Blast from the Past: Ardo's Secret Talk, aka Amy, Show Winning AKC Doberman

[speckledhen]

My father passed away July 29 and in going through some photos in the basement, I found this one under another in a frame. This beautiful gal lived around 12 years, if I recall, had to be put down due to terrible arthritis in her legs. This is my dad in a training session. She brought home a few blue ribbons, her mother was a blue Dobe we owned. Love the breed, but up here in the mountains, I won't be getting another dog unless it is tolerant of cold weather and can stay outside more than a Doberman can. Just sharing this photo of sweet Amy from back in the 70's.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Love Dobermans, nice dog, that's back when they didn't cut the ears so goofy, I have boxers and don't crop, but if I did it would be like they used to. Also miss the 70's.

 

[speckledhen]

Love Dobermans, nice dog, that's back when they didn't cut the ears so goofy, I have boxers and don't crop, but if I did it would be like they used to. Also miss the 70's.

Thanks. I used to help "roll" the ears after the cropping with cotton stuffed in and medical tape wrapped around and holding the ears up, hooked to each other by a length of tape from one to the other across the top of the head. They were for show so had to be cropped then. I actually like them untouched, personally. The Humane Society in Murphy, NC just got in a stray 6 month old Doberman with docked tail but uncut ears. If I wanted one again, I'd be there so fast your head would spin.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My boxers have always been winter hardy, I think they burn hot, are Dobermans less cold tolerate, I don't like cropped ears either, but love docked tails, no wacking on my legs. And people don't understand how long it takes dogs to grow and mature, the pounds are filled with 6-12 month old dogs, come on people, it takes your kids 20 years to grow up. Give your dogs time and structure and you will bring rewarded.

 

[speckledhen]

My boxers have always been winter hardy, I think they burn hot, are Dobermans less cold tolerate, I don't like cropped ears either, but love docked tails, no wacking on my legs. And people don't understand how long it takes dogs to grow and mature, the pounds are filled with 6-12 month old dogs, come on people, it takes your kids 20 years to grow up. Give your dogs time and structure and you will bring rewarded.

I need a dog more for a livestock guardian, don't want one in the house all the time anymore. I have a great wraparound porch several feet above ground level with electrical outlets. My cat has a little A-frame condo out on the deck and we put an electric blanket over it during winter. He sleeps there all night no matter how cold. I'd like to do something similar with a dog, but I would not feel right putting a smooth or extremely short coated dog outside even with a heated pad like that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Gottcha, totally understand. I am trying to do the opposite, have no outside dogs, only have one right now, but he spends half his time in the house, you want a great Pyrenees. I used to groom dogs, only want short coats, or easy care.

 

[speckledhen]

Gottcha, totally understand. I am trying to do the opposite, have no outside dogs, only have one right now, but he spends half his time in the house, you want a great Pyrenees. I used to groom dogs, only want short coats, or easy care.

We had a house fire back in March 2013 and the renovation removed all dog hair from the house. We had lost our sweet angel 15 year old pointer/lab girl in October or she would have died from smoke inhalation. She was smooth coated as most hounds are and very cold natured. I need a dog that can be outside when it's pretty cold for long periods, just don't want to go back to fighting dog hair.

A Pyr or a cross of that breed or something I can train from a puppy, maybe a Shepherd or Shep cross would work as long as the coat would be thick enough. As I said, she would have a heated house on the deck with a great view all around the house. My DH is super soft hearted, says he cannot do it again, but if I feel I need protection for us and our other animals, I will get another dog. Last night we were awakened around 3 a.m. by what sounded like the Hound of the Baskervilles and all his buddies running through our woods, probably chasing that fox that got my neighbor's poor little Golden Comet hen yesterday afternoon. Made me wish I had my own big dog standing guard.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't know how people live without dogs, though mine will bark at too much, it would be really quiet around here without them, I don't think I've been without a couple of dogs since almost 40 years now, I don't think I could function without out them, hard to lose them, I understand that, nearly kills me, but there's more dogs that need a great home so I go fetch another, puppies drive me nuts, but I know I can turn out a great dog that will be with me it's whole life. Had a German shepherd, lots of coat, very protective but she still was soft inside, bonded tight with me. Nope couldn't live without a dog.

 

[speckledhen]

I don't know how people live without dogs, though mine will bark at too much, it would be really quiet around here without them, I don't think I've been without a couple of dogs since almost 40 years now, I don't think I could function without out them, hard to lose them, I understand that, nearly kills me, but there's more dogs that need a great home so I go fetch another, puppies drive me nuts, but I know I can turn out a great dog that will be with me it's whole life. Had a German shepherd, lots of coat, very protective but she still was soft inside, bonded tight with me. Nope couldn't live without a dog.

I grew up with the Dobermans. DH's family got dogs from time to time and his parents would get rid of them when they got to be too much trouble, which hurt him a lot. I never understood that, but they were the dumper type. He is the opposite. When we'd been married 10 years, we adopted a little mixed breed dog from the shelter in Ohio, SICSA. He was with us 10 years. Then three weeks w/o a dog and we adopted a puppy from petsmart, Cody, a retriever-boxer cross. Three years later, we adopted that last girl as a companion for Cody. Cody died at 12 years old and Kes lived 6 more years. She's been gone almost 3 years now. I miss that girl a lot. But now I feel I need a working dog more than a pet. I have chickens and a cat for a pet, though I know my DH will have that dog in the house more than I want it, LOL. He loves animals and they love him.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't understand getting a dog and not planning to keep it forever, it the only species that will choose human companionship over its own kind, they have the mentality of five year old children, I guess either you understand that or you don't, doesn't seem to be much in between. I think you DH will be sneaking that dog inside, thanks to mine I now have two in my bed, good thing the others are larger. Dogs are a commitment, you need to be ready.