn how to stand still (even for a nano second would be nice) and present himself. He also has a terrible habit of lunging at faces when people bend down to stroke him - his intention is to lick you but the resulting head butt is painful. I occasionally hear him snap his teeth too and although he has never bitten us, this still concerns me greatly as there's no way a judge would accept this behaviour. We've tried our utmost over the the last two years to teach him that this is not acceptable but it seems to be such an natural, ingrained reflex in him to get close to whoever is doing the petting that we haven't had any success as yet. So no, no intentions to show him at present although we will take him along to the Bath show this weekend to socialise him with hundreds of other dogs & teach him how we expect him to behave around them. In fact, we've just been discussing whether to use his shoulder harness, halti, chain lead, flexi-lead or invest in a check chain. As we can't seem to make up our minds we might just use every combination available & Hugo will make his appearance looking like a veritable gimp decked out in S&M gear!

As for the breakdown of all vitamins/minerals required I can only suggest you try researching the internet or contacting a Dobermann Breed society who may be able to put you in touch with a feeding expert (probably a nutritionist/vet type person). Or you could contact the food manufacturers direct. Try not to become too hooked up on it all - you may find that your dobe refuses to touch the perfect diet you've spent hours concocting for him and decides a horse poo diet or the local pet store's own brand costing 10p per tin is more to his liking!

Good luck

Lady G

Lady G, at KC Open and Championship shows only entered dogs *entries are made four to 8 weeks in advance) are allowed into the show. Many Championship shows have a tent outside the main entrance to the showing area for unentered dogs usually manned by canine charity volunteers, where dogs can be left (in crates if you have one to fit) on benches!

Oh, Babs, what a pain! I thought it would be a really good experience for him. Is this to stop dogs in the show ring being distracted? Good job you told me though - ta!

I think it is mainly to do with Insurance aned health and Safety matters. If there was a huge fight say, with an entered dog involved, the person has put themselves in the jurisdiction of the KC, where as the KC would not have any power over the unentered dog.

Hi Lady G

White Dobermanns are in fact albinos with all the associated problems of albinos. They should not be perpetuated. If you take a look here Facts About Albino Dobermans you will find out a lot more about them

Jo

I don't think you contacted all the anti-docking people before you found Cam did you?? I don't remember hearing from you to start with :-)

I would not worry too much about the exact proportions of vitamins, minerals, meat, veg etc and the chances anyone has worked this out for each stage of a growing pup depending on breed, age, sex, weight etc etc are somewhat remote. Do you check your own food like this or just eat a well balanced diet?

Relax :D

Christine

Rofl Lady G :D :D :D Your post seriously cheered me up after a stressful day at work!

Lol Kerioak. I'm afraid that I am a total health freak and know far more than my doctor, chiropractor, acupuncturist, reflexologist, etc etc ... :D It takes me about three hours to do a week's shop for two people because I have to scrutinize every label for hydrogenated fat, artificial additives, etc etc ... :D

I contacted the Anti-Docking Alliance people via the website, asking for general info - I presumed that they had a central coordinating role, so didn't approach you even though I was aware of your stance on the matter. The ADA did approach me about a month ago to put me in touch with a breeder who had some pups available immediately, but obviously I had already found Cam. If you remember I had done the rounds and spoken to about 15 breeders about their pups, but hadn't felt 100% comfortable until I met with Cam's breeder. If I ever get another girlie dobie though, I'll start looking much earlier and give it, say, a year to find an undocked dobe as I do feel strongly about it.

Gotta go, got some labels to read!

Jo

I remember when we decided to get dobe that we preferred the idea of an un-docked dobe too. I remember we found one UK website that bred un-docked dobes but I can't for the life of me remember who they were. I do remember that they were too far away for us to consider them though.

I think I was eventually persuaded by the theory that dobes tails are quite long & thin and susceptible to breakage when frantically wagged against door frames etc. The idea of docking didn't seem quite so bad after that. Not sure that it's quite so relevant but lambs tails are docked to keep the rear end a little more clean & free from collecting poo and the associated maggots - mmm, nice!

Hi Jo & Lady G

The litter that the ADA contacted you about weren't in Scotland by any chance were they? I also tend to peruse labels when I go shopping - to make sure they don't have garlic in them!!!

I can't imagine where you found undocked Dobes on the web :-) but I don't find that my lot damage theirs. The connection to lamb's tails is irrevelant - they are very woolly and don't live in the house where they can be checked and watched over constantly. I don't think all sheep are docked .

I had a visitor yesterday with a 17 week old pup and his Dam and another older pup but the baby was lovely - a really massive chap with lots of bone and very, very cuddely - especially after he walked though the mud and I didn't realise and he put his paws around my neck - my shoulders, neck and hair were covered in mud. Can't wait to see him again at one of the shows in a few months time as I think he is going to be a smashing Dobe.

Christine

Christine - if you go to this year's champ show in Darlington you'll have no trouble spotting my house - its on the edge of the park and it reeks of garlic!

Yes, the pups were in Scotland. For your info, the website I obtained the contact info from was:
www.anti-dockingalliance.co.uk

Two weeks tomorrow I bring Cam home .... hurray!!

Jo

I wish I could remember the website name but I can't - sorry. Perhaps it was yours Christine! I do remember there being a picture on the front page, it was a photo of a dobe with the tail flashing from being un-docked to docked so you could compare the difference. You haven't got that on your website have you?!

(You should have snuck that baby into a crate, covered it with a blanket then pretended it had run away. Hey presto! Nice new dobe for Christine to play with!)

I thought it was odd that Christine wasn't familiar with the Anti-Docking Alliance website. Doh!

Hi Jaime - I think the one with the flashing tail ( so to speak is Christines :) and if I'm not mistaken and my nosey nose has let me down :rolleyes: I think the litter in Scotland are Sired by one of hers as well
but I stand to be corrected LOL

Thanks Liz

I can't respond to most of the recent messages because of the ToS

Christine

Ooops sorry ;) I only refered to them because of the undocked connection :)

Hi Liz

I think you can mention other peoples but not your own - unless you were talking about the sheep of course!! :D

Christine