Von Rein Dobermans

09/05/2024

PERMANENTLY CLOSED

We have decided to step away from the breeding and doberman scene for a while.

We absolutely loved sharing our knowledge and love for this amazing breed. For now, we focus on family and our Main Girl Promise and our rescue girl Ivy 😉

09/01/2023

I wanted to touch base on a common issue that breeders come across with new owners.

Realistic Expectations

You go to the breeders home. The pups are all social. They are quiet in the pen. The breeder shows you videos of them being totally relaxed at a dog show. All looks amazing and you bring your puppy home.

Then reality hits. The puppy may cry in the crate for the first few nights making you tired and agitated. The happy social puppy is refusing to greet the half dozen overly excited friends you invited over to see your new puppy. The puppy refuses to walk on a leash. Many are wondering how did my perfect puppy turn into a nightmare.

So let’s discuss realistic expectations of when a puppy goes home. First of all the puppy has been in the breeders home since birth. They had their mother and often littermates. They had their routine, were taught expectations and were completely in their comfort zone.

Now suddenly they are taken to a totally new environment. Picture yourself being dropped into an unknown country, often in a different part of the world. You know only a few words of their language. Differnt trees, animals, smells, temperature and people. Now in the middle of this we are switching up your routine, decide to have a party with people you dont know, and ask you to do jobs you have no idea about. Overwhelming to say the least.

This is what every puppy goes through when going to their new home. Stress manifests in different forms. From not eating, reluctancy to play and greet people. Being apprehensive at the vet’s office or as strangers reach for them. Diarrhea, vomiting and being depression can occur.

So what can you as a new owner do to help your little one acclimate?

- most puppies take 3-4 weeks to acclimate to their new home. Repeat after me THREE to FOUR WEEKS! Not a 1-2 days. I can’t stress this enough about how much time is needed for a dog or puppy to feel comfortable in their new home!
- limit guests during the first week. We understand you are excited to show off your new baby but they need time to adjust. Plan on waiting 1-2 weeks before inviting people over
- ask guest to sit on the ground and let the puppy approach them. No squealing and grabbing the puppy
- set up a good routine
- restrict the puppy to a small area of the house. This not only reduces them being overwhelmed but also allows you to watch them
- don’t expect a 9-13 week old puppy to walk on a leash. Instead work at home with a leash where they are comfortable. Let them drag the leash, use treats to encourage them to walk with you
- if your puppy is refusing to walk give them time. My first trips to town with puppies a walk around a small block took 1 1/2 hours. We only move when they initiate the movement as they need time to take in the different environment
- understand your puppy needs time to see you as family. Expecting an immediate bond is unrealistic
- train your puppy. This not only helps you to bond but the puppy to look to you for direction and input
- lastly be patient. Don’t declare “omg there’s something wrong with this dog”. Nothing occurs overnight. Outings should be planned at puppy speed. So while you might imagine a fun walk around the lake in reality your puppy might only be able to handle walking a short distance that day.

Most outings for me take a long time, as I am often just standing still as the puppy cautiously explores the new environment. Patience is key!

Remember if the puppy was wonderful at the breeder’s house but now struggling you as the owner need to help the puppy adjust which takes time, patience and training. have realistic expectations and give the puppy positive experiences. Each puppy is an individual, don’t compare your current puppy to past pets and judge their behavior based on how another dog handled things. Lastly, try to see thing’s from a puppy’s perspective and adjust situations accordingly.
Author: Karen Balinski of Killara Field Spaniels

05/29/2023

“Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in war. Among the dead in the South Pacific were many war dogs. The first to die was a Doberman named Kurt.

In his book, The Foreign Burial of American War Dead, Chris Dickon wrote: No less so than their human comrades, the dogs were killed and wounded by gunfire and mortars, and no less so were they moved quickly to the rear when wounded, where veterinarians waited to give them care. By August 10, 3,000 American men and 25 dogs were killed, but the island was secured. So valued were the war dogs of Guam that as the dead were returned to the beach on which the invasion had begun, one was buried at sea and 24 were each buried in a section of the temporary cemetery created for the men with whom they had fought. At some point, they were each given a small headstone with a single name.

The photo is a Doberman and his handler checking a cave on Iwo Jima for enemy soldiers”

04/08/2023

We would like to Welcome Mr. Apollo! (Black Male) Apollo is a senior Doberman Male from Foxfire Dobermans. He was in need of a soft landing and permanent home. This sweet 8, almost 9 year boy is settling in great here! We thank everyone involved in his rescue 🥰.
Promise (red female) is also glad to have a buddy to run the fields with.

Again, we will not be breeding for a few years at least. We are enjoying time with our 2 retired babies currently 😉

02/08/2023

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please remember what is safe and not to give your dog(s). They don't always need their own Thanksgiving plate 😉🦃

11/19/2022

!important when buying a puppy!

BUT I DON'T WANT A SHOW DOG!

Why do people recommend choosing a breeder who shows their dogs to folks who are just looking for a pet and have no interest in showing? Why should breeding to breed standard be important to a pet home? Does it seem excessive, or “snobby”?
It’s not, and here’s why.

Dog shows are a means of evaluating dogs against the breed standard, to evaluate soundness, movement/gait, type, and temperament.

Soundness: The state of physical and mental health when all organs and faculties are functioning properly, each in its rightful relation to each other.

Type: Breed type encompasses appearance, character, condition, bone structure, temperament, and movement; "breed type is all these things." Breed type also includes a character specific to each breed, a combination of behavior, temperament and carriage that demonstrate an essence of the breed.

Gait: The gait of a dog is its quality of movement. You want to see ease of movement, unimpaired by illness or poor structure.

Temperament: The general attitude a dog has towards other animals and people. From the Labrador Breed Standard "True Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the breed as the “otter” tail. The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog. Aggressiveness towards humans or other animals, or any evidence of shyness in an adult should be severely penalized."

So. That’s a very basic intro to what goes on at a show... why does this matter? You want a pet, a companion, not a show dog, right? Well, you chose a Labrador for a reason. You’ve done your research, and have read that they’re great with kids and other animals, they’re gentle, not aggressive, they make excellent companions and love spending time with their people. That their good and kind nature predisposes many Labradors to be excellent therapy dogs. Good, responsible breeders seek to preserve those definitive and positive characteristics.

What about type and structure? How the dog is put together, able to move freely and comfortably? Would you rather buy from someone who has proven publicly, over time, that the dog they’re breeding can move well, free of limp, or a structural problem? Or just trust someone who has no interest in proving their dogs? It’s your puppy’s quality of life and comfort (as well as your wallet) that’s at stake.

Not every dog in a well-bred litter is going to be show quality- there will ALWAYS be pet-quality puppies. Well-bred, but maybe with a slight imperfection, and those are the puppies placed in pet homes. You don’t have to want a show-quality puppy to get a well-bred puppy!

This is not about being snobby, being elitist, thinking that one dog is “better” than another, it’s about ensuring you get a puppy that acts and looks like the breed you fell in love with. It’s about ensuring that all puppies have the best start in life, and will grow into a loving family member. It’s about loving our breed enough to want to see everything that’s good about them preserved for future generations to enjoy. If you want a healthy dog, with a properly sweet temperament, choose your breeder wisely!

10/25/2022

Secrets of a Pet Dog Trainer

1. Puppy teeth just don't hurt us anymore, but we pretend it's awful just to make clients feel heard

2. Pockets are life. Clothes without pockets are pointless, you may as well go to work naked.

3. No, we are not like The Dog Whisperer. No, we do not love Cesar Milan. But we get asked at every party anyway.

4. We don't know where, but somewhere in our house or van is a handful of meat slowly rotting away

5. We rarely eat meals at your standard breakfast, lunch, dinner times. Most food is consumed in the van between sessions because we can prep DIY raw dog food til the cows come home but our own food....na

6. We can't drive past a "Land for Sale" sign without looking up the price on RightMove before remembering we've already spent all our money on our dogs

7. We hear "do you train husbands too?" and/or "I suppose you're a people trainer more than a dog trainer really aren't you?" every single day of our lives but we smile back every time.

8. Our garages, sheds and outhouses are ram-packed with random bits of equipment and other assorted junk pretending to be equipment, just in case we ever need a broken A-frame and 506 tennis balls to fix someone's dog

9. No matter how qualified & experienced you become, you will always be mansplained how to do your job by an old man in the park who's had German Shepherds his whole life.

10. For all the poo, wee, blood, saliva, sweat and tears we wouldn't have it any other way and most of us feel lucky to wake up in the morning and actually be excited about going to work.

Who has more to add?!?

10/14/2022

Aiding in the search for the perfect pet home for a beautiful, 16 month black female Doberman. 4 generation, all AKC Champion pedigree. Performance prospect. Great with people, but she must be the ONLY pet (male dogs and cats included). By parentage- VWD Clear, DCM1 Neg, DCM2 Neg or Hetero. Will be spayed prior to placement.
This post is set to Public so it can be shared.

Please contact Elizabeth Monroe Barrett

09/18/2022

Just a quick note for new puppy owners:

The average age for PC muscle control and potty training is 16 weeks. If you hear otherwise, your friends either hit the genetic lotto with their pup, don't remember their pups last accident, or are lying to one-up you for some reason (I dunno, maybe you have a frienemy,.. not my problem though, just speaking honestly here).

Either way - stop stressing your 12 week old pup's accidents so much. You're supposed to be creating positive habits; not making or breaking his or her ability to go outside.

Take it slow and remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. Instead, invest in white vinegar, a cheap spray bottle, a crate w/a divider, washable blankets, a blacklight flashlight, and TCK9 Puppy Classes.

You can thank me later. 😂❤️🐾

*Photo of Calida as a puppy just 'cause I can.

-Fallon Houser