Cardiac Disease in the Dobermann
8/27/2017
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 Cardiac Diseases:
Dr. John D. Bonagura, D.V.M., M.S., Dr. Kate Meurs, D.V.M., Ph. D., Dr. Virginia Luis Fuentes, D.V. M. Diseases of the heart can be subdivided into cardiac malformations (birth defects of the heart or major blood vessels) and acquired diseases of the heart. Malformations – also called congenital heart defects - are present at birth. Most congenital defects are believed to be genetically predisposed. Acquired heart disease refers to a problem that is not present at birth, but is "acquired" during life. Many acquired diseases have a genetic basis, but the actual condition is not evident until the dog grows or is fully mature. Doberman pinschers are particularly prone to an acquired heart disease that affects the heart muscle. This condition is properly called dilated cardiomyopathy, and is often referred to by breeders by the nonspecific abbreviation "cardio." Normal Heart Function The normal canine heart consists of four chambers covered by a thin membrane (the pericardium). Blood returns to the heart via veins, emptying into blood reservoirs (the left atrium and right atrium). Two muscular chambers pump blood to the body (left ventricle) and to the lungs (the right ventricle). The filling and pumping of the heart are coordinated by an electrical system that begins in the cardiac pacemaker (the sinus node) located in the right atrium. Current spreads systematically across the atrial chambers, is delayed slightly in the atrioventricular node, and then rapidly spreads downward across the muscle of the ventricles. Electrical activation of heart muscle cells stimulates contraction of the cell and the entire heart chamber. Coordinated contraction and relaxation of the heart is responsible for the development of blood pressure in the arteries and the circulation of blood throughout the body. Blood is kept moving in one direction within the heart chambers by a series of heart valves. There are four valves. One is located between the left atrium and left ventricle (mitral valve) and another is between the right atrium and right ventricle (tricuspid valve). There are two additional valves located at the outlets of the two ventricles. These are named for the great vessel connected at that site, the aortic valve and the pulmonic valve. Heart disease involves one or more of these structural components: the pericardium (pericardial diseases), the heart muscle (myocardial diseases), the heart valves (valvular disease), the electrical system (arrhythmias), or the blood vessels (vascular diseases). Congenital Heart Disease Congenital heart disease (CHD) includes a number of specific malformations of the heart and of the great vessels exiting the heart (aorta, pulmonary artery). Though congenital heart defects are not common in the Doberman pinscher when compared to other breeds, a number of malformations have been observed by veterinary cardiologists over the years. Examples of congenital heart defects include the following: _ Malformation (dysplasia) of the atrioventricular valves (mitral valve, tricuspid valve) _ Malformations of ventricular outflow tracts leading to obstruction of blood flow (aortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis) _ Defects of the cardiac septa (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect) _ Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) _ Abnormal development of the great vessels or other vascular structures (such as persistent right aortic arch) _ Complex, multiple, or other congenital disorders of the heart, pericardium, or blood vessels (such as the tetralogy of Fallot) Detection - Virtually all congenital heart defects can be identified by veterinarians through careful use of the stethoscope (cardiac auscultation). This is very important, especially during the veterinary examinations conducted between seven and 16 weeks of age. The hallmark feature of CHD is a heart murmur. It is rare for a CHD to be present without a murmur. Infrequently, a murmur is present at birth but escapes detection during the initial examinations. The greatest difficulty arises in distinguishing a soft innocent (or puppy) murmur from that caused by CHD. Most innocent heart murmurs become softer and are no longer evident by the time the pup is 4 months of age. Should a heart murmur persist, a veterinary cardiologist should be consulted if possible. Hereditary basis - There is no doubt than many, if not most cases of CHD have a genetic basis. The work of Dr. D. Patterson in the 1960’s and 1970’s established clearly the genetic basis of CHD in a number of breeds (the Doberman pinscher has never been systematically studied for CHD). The mode of inheritance is rarely straightforward, and it may be difficult to determine if the sire, dam, or both are at fault. Currently there are no blood or tissue tests for determining carrier states. If CHD is detected in a dog, that dog should never be bred, even if the defect can be corrected surgically or by a cardiac catheterization. A veterinary cardiologist or specialist in congenital heart diseases should be consulted if possible. There are both breed and organizational systems of registry for CHD in dogs. Some breed organizations informally register dogs by requiring a letter describing the results of a cardiologist’s physical +/- Doppler echocardiographic examination. In the OFA system,dogs can be provisionally approved as puppies, but must be 12 months of age or older to receive final certification as "free from congenital heart disease." Specific forms are used by some registry organizations. Examinations can vary from a simple auscultation of the heart with a stethoscope to more detailed studies such as echocardiography or ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter ECG). Congenital vs. genetic? It is crucial to distinguish a congenital heart defect – a disorder present at birth – with an acquired heart disease. While an acquired heart disease condition, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, can most certainly have an underlying genetic basis, the disease is not considered a congenital heart defect. For this reason, registry organizations, such as the OFA, do not list cardiomyopathy under congenital heart diseases. Some organizations establish separate registries for congenital and for acquired heart diseases. Acquired Heart Diseases – General Considerations Acquired heart diseases include a variety of disorders. These can be summarized as diseases of the: _ Pericardium (the lining around the exterior of the heart) _ Heart valves (degeneration of the valves, infection of the valves or endocarditis) _ Myocardium (disease of the heart muscle) _ Impulse forming and conduction system of the heart (abnormal electrical activity of the heart, also called cardiac arrhythmias) _ Blood vessels (for example, heartworm infection injures the heart by damaging the blood vessels in the pulmonary arteries) Heart disease can also develop secondary to a problem elsewhere in the body, for example: _ Moderate to severe anemia can lead to heart enlargement and can precipitate heart failure in a dog with underlying heart disease (such as cardiomyopathy) _ Systemic hypertension (high blood pressure) from chronic kidney disease can cause the heart muscle to thicken (hypertrophy) _ Severe hypothyroidism (emphasis: very severe, not the usual forms) can decrease heart muscle function. However, there is no evidence that cardiomyopathy is caused by hypothyroidism. _ Excessive administration of thyroid hormone can increase the demand for heart work, enlarge the heart, and cause fast or irregular heart rhythms. Dogs at greatest risk are those taking relatively high doses (doses exceeding 0.75 mg twice daily). This condition can be detected by having the blood concentration of thyroid checked periodically (once a stable dose of thyroid supplementation has been initiated). Many Doberman pinschers receive thyroid supplementation, and this condition may be more common than realized. _ Tumors of the chest can press on the heat and impair heart function. The clinical signs of the above conditions are quite variable and a complete review of each disorder is beyond the scope of this discussion. Dogs with mild disease may appear completely normal. Common signs of heart disease include tiring or exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing or respiratory distress, inability to be comfortable when lying down, coughing, fainting, or collapse. NONE of these symptoms is specific for heart disease, but cardiac conditions must be considered. Diagnosis of the above conditions can be made by a combination of physical examination, x-rays, ultrasound examination of the heart (echocardiogram), electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests (usually blood tests). The acquired disease of primary importance to the Doberman pinscher breed is dilated cardiomyopathy, which is addressed below. Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinchers Definition - Cardiomyopathy in the Doberman pinscher is a genetically predisposed disease of the heart muscle. This heart muscle disease is "primary" and cannot be explained by another medical or cardiac problem. For example, cardiomyopathy in the Doberman pinscher is not caused by an endocrine (hormone) disorder, by diet, by narrowing of the coronary arteries, or by a heart valve problem. Many breeders refer to this heart condition by the abbreviation "cardio." Though this "word" is well entrenched among breeders and dog owners, it is neither an accepted name nor abbreviation for any disease (it is a prefix meaning "heart"). "Cardiomyopathy" (meaning heart muscle disease) is less ambiguous and is a preferable word. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most precise term for advanced cardiomyopathy associated with a failing heart muscle. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) occurs in many different species of animals as well as in people. The essential abnormality of DCM is inability of the heart muscle cell to contract normally. Furthermore, the heart chambers dilate increasing heart size. The best way to identify this reduced muscle contractility is with an echocardiogram (ultrasound examination of the heart). The precise trigger for this failure of muscle contraction is unknown, but is most certainly related to the presence of certain genes (alleles). Other factors (for example, sex, age, or specific breed line) probably influence the onset, development, or severity of DCM. These factors, while not completely understood, may explain some of the variation observed in this disease. The mode of inheritance has not been conclusively determined, nor is there currently a blood or tissue test available to identify affected individuals or carriers. The entire situation is very frustrating to breeders and veterinarians alike. The disease can develop at almost any age (from less than 6 months to greater than 10 years). There is no simple method to identify mildly affected dogs. Many dogs with otherwise excellent traits go on to develop this condition (often after successfully breeding for many years). There are two major clinical features of cardiomyopathy in Doberman pinschers. The first is reduced heart muscle contraction that can lead to heart failure (classic DCM). The second is electrical instability of the heart (arrhythmia) that leads to a heart rhythm that is too fast, too slow, or too erratic. These electrical disturbances often begin in the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. In their most malignant form, these arrhythmias can cause fainting or sudden cardiac death. Electrical disturbances can develop as an isolated problem (sometimes-called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy), or in association with obvious DCM. C. Calvert and M. O’Grady, two veterinary cardiologists who have worked extensively with this disease, have both suggested that isolated ventricular rhythm disturbances are quite common as an early sign of cardiomyopathy that will eventually progress to DCM. Occult Dilated Cardiomyopathy - Very subtle decreases in heart muscle contraction are not likely to be detectable by any clinical method, and these dogs represent "carriers" for the disease of DCM. Mild heart muscle failure may be detectable by sophisticated examinations, such as echocardiography, but may not be evident by other routine methods (stethoscope examination of the heart, x-rays, routine electrocardiogram). Both of these situations represent what has been called occult DCM (occult = something that is obscure or hidden from view). Occult cardiomyopathy usually refers to the following situation: an apparently healthy Doberman pinscher with echocardiographic evidence of reduced heart muscle contraction. The practice of screening for occult DCM with echocardiography is popular, but has caused some concern among veterinary cardiologists and breeders alike. There is no doubt that moderate to advanced DCM can reliably be detected by echocardiography. However, the situation is more difficult in "occult" disease. Most echo studies of the left ventricle depend on only two measurements to calculate the heart function (these are the left ventricular minor dimensions in diastole – the filling phase of the ventricle – and the ventricular dimension at end systole – after contraction of the ventricle). Dogs of most other breeds have a shortening fraction (value in diastole, minus the value in systole, divided by the value in diastole) of >25%. For example, if the diastolic dimension is 40 mm and the systolic dimension is 30 mm, the shortening fraction is 10/40 or 25%. Values of less than 25% are often considered abnormal. In fact, some laboratories use values as high as 28% to 30% as lower limits of normal. This has caused great consternation because hundreds (if not thousands) of long lived Doberman pinschers have a left ventricular shortening fraction of <25%. In fact, in a recent UDC screening (Luis Fuentes, Bonagura, Meurs, Hitchcock; unpublished data of May 1997), the average shortening fraction of dogs examined was approximately 26% using the short axis imaging approach, and only 22.5% using the long axis approach. Many of these apparently healthy dogs had a SF of <25%. These echocardiographic data have been interpreted in two ways. To some, it indicates that a large percentage of healthy Doberman pinschers have occult DCM. To others, it suggests that the normal values used for other breeds may not be applicable to the Doberman pinscher. This situation is also observed in some other larger canine breeds wherein normal values for shortening fraction often average 22 – 25% in healthy dogs. Another concern about current practices is the use of a single dimension to characterize the contraction of a three-dimensional structure. When other echo models of left ventricular function are used to characterize heart contraction, some dogs with "low" shortening fractions become normal. These issues have sparked some debate among cardiologists, and there is not a definitive study published in the scientific literature to answer this question. Thus, in the "healthy" dog with a low shortening fraction (say 18%) and relatively frequent ventricular arrhythmias, most cardiologists would have little reluctance indicating that the dog has occult disease. However, in the dog with a normal heart rhythm, normal chamber dimensions, and a ventricular shortening fraction in the 20 – 25% range, one may wish to exert some caution before labeling the dog occult DCM. This is especially true if follow up examinations (6 to 12 months later) show no obvious progression of any disease. The issue of the heart rhythm and the electrocardiogram is also important. There is evidence that ventricular arrhythmias may be the earliest sign of cardiomyopathy in some dogs. It is likely that many cases of sudden cardiac death in apparently healthy Doberman pinschers are due to asystole or ventricular fibrillation, the two lethal heart arrhythmias often associated with cardiomyopathy. In other words, the dog with ventricular arrhythmias may have occult cardiomyopathy despite a normal echocardiogram. These dogs may appear completely normal with the exception of an irregular heart rhythm. It may be difficult to detect sporadic arrhythmias, and for that reason, a routine electrocardiogram (EKG) is not likely to be an effective screening tool for occult cardiomyopathy. Despite suggestions that an EKG is a good screening test, there is no reported evidence that the typical 30 – 60 second EKG is useful for this purpose. Prolonged auscultation of the heart using a stethoscope (4 or 5 minutes) may be helpful, but even normal dogs can have some irregularity of the rhythm. Because of these limitations, the 24-hour, ambulatory ECG (Holter ECG) has been recommended to screen for cardiac arrhythmias and "arrhythmogenic" cardiomyopathy. These studies are best interpreted by a specialist in cardiac care. Unfortunately, such a screen is neither simple nor inexpensive. Moreover, normal results do not guarantee that DCM will not develop in the future. If occult DCM is diagnosed, then what is the best course of action? Firstly, one must consider the degree of confidence in the diagnosis. If relatively certain, then any future breeding is not advised. Initiation of treatment in otherwise healthy dogs also requires careful consideration. The issue of "prophylactic" therapy with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Enacard brand of enalapril; benazepril; lisinopril) i unresolved. These drugs can potentially slow the progression of heart muscle disease. There appears to be sufficient laboratory research to recommend such therapy in clear -cut cases of occult DCM. The use of medication to control irregular heart rhythms is much more complicated and controversial and is best determined after consultation with a veterinary specialist. There are no studies reporting the long-term benefits of therapy in Doberman pinschers with occult cardiomyopathy. Congestive Heart Failure - With moderate to severe heart muscle disease, the ability of the heart to pump can be compromised sufficiently to cause "symptoms" of heart failure. These signs can include exercise intolerance or development of edema fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). Fluid accumulation in the lungs or in the abdomen (ascites) are clinical signs of congestive heart failure, a most serious condition. Cardiac arrhythmias may be present as well, including ventricular arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation. Diagnosis is usually straightforward, although the signs may resemble those caused by pneumonia or other respiratory diseases. However, a thorough clinical examination, chest x-rays,and an echocardiogram will permit an accurate diagnosis. Treatment of congestive heart failure typically includes diuretics (furosemide),angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., enalapril), and often digoxin. If cardiac arrhythmias are present, other treatments may be prescribed. Dietary restriction of sodium and supplementation with nutriceuticals (e.g., L-carnitine) or omega fatty acids is sometimes recommended; however, these treatments are more controversial and should be discussed with a veterinarian. The development of congestive heart failure in a Doberman pinscher is a very poor prognostic sign, and the likelihood of survival beyond 6 months, even with good medical therapy and home care, is probably < 25%. The arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, is a particularly ominous finding in this breed. Overall , congestive heart failure in the Doberman pinscher dog is a discouraging condition. Often this problem ends in sudden death or in euthanasia to prevent suffering from intractable heart failure. Resource: Doberman Information Page Satin Ball Recipes
8/27/2017
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 10 Lbs quality hamburger meat with high fat content 1 jar wheat germ 1 lg box of old fashioned oatmeal (uncooked) 1 1/4 Cup coconut oil 10 eggs shells and all 10 sm pkgs unflavored gelatin 1 1/4 Cup unflavored molasses A pinch of sea salt 1 lg box Total cereal (2lb's) (You may also add a pinch of garlic powder to add flavor) Mix all ingredients together well with your hands, much like a meatloaf....roll into meatball sized balls and place on cookie sheet to freeze, thawing out as needed. It puts weight on in a very short time, not to mention the gloss in their coat. You can use it every day when they have a show to do and it does not produce diarrhea. It can be fed alone or with kibble. Satin Balls are also a great way to get medications into your dog as pills are easily hidden inside. BETTY LEWIS' SATIN BALLS 1 lb ground beef 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese 1 jar all natural peanut butter 1 jar (smaller of the sizes) wheat germ 1 doz egg yolks 1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in heavy cream Mix up, form balls, freeze, feed as treats or food supplement. Marge Paszeks Fat Balls WEIGHT GAIN 1 lb hamburger 1 package cream cheese 1 dozen egg yolks 1 jar all natural peanut butter about 1 cup rolled oats soaked in milk 1 jar wheat germ Mix up, measure out, feed as needed. You'll need to mix it with your hands. It's hard to mix and messy. I usually make this with more hamburger (like, 2 or 3lbs) and freeze what I'm not using that day or the next. Fatten 'Em Up Quick Meatloaf!! 1 doz. Hard Boiled eggs, chopped 10 lbs of inexpensive hamburger meat 20 oz Jar of Wheat Germ 1 canister of Knox Gelatin, joint complex, (unflavored) 1 lg box of Total breakfast cereal 2 - 1 lb boxes of Quaker oatmeal, (the kind you cook) 1 1/2 cups Coconut Oil 12 oz jar of unsulfered Molasses 1/4 tsp salt 1 heaping tsp minced Garlic, (jarred variety or fresh, NOT dried) Box of 1qt Freezer bags Just dump all into huge pot and dig in. It takes some effort, and you will be up to your elbows, but you want to mix thoroughly. Separate into 14 freezer bags, gently squeezing out the air before sealing. Flatten out the bags, (this will allow for a quicker thaw period), and lay flat on a freezer shelf. Feed one packet each day, 1/2 in morning, half in evening. Breaking up into chunks, or rolling into meatballs. You can place one in the fridge each evening to thaw for the next day. OR a smaller batch, that you can flavor for variety.  Louise's Fedemma's Fat Balls WEIGHT GAIN Small heavy cream 1 doz eggs 2 blocks of cream cheese (room temp) 5 lbs ground beef -- (I get the 27% fat) 1 sm box TOTAL cereal (crunch up Total into small crumbs) 1 cup wheat germ mix dry ingredients Add heavy cream Add cream cheese MIX TOGETHER Add ground beef MIX TOGETHER Roll into balls -- I put them on cookie sheets and freeze, makes a lot --  1 to 1-1/2 # fatty raw hamburger 1/2 C wheat germ oil or wheat germ 1 pkg knox gelatin 4-1/2 tsp molasses or Karo dark syrup 3 egg yokes 4-1/2 tsp vegetable oil 3 C uncooked oatmeal Form into meatballs, place on cookie sheet and freeze. When frozen put in containers. To serve - microwave each meatball abot 30 seconds per meatball depending on size. Give 2-3 per day along with regular diet. 1 1/2 lbs hamburger 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1/2 cup wheat germ 1 envelope Knox Gelatin Joint complex, (unflavored) 5 tsp molasses 5 tsp Canola vegetable oil 2 1/2 cups uncooked oatmeal I cup Total breakfast cereal To the above you may add ONE of the following to add flavor and give variety! 1/2 lb Cooked and pureed beef liver OR 1 small can of tomato sauce/ 1 cup of cooked rice or pasta OR 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter OR 4 oz package of cream cheese Form into balls, layer in plastic freezer bags, freeze---remove several at a time to thaw, and feed as in between meal treats. Fattening Treats Doggie Peanut Cheese Balls 1 dozen hard boiled eggs, chopped 1 lb jar crunchy peanut butter 1 container of Quaker Oatmeal 2 cups of evaporated milk, (Don't dilute!!) 1 jar wheat germ 1 lb hamburger 8 oz. pkg cream cheese envelope Knox Gelatin Joint Complex, (unflavored) In one bowl, pour the evaporated milk over the oatmeal and put aside. Go have a cup of coffee, while you wait for oats to absorb the liquid! In a second Large Bowl, place all the other ingredients. Start mixing together, hands work best. Add the oatmeal and evaporated milk mixture, and mix again. When thoroughly blended, form into meatball sized treats, layering in a plastic freezer container. Freeze until needed. Remove a few at a time, allow to thaw, and feed as fattening snacks! FAT BALLS
1 dozen egg yolks 1 lb jar crunchy peanut butter 1 small container oats 1 jar wheat germ 1 lb hamburger 1 package cream cheese *Some versions of this recipe say to soak the oats in milk or cream first. Put the stuff in a big bowl and mix w/your hands. Roll into 3" torpedos and put in ziplock bags and freeze until needed. Feed one or two a day Home Prepared Diets for Canine Heart Disease
If your veterinarian has just given you the heartbreaking news that your beloved Doberman has DCM, here are a few suggestions from caninehearthealth.com that you may find valuable. Diet: As mentioned many times before, a home prepared diet is a must for your dog if you want him to heal from heart disease. Simply put it is part of the program, if you are not willing to prepare your dog’s meals, you might as well not do the program. I am not being harsh but that is the simple truth. The medical community is just catching up to what natural healers have known for a very long time. Many doctors are now reversing human heart disease, which was considered incurable not too long ago, with food as their medicine. Medical Doctors like Dr. Dean Ornish are curing people of heart disease without drugs or surgery, but by simply changing their diet. Dr. Gabriel Cousens of Arizona is curing people of Diabetes with… you guessed it, Whole Live Foods. Diet is the foundation of any true healing. Herbs are foods and many people forget that, they are actually super concentrated foods that hold God given properties that can help your dog heal itself of disease. Amounts to feed will vary according to the metabolism and activity level of each individual dog. Let your dog’s appetite and weight be the ultimate gauge, remember a dog on the leaner side is always healthier than an overweight dog especially when dealing with heart disease. Smaller meals fed often are easier on your dog’s system than large meals. While a healthy dog can easily be fed once daily, you may want to divide your dog’s daily amount of food into two or more smaller meals. Chicken and Rice This diet is broken down below into 10 pound increments. Find your dog’s weight below and the recipe will be a TWO day supply of food for your dog’s weight. 10 Pounds 1 1/2 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 1 1/3 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 1/2 Cup Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 2 Teaspoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 20 Pounds 2 1/2 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 1 3/4 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 1 1/3 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 1 1/2 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 30 Pounds 3 1/4 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 2 1/2 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 1 2/3 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 1 3/4 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 40 Pounds 4 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 3 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 2 1/4 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 2 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 50 Pounds 5 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 3 1/2 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 2 3/4 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 2 1/2 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 60 Pounds 5 1/2 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 4 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 3 1/4 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 3 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 70 Pounds 6 1/4 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 4 1/2 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 3 3/4 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 3 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 80 Pounds 7 Cups Cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast 5 Cups Cooked long-grain brown rice 4 Cups Pureed fruit and vegetables (minimum, please feel free to increase fruits and veg) 3 1/2 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. *any organic plant based oil blend that says 3-6-9 omegas preferably with DHA, UDO’s makes a very nice one. So, after lengthy visits in person, emails, phone calls or all of the above you have been selected by Unique Dobermans as a valued member of the Unique Doberman Parent Group.
You have placed your deposit and returned your puppy sales contract... now you wait... and wait. But there are many things to be doing while you are awaiting the final days of picking up your bundle of joy at the airport. You have toys to buy, puppy food to select from the list we provided, harness, leashes and collars. Then you need to think about training your new best friend! 1. Begin Potty Training at the airport: Take your puppy out of his crate and put a well fitting harness on, you will have needed to pick up a harness that will fit a 15 to 20 lb dog. Attach a flexi lead to his harness and have some yummy treats for him to follow you around with. REMEMBER, your new puppy will not be leash trained so... just have him follow you around on the flexi lead and not much else until he relieves himself. It might take him a few minutes to get all of his plumbing going again so please be patient, remember he's been holding it a long time. Depending on the length of his flight and the distance he will still need to travel to get to his new home, you may decide to offer him a small meal and a bit of fresh water before you begin traveling home. Remember that within 25 - 30 min after eating and drinking you will need to stop and let him back out to go potty. Or anytime he begins to cry excessively. 2. Teaching Come: Your puppy will be very food motivated so teaching him to come when called is one of the most easiest things to train your new puppy there is. Take your puppy outside to play and relieve himself, then already have a high value treat such as a small piece of cheese, steak, chicken etc. when your puppy seems distracted in exploring his new environment call him by his new name as enthusiastically as you can all while waving the piece of food in your hand. He will put the two together incredibly fast. Only ask him to come once or twice while out playing, don't overdo it! 3. Teaching your Doberman to Sit: Once your new Doberman puppy has learned to come you may begin to teach him Sit. Ask your puppy to come, but instead of giving him the treat immediately when he comes, wait until he sits instead. Call your puppy to you, then take your treat and put it in front of his face while gently pushing his rear end down into a sit position, as soon as he sits give him the treat and tell him how smart he is! Repeat this 4 or 5 times per day and at each feeding time as well. Ask your puppy to sit while you prepare to place his food dish down, expecting him to wait patiently. Most importantly we highly recommend that you have your puppies vitamins on hand so that his vitamin regimen is not interrupted, you can use the breeders discount by clicking here: http://www.nuvet.com/69685 Essential elements of the type that characterize the Dobermann breed and judgment criteria
8/27/2017
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Learning is not an event Knowledge cannot be gained through a single event; in fact, it is the result of a continuous process of learning. So it is in every field and profession. For that reason, it’s not easy to judge or to breed. To judge correctly and to breed properly requires having lived some efficacious experiences through which we can gain the right conclusions that we can revise and continually improve by study and comparison. This allows the judge and the breeder to take part in the process of selection and genetic improvement of the dobermann and to decide on it.The official zootechnical evaluations (shows, aptitude tests, work tests) are useful for choosing – according to what is available from the phenotype – the best specimens for breeding and for excluding from it the ones that are presumed to be deteriorating.
Actually, it is the judgement to influence the breeding and both them work on selection and breed improvement. The judgement in canine zoognostic is the expression of an attentive and consistent evaluation written in a concise and complete way, that must correspond to a qualification and, if there’s comparison, to a list. However we have to keep in mind that when we judge dogs, the quality of the judge’s decisions depends on the interpretation of the standard of the breed according to his ability in order to:
Anyway, this choice cannot be arbitrary but, on the contrary, it must be closely connected with the precise principles stated by the standard of the breed. The judgement is the most important aspect, since a wrong judgement brings to wrong conclusions not only as far as the aspects of the morphological-functional evaluation are concerned, but also the character. I’m talking about morphological-functional evaluation because beauty, about dobermann, is essentially functional beauty, that’s to say of adaptation. This means that the standard requires the dobermann to have all those qualities that make him able to obtain the best performance with the minimum effort in the function he has been created for. So, the characteristics that take to concept of beauty are those that have a fundamental role in order to determine the breed type. The type is the essential element and if a dog lacks it he doesn’t belong to that breed anymore and he cannot be judged. Therefore with a dog who lacks in type or scarcely typical with such a dog we cannot breed. The ZTP test for the dobermann is based upon this principle. So we must explain clearly what we mean about the type. The type is the sum of the relative qualities required by the breed standard for each region of the body, in the respect of the fundamental elements constituted by the proportions between: height-length; height-body mass; height at the withers – length of the body; height of withers – height of chest and by the notes about character and behaviour that are included in the standard. The ideal type is obtained by respecting precise zoometric, physical and aesthetic parameters and avoiding excessive reinforcements that can cause damage to the image of the breed and, above all, to its use. In fact, the characteristics of the type concern both the structure and the movement and the nature and the basic qualities of the dog. To have a good eye for judgementThe judge has almost three minutes to evaluate each dog and to choose the more typical, with well developed secondary sexual characters, medium size and the most harmonious. So it’s easy to understand that a dog who is properly showed has more chances. The first questions a judge should make himself whilst evaluating a dog are:
Many dogs have the lower line longer than the upper line. This can be caused by an anterior angle too open that makes the dog appear longer than he really is or by a thorax hardly developed in height. Other dogs appear to be exactly square, but what about their croups? And their hind angles? Some others have enough long forequarters and narrow chests, is it serious? All these questions have precise answers that every breeder or dog lover should be able to give if they think and try to reason them out . Instead, this kind of approach should belong to a judge as an expert, it should be part of his judgement criteria and of his professionalism. Thus, to a judge the first impression is the dog on the whole, I’m talking about a judge who has a good eye for dogs. That’s to say that the judge is so mentally skilled and well trained that his brain, unconsciously, can catch the global image of the dog and immediately perceive the presence or the lacking in qualities. This makes the difference between an expert and a beginner: the expert realizes immediately what the beginner can see only at the end or can perceive by chance. Having a good eye for dogs is not a gift from nature, on the contrary it’s the result of a process slowly acquired. The observation about having a good eye, that we often hear at the ring, can be interpreted as the ability to make choices agreed by the public but without knowing the reason why. However this means “consensus on the judgement”, it’s nor science nor art. It’s important to have a good eye for something that other people approve, but to know why a particular characteristic is better than another is something very different from that. The expert judge is the one who can explain his choices by giving objective, convincing and technically incontestable reasons. To do that, besides having a high competence and knowledge about the standard, the anatomy, the canine zoognostic, the genetics and the zootechnics, the mechanics and the kinematics, the judge has to know the history, the present of the breed and the objectives of breeding too. That’s to say that he must know the point we started from, the situation we are and what we want to achieve. From this point of view, it’s up to breed societies to give the measures, also by giving guide lines and criteria. The analytical evaluationIn judging the dog by standing still, it would be better to subdivide the body of the dog into three parts head, body, and limbs, that are still subdivided in regions and sub regions. Each region must be identified, localized and limited on its relations with the surrounding regions and it must be described regarding its shape, position, length, height and direction in order to infer its qualities or faults. The analytical evaluation of a dog is based upon the careful observation of each region and sub region and the relations that are involved in forming the whole of him, unique and indivisible. The harmony of the whole comes out from the harmony of the single regions and sub regions, and in every breed it corresponds to a function that justifies the standard. The concept of harmony is essential, above all in the dobermann. In fact, the evaluation of the harmony of the whole is fundamental to the criteria of judgement since it also forms the basis of the judge’s ability to recognize whether a dobermann corresponds or not to the constitutional breed type, even before starting analysing the single quality and fault. The constitutional breed type is deduced from the standard, and it’s defined by:
The dobermann, as described and requested by the standard, is a galloping breed, with an alert temperament, a very developed cleverness, proud and self confident in every situations. His general appearance is of medium size, with a correct equilibrium between strength and elegance. So he must appear strong and muscularly built, powerful and elegant (by preferably being in the medium size accepted by the standard about the two sexes: 70 cm in males, 65/66 cm in females). His body is almost square, this means that in the dobermann the length of the body measured from the tip of the shoulder (shoulder blade – humerus articulation) to the tip of the buttock (ischium) is almost equal to the height at the withers. So, regarding his structure, the dobermann is an harmonious galloper, that’s to say that every regions of his body must be well proportioned in length, height and breadth, to the height at the withers and to the body as far as the volume and must have the right direction in comparison with the reference directrix. In the dobermann, the relations among the single regions are scientifically and coherently determined by that reason that he is a medium size galloper,, harmonious in his structure. Some examples of disharmony are: short head by comparison with the height at the withers or little in proportion to the body, back not well proportioned with the front, neck too weak by comparison with the body or too short in relation to the height at the withers, too little chest or too long forequarters in relation to the height at the withers. The dobermann is also harmonious in his outlines, that must be straight, that’s to say without interruption or jolts or tooaccentuate height differences. The outlines that we must consider in the judgement are those of the head, the lips, the neck, the back, the croup, the legs, the chest and the abdomen. The dobermann’s diametrical proportions are inferable by comparing the longitude diameters with the transverse diameters; these relations must therefore be those of a medium size galloper. When the transverse diameters prevail in a visible way we have the strong meso-morph type (shorter bones, fore chest excessively large, muscles developed in high rather than in length…); on the contrary, if thelongitude diameters prevail, we have the dolicomorph type (too long limbs, light head for length and volume, narrow fore chest, little developed chest in height, short and too much sloping croup, too rampant body top line, too much tuck up under line, light bones…). We must pay great attention to all that since at the base of the dobermann genetics there are both dolicho morph and strong meso morph dogs. In particular, we can represent that same genetic base by the geometric shapes hereby represented, from which it’s easy to realize the presence of Alex von Kleinwaldheim as common ancestor of all modern who still influences greatly and negatively the background inbreeding of many of them. Prof. Giuseppe Solaro used to say that the judgement should begin from the tip of the muzzle and finishes at the tip of the tail, going through all the regions of the body. Experience teaches the judge to synthesize in the judgement the positive and the negative elements that will determine the dog’s classification. I think that the real difficulty to judge correctly is that it’s easier to recognize the qualities rather than the faults in a dog. Maybe this is the difference, not even so thin, that marks the boundary between the expert judge and the profane. This should avoid seeing winning dogs with few faults but without qualities and class (style). We have already said that the judge, in the course of his job, has to comply with the standard of the breed because in it are described the normal type, that’s to say the ideal of the breed. I know well that the normal type is rare, anyway he’s the ideal to search for according to the morphological harmony and to the function. So, the best way to be useful to the breed is to try to achieve the type as described by the standard, through programs of breeding, shows and zootechnical tests. Working in a different way from this, means to make damage to the breed and also to their own breeding. I’m referring to the fact that some dog lovers, judges and breeders appear to be likely to exaggerate in the search for some characteristics of the type and do not pay the necessary attention to a correct selection of the normal and harmonious dobermann as described by the standard, promoting exaggerations of the type rather than recognize the quality in its right measure. In order to that, we must keep in mind that, in the dobermann, any deviation from the normality stated by the standard alters the harmony of the whole and or the function or a relative virtue, and, because of that, it must be considered a fault to be penalized according to its deviation from normality. Therefore, also each characteristic exceeding the type, that’s to say the hyper typical regions or sub regions are to be seen as a fault, since they alter the proportions or modify a relative virtue and don’t conform with the standard. It also happens that many people often confuse the absence of type with the hyper type. In fact, it’s wrong to classify as hyper type, for instance according to the characteristics of his head, a dobermann with a short muzzle and with a large and globular cranium. Who reasons in this way is certainly wrong, because he considers as hyper typical a head that in reality is out of type. Indeed, the hyper type, is the result of a genetic or environment forcing of a virtue, never of a fault. Hyper typical is a head 4/10 longer than the height at the withers, in which, for instance, the muzzle line is longer than the skull line, while the other relations are well kept. On the contrary it’s typical a head quite correct in proportions, axes, volume and outlines, even if longer than the height at the withers: “very good long head, parallel, shaped in the form of a blunt wedge and well proportioned, even if a little disharmonious compared with the height at the withers”. The same head with a muzzle line shorter than the skull line, or presenting another, not serious, fault in the proportions or in the lines, cannot be considered nor typical nor hyper typical; we can say that it is fairly or enough typical, but never very good or excellent. Once more, in the dobermann, we can consider hyper typical an eyelid with a tendency to bend inside to show an entropion, whereas this breed requires a thin and close lying eyelid, in a semi-lateral position in relation to the median axis of the cranium. This example, but it’s not the only one, represents also the case in which a deviation towards the hyper type can lead to disqualifying defaults. Now let’s take fore chest and chest into account. The fore chest is large, wide and muscular. Its width, measured at the upper front arms edges, must reach 25% the height at the withers. The manubrium of the breastbone must stay at shoulders point level. The chest must fall well (well developed in height), it must reach the elbow level; the ribs are long, well arched and oblique with well wide inter costal spaces. The lower edge of the fore chest, which overlaps with the lower edge of the breastbone, is long and its line makes a large chord semi circle that goes up towards the abdomen. The circumference of the chest must be almost ¼ more than the height at the withers. When the dimensions of the breast and chest are very smaller than the expectation and the whole forepart, from the ground to the tip of the funny bone is too long, that’s to say that it greatly exceeds the 51% of the height at the withers, everybody agrees that that dobermann is out of the constitutional breed type. Instead, it’s often considered as hyper type a dobermann with excessive transverse diameters, very wide chest, very large fore chest, powerful musculature and strong bones. I think this is a wrong way to reason about. In fact, if we consider the function and the speed normal dobermann must develop, I mean a dobermann corresponding to the standard, it’s easy to understand that even the dobermann who has been built to develop strength and not speed is out of the constitutional breed type, since he is slow and powerful, not rapid and full of temperament. In order to the normality and the hyper type, our late lamented dr. Valter Gorrieri wrote: “Milo, the great sculptor and harmony teacher, whilst modelling his Venus’ proportions, breast and gluteus, had the ability to limit the dosage without falling in those temptations that would have brought him to vain emphases, to form an ideal feminine beauty. Mirone followed these same principles sculpting his Discobolo. Both the artists shaped the image of a woman and of a man who, with exemplary normality, expressed an absolute virtue”. According to all that, I think that the general characteristics that define the dobermann can be summed up in a few words: “His general conformation is that of a meso morph with a perfect equilibrium between powerfulness and elegance, his body appears to be almost square, his structure and outlines are harmonious”. His principal characteristics of the type are:
The Italian school and our culture about selection and the about the morpho functional evaluation of the dobermann are essentially based upon three fundamental concepts:
In fact, 22 of the 57 regions that form the body belong to the head. So, it’s not wrong to say that the structure of the regions and sub regions that form the head marks for the great part the type of the dobermann. Naturally, the type of the head is not only due to its length and to the relation between the length of the skull and le length of the muzzle, but it’s due to the type and to the harmony of all its regions. One thing is to say “long and well in proportion”, other is to say “very typical head, parallel, well chiselled, shaped in the form of a blunt wedge, long and well in proportion and well detached from the upper edge of the neck; strong muzzle and jaw, tight lips; oval eyes in semi lateral position, dark ochre iris; correct stop, large and straight muzzle; correctly inserted nose, nostrils with large openings and mobile; flat cheeks; flat cranium; forehead furrow well visible; well contained zygomatic bone; eyebrow still visible; correct Occipital line; ear set high and well carried; thin throat…”. The dobermann ’s head is dolichocephalic; this means that its longitudinal diameter is more developed than the transverse one. Its total length (measured by the compass or then ruler from the upper front edge of the muzzle to the medium external point of the Occipital crest) reaches the 4/10 of the height at the withers; the length of the muzzle must be a half of the total length of the head, so that the one half of the total length of the head falls upon the horizontal line that links the interior angles of the eyes. The width between the two bone arches of the skull must be less than the half of the total length of the head; therefore the total head index must be more than 45. Head Index = Width x 100 / Total Length Seen from the profile and from the top, the dobermann’s head looks like a blunt wedge; seen from the side we can appreciate its upper outline that is straight like all the other outlines of the dobermann. About the head the straight profile coincides with a perfect parallelism between the axis of the skull and the upper axis of the muzzle. I want to use this occasion to give, according to scientific basis, a correct definition of these two axes or ideal planes, since it seems to me that many people still don’t know exactly how to individuate and to read in a way technically corrected the parallelism, the convergence and the divergence. I have seen recently a comment on the standard published by the American Dobermann Pinscher Club (they still call the dobermann “dobermann pinscher”…), with some drawings, very precise and very fine, but partly absolutely wrong, as wrong is the great part of the concepts that describe the salient points about the structure and the type of the breed. The head of all the dogs in the world submits to three upper outlines: straight, concave and convex. These outlines depend on the relation between the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and of the muzzle. This relation is called parallelism or convergence or divergence. The profile of the dobermann’s head is straight, like all its other outlines. This means that the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and of the muzzle are parallel. When the upper axis of the skull meets the upper longitudinal axes of the muzzle there is convergence. When the upper longitudinal ax of the muzzle meets the upper axis of the skull there is divergence. In fact, in these drawings by prof. Giuseppe Solaro, that represent the parallelism of the Setter, the mono convergence of the Pointer and the very marked divergence of the Italian Bracco, we can clearly see that the upper axis doesn’t not coincide with the upper outline of the skull, on the contrary it consists of the straight line or of the ideal plane that passes from the craniometrical point inion (corresponding to the medium external point of the occipital crest) to the craniometrical point nasion (corresponding to the point where the nasal bones meet the frontal bones). The axis of the muzzle, on the contrary, consists of the straight line or of the ideal plane that follows the upper outline of the muzzle, by linking the upper anterior extremity of the to its posterior extremity, that is at the halfway point of the transverse line that links the internal angles of the eyes. It’s often a little difficult, for those who don’t have a practised eye to catch the exact reference points, to say whether these two ideal planes or ideal lines are parallel or not, even because, looking at the dobermann’s head from side, the inion and the whole Occipital crest are invisible because hidden by the ears. In this case, a good method is to observe the upper axes while the dobermann is moving with his ears turned back. So everything will be clearer. I don’t want to give a particular attention to the faults of the head because, as I have already said, about it in Italy we have a good knowledge and good tradition that we ought to emphasize by further improve our products. However I’d like to point out the necessity of paying a particular attention not only to the proportion between the length of the skull and the length of the muzzle (many muzzles are still short) but above all to prominent noses in comparison with the front face of the muzzle and to thin and insufficient jaws often optically hidden by too developed lips rather than by a fleshy chin. These faults, partly improved during the last ten years, go together they are serious not only if considered themselves but because a pointed muzzle and a weak jaw usually denote a certain tendency towards undershot jaw. When this is absent, we often see lower incisors extremely inclined or little, in order to correct the shortness of the jaw. On the subject of tooth, it’s all right to pay attention to the alignment of the incisors during the first three years of life of the dog, but it would be more useful to pay the greatest care to the right shot between the incisors and the pre molars. In many dogs, the canines are too separated and the pre molars close badly. The judge should always notice these faults and penalize them according to their gravity. About that, we must consider that the faults concerning canines and pre molars that close badly often seriously condition the shot of the mouth and also the correct occlusion of the lower incisors with the upper ones. As far as the evaluation of the head, I only want to add two things. The first one concerns the eyes, the second is about the under orbital region. In a dog, the position of the eyes is very important because it is closely connected with the conformation of the orbits and of the skull, so it is a very important index of type. In the dobermann this position is semi lateral, even if to the minimum, according to the median axis of the skull. The eyelids are close lying and middle sized. They must be oval, neither round nor slit. The interior angle of the eyelid must be at the same distance between the front edge of the nose and the extreme external tip of the occipital crest. Therefore, there many dogs with eyes in sub frontal position and others in lateral position. Faults as such, fortunately not too common, are serious since they disfigure the expression of the breed. The eyes tell everything in a dobermann. His frank and direct look, expressive, ablaze and sometimes pushy, is his prerogative since it expresses the impetuous and generous being that characterizes our breed. However it’s very difficult to appreciate all that when we see a dobermann with little and deep set eyes. This absolute fault (that so is for all breeds), that we find more and more frequently in Europe, is genetically passed on and it often exceeds in microftalm that represent an out and out disease. So it’s correct that judges and breeders pay the greatest attention to this problem. According to the standard, the head of the dobermann, in each part, must not have wrinkles, the skin is thin and well close to underlying tissues, that’s to say absolutely soft and smooth, that makes you get a glimpse of the salient bones and the veins, as to emphasize its fine feature. This means that the whole head of the dobermann must be very well chiselled. In particular, the sub orbital region is strictly connected with this concept since its characteristics are determinant to exalt the dobermann’s expression and his type. The sub orbital region must be well chiselled; this means that it must have some protrusions that show a smooth and very thin skin, very little cellular tissue under the skin, muscles lightly developed. The sub orbital region includes a semicircle under the lower edge of the orbits. Its anatomic base is the upper part of the mascellar bone, part of the cheek bones and the orbits. Above all that, to be well chiselled means that the base of the cheek bone is little developed and so is the upper mascellar bone, which thinness shows the shapes of the two molars and of the sub orbital hole. All these shapes are more marked in a thin bone, as the dobermann should have, and are his particularities. Unfortunately the lack of these characters is rather common in Europe. It reveals thick skin, an exaggerate development of the under skin and muscular tissues as well as the mascellar bone and the base of the cheek bone, all that denotes scarce distinction: this fault is commonly called “kneaded head” or “not chiselled”. The dobermann ’s neck is like a blunt pyramid with the base down and a blunt top where the head is connected. The length of the neck, measured from the nape to the cranial edge of the withers, with the neck in distension, must be at least equal to the length of the head, or it must at least reach the 4/10 of the height of withers. Down, the neck must widen gradually and harmoniously toward the body: such harmony depends on the position of the shoulder blades and of withers; only high withers and well oblique shoulder blades make possible this harmonious fusion both on the sides and in high. In the dobermann, the neck must be carried erect, proudly and with nobility. The neck must be well muscled and this is very important because these muscles condition the movement of the dog (head-neck balancing) and are important for the movement of the arm and of the shoulder and for the solidity of the dorsal – lumbar region during the movement. A weak neck, fortunately rare to find in our breed, is a very bad fault in every breed; in fact, besides being disharmonious in comparison with the other regions of the body, it reveals weak physical structure and scarce endurance. The dobermann’s neck, moreover, must be well dry – it must not have any skin pleats at the lower edge; its upper outline shows a light convexity that starts just after the end of the nope and disappears while extending towards withers. Beyond the problems of flaccid skin that are diminishing in the last years, today we often see short necks, sometimes a little light, or cylindrical and a little flat, rarely weak necks, as already said. A dumpy neck gives the dobermann very ordinary features. Both a short neck and a cylindrical one are bad, that’s to say that there’s no harmony in forming a whole with the next regions, in particular shoulder, withers and back. This is always due to a short and badly sloping shoulder causing also some important faults in movement: dogs that fall ahead, problems while moving ahead the fore limbs, centre of mass moving backward, etc…. Related to the structure, we must notice that short shoulder is often connected with a short arm little sloping and with flat withers. It’s easier to see the fault about a short arm; whereas the judge avoids evaluating the length and the inclination of the shoulder because it’s more difficult to do. However we have to keep in mind that the most serious fault of the forequarters is always the shoulder, because it is more determinant than the arm in the mechanics of movement. Another important factor that influences negatively the proportion of our dobermann is the forearm that is often too long. Unfortunately, as we I have already said, this fault often is accompanied by a deviation of the type towards the greyhound. The dogs that have these faults must be penalized also in breeding since the excessive length of the forearm often alters the proportions between height and length of the dog and, therefore, the type (dogs shorter than tall with rampant upper lines). For reason of time, this can not be a complete argumentation anyway I want to announce you a forthcoming accurate treatise on this subject that I hope will arouse your interest. However, according to my objectives in writing this document, and even about the faults that nowadays characterize the dobermanns in Europe, I cannot leave out the upper outline of the body, the croup, the fundamental concepts about movement and, last but not least, the character. The upper outline of the body involves the back, the loins (kidneys) and the croup. Right now I want to say that, in every work breed, a well structured loin has one only correct outline: the convex one. In canine galloping breeds, that like the dobermann must have a very fast gallop, but also a remarkable endurance, the back outline has to be almost straight. By the dog’s anatomy we know that the function of the cervical ligament is to tense, lift up and give rigidity to the dorsal-lumbar part of the backbone. If this ligament is relaxed and weak, the spiny protuberances of the dorsal small bones converge towards their top causing the so called “saddle back”; in this case the dog has scarce endurance and is a little fast, on the contrary the “kyphotic back” is rigid and damages the flexibility of the spine causing difficult and skipping movements. Unfortunately still nowadays there are dobermanns who show weak backbones even standing still. An excessively long and/or frail kidney can make this problem worse. On the contrary, the kidney must be short, large and wrapped in muscles. If both back and kidney are weak, the problem is serious and we must pay great attention in judging and above all in breeding. Another reason to give attention is the croup. About it, even if in the last fifteen years things have improved, there still are many dogs that have a short croup excessively sloping. From a functional point of view, about the coup the slope is much more important than the length since it is fundamental for the movement. Such a consideration is not difficult to understand for anyone has elements of mechanics and animal physics of movement, even if approximate. In fact, the croup in its essential skeleton base, (Ilium and ischium) is the region through which the back push is given, therefore, if the slope is bad the dog’s gait will be seriously lacking. A croup that is too sloping will condition the back push up even if the hindquarters and the angles are correct, nor it’s worth the attention some handlers have to force the dog to move with the neck lifted by the collar. When this happens, the good judge already knows that the slope of the croup and/or the shoulder and of the arm is wrong. The evaluation of the dog while he is moving (at an ordinary walk, at a little trot and at a fast trot) is useful to verify if the harmony the dog shows standing still is real or is apparent. The main faults about the gait a judge should pay attention in the ring, are:
In order to the character, I want to tell in advance my personal belief: everybody talks about the character but just a few know its meaning. This is a big problem because, for instance, many breeders still believe to be able to judge themselves the character of their dogs, avoiding putting them to the required tests that are necessary to give an evaluation as much as possible objective. On the contrary, I believe that to understand in a correct way the character of a dog or, much better, to realize his nature in its various aspects and individual particularities is much more difficult than pick out the positive and negative notes that characterize the same dog according to the type and the structure. The character and the natural qualities of the dobermann are well described in the standard, so every judge, breeder and dobermann lover should understand and know that this evaluation cannot be disregarded and must be done in the correct way before qualifying any dog and, above all, before allowing him to reproduction. In a show the judge’s observation is objectively limited to the dog’s behaviour because the evaluation of the natural qualities and more in general of the dobermann’s qualities as a working dog are tested by the Ztp and the other sporting and training tests. So let’s see some behaviours or signals that are usual in insecure, nervous or fearful dogs. In the ring some dobermanns show a great insecurity or fear when they are measured or when we control their teeth or their testicles, or more easily when the judge goes near him. Others, especially some females, show to fear their fellows. From young class forward, dogs like those must be excluded from judgment and the same is for those dogs that show aggressiveness towards man or an excessive aggressiveness towards the other dogs. To tell the truth, in most cases it is a question of false aggressiveness or aggressiveness due to insecurity and fear. I think the judge can avoid excluding the babies and the juniors who show insecurity or fear because, at that age, the character (genetic predisposition + environmental influence) is not completely formed. Moreover also in these classes the dog’s behaviour should be described and the qualification should be visibly influenced by it. The experience in the ring should have taught to realize immediately any different expressions and insecure behaviours of the dobermann. The first information can be given by the way the dog moves when he gets into the ring. In this phase we happen to see some dogs entering insecurely, a little stiff, walking “on tiptoe” that’s to say almost grazing the ground rather than putting the limbs on it strongly, securely and in a relaxed manner. Such behaviour, after having been verified during the judgment through other signs, in most cases will demonstrate that that dog is insecure. There are other dobermanns who dilate the eyelids and lay bare the cornea as soon as the judge goes towards them and before he touches them, moving jerkily the ears laterally backwards and visibly lowering the tail, these are signs of serious insecurity or fear. The same is for those dogs who, if not called from the outside, trot holding the head high keeping the ears erect and the neck almost vertically. Unless these dogs have a serious fault of inclination of the shoulder, there are looking around with concern and are looking for protection because they feel possible dangers by being in an unknown situation. On the contrary, a secure dog that walks or trots calmly, holds his head lower with the neck in an almost horizontal position and turns his ears laterally backwards. Anyway, the behaviour of the same handler often suggests the judge the character of the dog. In all these cases above we must keep in mind that if these behaviours influence decidedly the judgment, even without exceeding, we must give evidence to the handler. It means that the handler has to be aware of the situation and understand it without the judge raging and humiliating the dog. by Pierluigi Pezzano Heatstroke and your Dobermann
8/27/2017
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While we most often think of heat stroke occurring to dogs left in cars, heat exhaustion and heatstroke can also happen anytime your Doberman hasn't had a chance to acclimate to the sudden and intense heat of summer such as a short spring, early and intense summers can overwhelm your Dobermans ability to deal effectively with the new surge in heat, your Doberman also may be especially vulnerable while traveling from your normally cool temperatures to a much hotter climate.
Here in Central Oregon's high desert we just went from freezing temps at night to a sustained 100+ daytime temperature for nearly 2 weeks! Our Dobermans are lucky that they have ponds and creeks to cool themselves in, but even so we had an older Doberman show the beginning signs of heat exhaustion while outside. We quickly hosed him down with cool water until he quit panting and brought him inside into the air conditioned 75' temperature where he stayed for the rest of the day. Pay close attention to those springs where your Doberman and even horses have not had a chance to acclimate, they and you can get caught off guard by the sudden and intense heat. On an 85°F day it takes only 10 minutes for the interior of a parked car to climb to 102°F. In a half hour, it can reach 120°F. And please don't think that by leaving windows partly open that you won't heat up the inside of you vehicle. Symptoms of overheating include: Heavy panting or rapid breathing, Excessive thirst, Staggering, Weakness and collapse, Glazed eyes, Dark red or bluish colored tongue, Excessive drooling. In addition to hot vehicles other contributors to pet overheating include humid conditions, lack of drinking water, obesity, and overexertion. Some Dobermans are at higher risk for heat-related illness than others, older pets, puppies, animals that are ill or have a chronic health condition, pets not used to warm weather, and any aged Doberman that has been left outside in very hot weather (i.e. above 95'). By the time your Doberman is showing signs of heatstroke, it may be too late to save him. How to Prevent Your Doberman from Overheating; Provide plenty of fresh clean drinking water at all times. If your Doberman will be outside for any length of time in extremely hot weather, they should have access to complete shade. If you think your dog is getting overheated remember that most Dobermans love to play in the sprinkler, or can give them a cool water hose bath to quickly cool them down. Don't walk or exercise your pet on blacktop or pavement when it's hot outside! Don't take your Doberman on a strenuous jog or long walk or hike when it's above 90', stick to the shade and grassy spots when you walk your Doberman. If you think your Doberman is beginning to suffer heat stroke or exhaustion please go immediately to the nearest veterinarian office for life saving treatment. http://homemadedogfood.com/easy-cooked-dog-food-recipe/
These are the two most common liquid wormers what we use here at Unique Dobermans to worm our mother dogs and puppies with.
Pyrantel Pamoate: Liquid Dosage is 50 mg per ML Double Dose is 5MG per LB of dog 1 ML per 10 Lbs of 50 mg/ml strength liquid Fenbendazole: Liquid Dosage is 100 mg/ml 23 MG per LB for 3 days in a row 10 Lb puppy needs 230 mg - 2.3 ML 20 lb 460 mg = 4.6 ml 25 lbs 575 mg = 5.75 ml 30 lbs 690 mg 6.9 ml 50 lbs 1150 mg = 11.50 ml Feeding your Doberman a Raw Diet
8/27/2017
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Raw Food Diet for your Doberman
A basic rule of thumb for feeding a raw diet is to feed 2% of your dog’s body weight. So if you have a 50 pound dog, they would be fed 1 pound of raw food per day. Unless you plan on buying a heavy duty meat grinder and grinding your own chicken necks and backs, a wonderful source for a complete 100% Organic Raw Chicken Diet is a company called Nature’s Variety. Their frozen diets can be found in select Pet Food stores across the US and Canada. The company has a store locator for on their website. Should you wish to prepare raw food yourself for your canine companion, there is endless information available online as well as many books on RAW food and BARF diets for Dogs. There are many companies that prepare and sell raw meals for dogs, but one of the only ones I have found that prepare an exclusively 100% Certified Organic line is NaturesVariety.com, I am sure there are other companies out there who make organic raw food, but make sure it is just that, ORGANIC. I have seen many companies who state they use “Organic ingredients when available”, which I do not trust. Natures Variety Organic Raw chicken comes in small 1 oz medallions which are great for small breeds and is also available in 8 oz patties for larger dogs. Make sure if you decide to go with a store bought raw food you don’t forget to add more fresh raw pureed veggies and of course your Dog Greens! Transitional Diet This recipe is easily pureed so it can be syringe fed to animals whose illness has caused them to lose their appetite. While animals will instinctively fast when they are ill which is natural and can be helpful in healing, it is important not let them go without food for more than a few days. Below you will find recipes broken down into Daily Amounts based on your dog’s weight. 10 Pounds 1/5 Pound (90 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 1/2 cup Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 1/2 cup organic veggies 1/2 Teaspoon soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 Teaspoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 20 Pounds 1/4 Pound (113.5 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 3/4 cup Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 3/4 cup organic veggies 1 Teaspoon soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 2 Teaspoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 30 Pounds 1/3 Pound (150 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 1 cup Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 1 cup organic veggies 1 1/2 Teaspoons soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 Tablespoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 40 Pounds 1/2 Pound (227 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 1 1/2 cups Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 1 1/2 cups organic veggies 2 Teaspoons soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 1/4 Tablespoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 50 Pounds 2/3 Pound (302 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 1 1/2 cups Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 1 1/2 cups organic veggies 2 Teaspoons soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 1/2 Tablespoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 60 Pounds 3/4 Pound (340.5 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 1 3/4 cups Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 1 3/4 cups organic veggies 2 1/2 Teaspoons soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 1/2 Tablespoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 70 Pounds 1 Pound (454 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 2 cups Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 2 cups organic veggies 1 Tablespoon soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 1 3/4 Tablespoon *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. 80 Pounds 1 1/4 Pound (567.50 grams) Organic Extra-Firm Tofu 2 1/2 Organic Bean Mixture (2 parts chick peas (garbanzo beans), 1/2 part pinto beans, 1/2 black beans) 2 1/2 cups organic veggies 1 Tablespoon soaked nuts/seeds (Raw Sunflower no shell, Raw Brazil nuts, Raw Almonds) 2 Tablespoons *Oil Blend Add a dose of Dog Greens to each meal as recommended in daily program schedule immediately before serving. Preparation Instructions: Soak beans in filtered water until re-hydrated (approx. 8 hours), soak nuts/seeds as well in a separate bowl. Both can be soaked in the refrigerator. Strain beans, get a crock pot (slow cooker) and put the beans in and cover with about an inch or two of fresh water. Turn on low and let cook overnight. In the morning when beans are fully cooked (soft) let cool, chop up some fresh organic fruit and veggies (greens, baby greens, red pepper, tomato, carrot, zucchini, sprouts, etc.) add them to the crock pot with the cooked beans along with the soaked and drained nuts or seeds then add enough water so you can blend it all up with a hand blender (immersion blender) until it is pureed. Scoop out enough for your dog’s meal based on his weight above, crumble or chop tofu and mix in along with the a dose of Dog Greens and the Oil Blend. Store the remaining bean mixture in fridge for future meal(s). Feel free to cook larger batches of the beans and freeze unused portions for later use. Beans can also be cooked in a pressure cooker, this way is very fast but you must watch carefully. You may also cook the beans in a regular stainless steel or glass pot on the stove but this takes much longer and must be monitored. *any organic plant based oil blend that says 3-6-9 omegas preferably with DHA, UDO’s makes a very nice one. Big Dobermans and Children
8/27/2017
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BIG DOBERMANS AND CHILDREN
1. Do not allow a child however small, to tease the dog either physically or verbally. The child who shrieks and leaps incessantly beside a nervous puppy may drive him to snap out in fear OR prey drive as quickly as the child who grabs its tail or sits on it. If a child is disobedient and persistent, insist his parents remove him. Do not even once allow him to continue. 2. Do not allow a small child to pick up or carry a puppy. Puppies, like babies are afraid of falling. They will often squirm and fight to free themselves. If successful, they may break a leg or worse injure their necks. (Vet bills are not cheap.) If panicked they may even bite. Remember, in this case, it is not the puppies fault, but yours for allowing the situation to progress to the point where the puppy can no longer cope with it. Encourage the child to get down on the puppies level, ie. the floor for fun and games. They can play all they like without either one getting hurt and the puppy is free to move away when he has had enough. A child may not realize the fact that he has inadvertently cornered the pup and set in motion a series of instinctive behavior mechanisms. 3. Do not expect the pup to absorb endless punishment in the form of constant noise or teasing. He will learn to defend himself unless he has some place to go such as a crate, bed, corner, or run where he can go when he does not want to be disturbed. Make certain that everyone understands that he is not to be disturbed there, and then make sure that he is not. He will come back out when he is ready to. 4. Do not leave your dog unattended in the yard with small children no matter how trustworthy you may think your dog is. Although Dobermans enjoy children more so than many other breeds, they are not a miracle dog and must be treated the same as any other large dog when around children. A dog may not mean to hurt a child, yet it usually seems to turn out the other way. 5. Do not buy a dog until you have a fence for him outside where he can be safe from: * Teasing by small children * Dognappers & Stray dogs * Mishaps on the road *Dogs which are tied become defensive, bored and irritably aggressive. 6. Enlist the help of your child in the training of the dog; this will increase his sense of self-importance, his concern and knowledge of animal behavior. "If Max wakes up, take him outside right away so he won't make a mistake in the house. You watch, Billy, in case I don't notice, okay?" Don’t ever allow a child to wake a sleeping dog.. The old adage “Let a Sleeping Dog Lie” is very true! 7. Do insist that neighborhood children who come to play abide by the same rules that you expect of your own. "Stuart, we don't hit Max with sticks. Here, throw it for him instead. Look how happy he is now! I think he likes you." If Stuart delivers a sly kick instead, stop him. (A little knowledge of gentle collar control is useful with children, as well as dogs). Put the dog in his run or crate and see to it that Stuart leaves him alone. If Stuart is uncooperative, send him home, nicely but firmly. If you get angry, he will be angry and defiant too. When he learns that he simply cannot play at your house if he continues, he will probably stop if he feels that you basically like him and that it is only his specific action that you dislike. Here again, take two minutes to give the child and the dog something constructive to do. Let the child have the opportunity to receive a warm response from the dog and he may become your staunchest ally. "Hey Mrs Jones!, I just saw Max down the street. Someone must have left the gate open." 8. Do teach the dog to sit before he is given food or a treat, and to wait for an okay to take it. Your Doberman pup will grow quicker than your toddler. If the sit stay becomes automatic, you will find him sitting before a baby with food, hoping but never touching. Parents of visiting children are less than understanding when your 75 lbs pup grabs for a cookie and their child goes tumbling. Many fears of dogs are traced back to just such an incident. They will not only remember that it was a large dog but also that it was a DOBERMAN. Never allow a small child to take the pup's food or bone as this could create a problem later when the pup has grown into adulthood. 9. Do give your Doberman simple obedience training so that he will be spared random scolding’s and confusion. "DOWN" and "SIT" are pleasant commands to a pup if they are rewarded with a brushing or a tummy rub by their young master. 10. Don't expect the dog to be patient with your child unless you have taught him to be. He will learn to defend himself, if he realizes that you consistently rescue him before he gets hurt. Conversely you must teach the small child to be patient with the dog. Don't reinforce his fears if he inadvertently takes a tumble by telling him what a big, mean, naughty dog that is. Be matter of fact, pick him up, staunch the blood, and say, "Here, help me teach Max to be gentler." Help the child learn to cope with the situation, reinforce his confidence with small things that he can handle, and be there to handle a situation that proves to be more that he can control. 11. Do not expose an innocent passerby to your Doberman’s protective tendencies. Do not leave your Doberman and your small child outside a store and expect them to take care of each other. Some well-intentioned stranger may be bitten. Even though your dog may do exactly what you wish him to do under different circumstances, he will be the one put down at the local animal shelter while you face an expensive lawsuit. Never assume that the public understands dog behavior. The fool who puts his hands inside your car or the boy who pokes at the dog through a fence, obviously do not, but you may end up paying the doctor’s bills. 12. Do increase your childs sense of responsibility and pride of achievement by letting him help as much as he can. Do not expect him to know what to do. Guide him. "Here is Max's dish, Billy, tell him to come. That's it, now tell him to sit." (You help max sit. He is just learning that he must also obey Billy too.) "Good, now put the dish down. Tell him okay. There, see how nicely he obeyed you!" Billy will leave with the distinct impression that he is the world’s smartest dog trainer and that his dog is the smartest dog on the block. HELP!?! My puppy has diarrhea.
8/27/2017
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 Why Does My Puppy Has Diarrhea?
As a Breeder of World Champion bred Doberman Pinscher Puppies we are ever watchful of our puppies stools, always on the lookout for a change in consistency or color and we recommend you as a new Doberman Pinscher owner do the same throughout your Dobermans life as well. If your puppy has a loose stool, greasy sandy puddle, slimy or mucousy stool or occasional diarrhea: Common Causes:
Possible causes for Watery or bloody diarrhea:
Please remember puppies can be extremely resilient, BUT are also very fragile, if your puppy develops water diarrhea, bloody stools or vomiting, take him to the veterinarian hospital immediately! A young puppy can die within hours of starting diarrhea and vomiting due to the imbalance of electrolytes. FEEDING YOUR LARGE DOBERMAN PUPPY
8/27/2017
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Many bone, joint and growth problems can be averted by following a veterinarian recognized quality large breed puppy food and not allowing your Doberman puppy to get fat or grow too fast. Once your puppy leaves our home, we can not be responsible for the care it receives or for your veterinarian choices for medical proceedures. This is why we stress the importance of keeping in contact with photos, video and emails so we as the breeder can help you resolve problems and potential problems before they happen or become a chronic condition. Large breeds of dogs are prone to special and specific typs of injuries, overfeeding or feeding the wrong types of food can cause these issues to develop in an otherwise healthy and sound puppy. Does your female puppy have a discharge from her vulva? What is that?
Puppy vaginitis is simply an overproduction of mucus in female puppies. Puppy vaginitis can appear as early as six weeks of age, and if you don't bother her with harsh shampoo, douches, toxic baby wipes (yes they are toxic) it generally will resolve all on its own when your puppy begins to reach puberty. Puppy vaginitis can sometimes be confused with urinary tract infections. True puppy vaginitis is a benign condition, and should not be treated with antibiotics or douches. Puppy vaginitis is part of the maturation process of the reproductive tract. Generally this is a self limiting condition of the female reproductive tract during maturation. Sometimes puppies will lick themselves excessively, if this is the case take your Doberman puppy to your veterinarian for an evaluation. It is also common for female pups to get a true UTI (urinary tract infection) at puberty between 6 to 9 months of age. Cranberry pills wrapped in cheese 3 times a day will change the ph of her urine and will usually clear up all but the toughest UTI's. As always consult with your veterinarian before treating your puppy. http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ TOP 5 LARGE BREED PUPPY FOODS FOR DOBERMANS
Unique Dobermans are weaned onto Kirkland Natures Domain puppy food, then by 3 to 4 months of age they will need transferred onto a good "Large Breed Puppy Food" designed especially for your rapidly growing Doberman puppy. Currently our favorites are: 1. Wellness Large Breed Puppy 2. Fromm Gold Holistic Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food3. Wellness Grain-Free Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal 4. Castor & Pollux Organix Puppy Recipe with Chicken, Brown Rice and Flaxseed 5. AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula Large Breed Puppy 6. Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy 7. Pro Pac Ultimates Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy 8. Premium Edge Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable 9. NutriSource Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula 10. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Puppy Formula Potato & Duck Formula Recommended Calcium Guidelines: Fortunately, there’s general agreement among the experts. To meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth in large breed puppies, a dog food must (on a dry matter basis) contain:
Special Caution for Canned and Raw Feeders: As a general rule, many (but not all) canned or raw dog foods tend to contain notably more calories per serving — which means they may not meet the strict safety guidelines listed above. In fact, if the dog food you’re planning to feed contains more than 4000 calories per kilogram, the recipe must meet special calorie-weighted AAFCO nutrient requirements. These energy-dense dog foods must contain:
A puppy born weighing only one pound can quickly grow to 100 pounds or more within the first 24 months of its life. This accelerated growth rate means that large breed puppies are very sensitive to nutrient and caloric intake – imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses all negatively impact your large breed puppy’s health and development. Growing too quickly has been linked to developmental orthopedic disease (DOD), which includes the following conditions:
Slow and Steady Wins the Race! http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ Dobermans and DCM Supplements
Diet and Heart Disease Heart disease is common in dogs and cats, especially in older animals. As many as 10 percent of all dogs can have heart disease. Until the 1980s little was known of any relationship between diet and heart disease. Since then some important nutrients have been documented as important in preventing several forms of heart disease. Also as has been known for years, nutrition is important in managing fluid retention caused by chronic heart failure. Taurine and Heart Disease Animals manufacture the amino acid taurine that is essential for normal structure and function of the retina, platelets and heart. With taurine deficiency, cats can develop feline taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy. The problem can be suspected from physical examination and thoracic radiographs showing heart enlargement. The problem is diagnosed by low plasma taurine (less that 20 micromol/L). Normal plasma taurine ranges between 50 and 120 micromol/L. Dilated cardiomyopathy also affects some American Cocker Spaniels which have low plasma levels of both taurine and L-carnithine (see below). Heart disease in other animals may be related to deficiency of these nutrients. Most animals make enough taurine that deficiency doesn't develop. Cats cannot make enough to meet their needs, however. Cats depend on dietary taurine to supply adequate amounts. Diets containing animal proteins usually provide cats with enough taurine. There are some exceptions. Animal proteins in cheese and eggs contain little or no taurine. Cats cannot be fed these proteins unless they are supplemented with taurine. Plants also do not manufacture taurine so plant proteins in tofu or other soy products, beans, and cereals cannot be fed without added taurine supplements. Plant-produced proteins can be fed to dogs because they produce taurine from other amino acids. Taurine unlike other amino acids is not incorporated in protein structure but is free in body fluids. Meat processing that results in loss of its juices causes loss of taurine. Feeding processed nutrients can cause taurine deficiency in cats. Feline taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy was not recognized before cats were fed commercial pet foods. Cats living primarily on a carnivorous diet do not develop the problem; they consume enough taurine. Since the pet food industry recognized that taurine deficiency was a cause of medical problems, cat foods were supplemented with taurine. The first problem recognized was blindness caused by retinal degeneration. Addition of taurine to the diet solved that problem. Not enough taurine was added to prevent cardiomyopathies, however. With the recognition that heart problems were caused by taurine deficiency, more taurine was added to cat diets. Dry foods need high taurine, 1000 to 1200 mg taurine/kg dry weight. Canned foods need twice this amount to maintain normal taurine in body tissues. Cats with cardiomyopathy are treated with taurine, giving initial doses of 250 to 500 mg twice a day. If heart disease resolves, 6 to 12 weeks of therapy are required. (Other medications such as diuretics and vasodilators are also needed.) With improvement, taurine supplementation can be reduced to 250 mg daily. Recovered cats’ diets should always contain adequate taurine. Despite awareness of problems caused by taurine deficiency, some cats may be fed inadequate taurine, especially if their diets contain primarily cereals or a single processed food. It is unknown if all commercial cat foods contain adequate taurine. All diets for feeding normal cats in website contain enough taurine. Vegetarian diets have taurine added in a powder or capsule form. Carnitine and Heart Disease Animals use lysine and methionine to synthesize L-carnitine. This compound is classified as a water-soluble vitamin or a nonessential amino acid. It is needed to transport free fatty acids into mitochondria of cardiac muscle. Carnitine is esterified with fatty acids to facilitate their movement across cell membranes. Inside mitochondria, oxidation of fatty acids generates energy in the form of ATP. Carnitine remaining after fat oxidation forms esters with potentially toxic waste products and transports them from mitochondria. Carnitine deficiency is associated with heart problems in some Boxer, Doberman Pinscher and American Cocker Spaniel dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Some of these dogs improve and live longer with oral L-carnitine supplements. No one knows why some animals suffer from carnitine deficiency. It may result from inadequate dietary carnitine, lysine, or methionine or from intestinal malabsorption of these nutrients. Deficiency could also result from excess renal loss of these nutrients. Defective transport of carnitine esters across mitochondrial membranes could be a factor. Carnitine deficiency is often difficult to diagnose. Dilated cardiomyopathy causes specific physical findings and radiographic changes. They do not prove carnitine deficiency, however. Plasma carnitine can be measured but that can be normal and not necessarily reflect carnitine levels in cardiac muscle. Up to 80 percent of dogs with carnitine deficiency in cardiac muscle have normal or increased plasma carnitine concentrations. Deficiency is proven only by measuring carnitine in cardiac muscle biopsies.Carnitine deficiency is treated with L-carnitine given orally at a dose of 2 grams mixed with food three times a day. This treatment appears to have few adverse side-effects. With success, appetite and activity improve after 1 to 4 weeks of therapy. Carnitine supplementation increases its level in heart muscle in most, but not all, dogs.Dilated cardiomyopathy caused by carnitine deficiency may be prevented by feeding diets high in carnitine. Carnitine is most abundant in red meat and dairy products. Feeding non-meat based commercial pet food results in dogs having plasma carnitine levels 50 percent lower than those consuming meat-based diets. Thus, although dogs are said not to be strictly carnivores and they can be fed vegetarian diets, feeding the cereal-based commercial dog foods is not likely to support adequate carnitine levels in heart muscle. Furthermore, heat may inactivate carnitine, something possible during processing of commercial dog food. Dilated cardiac myopathy caused by carnitine deficiency is prevented and treated best by feeding foods high in L-carnitine. The meat- and dairy product-based diets in this website provide dogs with abundant carnitine. http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ Puppy Playful Biting and Prey Drive
What do prey drive and puppy nipping have to do with each other? Everything! The strongest drive a dog has is the prey drive. If it moves, they go after it. Dogs are predators and their survival depended on seeing a bunny and chasing it down for their food. In the domestication of dogs we must understand that domesticating them hasn’t taken away their instincts. The instinct to fetch a ball, hunt down a bird, tree a raccoon, chase a frisbee, follow a falling leaf, herd sheep, track a scent, hunt varmints (love those little terrier breeds), chase each other while biting each others legs then falling into a tumbling wrestling match and go after our pant legs as we walk or playfully bite us when we’re interacting with them is the instinctive prey drive in all it’s glory. Our job is to teach them what’s appropriate and what’s not. While we have so much fun with them in all these aspects we don’t realize that our own body language and energy is actually perpetuating playful biting in our puppy’s as well as not meeting their needs with dog to dog play time, exercise and a training program, every day until they hit their age of maturity which is somewhere between the ages of 11/2 – 3 yrs of age. What most people do when their dog is nipping them is to get reactive by either pushing them away, yelling at them, holding their mouths closed, hitting them, flicking them under their chin and any number of other things I shudder to think about. Think about this for a moment. When a puppy is playful biting they are engaging you to interact with them. Puppy’s love a good game of chase, tug-o-war and wrestling so when you push and retract your hand the puppy sees the movement of your hand as prey and they go after it for more fun. If you yell at or hit your dog you will create a fearful dog and a fearful dog is likely to become aggressive as an adult dog. The key here is to RESPOND not REACT. Reacting is what your pup is after so we need to learn to respond with appropriate body language and energy while teaching them how we want them to behave. Remember, they don’t understand the difference between the movement of your legs/hands or a ball that you toss just like they don’t understand the difference between the ball they bring you to throw and you gladly oblige them or the shoe they bring for fetch and you yell at them. It’s all the same in their world and it’s up to us to teach what’s OK in our world and what isn’t by responding with appropriate body language and energy not reacting. What to do? Disengage, by shutting down your body language and energy completely and ignore the dog. This means no eye contact, no movement at all, be still. Say NO or OUCH. Stay quiet for at least 15 seconds or more if need be. Make a fist if he’s biting your hand, stop moving if he’s biting your pant leg, STOP everything. When the puppy stops, redirect the energy into something familiar like SIT at which time you can quietly praise the puppy while offering a toy for a replacement. If he starts again, repeat until he stops. If he doesn’t you must look to what part of your communication was ineffective and try again. Learning to respond not react means that you are becoming more aware of your own body language/energy and you are understanding what your puppy’s body language and needs are so that you are able to teach the puppy what behaviors you want and don’t want. This kind of communication is where real training starts. Jill Breitner I've been studying dog body language for almost 40 years. My lifelong interest in helping people train their dogs began at the age of nine after reading a LIFE magazine article about Dr. Jane Goodall. Goodall's work observing chimpanzees fired my own devotion to animals into a full-blown passion. From that early age, I keenly observed the creatures around me and how people interacted with them. Years later, my zeal schooled by a degree in Animal Science and sharpened by working as a Veterinary Technician, I came to understand that my true calling was educating people how to better understand and train their dog. The Dog Decoder smartphone app is my latest endeavor in this education of humane education and safety between humans and dogs. http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ Dobermann DCM Diet Recommendations
8/27/2017
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Dietary Management of Chronic Heart Disease in Dogs:
Diets for management of heart disease must contain normal amounts of taurine and L-carnitine. Beef-based diets provide more L-carnitine than chicken-based diets. Both beef and chicken provide taurine. Sodium-restricted diets must be used with sodium and fluid retention, hypertension or congestive heart failure. Potassium supplementation is necessary with suspected or proven potassium depletion. With increased plasma potassium, dietary potassium should be low. Magnesium is often lost so dietary magnesium should be higher than usual. Diets should be highly palatable. Vitamin B12 should be given by tablet several times a month or by feeding a food such as sardines that contains abundant amounts. Beef, Potato and Chicken Fat Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, High Potassium, High fat 8 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (228 grams) 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 2/3 teaspoon bone meal powder (4 grams) 1/5 tablet B complex vitamin-trace mineral (made for humans) provides 909 kcalories, 47.8 g protein, 37.9 g fat supports caloric needs of 31 pound dog provides sodium 105 percent, potassium 254 percent, magnesium 212 percent of dog's needs Beef and Potato Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, High Potassium, Lower Fat 8 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (228 grams) 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 2/3 teaspoon bone meal powder (4 grams) 1/5 tablet B complex vitamin-trace mineral (made for humans) provides 792 kcalories, 47.8 g protein, 24.9 g fat supports caloric needs of 31 pound dog provides sodium 112 percent, potassium 262 percent, magnesium 229 percent of dog's needs Chicken, Potato and Chicken Fat Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, High Potassium, Low Fat 1 cup cooked chicken breast (285 grams) 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 2/3 teaspoon bone meal powder (4 grams) 1/5 tablet B complex vitamin-trace mineral (made for humans) provides 735 kcalories, 49.3 g protein, 17.8 g fat supports caloric needs of 23 to 24 pound dog provides sodium 111 percent, potassium 267 percent, magnesium 244 percent of dog's needs Beef, Rice and Chicken Fat Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, Low Potassium, High fat 8 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (228 grams) 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320 grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 grams) 1/5 tablet B complex vitamin-trace mineral (made for humans) provides 913 kcalories, 47.6 g protein, 37.3 g fat supports caloric needs of 31 pound dog provides sodium 94 percent, potassium 61 percent, magnesium 135 percent of dog's needs Beef and Rice Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, Low Potassium, Low fat 8 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (228 grams) 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320 grams) 1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 grams) 1/5 tablet B complex vitamin-trace mineral (made for humans) provides 796 kcalories, 47.6 g protein, 25.3 g fat supports caloric needs of 26 pound dog provides sodium 101 percent, potassium 65 percent, magnesium 146 percent of dog's needs Chicken, Rice and Chicken Fat Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, Low Potassium, Moderate Fat 1 cup cooked chicken breast (285 grams) 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320 grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 grams) 1 multiple vitamin mineral tablet provides 739 kcalories, 49.5 g protein, 18 g fat supports caloric needs of 23 to 24 pound dog provides sodium 103 percent, potassium 65 percent, magnesium 159 percent of dog's needs add salt substitute (potassium chloride, 1/4 teaspoon) to bring potassium to 136 percent of needs Chicken and Rice Diet Normal Protein, Minimum Sodium, Low Potassium, Low Fat 1 cup cooked chicken breast (285 grams) 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320 grams) 1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 grams) 1 multiple vitamin mineral tablet provides 624 kcalories, 49.5 g protein, 5.25 g fat supports caloric needs of 26 pound dog provides sodium 103 percent, potassium 56 percent, magnesium 173 percent of dog's needs add salt substitute (potassium chloride, 1/4 teaspoon) to bring potassium to 147 percent of need References 1. Stepien, Rebecca L. and Matthew W. Miller. 1994. Cardiovascular Disease. In The Waltham Book of Clinical Nutrition of the Dog and Cat. edited by J. M. Wills and K. W. Simpson, 353-371. Oxford: Pergamon Press. 2. Morris, James G. 1995. Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases in Animals. 10-1 to 10-27. Class Notes for Veterinary Medicine 408, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ Conium maculatum Homeopathic Treatment for Spondylosis or Myelopathy in Dobermans.
Conium is a homeopathic treatment for dogs with a weakness or paralysis of the hind end due to Spondylosis or myelopathy type issues. Conium is a wonderful remedy for older dogs, particularly if they have degenerative conditions of the spinal cord. Conium is an excellent remedy older dogs who are becoming sluggish with age or experiencing problems walking, incoordination in gait, trembling, sudden loss of strength while walking, painful stiffness of legs, etc. Conium can help with paraplegic conditions and any hind leg weakness. Dosage with Conium has given excellent results in post-distemper paralysis in dogs Conium can be useful controlling tumor growth especially if the tumors are hard and associated with glands such as the testes or mammary (teats) especially when the growth comes on in older age. Some forms of hardening of the lymph glands will also benefit. As the dog ages there can also be weakness of the bladder. This remedy helps preserve the function of the bladder so that urination is normal and complete emptying of the bladder can be accomplished. Its affinity to hardened tissue suggests its use in prostate enlargement in dogs. General indications or modalities: ✦ Stiffness of the legs and weakness or paralysis of the hind end ✦ Glandular conditions with hardening of the glands, breasts, testes ✦ Degeneration of the spinal cord with ascending paralysis ✦ Ulceration of the cornea, weakness of the lids, excessive tearing ✦ Worse lying down, or rising from the bed ✦ Better in the dark, from pressure and with less food. Conditions that respond to Conium: Weakness and hind end paralysis in older dogs, bladder weakness, corneal ulceration, hard indurated glands, tumors of the glands Dosage: Give one dose per day for paralysis, corneal ulceration, glandular conditions. Stop when you see improvement and do not repeat again until symptoms recur. http://pets-homeopathy.com/additional_remedies/conium-maculatum/ http://www.uniquedobermans.com/ What is the cost of a Unique Doberman? A thing of beauty.... is a joy forever. Even though you may not be interested in showing or breeding, a well-bred and healthy quality Unique Doberman puppy will bring you joy every day of it's life and he will provide you with enduring happy memories for a lifetime. He will grow into a handsome dog of which you will surely be proud of. The features of appearance temperament that attracted you to the Unique Doberman will be found only in the few select puppies which are carefully planned to preserve these typical breed characteristics.
We have spent years seeking out the finest kennels in the world and have invested well over a hundred Thousand Dollars in our current Dobermans. As evidenced by their pedigree, your Unique Doberman has been bred to a far higher standard, we have sought out bloodlines with greater intelligence, stronger work ethic and a stronger desire to please, longer life expectancy while being healthier, which hopefully means less Veterinarian bills and suffering for you and your dog. The difference in cost of the quality Unique Doberman that is from imported stock and a pet puppy from someone's backyard or worse, becomes small indeed when you consider the longevity, health and a willingness to please it's master and the years of Safety and Protection it will provide for you and your family. I have had multiple calls from heartsick buyers who had purchased a less expensive puppy from a local breeder out of the paper or online only to have spent thousands of dollars on vet bills later. Many of them ended up burying their pet even after their heroic financial efforts to try and save them..... They were heartbroken and financially devastated! Will this guarantee 100% that nothing will ever go wrong health wise with your new Doberman? Of course not, they are living breathing animals, but it certainly stacks the odds in your favor! Our Unique Dobermans are $3500.00 limited registrations, your puppy comes complete with dew claws removed, tails docked, micro-chipped for lifetime identification, ears cropped beautifully and lifetime full breeder support! The sire of our litters sold for 5 figures and our females were expensive to import as well. The airline fee alone to import a dog from Europe is now over $2800.00 Yours and especially your child’s comfort and safety is priceless There's an old saying that.... "You get what you pay for" If this sounds and looks like the kind of Doberman you are looking for then give us a call or drop us an email at jan @ uniquedobermans . c 0 m Our Unique Dobermans are bred and raised to be your ultimate protector and companion, they are fearless and loving, if you are smarter than the average Unique Doberman then you will have found your new best friend right here, are YOU up for it ? :)
Nope, I'm not joking.... you're looking at the smartest Doberman Puppy you'll ever own! Would you like to have fun and play with your Unique Doberman too? You can IF you allow the breeder (us) to make a careful selection on the correct temperament of your next Doberman best friend! Just be consistent in showing your Unique Doberman what you want it to do and they'll do the rest. Unique Doberman Pinschers were bred to be your family's best friend and protector, they live for this. Your Doberman Pinscher will want to be close, your Doberman Pinscher will sleep with you if you let him, your Doberman Pinscher will snuggle on the sofa with you if you let him. The only desire in a Unique Doberman Pinscher life is to be as close to you as possible so he can protect you, he was bred for this one purpose in life, please let him do the job he was bred for! Our philosophy of what a personal protection dog is, is very simple: We believe a Unique Doberman desires to be a highly valued member of your family who that if it’s needed, will protect you fearlessly by barking, chasing away, or when necessary having the courage and ability to engage physically. A Unique Doberman is also a loving and affectionate member of the family that enjoys normal daily family life, with family and friends. Should I buy a Male or Female Doberman? This is a common question I get asked from time to time.... The Unique Doberman possess four characteristics which makes it stand out among all the other breeds, speed, power, quick reaction time and independent thinking. ALL good Dobermans will have this independence tempered with a strong desire to please his master, regardless of sex.
Females: ~ In most cases she will be more concerned about pleasing her master. The female is usually a little faster and her reaction time a little quicker than the male. While she is not smarter than the male, she usually trains easier as she will pay better attention to her owner. Males: ~ He is more powerful than the female because of his size. He can be harder to control because he is more determined and interested in what is going on in the world around him. If he is taught manners and well trained early in life, he will make a wonderful companion and Watchdog! Are Dobermans good pets with children? The Unique Doberman is an EXCELLENT family dog! A life as a family member is our goal in producing a litter. He is a devoted companion and protector. With training and intelligent socialization of the dog and child, the Doberman makes a gentle playmate for a kind and considerate youngster. He makes an excellent dog for a junior who wishes to exhibit in dog shows, obedience trials or Schutzhund competition. Our Dobermans are even great in 4-H. Are Dobermans easy to care for? The Dobermans thick short coat needs only an occasional brushing and his toenails kept trimmed neatly. In bad weather, a vigorous toweling will quickly clean and dry him. He is naturally as tidy as a cat and keeps himself clean and rarely has any "Doggy odor". He is easily housebroken and will adjust to most anyone's daily routine... he just wants to be with his master. He will appreciate a romp outside or a long hike, but he is most content to just curl up on a rug in the house next to your feet. Do you need a large yard for a Doberman? The Unique Doberman is happiest when he is inside with his master. Remember he is "The Velcro Dog". However, he should have a large place to exercise freely off lead. It doesn't need to be a large yard, just somewhere that he can burn off some energy especially when he's under 2 years of age. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOBERMAN TO RUN LOOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD! WHAT IS A DOBERMAN?
8/27/2017
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The Dobermann is the only breed of dog that was developed by man for man and was named after a man. This is the key to both his physical structure and his unique temperament.
The Unique Doberman is a highly intelligent, easily trainable, large, square appearing dog with short, tight, thick hair. He is compactly built, muscular, powerful, has large bone, a large full jaw and is very fast! He is elegant in appearance but not fine boned, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. He is an energetic, determined, courageous, alert and fiercely loyal dog. He has solid bone structure and a heavy strong body. Full European males weigh in up to 115 lbs and up to 30 inches tall when mature which may be well over AKC standards but are within their breeds FCI, D-V or IDC standards for European Dobermanns. How did the Doberman originate? Herr-Dobermann of Apoldu, Germany began breeding Dobermann Pinschers in 1880. He was a dog catcher, official of the tax office and also employed as a night police officer. He owned dogs that were black with red markings and a lot of gray undercoat. His son, Louis Dobermann, described his father's dogs as "a dog of such great intelligence as is seldom found. They were clever and fearless and knew how to bite. My father could hot have chosen a better one." How big do Unique Dobermans get? The average size and weight of the adult Unique Doberman is: Females, around 25 to 27 inches and 65 to 85 lbs. Males are larger, around 28 to 30 inches tall and up to 115 lbs. This is as you can clearly see a bit larger than our American standard but what is considered normal for an European imported Dobermann that is still bred for knockdown power, tracking and agility. What colors are Dobermans? AKC Dobermans in America come in four colors. European Dobermans come in two colors. America recognizes ~ Black with rust or tan markings, Red with rust or tan markings, Blue with rust or tan markings and Fawn with rust or tan markings. The rust or tan should be sharply defined appearing above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, fore chest, on all legs and feet and under the tail. Nose should be black on black dogs, dark brown on red dogs, dark gray on blues and dark tan on fawns. White patch on chest, not exceeding 1/2 inch square is permissible. European Dobermans recognize Black and Rust and Red and Rust. Blue and Fawn are NOT a registrable colors as they are considered less desirable in the gene pool of today. What is the Doberman's role in working today? The Unique Dobermans main job is to provide protection and companionship for you and your family! He will do so with his very life if need be. They are tough and fearless, loyal and courageous yet can be gentle as a lamb with your children and grandparents. While some German and European Dobermans still do their traditional guard and police work and are used as watch dogs, most Dobermans are beloved family companions in city apartments as well as suburban and country homes... still doing the work they were bred to do, guarding their masters, his family and belongings. Their compact size, short hair and adaptable nature makes them the ideal companion in our modern crowded world. Easily trained and groomed, they are favorites for obedience trials, Search and Rescue, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, Ring Sport and Schutzhund competitions along with the conformation show ring. Who should have a Doberman? The Unique Doberman is an energetic and highly intelligent determined dog. The person that owns him should be physically and mentally able to train his puppy. The Doberman is a loyal and obedient watchdog and respects authority, if you are a "doormat" please do not buy one of my puppies!. He will possess great speed and power. When raised with firm and loving discipline as a house companion, he will be a wonderful trustworthy protector. He needs an owner with a kind but firm hand with an authoritative voice, who will devote the time to train him and take him to obedience or show handling classes while he is young and moldable. THIS SHOULD START THE DAY YOU BRING HIM HOME. When raised with affection but not taught any manners, cuddled one moment and screamed at the next or left to grow up alone outside in your backyard without attention and training, he will fast become a delinquent, just as your human teenager would and probably did! There are many people who admire and love Dobermans who should never be encouraged to own one, the same as there are many wonderful people out there who should never be parents! Best Diet for Dobermans with Heart Disease DCM?
Hypertension, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium and Heart Disease Although hypertension is a circulatory problem, it is usually caused by renal rather than heart disease in dogs and cats. The renal causes and their management are described in the section on renal disease. Feeding low sodium diets is an important part of management. Because renal disease impairs all kidney functions, dietary intake of other salts must also be restricted. Sodium Content of Foods mg/110 grams food Foods from plants mg sodium Foods from animals mg sodium Barley (pearled) 3 Beef hamburger 200 Rice (white) 3 Beef chuck 104 Farina 2 Chicken, light meat 190 Wheat 2 Chicken, dark meat 255 Oatmeal 5 Cottage cheese 1,055 Baked breads 500-1000 Egg yolk 51 Potatoes (sweet) 28 Egg, whole 311 Corn flakes 1,045 Beef kidney 730 Crackers 1,100 Beef liver 453 Pretzels 1,361 Beef heart 382 Squash trace Bacon and ham 1,100-1,800 Soybean (tofu) 7 Frankfurter 2,477 Corn meal 1 Cheese (processed) 1,890 Potatoes (white) 5 Canned beef stew 2,349 Source: Morris (1995) |
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