Zwinger vom Rabenauge

01/03/2026

An extremely well written explanation of socialization and what it ultimately means to do it properly, which is especially important in the power breeds!

As our Apexe J litter gets ready to go home, it’s a good time to talk about socialization and environmental exposure.

Socialization isn’t just meeting people and dogs - it’s learning how to process the world. A well-socialized Doberman should be comfortable, confident, and adaptable in different environments.

They don’t need to engage with everything around them; they should be able to stay neutral, focus on their handler, and move through new situations without stress or pressure.

We support this early on through controlled exposure to different surfaces, sounds, handling, objects, short outings, and calm interactions. The goal isn’t to overstimulate puppies, but to give them steady, thoughtful experiences that help them develop confidence and stability.

Thoughtful exposure helps, but a puppy’s genetics play a major role in who they become.

12/25/2025

As we approach the end of 2025, I am once again reminded of how privileged I am. This year saw many exciting things for me, and while there may have been ups and downs, my family remains wonderful and supportive, and my dogs remain constant through it all, beacons of joy and a reminder to live in the moment, every day.

So from my family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday.

12/20/2025

Always proud to represent the best (in my humble opinion) breed with my dogs. Loyalty, intelligence, strength and commitment rolled into one gorgeous package 😍

12/14/2025

Yesterday, Jubilee (Bourree vom Rabenauge) made the treck out to the 2025 NE Regional Conformation show! The chill didn't stop this girl from waltzing her way to a VP rating under GSSCC judge Darin Clarke, who had really lovely things to say about her, especially her movement. He expects wonderful success in the show ring, which I know will make my co-owner very happy!

Darin was also the judge who I showed under earlier this year for Hawk's BH and Finch's SG rating. He has been a wonderful judge who is very open to conversation and questions, and I'm very happy that my co-owner was able to chat with him. 🤗

I hope everyone had a good time and thank you Due North Schutzhund Club for putting on a fabulous last event of the year!

10/27/2025

Always verify claims made against the OFAs database, if possible. Demand better and know that some backyard breeders will do anything, including creating false AI certifications, to trick you into spending your money on puppies from parents who have not even had the bare minimum orthopedic testing done.

⚠️ A Word of Caution from Zwinger vom haus Huro⚠️

We’ve recently learned that some individuals are using artificial intelligence to falsify health testing and certification documents. This kind of deceit is deeply troubling and poses real risks to the integrity of responsible breeding and ownership.

At Zwinger vom haus Huro, we believe honesty, transparency, and education are cornerstones of the breed community. While many of these falsified documents are still fairly easy to recognize, AI technology is advancing quickly and it’s only a matter of time before fake reports become more convincing.

For that reason, we strongly encourage everyone whether you’re a seasoned breeder or a first time owner to verify all health testing directly through official, verifiable sources, including:

🔹 **The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)** https://www.ofa.org

🔹 **The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV)**
https://www.sv-doxs.net/?lang=en

These databases provide authentic, traceable records for hip, elbow, and other health certifications. Taking a few moments to verify results helps protect both buyers and reputable breeders and ensures that the dogs we love are represented honestly. While the above certificates are easy for someone in the dog world to tell apart, many of our less experienced friends and family could easily fall victim to them. Stay informed, stay cautious, and continue to be proud stewards of this incredible breed.

10/21/2025

And last, but certainly not least, the puppy that I've been affectionately referring to as "Chad" since about 5 weeks old. Dublin is my cool guy, my chill bro, my surfer dude. He's the puppy that goes with the flow and is just happy to be along for the ride, and he was the last to go.

🍀 Blair vom Rabenauge, "Trigger" 🍀

Dublin, now Trigger, has been a very sleepy puppy from the get go. He's the one who figured out that couches are his favorite place to be very early on, and the one who has always been content to hang out in the yard for the sake of sun bathing. He can be occasionally mischievous, but in general, he's the puppy who I haven't felt the absolute need to have eyes on him at all times. He was one of the most trustworthy puppies, if you can call a puppy truly trustworthy. At the very least, I wasn't worried about him scaling the pen for freedom, unlike his coated sable counterpart. All of that being said, he's still a lovely, social puppy, with a sharp little mind to him. I've already gotten updates of how quickly he's zooming through puzzle toys!

Overall, I have thus far been delighted with this litter. Time will tell whether hold together with age, but it has been a joy to raise these babies and send them off to their new homes. I am super excited to watch them continue to mature and am grateful I will get to watch them all as they grow, even in bits and pieces.

10/20/2025

For a while, I wasn't sure where I wanted this boy to go. His initial evaluation had me scratching my head, and everyone who had reached out just wasn't right in one way or another. By the time he was 9 weeks old, I figured I would have to sit on him and grow him up some before he found his permanent placement, and I would have been okay with that. He's a sweet little soul, and loath though I am to admit it, I have a soft spot for the green collar kids - it's tradition. Then, Linda reached out to me. She wanted something slightly older, and she certainly didn't want a black puppy, but the universe has a funny way of turning what we think we want on its head.

🌾Birka vom Rabenauge, "Hayes" 🌾

It hit me, as I was getting this little guy's go-home bag together, that I was going to miss him more than I think I realized. I love all of my puppies, don't get me wrong, but something about Hayes is a sweet, gentle little boy who was starting to sneak his way into my heart when I wasn't looking. Suffice to say, it's a good thing he went when he did 😂 His secondary eval with my helper left me more hopeful than his first, with the comment that he was behind the rest of the litter, developmentally, making me rethink what he could do, and what he needed. He's already proven to have a very balanced head on his shoulders, taking to his new home like a fish to water, and LOVING his new kids. Hayes will be hitting the UKC circuit, both in the conformation ring and for the performance events, and it'll be exciting to see what that venue thinks of him. I think he has a lovely, balanced build, with very pretty pieces front and rear, and I hope the judges agree with me, but time will tell. I should also get to see him on a fairly regular basis, this way, since Linda and I have been known to frequent the same shows!

10/07/2025

The boys in this litter are all subtly similar, while seeming to present in different ways. Several seem very sleepy, which is unsurprising - boys always take longer to mature, mentally and physically, and as such, they have more important things to spend their energy on than being wild and crazy right out the gate - but they all also have a sort of quiet intensity to them that you may not see right away. This guy, though? He makes that clear from the jump.

🔥Buckbeak vom Rabenauge, "Severus" 🔥

I feel like a broken record on some of these introductions, but to be quite honest, I don't think I got a single puppy in this litter that made me think "oh, that might be an issue." Every single puppy has been beautifully open and social with people, each having varying degrees of a love for children. Every single puppy has very easily workable food drive, with some having more than others, obviously. Not a single one of them has been taken aback by meeting new dogs during my testing. Flint, now Severus, LOVES children, probably as much as he LOVES food. He also very quickly decided he LOVES his new Frenchie pack mates. The highest food drive in the litter, the biggest edge in the litter, and one of the more intense puppies, he's going to be interesting to watch, and I really hope his family decides to take the plunge and try Schutzhund out with him, because I think they could have a real force to be reckoned with in this little guy. He has such a big heart to match his big ol' ears, and his sweet little expression seals the deal - he constantly seeks faces with those eyes and knows how to work the room.

10/04/2025

Ever since the A litter was born, Kate has been a constant in my life. She took Alyx (Zuko), and we've been very good friends ever since. In fact, she was the first visitor this litter ever received at just under a week old. I have watched her gain confidence with her first dog, watched her discover the joy of a club who wants to see her succeed and a helper and training director who is willing to meet her where she is, and seen the fire spark in her heart for the breed and the sport.

How on earth could I say no to letting her take another?

💣 Brego vom Rabenauge, call name TBD 💣

Dakota came out of the womb with opinions, and loud ones at that. He is the first to yodel for food, the first to shriek when I come down in the morning to let them out to potty, and the first to express his displeasure at being crated, because how DARE I try to contain him? He is power, he is energy, he is SPEED! He's another puppy full of sass and force, with some of the highest food drive in the litter and a wild personality. Take a bucking bronco, shrink it down, and give it furnishings - that's Kota. He is not, however, without his sweet side. He has been the best about baths and the blow drier, choosing to grumble but consent (perhaps begrudgingly). He is open and friendly, easily greeting newcomers as if he's known them his whole life. He walks into a space like he was born there, never batting an eye about a change of environment. His drives tested out as some of the nicest in the litter, though I still suspect he'll be a bit of a slow burn puppy. Nevertheless, he promises to be more than his older brother, and will probably push more than he did, so she's in for a grand ol' time.

Now, mind you, the intent was not to give her another coated dog, but if she's willing to put the work in and offer the LSH community more options... I'm not complaining. 😉

10/02/2025

Since Bambam boy is headed home tonight, I figured he should be next for the introductions.

⚡ Bravo vom Rabenauge, "Bravo" ⚡

Bantam is the puppy who will be traveling the furthest away from me. The sheer distance involved in his travels this weekend is mildly scary - for me, anyway. I imagine he'll take the whole ordeal in stride, given how unflappable he's proven to be. This boy knows no bounds. He, like Jubilee, is bold, fearless, confident and ready to take on the world. He laughs in the face of danger and has proven to be the smartest of the bunch, having escaped from the pen at least three times now, and also being one of the three that managed a daring prison break from their whelping box at 10 days old. He is wonderfully social and very people oriented, but is also the puppy I have had to peel off of the mop any time I need to quickly clean up when someone misses the potty box (which is not often, these days!), so do not be fooled by his demure little face in his expression shot. This man is a lean, mean tugging machine, with a quiet intensity to him that promises to be SO much fun.

I hope his mom ready for a whirlwind of a puppy, because I don't think he's going to be content to rest once he realizes that he has her all to himself and gets the majority of the attention, rather than having to compete against his siblings for it.

09/30/2025

Introductions to the rest of this litter will be a little bit all over the place. Partially because, with this being the last week that the majority of them are here, administrative work is taking fully over as I finalize microchips, start AKC paperwork, print contracts and put together go home bags. Partially, because some puppies still don't have a registered name. It'll come.

🕊 Bastet vom Rabenauge, "Seneca" 🕊

I find it fascinating, really, that I don't seem to get nearly as many interested parties for females as I do males. I think those people are missing out. This girl is sweet as pie, with big, soulful eyes and an even bigger heart. She's always looking for a lap, and definitely loves a good game of chase and tug. She reminds me of Finch - sporty, twitchy, active - and I can only imagine that she's going to be tons of fun for her new home. She met her new mom and knew, that was HER person, and made sure she knew it, too. She has a lovely front assembly, a rear to match, and overall she's slightly tighter coated and more feminine than her sister. She's decided that she's going to start sprouting legs, however, so we won't be judging her TOO much 😉

She will be staying fairly local - about as close as any of my other puppies are - and I'm excited to be able to keep an eye on her as she grows. I'm sure she's going to enjoy her new chicken and cat friends!

09/25/2025

Evaluations are done. Everyone has a new home to explore in the coming weeks, new owners to get to know, new housemates to meet, and while it's a bit bittersweet to think about, I am excited to send these puppies off knowing they are going to the best homes.

Introducing,

🎉 Bourree vom Rabenauge, "Jubilee"🎉

This one, especially, is special. I would like to proudly announce that Jubilee, pink collar girl, will be staying with the program. She will be going to live with a wonderful friend of mine, who is very close and will allow me to steal and squish her whenever I like. While I would kill for her to stay in my direct home, I have to recognize that this is more fair, to her, and to Hawk and Finch, who still need training and trial prep as we look to start identifying trial timelines. I am incredibly grateful for the friends that I have, and the home she is going to.

Jubilee is, perhaps, the BUSIEST little bee in this litter. She is incredibly self assured and confident, extremely social and forward, and has a keen interest in her environment with a clear desire to work. She has a high food drive, a high toy drive and a desire to stuff the toy as deeply into her mouth as she can, and thus far, has shown zero concern for sounds, heights, unstable footing etc. She could potentially be a more dominant female down the line, but she is a spitfire and promises to be a whole load of fun! Structurally, she has a lovely, strong topline, beautiful front and rear angulation, and when I look at her face, it's her mother staring back at me. I have high hopes for this little baby, and she brings me an incredible amount of joy that I hope my co-owner feels as well. Her joyous energy is infectious, and truly fitting for her name.