10/07/2023
Hello
I was planning on possible late summer litter but after thinking a lot about it, and dealing with the loss of Gabi’s litter of pups this past April, as well as all the vet fees to try saving the puppies I have put off any litter this year. I was looking at possible late spring 2024 with Gia and was possible Danica. Well Danica is in her heat cycle and she is experiencing a hormonal issue from it, a prolapse. I am reluctant to have surgery on her while she is in heat, but I am very close to decide once she phases out of the heat cycle, I have to make the decision to have her spayed for fear she will experience this again next cycle. It is a hard decision but for medical reasons and her well-being, I will need to look at spaying.
With all this going on this year, I have taken an emotional and financial loss, even the prior year. 1st losing my Zues and Xena 2017 even though they were past 10 yrs old, and next was Nixon(2019), and then Coco(2020). Losing my husband(2020) was final loss to me and I have not stopped thinking of this loss since. Things happen and out of pocket costs as a hobbyist breeder is becoming overwhelming to me vet fees/food etc. This breed is an expensive breed; and hoping one does good bringing quality pups for those seeking healthy puppies. This breed has become bottleneck because many other so called breeders continue to use/over-use high risk dogs from past that have died from (1) CANCER; (2) heart disease. Not all breeders do this, but there are many that do. Breeders I know are not in this spot. I look at so many generations in pedigree of this breed and start weighing how many dogs out of 8 generations died from what noted cause of death and either pass or look at the possibility of a future pup. It is becoming hard in choices to find a decent one, but I have seen better with working pedigree generations of less risks. This will be my search for possible future. Yes of course there are other diseases that also occur but these 2 are my concerns trying to help reduce the risk with my breeding plans. It is forever in the blood with this breed.
As it is I am on several Doberman forum groups in Facebook and many times I read how a young(er) Doberman died from heart disease and starts to tug to continue to ask questions – why? Yesterday I read a 6 month old Doberman pup very beautiful pup lost her life to heart disease. 6 months! None mine but looking at the pedigree briefly it is possible too close parents in generations triggered this disease to such a young pup. Barely living life and now gone. It makes me always wonder how and why so many other breeders do not look beyond at least the 4th pedigree generation and weigh which parents are good with health genes and how blood related in these lines, being repeated and what is behind them? It tugs at me for I look for new blood for a new puppy one day. Just my dreams of thinking I can find that next pup and start all over again.
Age becomes one and one must start evaluating when to stop and retire and just let others hoping with great intentions, start to reduce and improve the health genes with this breed. It will be a hard road to cure. Of course these and this post is all my thoughts I have been evaluating lately and possible within a couple of years I am done. It has been an emotional financial strain but I love my dogs and this breed.
As it is, for those looking to find a Doberman to adopt from rescue organizations, it is becoming harder finding and locating a good Doberman to take home. Several years ago, a well known Doberman rescue organization in Redding, California owner passed away. Doberman enthusiast was on speed dial to place all her dogs in homes/rescues. Lately another Northern California Doberman organization owner passed away and the Dobermans and some others again were on speed dial to get them all placed. So if you are needing a Doberman pup, or adult, younger Doberman to adopt sooner, look into these rescue organizations for your future Velcro Doberman. You won’t know pedigree lines possibly, or some other unknown history of the pet, but they do vet them, and make sure they are up to date on health records/behaviors.
I will look at what I have plan for my next one, but it is at least a year away all pending. Until then, I am tending to my never ending home life duties, and my Dobermans – an all day- all week job.
PS: Since I haven’t posted anything lately and been off/on FB, I thought I’d post what my feelings have been about the Doberman Breed. Also it is important if you haven’t gotten pet insurance do it before they get diagnosed for pet insurance is becoming increasing rates and then exclusions of coverage is diagnosed prior. JUST MY 2 CENTS WORTH HERE WHILE I AM LOST IN MY SPACE.
