Always dogs, not always dobes

Growing up in the country allowed my family the privilege of having animals of all sorts and sizes. When I was in elementary school, my family began fostering puppy's for the Lions Foundation of Canada (which provides Seeing Eye dogs, Hearing Eye, Special Skills k9 helpers) . We socialized the puppies, took them everywhere, began basic puppy manners with them and then had to return them when they were about 12 months of age for the final training. This was my first introduction to the world of 'working" dogs. I had always enjoyed teaching family dogs tricks and entering local fall fairs, however working with these puppies provided a different perspective then just family pet expectations.

After moving out of my parents home to attend university, I had strictly told myself and my family (specifically my sister) no dogs. As a university student, priorties can shift quickly depending on assignments, social events and degree of fatigue. At the end of my second year of undergraduate studies, my sister once again suggested I get a dog. I told her that I didn't think it was a wise idea and the only way I would consider it, if it was a "free, healthy, house trained, crate trained mature doberman" that fell into my lap. Also a criterion was that in living with me, it would have improve the current living situation. I felt as though this provided criterion that she was not likely to fill.....

Approximately 6 days after having this conversation with to her, I got a call. She had found me a doberman! So a couple days later I went to meet this dog. Nikita was a timid yet sweet, 6 year old intact female who had only known the inside of an outdoor kennel. Her family had no time for her and wanted to get rid of her. Lets just say, so begins my love of this wonderful breed!

Nikita was perfect for me from the momement she arrived at my new townhouse in Guelph until the momement I had to euthanize her in April 2007 for major health issues. She was devoted and loyal, quiet and clean and completely flexible to my chaotic schedule. She came with me everywhere and was my constant companion. She had behavioural baggage from her past, and was nervous of her own shadow. Thunderstorms made her cower and men caused her much anxiety, however for me, she was wonderful. It was her nervous temperment that made me wonder why a doberman would have such a personality. So began my exploration into the world of dobermans and what was correct for them in both temperment and conformation.

Without going into all details I will say that I have learned so much over the past several years. In September 2007, my husband and I acquired a female doberman as a "rescue." I use the term lightly as she was not abused in the physical sense of the word, however she had bounced through 4 homes and was only 8 months. No boundaries had ever been set for her, she had no outlet for her seeminly endless supply of energy and she also, like my first doberman was fairly timid. However feeling this void in my life without a dobe, as well as a desire to provide a stable forever home for a doberman that needed it, we went ahead and adopted her. Nora has proved to be a wonderful pet with a playful and loving personality for "her people." She still gets nervous in new environments and certain circumstances, but we try to avoid putting into situations that she cannot handle and thus avoid "setting her up for failure".

From 2007 through to 2009 I had been doing hours of online researching, talking to trainers, meeting doberman breeders, their dobes and visiting their kennels. I started attending working trials and working on formal obedience with Nora to gain further experience on my own. I really wanted to get a doberman to begin working in a german shepherd dominated dog sport called schutzhund.

On April 30, 2009 A' Dieter v.d. Krieghunde came home. He was the result of over 12 months of searching and trying to locate a doberman litter with strong working lines that was within a reasonable driving distance. So far he has lived up to everything I have been looking for - he has an attentive nature, stable temperment, he is eager to please, has a fast processing ability and loads of energy.

I hope to document my learning experiences and share photos of both Nora and Dieter has we progress in schutzhund and formal obedience training.