[NAGDU] Update on guide puppy training.

[Vivianna]

Hello,
Well, i expect my pup to grow to 28-29 inches at the shoulder and between 75-85 pounds.
Dobermans are tall dogs.  My doberman female was 27 inches at the shoulder and 75 pounds.
my GSD that i retired in april was 24 inches at the shoulder and 89 pounds.

as for the ears.  dobermans are born with floppy ears and long tails.  the tails are docked and very often the ears are cropped.  they ears then have to be trained to stand up.  there are many reasons for this.  
tails are docked as, the doberman tail is fragile and tends to break or become injured easily, which, ends up causing the dog pain and looking unsightful.
ears are cropped to give that doberman look we are used to.  also, the dogs are less prone to ear tears and ear infections.  The dog’s directional hearing is increased by the way the sound enters the standing ear.

many breeds have their tails docked and their ears cropped.  Dobermans, boxers, great danes, pit bulls, for example are all born with floppy ears.

if one was to get a doberman from pilot, for example, they would get a dog with natural floppy ears.  The crop is done when the pup is around 8 weeks old and the ear posting can take a couple months.

Vivianna

> On Oct 4, 2017, at 5:54 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Vivianna,
> 
> He sounds like a great dog and very smart to be doing so much at such a 
> young age.  I was just thinking, he is only 5.5 months old and he is already 
> the size of my full grown golden.  I wonder how big he will get.  I hope he 
> will not get too big and strong for you.  I am very impressed that he is 
> already guiding you on the leash and taking you around obstacles and across 
> the quiet streets.  You really picked a smart pup.  Good luck as you 
> continue with his training.
> 
> Sandra
> SLJohnson25 at comcast.netfor you.
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Vivianna via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 4:17 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Vivianna
> Subject: [NAGDU] Update on guide puppy training.
> 
> Hello All,
> my doberman pup is now 5.5 months old.  he is 23 inches at the shoulder and 
> aprox 50 pounds.  his ears turned out perfect.  all of that wrapping and 
> posting and taping payed off!  yea!
> he is solid on his basic obedience and we are working on the down-stay.
> he lay underneath my chair for 1.5 hours on monday while i and some friends 
> played music.
> he is actually leash guiding, although, i am still carrying my cane in my 
> right hand.  on quiet streets, i am only just holding my cane out 
> occasionally touching the ground.  he is taking me around trash cans, cars 
> parked across the sidewalk, childrenā?Ts toys.  and, today he took me around 
> a big pile of leaves.
> he is super steady going past many types of dog distractions, including, our 
> first loose dog.
> he is more distracted by looking at people but, thatā?Ts as far as it goes, 
> looking.
> i have placed a harness body on him and, he fits into the smallest on the 
> second hole.
> o.o, also, i am asking him to take me across the very quiet streets here in 
> my neighborhood with me just holding my cane at my side.  and, he is doing 
> well.  going straight across and stopping at the Up curb.
> i have also been having him leash guide me completely the last block before 
> my driveway.  i hold my cane at my side or behind me.
> he is super solid while walking on the really busy 6 lane road near my 
> house.  loads of cars and big trucks donā?Tt phase him at all.
> 
> so, there you have it.  a little dobey update.
> 
> Vivianna
> 
> 
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