DavidWW

One of my youngsters (18 month dobermann) has recently decided her home lies on the other side of the globe and she is determined to mine her way there. These are major excavations and this morning she left the 'group' walk I take the 3 dogs on and ran back to the houseyard to continue digging rather than running around/playing with the others. A friend has suggested a 'sand pit' where the dogs are permitted to dig is a solution that works...I would be interested to know if anyone else had found this a workable solution. and if so how deep did you lay the sand and how big an area did you need to make this an attractive alternative for the dog- some fo these holes are over 2 foot deep... she just seems to enjoy digging - but I am coping an earful from my more house proud partner and need to try a few possible solutions. thanks

A few months ago I was looking at different Dobermann breeders too. I have settled on Wattavue as a breeder, as they are in the same state as me and I fell in love with their bitch. Her temperament is precisely what I am after, and although she is a show dog, I have no plans to show my dog once I get her. I can thoroughly recommend Bisart Dobes and MonElite. Both of these ladies are very knowledgeable, and extremely helpful and polite. I most probably would have chosen either of these had I been in their state. When you do your research, you will hopefully come across a breeder you seem to "click" with. It makes a world of difference if you can form a bond with the breeder, too. I have become quite close to our breeder...she even called me from the vet after her scan confirmed the pregnancy! Best of luck, Skunk, in finding the dog for you. Bear in mind there is usually some wait, but it is certainly worth it! Keep us informed. Are you waiting on a puppy from Gossie? In that case not long to wait now - only 3 weeks. She is a daughter of my foundation bitch Dare to Dance and has her mothers beautiful sweet temperament. All 'Cider's' kids have had that same outstanding nature and she is 100% Euro lines - so Skunk don't let people typecast 'working' lines as being purely one thing or another. The individual lines and dogs can vary a lot. We have a Cider daughter here by Garrison Moravia Heart and another placed with good friends and one thing all 12 pups from that litter had were phenomenal temperaments. David

I am after a bit of advice from people experienced with multi dog households. I have 2 bitches the same age 3 YO - although one is a bigger more dominant bitch and has assumed the dominant role between them. They have small confrontations at times - particularly when either may be in season - but nothing major - the hierarchy seems set. However when I might have cause to reprimand the dominant bitch for any reason she now runs straight to the other girl and replicates this 'down the chain of command' so to speak. If I simply growl 'NOOO' at her - she will generally just 'muzzle' the other bitch in passing in a brief show of superiority. If however she has down something quite unacceptable and is firmly reprimanded she will often fly at the other bitch and really put her in her place. I understand this is the normal hierarchal effect in a pack situation - the dominant bitch can't 'blame' me as pack leader so she takes it out on the subservient girl. What I am wondering is if anyone else having encountered this situation has come up with some useful tips on managing it. These girls are kennelled separately alongside each other at night or when locked up and run together in the yard by day or around the farm when I have them out with me. They are in general great mates and sleep on the same bed at times and get along well. This bigger bitch was recovered from an abusive home where she was not only poorly treated she was severely damaged with prong collars and beatings to try and make a schutzhund dog out of her. Because of this she was an extremely fearful dog when recovered so it has taken 2 years to return her to her normal outgoing friendly state of mind - and up until now I have only relied on voice, scruffing her firmly on either side of the neck and staring at her, or 'time out' in the kennel for any misdemeanours. When she is let out of the kennel again though she immediately feels the need to re-assert her dominance over the other bitch and this is just as likely to get a bit agro. So does anyone have any experience with this behaviour and advice on ways to 'defuse' the situation? What I really need is a way to reprimand the dominant girl that will NOT be passed on and cause any potential issues! EASY RIGHT? <smile> Thanks David