Recent content by MaryAndDobes

The dog on Mike and Molly is a Brussels griffon or Bussels griffon mix. He's not nearly as long bodied as the one in the original post.

In theory, I agree with you. But with bitches of larger breeds, you're probably going to run into fertility issues if you wait this long. Plus you risk her getting pyometra every time she goes through a season waiting to get to breed her. I personally try to wait to breed my Doberman...

1. No, I don't think any bitch is *that* special. If she's having smaller litters than the breed's average, perhaps you should consider that's a problem you're passing on by continuing to breed her. I just feel if you can't get what you want out of one or two litters from the same bitch, move...

If you're not getting a puppy for a few years, I wouldn't be contacting breeders at this time. Get to know them from a distance, hopefully through the breed clubs, breed publications, breed newsgroups and forums, shows, etc. What you think you want now may vary quite a bit in a few years, and...

One of my Dobermans suffered through this when he was about 7. As you said, it comes on suddenly out of nowhere. The good thing is that it's generally self solving with supportive care in about 72 hours. I kept my guy in my bedroom where it was carpeted and quiet. I did give him Gravol...

Actually, that's not quite right. There can be a written agreement in place stipulating that certain conditions must be met before the registration is provided. For instance, the spay/neuter must have taken place prior to receiving the registration. Or this could be used where someone is...

Personally, I'd rather spend the time on finding puppy homes that are similar minded to me, who would WANT to do things with their dogs and who would WANT to perform health screenings because they realize it's in the dog's best interest as well as realizing that it helps me with my breeding...

You breed one litter of dogs and it has your kennel name on it, and technically you have just established a "name". IMO, all it takes to establish a good name is to breed quality dogs, period. You could do that in one litter! A friend of mine bred her first litter, and it contained a...

Many service dog organizations already have breeding programs and they are breeding specifically for the traits that they need. You could volunteer with these organizations as they always seem to be looking for puppy socializers and people to just come help train the youngsters.

I bred Rory for the first time in 2004. Unfortunately, there was only one puppy. I opted to do a c-section and go in and get him. Rather than wait too long to see if labour might start on its own, my vet and I just thought it prudent to do everything we could not to lose the one puppy. It...

I bought my first registered Doberman when I was 17. I followed through with showing him at matches, taking him to obedience class, showing him at some real shows (he didn't really end up being show quality), and put one leg of his CD on him. And believe me, I tried for the others...

I spay/neuter my pet puppies while they are being cropped around the age of 9 weeks. I started that just over 6 years ago. I don't have any complaints, and frankly, it gives me a lot of peace of mind. Any show potential puppies that go out the door are on a co-ownership with a contract.

I sold a puppy to what would be termed a pet home. However, they did let us show their dog and we finished her championship relatively quickly. So fast that the pet owner turned to me that day she finished and said "I'm not ready to be done yet!" She went on to earn her CD and took her...

Yes, I was just returning to post that about the imports. Starting in March 2006, any imports that later reproduced in the US have to have DNA profiles. I just registered 3 imports and received that notice with their registrations.

It means that the dog had its hips evaluated as Good (G) at the age of 57 months by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). AKC DNA profiles are required for males siring more than 7 (I think) litters. Or they may have been required if there was some question of parentage. Some people...