Paper
training con't
When you are ready to start training your puppy to go outside to bathroom, open
the door and place the papers immediately outside the door. Leave one soiled
paper tucked under the others so that the pup will smell the scent and know
where to go. Every couple of days you bring the paper further away to the spot
you want them to go, while making the paper smaller. Once the pup becomes used
to going in the new area, (s)he will very seldom soil in the old spot where
the papers were. Just be sure that you completely remove any scent from inside.
Grooming and appearance
Dobermanns are a medium-large size dog with a short, clean, single coat.
They have lean body mass and should be kept fit through regular exercise.
There are four coat-colours that are accepted by most kennel/breed clubs. The
dominant, and most popular colour is black with rust markings, however you may
see many red (brown) dobes as well. The recessive and least popular colours
are blue, and fawn (Isabella). White or Albino Dobermanns are not an accepted
colour, most "good" breeders will go to great lengths to avoid producing
albinos.
The Dobermann's ears can either be natural (hanging down and lying close to
their face), or cropped and erect. Ear cleaning should be cleaned once a month
in order to remove any wax and loose debris.
A healthy Dobermann will have clear and bright eyes. It is normal to see some
secretions, or sleep, in the corner of their eyes occasionally which can be
removed with a tissue or a soft warm cloth. Any noticeable redness, tearing
or dried crusts around the eyes may indicate an eye infection that will require
veterinary treatment.
Dobermanns are extremely clean dogs with very little odour and grooming requirements.
A weekly grooming session is recommend and should only take you 30 minutes to
complete.
Grooming and appearance
Your weekly routine should include:
Nail trimming; pliers style clippers or nail grinders work best.
The Dobermann's feet are to be tight like cat paws and for this reason their
nails should always be kept short. Long nails cause improper footing and can
actually become painful for a dog. The coat can be stripped of all dead hair
using a stripping knife. This is a small toothed shedding comb that removes
dead undercoat only. A vigorous rubdown with a rubber glove or mitt will remove
any loose guard hairs (the coarser outer hairs). Afterwards use a houndís
glove made of horsehair, or a terrycloth, to buff the coat and bring the oils
to the surface replenishing the coat and skin.
Teeth would benefit from a good weekly brushing as well. Use a toothpaste
that is specifically formulated for dogs. Once every six months you should
remove any minerals or scale from your dog's teeth by using a tartar pick
or scaler. If you are not able to do this yourself then bring your dog to
the vet at least once a year for a good cleaning.
Take the opportunity to thoroughly examine your Dobermann during your grooming
session. A quick visual exam will reveal any foreign bodies, ticks, fleas,
or any other skin related problems. Grooming a Dobermann takes very little
time and your Dobe will love the attention! It also helps to build your relationship
and shows your dog that you love him/her.
Naturopathic Dietary Health
In 1992 I acquired a Boxer from the Boxer rescue. I never kept a rescued dog
for myself before, but Buster was special. I decided that my home would be
his home.
In 1993 Buster developed a form of arthritis that would not respond well to
regular orthodox treatment. I had been studying the effects of natural diet,
and herbal remedies prior to this revelation. However, Busterës situation
influenced the direction and depth of my studies. Naturopathy became more
then just a study, but rather a passion that would later prove to fill a need.
