The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Those puppies!

Our neighbors had a dobie who was my husband's lap dog! Absolutely loved that dog.

Dobes, well-bred ones, not puppy mill ones, are fabulous dogs. I was raised with them, we bred AKC Dobermans. They are not cold hardy dogs, must be indoors in cold weather. But, they are very protective of their family, very intelligent and alert. And for some reason, just their look makes strangers hesitate to enter the property. That mama dog is a blue Dobe. After our first one died of a heart attack, my dad bought this girl at 4 years old. She was obviously mistreated. She'd crawl to you on her belly. But she became a great family dog and we let her have a few litters, kept two female pups over the years, showed one of them. Great dogs they are. My high school friends loved them when they'd come visit. I wouldn't mind having a Dobe if I could train it to be good with the chickens, but it could not stay out there with them in the winter. But, no breeding. She would be spayed.

 

[getaclue]

Growing up, we had several Dobes that were wonderful dogs, which is why I'm partial to Nero, the neighbor's Dobe.

My dad was a marine engineer, he began working for a company that had ships all over the world, and their home port was Puerto Rico, so we moved there. There was a twofold reason for this decision. 1. We were able to see my dad more often, since the home port was there, and my mother didn't care what time of day, or night his ship was coming in, we were going to be there to greet the ship, and see him. 2. The political climate in foreign countries can change quickly at times, making it difficult to get to the US. Puerto Rico is not a state, but a commonwealth of the US, so if/when any travel bans went out, they never included Puerto Rico, making it easier for him to always be able to get home.

While most of Puerto Rico was very safe for women, and children at any hour of the day, or night there are a few places that are not overly safe for anyone. The seaport, and dock areas were not safe areas at night. Remember I said we would go greet my dad's ship, no matter the hour? Well, we had a poodle, and a 10 month old Dobe. The Dobe had been well socialized, and was not really aggressive. When dad's ship would come in, we would load both dogs in the car with us, and go greet the ship. The reason we had to load both dogs was that the Poodle didn't like anyone close to, or touching our car. He would bark, and growl. The Dobe thought it was his job to protect the Poodle, so when the Poodle would get upset, the Dobe would bark, and growl at whoever was upsetting the Poodle. Of course, a stranger would not know that the Dobe was carrying on, because the Poodle was upset.

When the Dobe got more mature, he realized his job was to protect us when he was in the car, and to protect the home when we were gone. We had friends over all the time, and he never showed any aggression towards anyone when we were home. He was a great dog.

 

[1muttsfan]

I was thrilled to catch April the Giraffe having her calf this morning - what an amazing thing. Only an hour later and it is up and walking around.

 

[speckledhen]

I was thrilled to catch April the Giraffe having her calf this morning - what an amazing thing. Only an hour later and it is up and walking around.

I saw that, but only as she was cleaning it off. So cool!



Today's Pooh-bear report. She's doing great so far, but her short legs make her tire out trying to keep up with her larger brothers and Cora.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Poor little thing. Do her siblings ever pick on her at all?

 

[speckledhen]

Poor little thing. Do her siblings ever pick on her at all?

Nope, never.

 

[GingersHuman]

Poor little thing.

 

[1muttsfan]

What a cute little doodlebug.

 

[getaclue]

 

[speckledhen]

Six year old Maretta laid a clunker today. Could not find a quarter, but here's a Lifesaver!