The Dobe Blog

A Red Doberman and Her Binky

2009-05-26T01:50:00Z

Just a few weeks ago we were lucky enough to welcome a new four legged member into our family, a Red Doberman. At a little more than a year and a half old, she is a beautiful red female Doberman. However, her looks are only one of the things that make her special. She is one of the most affectionate, mellow, sweet natured Dobies that you’ll ever meet. Everyone that gets to know her is immediately jealous that we share our home with such a great girl.

Because of her gentle nature, she has gotten along famously with our other 3 dogs. She and our Madde are especially fond of each other. What they say about opposites attracting evidently carries over to dog as well. Don’t get me wrong, Madde is our princess and we couldn’t love her more. On the other hand, she is definitely the boss and what she says, goes. She’s not always polite about it either. Despite this, the new Red girl and Madde play together like they were raised together. Their favorite toy is a terribly beat up old 4 legged squeaky toy who has lost 2 of its legs with the other two not far behind. They tug to a chorus of vicious sounding growls but it’s all just a game. If one happens to let go, the other is right there shoving the toy in their face like “C’mon we were just getting started!”

We noticed right away that she seemed to prefer soft, cuddly toys. This is something we no longer have many of at our house because of the other two Dobies. They think the reason we give them stuffed toys is to make stuffy murder scenes all over the house and back yard. In contrast, she is not a shredder at all. She would much rather take a soft floppy toy and bounce around like a bucking bronco, shaking the toy up as she goes. Then we noticed that’s not the only reason she likes soft, cuddly things. The first time I saw her do this I laughed so hard I nearly cried. It was bedtime and our 3 Dobes were settling into the king size mattress that they graciously let my husband and I share with them. We were trying to get comfortable but the bed kept giggling in one spot. Looking over, we see her with the corner of our comforter fluffed into a little mound in between her two front paws. At first I thought she was trying to shred the blanket just as the other two dogs would have been doing in the same situation. But no, there she was with the mound of comforter in her mouth sucking away on it while she kneaded the outside portion with her front paws! This went on almost every night as her way to fall asleep.

It didn’t stop there though. One evening I was relaxing on our Lazyboy with a light fleece blanket over my legs. Oftentimes one of the girls will climb onto the recliner to cuddle and she was acting like this was what she wanted to do. She got her front half on my lap but instead of hopping up the rest of the way she started pawing at my legs. I tried to coax her up to get comfortable with no luck. She just kept pawing at my legs like she wanted me to move so I started to scoot over. When I did this she leaned over, grabbed my blanket in her mouth and started dragging it off of me. Once she had gotten it down she gave me a look like, “Thanks! That’s all I wanted” and went on to do her bucking bronco routine shaking the blanket all over as she went. After it was sufficiently shook up to her liking, she plopped down in the middle of the living room and pulled a tuft up in the middle with her mouth. Sure enough she went to town, sucking away and kneading like a nursing puppy. We have now gifted this blanket to our Red girl and named it her "Binky”. Some people have children who carry a blanket and suck their thumbs. Evidently we’ve got the canine equivalent living at our house!

The Underwear dog

2009-05-23T14:09:00Z

Todays guest post is from a good friend of mine, who has one of the finest looking Dobes I have ever seen

The Underwear Wonder Dog

People tried to warn us, "Doberman's love things that smell like their owners". Of course they do. All dogs like things that smell like like their owners, don't they? Little did we know when sweet, tiny Madde came home with us that our laundry would never be safe again...

First off, I acknowledge that I'm not the worlds most fantastic housekeeper. This doesn't mean that we're terribly messy. Like most people we occasionally have clothes that don't find their way straight to the hamper. Not a big deal right? That's what we thought too. As is turns out, Madde's favorite thing in the whole world is socks. The dirtier and smellier they are, the more she loves them. It started when she was small. She would get ahold of one and, after a victory lap or two, start trying to see how many holes she could put in it. Annoying for sure but not dangerous. At least we live in Arizona and wear a lot of flip flops. As she got older, her habit switched from chewing to swallowing. The first time this happened it nearly scared me to death. I can't begin to tell you how frightening it is to wake up at 3am with your 4 month old puppy shaking uncontrolably and giving you a look that says "Somethings wrong, please make my belly stop hurting!". My thought was automatically, "Oh no, she ate a sock and it's stuck". I panicked of course and called her breeder and another friend who manages a veternary office. She was still drinking water and keeping it down so they advised me to give her some time to see if it passes.

Lucky for both of us after 5 hours of sitting and waiting, the whole time imagining the emergency surgery I was sure she was going to need, out came the sock! I have never been so happy to see a dog go to the bathroom. It was amazing that after it passed she was completely back to normal. I had no idea at the time that this was going to become a regular occurrence in our life with Madde.

After this first scare we started to be more cautious. Clothes didn't get left on the floor. If they didn't make it to the basket they were set up on a counter or a dresser. For any other dog this probably would have been fine. With Madde, not so much. The next scare came on Halloween night after attending a friends party. I had dressed up as a witch, complete with red fishnet stockings. Tired from a late evening, I undressed and set the costume up on our dresser. We finished locking up the house and returned to find Madde in the bedroom looking at us innocently with an odd little puff of red between her lips. My husband gasped as we both realized what we were witnessing. She had gotten a hold of my stockings and proceeded to gobble them up just like the famous spaghetti noodle scene out of Lady and the Tramp. He ran at her and before she could slurp down that last little bit of stocking he grabbed it and started pulling. It was like watching a clown show at the circus. He pulled and pulled and pulled until finally the end of the fishnet came out with a hack. As funny of a sight as it was to see, we both knew how lucky we were to have caught her in the act. There was no way she would have been able to pass something that size. We were so grateful for our good timing that evening.

As she's grown, Madde's tastes have expanded to anything underwear related. Now a days we have switched to a covered hamper which stays behind a closed closet door.
She has stolen from every imaginable place, laundry baskets, counters, sinks, closets, bags, backpacks. She has even stolen from the covered clothes hamper. Not by flipping open the lid like you might think, but by sniffing out the desired item then nibbling and pulling it out through the holes. I think she's singlehandedly keeping Hanes in business at this point. We do our best to keep things out of reach but when you have a Dobie you come to the conclusion that most of the time they can outsmart you... Especially if it's something they want badly enough!

Denise and Madde

Can you train a dog online?

2009-05-11T18:10:00Z

Many people ask us all the time about some training resources, and our forum is one great place to start, we also have phone and email which many people have taken advantage of, and now we have partnered with a friend of mine that I used to train with (I have trusted him even with my own dogs in the past) who offers some online training courses many of you may find very helpful. His courses are much cheaper than private lessons, and you will see some good results. Try it out and see what you think!

Online training Now!

Outstanding German Dobermans

2009-04-24T05:22:00Z

Well it has been a while since we have posted, it seems like time has flown right by! It is already triple digits here in Phoenix and slowing down our training goals. Elsewhere in the world people are seeing spring and it will roll right into summer. We have kept very busy here at the kennel but wanted to pause and Share exciting news about our newest litter. Escada Vom Excalibur was bred in Germany to Casa di oro Gregory to create a very special litter with high drive, steady nerve, correct structure and great health traits. This is a pedigree not often found in America and we are thrilled to be bringing it to America. So thrilled we are keeping a pup for ourselves to become part of our program in the future. She had seven beautiful puppies a mix of reds and blacks, and we are thrilled with their quality. Escada thankfully is a careful and caring mother and we expect big things from this litter.

We are also excited that Ramon and Questo Betelges just earned their ZTP rated V1A (in Europe) which of course we knew would happen, but makes us all the more excited that we have bred to these outstanding males.

European Doberman puppy for sale

2009-03-02T15:30:00Z

It's been an exciting and busy time at Family Dobes kennel your stop for the best Doberman Puppy for Sale anywhere in the United States. We have some beautiful Doberman puppies from Farra that were sired by Ramon Betelges some of the only puppies from Ramon in America! If you want a high quality Doberman puppy for sale, why not have one of the best? Farra is a Balkan Sieger show winner and has been an exception family companion. The Doberman puppy for sale you would choose from her would be either a Red European Male Doberman puppy for sale or a Red Female European Doberman puppy for sale. Either way you are sure to be satisfied since all of our Doberman puppies for sale come with a health and temperament Guarantee. It is important when you get a European Doberman puppy for sale that you deal with someone who will be there for you throughout the process, and really stand behind your Doberman Puppy. I have seen so many people be taken advantage of when they buy a Doberman puppy for sale and do not receive what they thought they had paid for. We want your experience to be positive with your Doberman puppy for sale and that is why we stand behind them with more than just words. We can help you with advice on health, training and behavior as well as many other things you will experience with your Doberman puppy for sale.

We also still have some great young trained Doberman Pinschers available right now and have some great prospects for fully trained Doberman Pinschers for sale. A Fully trained Doberman will have on and off leash obedience as well as specialized protection training. If you have unique circumstances let us custom train a Great Doberman for you so that you can feel safe and secure the way you deserve to!

We also have one other very special litter coming in April that we are keeping kind of quiet, but if you are looking for an outstanding sport dog for Schutzhund, mondio ring, French ring, or other dog sport, or if you simply need the finest Protective companion available, this is a well titled, well health tested set of parents to bring you the very best Black Doberman puppy for sale anywhere. This bloodline is not currently available in the states, so this represents a rare opportunity indeed! Are you interested in a sneak peek? Email us for details.

Here you can find some other great resources for your Doberman puppy for sale

http://www.bestdoberman.com

http://www.bestdobermans.com

http://www.dobermanplace.com

http://www.dobermansource.com

http://www.dobermanstore.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

http://www.dobietalk.com

http://www.familydoberman.com

http://www.thedobermanplace.com

http://blog.bestdoberman.com

http://blog.bestdobermans.com

http://blog.dobermanplace.com

http://blog.dobermansource.com

http://blog.dobermanstore.com

http://blog.familydobes

http://dobermanpuppies.blogharbor.com

http://familydobes.wordpress.com/

Doberman Endurance training

2009-02-09T14:39:00Z

Many people don't know what an AD title is, or much = less why I would want to pursue them, so I thought I would give a brief tutorial. = In the Sport of Schutzhund<= /a> AD is the title given for Endurance. It is abbreviated from Ausdauerpr=FCfung which means Endurance exam. In this exam the dog must travel 20 km (about 12.5 = miles) in under two hours including any rest breaks. There are a few Vet = checkups throughout as well to make sure the dog is doing fine. The handler = normally rides a bike with the dog on the right side, but may trial two dogs at = once with one on the left and one on the right. Crazy people have even been = known to run the AD exam! Not me! Any dog wishing to participate in Koreung tests = which are breed surveys, must have passed the AD. Training for the AD is in my opinion more rewarding than the actual title, as it gives you and your = dog so much time together during training without obedience, compulsion, = mistakes and frustrated nerves. It is time when I sit and talk with the dog, and = encourage them to keep going, and we see a lot of country. I have been training = with 4 different dogs = right now to make sure I will have at least two ready for the test. I have a = little different setup than most people as I will be using a recumbent Trike. = This way I can pack squirt bottles to keep them cool, water and dishes for both = of us, medical kit etc. It is also much more comfortable for me! So here is a = picture of our gang during practice

Steve = Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

American Vs. European Dobermans

2009-02-08T13:53:00Z

American vs. European Dobermans

It is time I weigh in on the debate since it is the question I get asked nearly every day in phone calls and emails. Everyone wants to know which is better American bred Dobermans or European Dobermans. By American bred I don’t necessarily ,mean dogs just born in America, I mean dogs bred to the AKC standard, or dogs in America not bred to any standard. Nice of me to lump them into that category huh? European Dobermans to me are dogs bred to the FCI or international standard or their direct descendents as long as they continue to be bred to the FCI standard. It seems funny to me that we call them European since the FCI standard is used even in central and Southern America. But the first thing is to understand that there is a difference between the two standards.

The second thing to understand is that it doesn’t make one better than another, it creates preference. It does mean that one group will be suited more to what you are after than another group. Contrary to what most people think about me, it does not mean that I don’t like American Bred dogs. In fact two of the people that dislike me the most have the most amazing American bred Dobermans I have ever seen. I can appreciate their beauty and their closeness to their standard, the same way I can appreciate the beauty and grace of Arabian horses while still preferring Quarter horses. I like to train Quarter horses, I like to ride them, rope off them, cut with them, I like to be with them. It is the same with Doberman Pinschers. The Arabian horse wins most every endurance event, that is what they were created for. They are graceful, efficient and correct in their movement, but a quarter horse is like the American muscle car, it is just raw power waiting to explode. So is this about Cars, or horses or Doberman Pinschers? It is about Doberman Pinschers of course!

The point I am trying to make is that the American Doberman was bred by fanciers and breeders to evolve into a different type of dog in type, structure and temperament than the original Doberman from Apolda Germany was. What most people fail to understand is that the “European Doberman” or those bred to the FCI standard also evolved to a different form than the original Herr Doberman dog. Today’s European type Doberman Pinscher is larger and more heavily boned than it’s ancestors. It’s temperament is still adequate for “Work” (by this we mean dog sports, personal protection, Police work, Search and rescue, etc.) but it is considerably less “sharp” than its predecessor. I don’t think I would have liked the original Doberman Pinscher very much, they were small compact muscle bound dogs with very sharp temperaments, fiercely loyal to their owners but wary of anyone else. Many judges and handlers were bit at shows and otherwise by these “Devil dogs” as they came to be known by the US military when they were pressed into service with the Marine corps. They provided a more than valuable service to our country and our soldiers, and they were perfectly suited for their job. They saved lives, they protected lives, but they were loyal to their handlers alone for the most part. The European Doberman Pinscher of today is still very protective and loyal, but much less suspicious. The American bred Doberman on the other hand as a generalization (naturally there are exceptions) has had the working temperament bred out of them, as a “job” was not part of their standard. In Germany the dogs were not allowed to be bred unless the dog met the breed standard of conformation, passed hip examinations, passed a temperament test, and at least one parent had to have a working title such as a schutzhund title.

This is why the working traits have been preserved. Now there is also indiscriminant breeding going on over in Europe and elsewhere but the dog remains fundamentally different. In America I see two basic groups of Dobermans evolving in the last 100 years. The first group is the result of the Dobermans incredible popularity in the early 70’s when they were literally mass produced. The AKC did not have any breeding regulations, nor does it today with regards to health, temperament or structure. They have a standard that constantly gets revised but it is voluntary to adhere to. This first group of people are the group I call backyard breeders. Not because the dogs are actually bred in the back yard as I like to joust with so many people that pass out that label, but because they don’t have a clear goal and standard in mind in their breeding program. Their motive is only to produce puppies. These are different than the group I label as puppy millers. Puppy mills to me are people who on a large scale produce puppies with only a profit motive, no standard to breed to or clear program goals, and most importantly the condition the dogs and puppies are kept in. This one point gets me in more arguments than any other. But between the Back yard Breeders (often abbreviated byb’s) and the puppy millers often abbreviated (pm’s) they ruined what the Doberman was as well as what it became. They produced dogs that now range from 45 pounds on up to over 120 I hear people boast from time to time, and there is not a set of traits that really identifies them as a group other than their coloring and the fact that they are registered as Doberman Pinschers. There is too much variability in the group and fails the fundamental definition of a breed which is that “parents produce like offspring.” There is now so much variability in structure, temperament, marking and even color that I would not call the offspring “Like” meaning the same as the parents. There was another group in America that was breeding dogs with a goal in mind, they are the show people. They were breeding dogs for the conformation ring. Now I will say something here that likely will offend many people, but it doesn’t make it any less true. The goal was the structure alone of the dog, temperament was not fussed about, nor were health traits. I know there have been some big changes in the last few years with very good health testing, but one of the most talked about and bred to studs not long ago also had a history of very bad temperament, but he was gorgeous so they kept breeding him. One of my favorite kennels despite their lack of appreciation for me src="http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif"> originalAttribute="src" originalPath=""http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif">" originalAttribute="src" originalPath=""http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif">" had wobblers in their lines and now the whole line has been retired in favor of healthier lines now that health testing and genealogy has become more important.

The American Doberman Pinscher is a beautiful dog and I can appreciate their elegance and grace. In my opinion they lack the structure and power to do their original job. The Doberman Pinscher was the only breed of dog ever bred specifically for personal protection. There are many breeds that do this job well, but they were bred as multi-purpose dogs. The Doberman was created by Herr Doberman specifically to be a companion and guard to it’s owner. I have not met any American Champion Dobermans that could adequately perform this job and if someone has one please bring it over and shut me up as I put on the bite suit. This to me is why I prefer the European Bred Doberman Pinscher. They still can do the original job they were bred for. I love the story of how the Doberman came to our nations aid in time of war not many years ago, but if the same call came out today for Doberman Pinschers to be war dogs, the ones America could send would be predominantly European dogs. The AKC champions would fail us, the Back yard Bred dogs would fail us, and the puppy mill dogs would fail us. I now understand very clearly what it takes for a dog to actually do this kind of work, and so much of it is bred in to them.

Let’s be specific about some generalizations in the breed standard. American bred Doberman Pinschers are typically smaller over all, they are shorter at the withers and lighter than the European Doberman. They are also finer boned. Those physical traits make them less suited for working dog sports that I enjoy. If they were slightly smaller and still had adequate bone they may make better ring-sport dogs than the standard European Doberman. Very few Dobermans do well in French ring primarily because of the palisade wall they must scale and jump off. The typical Doberman is too heavy to jump 7 to 9 feet with all his weight on his front end and not sustain injury. The American bred Doberman lacks the drive and temperament and is too fine boned also for this task.

Although health testing occurs with most reputable American Doberman Breeders now, it wasn’t always the case and in my opinion we see higher frequency of many maladies, and some others that typically do not show up in the European dog.

So which dog is better American or European? You can see now it comes down to what you want the dog for. They both can make great family pets, which is what the majority of people getting Doberman puppies are interested in. Generally the European Type Doberman Pinscher is going to be better suited for working dog sports, but an American bred dog can still do great with obedience, agility, flyball etc. Some even track well despite their lack of selection for it. I did Search and Rescue with American bred Doberman Pinschers, one was a grandson of my favorite show kennel. But doing SAR with my European Dobermans has been much more rewarding and easier to train. I used to pheasant hunt with my American bred Doberman Pinschers back in 1998 but I have no doubt whatsoever that Ruby and Athena today would hunt faster with more desire, drive and stamina. But I never did have a good protection dog from American lines. I had some that learned the job, but none were as powerful or as driven for the work, and if I found dogs that were, they were not as stable in my house with children.

Both the American bred Doberman and the European Doberman are good dogs for their intended purposes, it really does come down to preference. You even have some people crossing the two which although not my goal, since the gene pool is very shallow anyway, it may save the genetic health of the breed in the long run.

Naturally my preference is and remains the European Doberman Pinscher because of the jobs I do with them. I prefer the health, temperament, size, structure and working ability of a European Doberman that is why I have them, and that is why I breed them to share with other people.

Doberman Assault Vehicle

2008-10-01T23:59:00Z

Well we have a new Vehicle in the round up here at Family Dobes. I have always been a truck guy, but down here in Arizona heat I can't go anywhere with more than one dog if I take the truck, so I took the plunge. I bought what my wife called a "Plyg Rig" She lived in St George Utah for a while and the Polygamists from nearby Colorado City would come to town and shop and they all drove great big passenger vans and they became known as "Plyg Rigs" in town. Well I couldn't take the nick name for my dog mover, so I had it wrapped and it has now affectionatley become the "DAV" or the Doberman Assault vehicle. It is great for moving around the Doberman puppies or our Champion European Dobermans shuffling back and forth to training or to the Vet, and did I mention how much I love it? I love it!!!! Thanks Arizona Color! Mary worked hard to give me the best Price in town, and Jeni the Graphic designer was not only lightning fast, but came up with an idea that was better than anything I had come up with on my own. I can't say enough good things about them. Thanks Team!!!!

Nutrition

2008-08-26T11:20:00Z

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 8:35 AM
To: steve@familydobes.com
Subject: Nutrition

Hi Steve

I need some help! I'm thinking of switching Izzy to a raw diet but have
several questions/concerns. First of all, what are your thoughts on feeding
raw and, specifically, following the BARF diet? It seems like everyone is
on board with the raw meaty bones and organ meat part of it, but disagrees
on the vegetable, supplements and milk product side of things. Secondly,
any thoughts on whether to buy everything fresh and prepare it myself, or to
buy pre-made frozen foods. If I'm supplying everything fresh (which is what
I'm leaning toward) I feel really overwhelmed buy the whole idea. Such as:
Where do I get all this nasty stuff (chicken backs and necks, turkey necks,
cow hearts etc...)? How do I make sure the diet is balanced without the
task of feeding my dog taking over my life? What do I do when we are
traveling? Also, should I be aware of any risks associated with feeding raw?
You get my drift!

So basically, any thoughts or suggestions you might have are welcomed! No
hurries though. I won't switch unless I'm completely comfortable with the
whole thing. As an aside, I'm feeding Royal Canin right now.

I guess I should tell you my reasons for thinking about a raw diet. I want
to give Izzy the best diet possible to support good health. I walked
through the pet store and read the label on just about every food out there.
Corn corn corn! Usually the first, or one of the first, ingredient. So I
started reading some article online. I'm a little unsettled by the fact
that I've yet to find any actual research papers on feeding raw, but maybe
I'm just searching in the wrong place. Also, in a way "dog food" has always
seemed a little suspect to me. Even as I kid I wondered "what's in there
and how can they live on that? It doesn't look much like food." Then you
just kind of begin to accept that this is what dogs eat. Now I'm
questioning if it really is meeting her needs in the best way possible.
Sort of like my getting protein from a big mac instead of grilled chicken.
So that's how I got started down this path.

Thanks for your help

Shelly

Wow you opened up a can of worms I am all on board for Raw when people
are feeding it with a reason and understanding of nutrition. Most people I
see feeding raw do it because it is trendy or they heard it was good or
whatever, but they don't understand nutrition. I studied nutrition heavily
in college, and I have fed dogs all kinds of things for 20 years and I came
away with the conclusion that you just can't duplicate nature closely enough
in your own kitchen, and feeding raw has shown no real advantage over a good
kibble long term. Remember "In the wild" animals aren't just eating raw meat
and organs etc, they are also eating decomposing carcasses and all kinds of
other things you wouldn't dream of bringing in to your home, but it is a
necessary part of their overall diet for one reason or another. "Natural
Diets" should closely resemble what really occurs in nature, but also
consider how many malnourished wild animals they are, by feeding processed
diets we are in a sense giving them a more complete diet at every serving,
with no fluctuation where in the wild their diets fluctuate dramatically. I
really would avoid raw for all the concerns your raised, it just is too
complicated and does take over your life, and then you can't ever have any
one else care for the dog, and you didn't really gain anything by it. I am
always amazed that some dogs that win Westminster for example are fed plain
old Purina puppy chow and do great... I recommend picking a good kibble and
sticking with it. The biggest risk of raw, is malnutrition ironically,
especially in puppies. Vets hate seeing people put puppies on raw diets
because they may not see the secondary effects fast enough and correct them.
I also hate corn in a diet, it is a cheap filler but we are finally starting
to see it go away as it is no longer cheap Also we all dislike corn but
you really can't find much supporting research for why. The feed companies
argue that dogs eat a lot of grain since the first part of a carcass they
eat is the viscera. That is true they do, but not because it is full of
grain, it is soft and easy to eat instead of the ripping and tearing
associated with muscle tissue, it is very palatable, and easy to get to. The
only real proof I ever accepted for dogs being a limited omnivore is that
they can masticate (chew) side to side instead of just up and down like
carnivores (cats etc). So they are still primarily a carnivore, but a
limited omnivore. We all hate corn because it is not very digestible in it's
raw form, same as with us. But put it through the GI tract of herbivore
animals like pheasants etc. and it is fermented and broken down by bacteria
and becomes useable to the dog. Raw corn does not break down well in a dog's
system, but recycled corn if you will has bacterial protein associtated with
it. Herbivores also don't live much on cellulose, but rather the microbial
proteins associated with breaking it down. That is why in the wild grains
are a part of a dogs diet is because they are already broken down, and
provide fiber. Adding grains and veggies etc to a dogs diet in my opinion
don't have much benefit because they are not easy to break down without
going through and herbivore first. A good raw diet would be to buy live
chickens, feed them for a week or so, and turn them loose in the backyard.
Let the dog catch them, kill them and eat them whole, that is a raw diet.
Feeding just chicken backs and necks ignores the viscera that is nutritious
and palatable. You can also turn out a steer or a lamb and let them dispatch
of it in the same way, and continue to gnaw on the carcass as it is softened
and made digestible through decomposition. I know it sounds horrid, but that
is a real "Natural Diet" and we really are not willing to duplicate that in
our lives. There are some great grain free diets like natures variety
prairie and instinct formulas. So although kibble seems bland, it truly is
much more complete that a typical raw diet.

Hope that opinion helps instead of hinders....

Steve Parsons
480-993-9797
http://www.familydobes.com
http://www.dobetalk.com

Boys and their dogs

2008-08-21T22:10:00Z

You know I have given a lot of thought the last few years about how dogs along the way have shaped me into what I am. I have realized that no matter what, boys just can’t grow up into men without good dogs to point them along the way. Naturally I believe Doberman Pinschers are those good dogs J They love us unconditionally, and every boy exploits that, asking dogs to do things they probably shouldn’t, to go places they shouldn’t go and even to take the blame and wrath of mom and dad when we have done something wrong. That unconditional love I think teaches us about forgiveness. Not one of my dogs ever held a grudge for something stupid I asked them to do, and most of the time they would love me enough to do the stupid thing and let me learn a tough lesson. I remember “Teddy” a purebred “Heinz 57” (I was sure that was a breed until much later in life, my parents had convinced me so!) Teddy was my first exposure to protection dogs. I was only 8 at the time and mom had just given me a brand new winter coat, we lived in Midvale Utah at the time, and I was going to need that coat to get through the winter. We didn’t have much growing up, but I had Teddy. I can’t tell you what movie it was or tv show that inspired me to teach a dog to bite my arm, or why I thought that coat would do me any good, but Teddy and I worked on it all day one cold Saturday. Thanks to the terrier genes he had in his family tree, he was happy to play the game once we got started. He shredded that new coat, and with it my arm to some degree J But he would quit when I asked him to, and I think it was that moment that changed the rest of my life. I had no idea how to train a dog, I just knew I loved him, and we did everything together. His training paid off one day as we were coming home and some neighborhood dog made a beeline for me while Teddy was pulling me down the street on my roller skates. Before that dog got close enough Teddy took care of it. I don’t know how he didn’t get hurt or killed, but we had love and loyalty between us. He learned to pull me on skates or sleds and stop when I asked him to, he would sit and shake, and sometimes he would stay until I turned my back J We just worked things out, it is a magic that happens between a boy and his dog. Teddy went through two broken legs and surgeries to boot, he survived a patio roof collapse in a storm, he lived on love heaven knows as I wasn’t the best at feeding and cleaning. He taught me to swim and chase sticks and run through fields. There were many good dogs in my life like Teddy, and the most influential was of course Gretta a Doberman. Those stories will have to wait for another time though… The point is I am what I am for good or bad in large because of the dogs along the way. A boy just isn’t a boy without a dog. I had a sad call today from someone whose boy had just lost his red female dobe yesterday and his parents knew what it meant to that little boy. I reflected with sadness on those times I felt the same pains. I came in from that call back to the family room to see this:

Naturally I started crying and remembering naps just like that one. You can see Coco is wide awake but doesn’t dare disturb her little boy. Ethan has always been like that, when he threw tantrums as a one year old, it was always on Zenny’s bed under his watchful and concerned eye:

And with Texa’s new puppies, you guessed it, the dog that won’t even let my wife in the puppy room:

I sat and thought a long time about all of this today and I was so filled with gratitude that we get to share our lives with such special dogs. I am so grateful my three year old son has found what I found, a true friend. So here is a tribute to all those dogs along the way that shaped us into what we are, it must be similar for girls, as Grace loves the dogs every bit as much as Ty and Ethan, but where the red fern grows helps us to cement it into our boyhood minds. I hope this sentimental moment finds all of you well and enjoying your lives with these special friends, I hope you too are learning from them and slowly learning to love and forgive like them. I hope you shamelessly ask for what you want and need instead of beating around the bush with hidden agendas and I hope you enjoy a nap in the soft grass under the warm sun. Chase things in life you want with enthusiasm, and hang on to what you catch with all your might until it is time to let go. Smile for no reason, and wake up knowing each day is just your favorite thing. Try new things and be loyal to your friends, and fiercely defend your loved ones. Enjoy mud and swimming, and chewing on your favorite treat. Finally although Cliché, may we be the people our dogs think we are. Life is too short not to share it with a friend. J thank all of you for sharing yours with us.

FW: Great Vet Clinic

2008-08-21T14:14:32Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7:24 PM
Subject: Great Vet Clinic

Animal Hospital at Grayhawk.

You know how hard it is to find a = really good Veterinarian when you are as passionate about your dogs as I am? It is nearly impossible. I expect too much I suppose, since I was a veterinary = technician myself, and had always planned on going to Vet school myself (funny how = things don’t always go as planned J ). When we moved our kennel to = Scottsdale I began going through the phonebook and interviewing different clinics as = well as asking for referrals. After an exhausting search I finally found Animal Hospital at = Grayhawk. Dr. Howard was in the middle of a very busy day, but he made time to = come and talk to me, and answer all my questions. He made a friend of me from the = first handshake. I could tell he was a no nonsense kind of guy, and he took me = and my dogs seriously from the first moment. I expect my Vets to know = everything, that is there job, but realistically no one really can and when they = don’t I want them to find the information not fabricate information. I found Dr = Howard to be everything I wanted. I couldn’t stump him with my questions, which = was good, but he did agree if I did he would find the answer. He let me meet his = wonderful = staff who also made time for me despite being very busy, and never did I feel = rushed, I felt like I had a whole new group of friends. I have had nothing but = great experiences with Grayhawk, through whelping assistance, c-sections, = routine health checks and certificates, vaccinations or even radiography and = bloodwork. Their breeding services including collection and freezing and AI are top = notch and run smoothly. This has been a great find for me and my dogs. I = don’t trust my best friends to just anyone, but I do trust our champion Doberman Pinschers to = Dr Howard and his staff.

Today we went in to have tails and dew = claws removed on our new = puppies and as always Dr Howard made sure I was happy with the plan and the = results, they were efficient and professional and we came away with great = results. If you are in the phoenix area, it is worth making the trip from wherever = you are to Animal Hospital at Grayhawk J Simply one of the best Vet clinics I have found. If quality matters to = you, see the good folks at Grayhawk!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

FW: Value in Doberman Pinscher puppies

2008-08-21T14:14:06Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7:32 AM
Subject: Value in Doberman Pinscher puppies

Without fail the most common question I am asked is = “How much are your puppies?” I can tell a lot about a client by when they ask that question. If that is = the first question out of their mouths, generally these Doberman puppies are = not for them, people concerned with price before health quality, temperament = etc seldom will appreciate the type of Doberman puppies we raise. I am the = type of guy who wants to get my money’s worth just like the bulk of the = world, but I finally learned that sometimes that means you spend more to get better = value. Cheap isn’t always good. Here are some of my rambling philosophies = on value. So how much are our Champion bred Doberman Pinschers? I guess you’ll = have to call and ask the right questions to find out J

A = word about Value

It is = my opinion that you really do get what you pay for in a dog. When you = purchase a car, they are priced (through honest people anyway) according to their = overall mechanical and cosmetic condition, how they have been cared for, what = features they have etc. Thankfully when buying cars there are buying guides to = help determine the worth. In Dogs there is no guide to go by. Often I am = asked why there is such a difference in the value of my Doberman puppies, and not = only my pups, but between my pups and someone else's. It really comes down to = value, what are you getting for your dollar, and naturally the environmental = factors such as supply and demand influence it as well. I have seen Dobes for = sale in today's market for as low as $300. I have seen them as high as $75,000. = I have also seen people turn down $300,000 or more on really outstanding dogs. = The differences break down roughly like this. Most important is the one thing most first = time buyers overlook, that is the "quality" of the breeder. Do they = have an understanding of the breed, genetics, and health? Do they have clear breeding goals that they are trying to achieve? Do they have experience? = Was this a planned breeding with a goal to get closer to their model of = perfection? Most importantly, are they going to be there for you after the purchase? = It is my opinion that $300 pups come from accidental breeding or deliberate = breeding between two dogs that happen to be Dobermans. Usually the breeding goal is cash. Generally it will be a first time = breeder with little or no experience or education. Again this is just my = opinion. Generally you will find that the pups will be worth what their parents = were worth. It is very rare to find a a world champion quality pup from two = $300 dogs. This type of breeder generally has not had any health testing, and = likely doesn't have a good vet for regular check-ups and help along the way. = This kind of care is very expensive, and the cost must be recouped somewhere. I = admit 15 years ago, I raised $300 pups. I learned a lot over the years and = developed my program and my education. I have learned that I would lose a great deal = of money if I were to breed great quality dogs, from outstanding parents, = care for them right and place them in their new homes for $300. It can't be done. = Most importantly, I have learned if you have a problem with your $300 dog a = year later, the breeder cannot be contacted, cannot remedy the problem, and = won't answer your calls about health and training issues. They only answer = calls asking about their puppies for sale. Breeder support is more important = in many cases than the pup you choose. They have been through it all, they can = answer most of your questions, and if you stump them, they know where to go to = get the answers. More importantly, they are willing to do all of that. Naturally = that time and dedication has value, and has real costs associated with it. = Start there first when determining value, then consider the face value of pup. = My Doberman puppies = are available at a dollar amount according to what I think their potential is. Some = dogs will be better athletes than others. Generally those traits are highly = heritable, meaning if mom and dad are great athletes their offspring should be as = well. Some dogs have better conformation than others making them ideal for = show. those traits likewise are highly heritable. Some dogs are lucky enough = to have both great conformation and athletic ability. Also important is their = genetic potential which becomes a deeper genetic study that I can explain if you = want to understand more. Pedigrees are important to some people and that to = can influence price. Based on which female produced the pups, we know what = to expect from those litters, and that is how we price our pups. What will = the demand be for this bloodline, this conformation type, their temperament, = the accomplishments of their ancestors as well as their own etc. We only = produce pups that will meet our program goals, if they don't we don't continue = breeding those females. We have given up many wonderful dogs that did produce = great pups this last year because we can only feed so many, and the current girls = are that much better. Determine what is important to you with your dog, what you = want to accomplish, and then see if that type of dog will fit your budget. If = you want to win an international championship, expect to pay more for your pup. = If all you want is a great pet, pick one from a breeder with great support, and = great health programs and a replacement policy. We want you to get the dog = that best meets your needs, and we want you to know you got your money's = worth.

Our = puppies do cost more than many available out there, and for a good reason. We take = time to research and select the best Champion Dobermans for our program, and plan each breeding carefully to = produce the right kind of Doberman puppies for you. I want you to get a high quality Doberman puppy that you will be proud of, that will live for many years = of effective service. I also want to be a support to you and your new = Doberman, and that will take time and resources. Isn't the help and education = worth a little more? With dogs you do get what you pay for, and with many dogs = they don't come with any support. We will help you raise and train your dog = wherever you want or need help.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

FW: How dogs teach us....

2008-08-21T14:13:31Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:55 PM
To: 'blog@familydobes.com'
Subject: How dogs teach us....

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's = owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to = Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. =

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be = good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane = might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family = surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, = Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any = difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering = aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. = Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned = me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life = -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The = Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have = to stay as long.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. =
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure = Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle = them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

FW: Exciting litter announcement

2008-08-21T14:12:36Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:06 AM
To: 'blog@familydobes.com'
Subject: Exciting litter announcement

Things are exciting here at the kennel!

We have Uragan’s first offspring on the ground! Line bred on Eko Royal bell this is a = very rare and highly sought after bloodline. Nitro del Rio who was the leading reproduction champion, has just passed and everyone now realizes what a = great line it was with no Cardio problems, one of his finest sons, Eko Royal Bell = is no longer producing offspring either. If you want dogs that are great in = the home with your family, and very loyal and protective, this litter is for you. = We select for health, temperament and working ability. The sire is a show champion, and has his Schutzhund level one title, as well as his German = ZTP exam. The Dam is one of my best working dogs, and has already produced outstanding puppies More pictures and video will be available on our = site. http://www.familydobes.com

Check out the pictures on our site!

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

FW: warning for ALL DOG OWNERS

2008-08-21T14:12:05Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 6:23 AM
To: 'blog@familydobes.com'
Subject: FW: warning for ALL DOG OWNERS

Don’t know why I haven’t seen this before or = heard of it, but it scares me worse than the grape and raisin warning that keeps going = around J Although sadly that one is true as well. Swiffer wet jets turned out to be safe, = Beneful dog food still undeterminedand greenies though I don’t give them = to my dogs since they are swallowed whole or in less that 30 seconds devoured, have settled some suits but it is considered that they are safe when used as directed

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

&n= bsp; To the dog owners I know, and people who may know a dog = owner....

http://www.s= nopes.com/critters/crusader/xylitol.asp

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp<= /p>

Warning to all dog owners pass this on to everyone you = can

Last Friday evening, I arrived home from work, fed Chloe, our 24 Lb = dachshund, just as I normally do. Ten minutes later I walked into the den = just in time to see her head inside the pocket of Katie's friend's purse. = She had a guilty look on her face so I looked closer and saw a small = package of sugar-free gum. It contained xylitol. I remembered that I had = recently read that sugar-free gum can be deadly for dogs so I jumped on = line and looked to see if xylitol was the ingredient. I found the first = website below and it was the one. Next, I called our vet. She said to = bring her in immediately. Unfortunately, it was still rush hour and it took = me almost 1/2 hour to get there. Meanwhile, since this was her first = case, our vet found another website to figure out the treatment. She = took Chloe and said they would induce her to vomit, give her a charcoal drink = to absorb the toxin (even though they don't think it work s) then = they would start an iv with dextrose. The xylitol causes dogs to secrete = insulin so their blood sugar drops very quickly. The second thing that = happens is liver failure. If that happens, even with aggressive treatment, it = can be difficult to save them. She told us she would call = us.

Almost two hours later, the vet called and said that contents of her = stomach contained 2-3 gum wrappers and that her blood sugar had dropped = from 90 to 59 in 30 minutes. She wanted us to take Chloe to another = hospital that has a critical care unit operating around the clock. We picked her = up and took her there. They had us call the ASPCA poison control for a = case number and for a donation, their doctors would direct Chloe's = doctor on treatment. They would continue the iv, monitor her blood every = other hour and then in 2 days test her liver function. She ended up with a = central line in her jugular vein since the one in her leg collapsed, just = as our regular vet had feared.

Chloe spent almost the entire weekend in the critical care hospital. = After her blood sugar was stabilized, she came home yesterday. They ran all = the tests again before they released her and so far, no sign of liver = damage. Had I not seen her head in the purse, she probably would have died = and we wouldn't even had known wh y.

Three vets told me this weekend, that they were amazed that I even knew = about it since they are first learning about it too. Please tell = everyone you know about xylitol and dogs. It may save another = life.

<= /o:p>

FW: Newsletter

2008-08-21T14:10:19Z

From:= Steve = Parsons [mailto:steve@familydobes.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:06 PM
To: 'blog@familydobes.com'
Subject: Newsletter

I was going through my last year newsletters hoping = I could just rip off something about fireworks instead of typing it all over = again as some people are getting ready to celebrate that way (not us here in AZ, everything is illegal, Ty is begging me to take him back to Wyoming for = the fourth ;-) ) And I read last years newsletter and just laughed, so I am including it this year as well:

&= nbsp; Naturally it has been hot for some time = now across the states and all of you know it is a bad idea to leave dogs in hot = cars. What we want to focus on are some alternatives so you can still take your dog = with you. I still go to several training groups each week, shows etc. So my = dogs need to come along. On short visits, I leave the Truck running with the = AC on and take a spare key with me so I can lock the doors. I don’t want = anyone letting my dogs out or stealing a running car! Although it would take = quite the fool to decide to steal a truck full of Dobermans! I also hunt for Shady = spots to park, even if it means walking a long distance. Some places you go = your Dog would be welcome if you ask permission ahead of time or if it is a pet = friendly location. I laughed hysterically yesterday when I went to the DMV, the = first thing I saw was a sign on the door that said “No Pets” I = tend to notice those kinds of things J then I noticed right at the front counter a = welsh corgi laying at some lady’s feet. It was not identified as a service = animal, so I laughed. But many people will welcome your dog to their business if it = is well mannered. The leading economists show businesses are recognizing pets as = family more and more and welcoming them to draw customer loyalty. I think it is = great so long as we only take dogs with good manners and don’t ruin it = for everyone else. Also this year for those times I can’t leave the truck = running because I will be too long and gas is $4 a gallon, I made a portable, lockable = kennel this year. I mounted a 12’x8’ kennel on a trailer, it has = turf grass for a bottom, a tarp across the top and two sides for shade, and a five gallon = bucket of water. Obviously it means the inconvenience of taking a trailer, but = it was a fun idea and works very well. I wanted to send a picture but the truth = is many of you know I do ornamental welding as well, and I wasn’t = happy with chainlink on my nice trailer, so I am working on some ornamental iron = work complete with a cutout of our logo! Anyway, always take plenty of water, = if the dog will be left in the vehicle, no matter how much you trust them, make = sure the vehicle is safe for them and from them J Zenny = ate my cruise control last time I left him without the rear barrier up, and I = trust him as much as any dog I have met in my life. It also helps to wipe them = down with wet towels in the hot summer it helps cool them off and don’t they = look great with that glossy wet coat! So use some common sense, include your pets = when you can, leave them when you can’t.

Also this time of = year many people go camping and want to take the dogs. I think that is great so = long as you don’t have a dog that likes to bark at everything and gets on = other campers nerves, be polite and keep them on lead or in an exercise pen, or at = your side all the time so you don’t intimidate others. Know there are risks = and be prepared, such as snake bites, ticks, other wild animals that carry = disease and may think your dog is dinner… RV camping is very dog friendly, = tent camping can be, and so can backpacking if you are well prepared. I like having the = dogs along for company, and they can warn me of dangers I am unaware of. Just = this week we had a black bear attack two campers in one of our favorite = canyons, and killed the one boy. The dog could at least have alerted us to the = presence of the bear, and perhaps scared it away, though a dog is no match for a = bear, several dogs can be and can run them off = effectively.

It really makes me laugh since Diesel fuel here in = Az has hit $5.25, and triple digits are the norm. It is too hot to leave dogs = in cars ever, the portable kennel was hideous, and I almost tried a dog trailer, = but realized, taking them in the RV with the generator and AC is the best = thing I have come up with still. We do try to visit dog friendly places or just = stay home and hibernate in the AC, 118 isn’t fun for anyone L So we are just getting ready to head out for Family Reunions back up in Utah and traveling with the dogs. We also decided to = try to plan a familydobes BBQ for anyone who possible could come later in July, = but then I thought we would wait until September or so when the weather can = be tolerated here for people and dogs so we might get some kind of turnout. = Email me back if you would be interested J

So I couldn’t dig up any of my old fireworks = warnings, so here goes. They are loud and dangerous for dogs. My dogs do well with = the noise of it all, since we work on that for Schutzhund and other things, = and they are so high in prey they like to chase anything that moves. You can certainly see the problem… Anyway, if your dog is afraid of loud = noises, or if you are unsure, please don’t take them to a public park to watch = fireworks, work on noises and manners in public first. If you are leaving to go = watch a show somewhere, remember how terrifying it could be for a pet left home, make = sure they are in a safe secure place where they can’t be hurt or hurt = themselves. You also don’t want to develop lasting fears so consider all your = options for a pet friendly fourth of July celebration.

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com

FW: A Must read from Beverlee hills paper

2008-04-12T18:18:02Z

http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/Pets_24/Graf_The_Gentle_Giant.php

Graf the Gentle Giant

Posted by Tommy Garrett on Apr 13, 2008 - 9:01:06 PM

Graf the gentle giant is one of Steve Parson’s, my friend, most outstanding beauties at his Family Doberman Kennel and Training Facility. The last time we caught up with Steve, he was just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah a few months ago, where he ran his facility and was greeting his world famous clients from that location. But now, thanks to wonderful friends of Steve’s, he has relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. With beautiful wife and kids in tow, Steve packed up and headed west to a location where he can now train his Dobermans all year long. How I caught up with Steve is very typical of the man. He was calling to make sure that I was still safe after having dealt with a paranoid schizophrenic stalker the past several years. Steve feels very obligated to his clients to make sure they are safe and protected. His dogs are craftily trained and go through the rigors of some of the top training programs in the world.

The reason I have suggested Steve’s dogs, the beautiful European strain of Dobermans, is because they are bred with solid conformation and agility, but also for temperament and stability. They live in the home with Steve’s lovely wife and kids. It’s amazing how many badly behaved Dobermans I have run across over the years. None of Steve’s dogs have any of the problems that have become consistent with American breeders. There is a new handsome man on Steve’s estate; yes, he’s not the only one. The once musical genius now feels most comfortable raising his kids and his dogs. Steve introduced me to his German fellow, a Red Colored Doberman named Graf. What a stately, elegant and noble name. But it fits this magnificent dog perfectly. Graf has won awards in over four countries; he’s a beautiful show creature with the nobility of a giant, the size of a giant and the will of one as well. Graf loves Steve and his family and I’m trying to talk my friend into letting him travel the U.S. with me by his side.

All of Steve’s amazing dogs are impressive. But I haven’t seen a Red Doberman this impressive in my entire life. He is swift in his movement and assured in his determination and has been trained with the positive reinforcements that Steve and other great breeders and trainers of the world have proved the best for this incredible breed of dog.

Steve has educated me immensely on this breed. He does so with patience and respect. He knows that his clients are not only interested in the safety and protection that comes with knowing you have one of his dogs by your side, but once you meet his incredible canines, you have oodles of questions. After a close call of being stalked at a post office, it was Steve who said, “The police got there in twenty eight minutes. Your Graf would be there to protect you in two seconds.” He’s right. Speaking of his new home and facility, Steve said: "It is an amazing place in the middle of Scottsdale where we have an acre field in the back for training. We are in the middle of some new construction for the dogs, but it is a great start in the right direction. We moved down here for the weather and the great trainers we would have a chance to work with and learn from as we are all still learning, right? We have three good clubs to train with and hope to get our own club formed in the near future. We have some great neighbors and so far have just really enjoyed the new place."

Speaking of how he found his new home in Scottsdale, Steve added: “I have some dear friends, Jim and Mary Piccolo who had lost their Doberman about six months ago to cancer, and I was there for them during that hard time, that really began the deepening of the relationship and we started to look at some other dogs to fill their lives. We just continued to grow closer and I got to see more of the kind of people they really are, you just haven’t seen more giving generous people who really want to help other people better themselves. Jim and Mary would never have to work again if they chose not to, so they turned their passion into helping others find that same joy. I watch them give generously to charities and foundations and watch them change peoples lives with opportunity and education. I guess they saw something in me as we began to co-own some dogs and work at this together and they realized how much it would help me if I could train year around and be closer to them so they made all this possible. Anything I achieve will be a tribute to them and their generosity and kindness. They will make more out of me than I could have made out of myself." That’s hard to believe. Steve’s already a great man in my opinion.

Steve is a great salesman and has said to me as well as many of his clients over the years, “I keep getting stories all the time how just owning Dobes give peace of mind and security to those who have had none in the past. They really do deter crime, which is the whole goal anyway. We want you to be able to quit looking over your shoulder knowing a “Family Dobe” is doing that for you.” Never one to rest on his laurels, Steve said of his medium term goals, “to get the indoor kennel building complete so the dogs have more room and freedom, get the facility in top shape as far as landscaping and presentation so we are eager to show it off, and to keep active in competition this year to keep spreading the good word about great dogs.”

Steve is an amazing man and his dogs really are the best in the nation. To find one to adopt into your family and home, you can contact Steve at: http://www.familydobes.com/

http://www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797 cell

Puppy Mills and the AKC

2008-04-11T02:39:56Z

Subject: Fw: Puppy Mills and the AKC

Truth about the Pet Trade

Puppy Mills and the AKC

April 5, 2008 : 2:11 AM

They are closer than you think.

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Note to readers: On the Oprah show today, the American Kennel Club (AKC) tried to distance themselves from their relationship with puppy mills. However, the glowing image that they tried to portray of themselves as advocates for dogs, couldn't be further from the truth.

Please read the "Open Letter" submitted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and compare that with our own research and first-hand experience in the story below.
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Dancing With the Commercial Breeding Industry, starring the AKC

Money Talks

Attending a dog auction in Missouri gave us an eagle's eye view in to the "pet trade," revealing first-hand, all of the nuts and bolts that make up the giant, woolly mammoth of a business that brings big bucks to auction services, commercial breeders (a.k.a.. puppy mills), brokers, pet stores, and of course, the almighty American Kennel Club (AKC). It was fascinating how each of these "well oiled machines" worked together in the name of making money.

In 2006, the AKC registered 870,000 individual dogs and 416,000 litters, and brought in $72 million dollars in total revenues. Well over $30 million in revenues were from dog registrations alone. Sadly, it is believed that 80% of this profit comes from puppy mills. At $20 a dog and $25 per litter (plus $2 per puppy) the AKC makes a pretty penny selling a piece of paper that really does nothing more than state that the dog the dog is a pure bred, or approved cross-bred (designer breed).

The AKC website quotes: "AKC registration means a dog, its parents, and its ancestors are purebred, but it does not indicate health or quality." The AKC takes no responsibility beyond that, nor do they guarantee that the dog didn't come from unsatisfactory breeding conditions, such as a puppy mill. Again, quoting the AKC website, "Papers" DO NOT indicate quality or promise a healthy dog."

Alpha Dog

One of main players at the auction was the AKC Representative, whom the auctioneers introduced at the start of the auction the first day, urging folks to see her and "she'd set ya'll up", proclaiming that "AKC-registered pups means money in the bank!"

The AKC rep was a woman in her late 60's who floated around the warehouse with a clipboard, toting a heavy stack of forms and certificates, while grasping a microchip scanner. She always stood near the auction block or the front of the room in plain view. She was one person I never lost site of throughout the event. She would watch for cues from the breeders who would signal her to come "certify" their litters. She would scan dogs for registry numbers, so that puppies could be served papers, AKC papers, that is. People paid her a fee to "legitimatize" dogs to the outside world.

It was amazing how quick the "certification" process was, and another testament to how little energy goes into the AKC brand. It's essentially a marketing scam that people buy into without thinking twice. Money is the name of the game, and if you have a $20 bill and a purebred dog, your dog basically has his diploma.

After all "Puppies with AKC papers fetch more owners", since "Nine out of ten consumers prefer AKC-registered puppies." I learned this from an AKC print ad that came out in the August 2007 issue of "The Kennel Spotlight", a highly popular magazine distributed at dog auctions across the Midwest.

Lily has 35 AKC Champion dogs in her pedigree. She was born and sold at a commercial breeding facility in Missouri, where she lived in a tiny cage and was bred to the max, for her entire life. It didn't matter to her breeder that she was languishing in her kennel, and that her life of neglect led to emotional and physical defects, like her rotting jaw. No one had to see her, and as long as Lily kept producing nice-looking offspring, she was still of value in the eyes of her breeder.

Lily's offspring were sold at auctions, to fellow breeders, or to brokers who sold them to pet stores, all carrying the AKC's seal of approval. You see, like the breeder, who sees value in a dog by how much money they can generate for them, the AKC, sees value in a breeder by how many litters they can produce.

Fortunately, Lily was saved from a life at an auction by a rescue group called Mill Dog Rescue Network (MDRN) of Colorado Springs, who dedicates their life-saving work to rescuing dogs from commercial breeders.

Interestingly, Lily's breeder was also at this recent auction. She was bidding on more breeding Italian Greyhounds, even though she promised Lily's rescuer that her "breeding days were over."

The Tango

Nowadays, to strengthen the bond, AKC representatives make themselves known by heavily saturating themselves at industry functions like breeder conventions and dog auctions. They are careful not to alienate themselves from commercial breeders since the backlash only proved to be a financial disadvantage.

Many "Old timers" in the breeding industry will say that "AKC needs to build up to what it used to be", which to me, means before the invention of the word "puppy mills" and before animal welfare advocates opened their mouths and people listened to what they had to say. To these guys, these were the "good ole' days."

Whatever the case may be, history will tell, that the commercial breeding industry and the AKC virtually must work together in order to produce hefty profits. This powerhouse of a pair is the perfect (dysfunctional) couple; the AKC holds the capital, the political clout, and the marketing power, while the commercial breeder serves the demand for purebred dogs. One without the other is like a fish without water.

That is, unless the AKC truly honors its mission statement, which reads: "AKC dedicates itself to upholding the integrity of its Registry, advocating for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership."

IF the AKC was held accountable for their "stamp of approval", this would put an end to conducting business with large scale commercial breeders, (a.k.a. puppy mills), and they would be left to find an alternative means of generating revenue. Perhaps a way that was more in line with their original core values, listed below.

AKC's Core Values:
- We love purebred dogs
- We are committed to advancing the sport of the purebred dog
- We are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our Registry
- We protect the health and well-being of all dogs
- We cherish dogs as companions
- We are committed to the interests of dog owners
- We uphold high standards for the administration and operation of the AKC
- We recognize the critical importance of our clubs and volunteers
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What You Can Do To Help?

1.) Confront the AKC!
Write the AKC and tell them to stop contributing to the misery of puppy mills and start honoring their core values.

Ask them to put more energy into protecting the health and well being of their "breeds" and less energy into churning out a profit. If the AKC was truly concerned with the aforementioned they wouldn't have an AKC representative "doing business" at dog auctions, where commercial breeders (a.k.a. puppy mills) sell and trade dogs like cash crops.

Dennis B. Sprung
President and Chief Executive Officer
260 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
dbs@akc.org

Ronald H. Menaker
Chairman of the Board
rhm@akc.org

AKC's Canine Legislation Department
(919) 816-3720
doglaw@akc.org

2.) Be active!
Stay involved and up-to-date on issues related to commercial breeding (a.k.a. puppy mills) and help to end this horrific (yet common, legal) practice by joining The Truth About The Pet Trade community on the Best Friends network.

3.) Did you buy one of Lily's puppies?
Her breeder was "Martha Reed." See Lily's AKC registration and her Pedigree.

4.) Spread The Word!
Please forward this story to anyone that you know and if you have an experience the AKC, you'd like to share, please post your comments below.

By: Jennifer Krause, Best Friends Animal Society's Breeder Campaign Team
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Read Puppy Mills on Oprah! You watched the show--now what?

Pups are born!

2008-03-30T07:25:05Z

We have had a great week here at Family Dobes, one to be remembered for a very long time I am sure!

Last night we had a litter born out of World Champion Fedor Del Nasi, we had Jewell bred in Europe to him after having such great success with some of his offspring in our training program. Despite all genetic probability Jewell who does not have a red dog in her first three generations turned out to be red factored! The litter is amazing to say the least with blacks and reds, and the chance that one of these red males may turn out to be just like Fedor himself! Go ahead google him you know you want too J

To Top it off, here at the kennel we have an adult male that we had done some training with who is also a direct son of Fedor. If you get the chance come meet Max! He will take your breath away with his size and structure, he is amazing!

We also have in our kennel another adult male who is a direct son of Baron Nike Renewal. Those who have known us for some time know how passionate I am about that dog and that line. Unfortunately Nike passed away recently and the loss will be felt for a long time in the Doberman world, so what a blessing it is that we have one of his sons right here! Playing with Frankie is a blast, he is a three year old puppy built like his dad with great temperament. You simply have to meet him as well.

So we have many things to be thankful here at family Dobes.

We are finally getting back on top with our lives with all the recent changes so we should be sending out regular informational and educational newsletters again, you can catch ones you have missed on the blog at blog.familydobes.com and also on the forum at www.dobetalk.com

Steve

http://www.familydobes.com

480-993-9797 cell

801-636-8006 cell

It's been a Long time!

2008-03-23T17:44:45Z

Well there is so much to update it has been a very long time since I was able to get out a newsletter, my laptop with the mailing list died one month ago, and I have been trying to make due ever since. I have a temporary solution working today so I wanted to send out the update!

First thanks to some wonderful people, Jim and Mary Piccolo, we have relocated the kennel to sunny Scottsdale Az. Now we are able to train year around with some great trainers and clubs. It has truly been a blessing in our lives. We welcome visitors to the kennel by appt.

Also Steve and Kathy welcomed a new baby into the family just two weeks ago, little Katie Briquelle who has been the best baby we have ever had. I fought for months to get her named “K8” who would someday work with “K9’s” but Kathy wouldn’t have it ;-) so she is Katie for now. Mom and Baby are both doing very well. That has also kept Dad quite busy…

And we are getting ready for the Jewell X Fedor litter which will be born sometime this week, poor Jewell looks like she is ready to pop! We are very excited about this litter since working two of his sons last summer, we had to have jewell bred to Fedor too. We were fortunate enough to have “Max” a Fedor son back with us for some training the last two weeks, and I couldn’t go anywhere without people telling me he was the most amazing Doberman they had ever seen. So it is easy to see why we are so excited about this litter. We are now taking reservations on this litter.

Finally we want to remind everyone that there have not been many new members on the Doberman forum list lately, we urge you all to be a part of that, many of you have questions, and many others have answers that could be very helpful and we urge you to share your good information. The two most frequent calls I get relate to housetraining and puppy biting/chewing. There are specific threads to address those issues and help others along the way, please log in and share your great ideas too! http://www.dobermanplace.com

Well a very Happy Easter to all of you from Family Dobes, we have many blessings to be grateful for in our lives.

http://www.familydobes.com