Trained Dogs Rule

The Boxer has its roots in Germany.  They can be traced back to the sixteenth century and to two types of mastiff dogs known as Bullenbeiszer and Barenbeiszer.  These breeds were then crossed with a Native Bavarian dog and then mated with an English bulldog.  This is believed to be the beginning of the Boxer as we know today.  They were originally used to hunt wild boar and deer and then they were used in dog fighting sports.  Thankfully these sports were outlawed around 1850 and the boxer found a new job guarding cattle.
The Boxer is a member of the working group.  They have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years.  Boxers are a medium sized dog weighing between 55 to 70 pounds.  An adult male stands between 22 and 25 inches (57 and 63cm) tall at the withers while the female is slightly smaller standing between 21 to 231/2 inches (53 and 60cm) tall.  The name boxer comes from this dog’s tendency to stand up on its hind legs and use its front paws like a boxer.
Their coat is short, smooth and sleek and comes in many shades of fawn, brindle and flashes of white.  Fawn colours come in various shades from pale to dark deer-red.  Boxers can also be white. In the past, breeders often euthanized white puppies at birth; today, most breeders place white puppies in pet homes with spay/neuter agreements.  Like fair-skinned humans, white Boxers have a higher risk of sunburn and associated skin cancers than coloured Boxers.
Boxers make a good family pet as they tend to be very good with children.  Like all dogs they need to be properly socialized.  They are a high energy dog so they do require plenty of exercise.  They respond well to positive reinforcement training such as clicker training.  They tend to be more comfortable with companionship whether it be human or canine.  They also tend to be over friendly.  They are natural entertainers and are seen as class clowns because of their antics.  They make an excellent guard dog and have been used widely in military and police work.
Boxers generally are a very clean dog and shed moderately so they require very little grooming.  They do best in moderate temperature.  They chill in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
Boxers are prone to a number of health problems.  Among their health issues are hip dysplasia, bloat, heart problems specifically aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy, digestive problems, hypothyroidism and cancerous and benign tumours.
This breed is not for everyone but what breed really is.  With proper training and proper socialization the boxer can make a wonderful family pet.

Just wanted to let all you fellow dog lovers out there know that today April 6th was my male doberman Wylie’s  8th birthday.  We didn’t get him a cake or anything but we did sing Happy Birthday to him.  It really was a happy day because four years ago he was undergoing Chemo treatment for cancer.  We were told that if the treatment went well he would probably get a couple more years.  Four years later he is still here and going strong.  We are just so grateful to have this time with him.  He is a very gentle and loving doberman who still acts like a puppy.

At the end of february we took our female dobie Ripley for her yearly heart check at the University of Guelph Veterinary hospital.  Dobermans can be prone to heart problems but like anything if caught early and treated, the treatment can extend their life.

I had never heard of this program before we purchased our male doberman from a breeder in Guelph.  I have always loved dobermans but never really paid too much attention to any particular health problems concerning their hearts.

Apparently this program was original started up for all breeds but over the years the doberman has stuck with the research while other breeds have just kind of dropped off.

Starting at around two years of age the dogs undergo an E.C.G and an ultrasound.  Pretty painless really.  Then after that they are retested every year.  By doing this and noting changes in the heart they can tell if the dog is having a problem or is possibly developing a problem.

This is good, because, I don’t know about you, but how can you really tell if your dog is having health issues?  Unless your running your dog over to the vet’s once a month and running all sorts of tests you just don’t know if your dog has some hidden health issues.

We actually just had Ripley to the vet’s for her shots and the vet noticed one of her teeth was abscessed.  It had to be removed but prior to that she was showing no signs of pain or any problem whatsoever.  The only indication that she was having a health issue was the gum was a bit receded around the abscessed tooth.

So although the drive was upsetting for our dobie girl she did get a good heart report.

Until next time

Maureen B.

P.S.  Many people think that Ripley is a funny name for a female dog.  It may be, but just for the record she is named after Lt. Ellen Ripley from Alien and I just liked Ripley better than Ellen.

Parvo is a viral disease that affects dogs. Officially known as Parvovirus this disease first appeared in 1978. There was a widespread epidemic in dogs of all ages and many died since at that times there was no vaccine.

Parvo commonly affects young puppies since their immune systems are not fully developed yet but it can still affect older dogs. The virus likes to grow in rapidly dividing cells which in a puppy’s body would be in the intestinal lining. When the virus attacks these cells the puppy will often develop diarrhea which more than likely be bloody.

Parvo is extremely contagious and is transmitted through fecal matter. The virus can live for weeks or months in areas where there have been infected feces. The disease can also be transmitted by insects and rodents. It is crucial then to clean up any feces or vomit with detergent and then disinfect with bleach. Parvo is highly resistant to surface disinfectants, but bleach seems to be the most effective.

This virus is also very adaptable and over time other strains of parvo have appeared. Although never proven Canine parvovirus is thought to be a mutation from the Feline parvovirus also known as Feline Distemper virus.

Dogs in shelters, pet store and kennels are at an increased risk. Parvo thrives in poor sanitary conditions and overcrowding. Dogs that have other health conditions may also be at a higher risk for developing parvo.

It normally takes between 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus for your dog to show signs of the disease which can be lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.

Today there is a vaccine to help prevent parvo. Most vets recommend vaccinating your puppy at 6 weeks of age and continue to vaccinate for the virus every 3 to 4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old preferably 20 weeks old. After that the parvo vaccine is recommended once a year.

There is another form of parvo which is far less common and that is Cardiac parvo. This variation of the virus attacks the muscles of the heart, and blood vessels causing severe inflammation and necrosis of the heart muscle which causes breathing difficulty and death. This form of the disease is rare and usually occurs in unborn puppies and puppies that are less than 8 weeks old. Unfortunately, it is hard to catch and sometimes there are no symptoms at all before the puppy suddenly dies. The only thing to watch out for is difficulty breathing, but by then it might be too late.

If you suspect your dog has Parvo you should get them to your vet as soon as possible. It is a treatable disease.

M. Brownell

The Doberman Pinscher was developed in the 19^th century by German dogcatcher Louis Dobermann. He developed this breed using such dogs as the Rottweiler, Greyhound, Manchester terrier and other breeds, to guard his house.

The Doberman is a member of the working group. The male stands 26 to 28 inches at the withers and weighs approximately 75 to 90 pounds. The females are slightly smaller standing 24 to 26 inches at the withers and weighs about 55 to 70 pounds. Their appearance should be a medium sized squared bodied dog that is compact muscular and powerful in appearance. The Doberman comes in four recognized colour – Black and Rust; Red and Rust; Blue and Rust; Fawn (Isabella) and Rust. Dobermans require very little grooming due to their short hair.

The traditional look of the Doberman is one with docked tails and cropped ears. Now many countries are making it illegal to do this believing it to be humane. The Dobermans tail is actually quite long and thin. Tails like this often become “broken” and are very difficult to heal. The other reason for docking is not to allow someone to grab them by the tail. The ears were originally cropped for their health, cleanliness and looks.

Over the years the Dobermans’ temperament has mellowed. In the early years their temperament was very sharp and on the verge of being vicious. Although portrayed as a vicious dog the Doberman rarely attacks people. A Doberman with a good temperament who has been properly trained and socialized and raised with children make a wonderful family pet. They are not for everyone. They have an instinct to be dominant so they really need to be trained. They are quite intelligent and can get into a lot of mischief if they are left alone. They are often referred to as the Velcro dog as they will always be beside the ones they love.

Dobermans are used as guard dogs, watch dogs and police dogs. They are a very versatile working dog. They are used in search and rescue, scent detection, therapy, ring sport, obedience, agility etc. They are also as I said a very loving family pet who will go jogging with you, play Frisbee with you and curl up on the couch with you and watch your favourite movie.

Dobermans have a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. Like all other breeds of dogs they have their health problems. Common health problems of the Doberman are hip dysplasia, Wobblers’, bloat, cancer, heart disease and Von Willebrands Disease.

Von Willebrands Disease is a clotting disorder. A Doberman that test positive for Von Willebrands can bleed out so extra precautions are taken if any type of surgery is needed. A DNA test can tell you if your dog is a carrier, affected or clear. If breeders were just to breed clear dogs then they could actually breed this out of the Dobermans. Unfortunately only 15% of the Doberman population is said to be clear. Not all Dobermans are tested so this data is not a 100% accurate.

Wobblers’ is a degenerative disc disease. Dogs affected by this will seem to sway and lose their balance. Some cases are treatable with surgery.

Doberman also suffer from heart disease. Years ago Guelph University in Guelph, Ontario Canada started a program that would monitor the dogs’ heart. This was open to all breeds of dogs. Over the years the Doberman people stuck with it. The dogs start in the program around 2 years of age. Once a year they undergo an ultrasound and an E.C.G. It is research so the cost is relatively inexpensive. They can tell if your dog will have problems down the road and medications may be given to your dog to help him with his heart and give him a better quality of life.

Presently we own two Dobermans. I have owned Dobermans for over 25 years and can honestly say that they are a very loyal and loving breed. They are not a dog for everyone. You must establish yourself as the alpha in a very firm and gentle way. They are a very active dog so they require daily exercise. They can be very mischievous if they are not exercised and become bored.

Make sure you do your homework before you purchase a Doberman or for that matter before you purchase any dog.