Ragnar and Freyja

[Kaiser2016]

Cannot quite release him from a far stay like this....he is such a bull that he barrels down the aluminum bleachers at full speed.

That's awesome that he stays put! I agree with not releasing him on the stairs, this type of asshattery seems to belong to the males and if he goes blasting down the steps, he's bound to slip and it can be scary watching them take a tumble. Kaiser will still do this on occasion while going down the basement stairs, so I give him the "slow" command which he actually listens to nowadays - after learning the hard way

 

[Ravenbird]

Looking great @Ddski5! The more you put into it the more you get out of it - oh, wait, I think I'm quoting you.

 

[Ddski5]

Been rainy and cold so did not go to the AKC training.

Instead, took her to the high school stadium during the day- same as Ragnar. Ragnar is a lot more confident and experienced, traipsing across the aluminum bleachers with ease. Freyja was initially unsure but eventually forgot about it once the track/fields distractions started.

Really pleased with her initiative going up/down the bleachers- kinda thought she would be very hesitant to climb but she did very well.

So much fun taking her to new places. She is getting better with her obedience commands, I am not pushing it hard this time. Having fun with her and if she gets it...she gets it. If not, then we will get it next time.

 

[Ddski5]

Freyja’s left ear really gave me worries for a long time. As a matter of fact, I just stopped worrying about it this last Monday.

The right ear has always been strong and upright but that left ear has really been weak and flailing all over the place. Only being erect at a hard alert, otherwise it would be flaccid backwards, sideways or forward. I would intermittently bridge but then would notice they would t-pee on hard alert, so that’s when I knew to take out bridge. Then earlier this week, both have been symmetrical with each other during all activities.

Should be getting kinda close to being good to go to take them down for good.

 

[Rits]

Freyja’s left ear really gave me worries for a long time. As a matter of fact, I just stopped worrying about it this last Monday.

The right ear has always been strong and upright but that left ear has really been weak and flailing all over the place. Only being erect at a hard alert, otherwise it would be flaccid backwards, sideways or forward. I would intermittently bridge but then would notice they would t-pee on hard alert, so that’s when I knew to take out bridge. Then earlier this week, both have been symmetrical with each other during all activities.

Should be getting kinda close to being good to go to take them down for good.

Don't you just love it when you think you are done and they do that? Ripley's have been solid since Sunday but last night after show her one trouble ear randomly went loosey goosey at the top so much that I didn't feel comfortable to leave her laying on it overnight so I reposted with adhesive. It seems to do that when she really exhausts herself in brain power. It's no big deal to keep posting for me but I have a feeling I will be posting this one ear off and on just to be safe.

You guys are doing great and it's a breath of fresh air to have a new perspective with Freyja! You guys keep having FUN!

 

[jazzies mum]

So much fun taking her to new places. She is getting better with her obedience commands, I am not pushing it hard this time. Having fun with her and if she gets it...she gets it. If not, then we will get it next time.

This! I actually think that if I had been less rigid with the early training Jazz would have "clicked" earlier! When you realise that they aren't going to develop into killer demons but are just devilish puppies for a while you can begin to breath!

 

[Ddski5]

This is crazy....Freyja has grown in the last week!!

 

[Tropicalbri's]

This is crazy....Freyja has grown in the last week!!View attachment 115701

View attachment 115700

Boy has she ever grown. She looks beautiful!!
They both do!

 

[Ravenbird]

Good-looking couple!!!

 

[Skb]

I was looking at their pics last night. That's crazy how much she has grown. They both look awesome!

 

[Rits]

Now both eyes are closed. Ragnar is too funny.

Freyja looks great! She's almost as big as Ragnar now when sitting!

 

[Ddski5]

Trying Breathe Rite strips

 

[LifeofRubie]

Looking good!!

How is her temperament vs Ragnar's? Does she learn different than he does?

 

[Ddski5]

@LifeofRubie

Freyja is sooo much easier to train than Ragnar. She is easy going, and eager to please. I never truly understood when folks would say their dog was very eager to please. Guess I’ve always had hard headed independent dogs.

If I have to get on her hard, you would think I have absolutely broke her heart the way she acts. She is such a sweet Doberman. Freyja learns things very quick, I don’t have to dwell on things. But then again, she watches and mimics everything Ragnar does. He has been a very good example to her.

In saying that, she is relentless on him, quick to bow up to anything new, and seems fearless. I need to take her to more outside venues like a flea market of something.

She just seems to understand things better. She is more in tune to what is being asked, it seems. Ragnar is more about go go go- what’s over there???

At 5.5months, I am working on coming off prong onto a flat collar and will be successful. At 5.5months, Ragnar was literally barreling down the back door by launching his body into it.

But then, I received Ragnar at 4months and Freyja at 2months.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Wow she’s so big! Is she expected to keep growing? They look like an imposing pair!

 

[Skb]

@LifeofRubie

Freyja is sooo much easier to train than Ragnar. She is easy going, and eager to please. I never truly understood when folks would say their dog was very eager to please. Guess I’ve always had hard headed independent dogs.

If I have to get on her hard, you would think I have absolutely broke her heart the way she acts. She is such a sweet Doberman. Freyja learns things very quick, I don’t have to dwell on things. But then again, she watches and mimics everything Ragnar does. He has been a very good example to her.

In saying that, she is relentless on him, quick to bow up to anything new, and seems fearless. I need to take her to more outside venues like a flea market of something.

She just seems to understand things better. She is more in tune to what is being asked, it seems. Ragnar is more about go go go- what’s over there???

At 5.5months, I am working on coming off prong onto a flat collar and will be successful. At 5.5months, Ragnar was literally barreling down the back door by launching his body into it.

But then, I received Ragnar at 4months and Freyja at 2months.

Do you think the differences have to do with male vs female or more with genetics? Just curious. She is beautiful and Ragnar is a handsome beast

 

[Ddski5]

Her mom is 25.5 in and 72lb.
Breeder said her mom grew very fast and then just stopped.

I just measured Ragnar’s chest at 35”.

 

[Ddski5]

Do you think the differences have to do with male vs female or more with genetics?

Genetics? I really thought Ragnar would be a lot more docile and easier to train with him being a NA Doberman from show lineage. So genetics there (to me) is wayyy off....so the arrow goes to him being a male.

Freyja is SA and NA- I just asked the breeder the comparison %. But from what I have researched, SA Dobermans have a tendency to be sharp, no not all but just saying that they can be sharper than NA. So the arrow there goes to her being a female.

My wife calls Ragnar a snobby male that only cares for me- he will walk right past my wife and kids and come straight to me and not even blink at them. That is what drove them to convince me to get another Doberman.

Freyja wants a piece of everyone along the way.

 

[Rits]

Genetics? I really thought Ragnar would be a lot more docile and easier to train with him being a NA Doberman from show lineage. So genetics there (to me) is wayyy off....so the arrow goes to him being a male.

Freyja is SA and NA- I just asked the breeder the comparison %. But from what I have researched, SA Dobermans have a tendency to be sharp, no not all but just saying that they can be sharper than NA. So the arrow there goes to her being a female.

My wife calls Ragnar a snobby male that only cares for me- he will walk right past my wife and kids and come straight to me and not even blink at them. That is what drove them to convince me to get another Doberman.

Freyja wants a piece of everyone along the way.

Another piece that may help answer the difference. Genetics in parents. Melissa just told me yesterday that Freyja's mom is VERY laid back. They have to really work hard to get her animated for show. Shes just soooo laid back and almost lazy. So even with SA, each individual dog will be different. Then Ripley's litter some of her puppy buyers have said they are bouncing off the walls, Melissa asked what are they doing? Then shes like "oh, thats normal Doberman behavior" lol.

With everything people have said here about how challenging Dobermans are to have, while yes, I think if I didn't practice NILIF, train train train with Ripley, it'd be a different story but Ripley has been a dream really temperament and trainability wise. She gives us lots of fire when we need it but she also can just as well chill out when told to but ready to go the moment we say. Such great mannered dogs.

Don't forget she has lots of maturing to do too. I noticed a big change in Ripley when she came a week shy from coming into heat. Now shes in heat and shes less lovey to new people. Takes her a little to warm up. She eyeballed Melissa and sniffed from afar when they first reunited LOL. Then she warmed up to her and was her wiggly normal self. She did the SAME thing to her conformation instructor that she LOVED back in October. She gave her the cold shoulder at show and literally ignored her. So those hormones play a big part too.

 

[Ddski5]

I was just fixing to say....

Also could be the science of what kind of line Freyja’s breeder has been working on.