Soluna Dobermans

[Rits]

Oh I totally get that and it's yet another reason I leave the breeding up to other responsible people.

Are we friends on FB?

I appreciate you for understanding Jan! I'll never forget about you guys.

 

[Ddski5]

Just wow!!

I can only begin to understand the work that is involved. Folks always asked me if I had intentions of breeding Ragnar and Freyja and I said….NO!!! That’s a whole nother level right there. If one does it, it has to be done right and you are killing it!!!

There has to be a special feeling though…to see life created and then nurture and care for it?.?.?? How special that is.

 

[jazzies mum]

I'm not a fan of fb and don't use it much, (unless I am stalking Ripleys pups!), so I have not friended many people. I prefer Doberman Chat as a friendly, safe environment for advice and general Doberman fun! It's a caring community of like minded people and that is rare online these days. Thankyou Jan for keeping it going so well, and everyone else for being fantastic!

 

[Rits]

Had a few more!

 

[Rits]

Happy 3 weeks to the Sulaco litter!

They are all over 4lbs with Vasquez remaining to be our biggest girl at 5lbs. Lots of conscious decisions peeing and pooping in the litter box! The most remarkable was Dietrich nursing this morning, pulling off mid nurse to go potty in the litterbox 100% poops are in the box with maybe 80% pees in the box but 100% are not in their bed! They are super smart and quick learners.

They are getting nail trims with the Dremel every other day and are handling it well. Some of them I can even do on my own with no fuss. We started weaning a few days ago with supplemental morning and evening meals of mashed kibble and formula as their little teeth are coming in. Eventually they will be eating only softened kibble.

Everyone's eyes and ears are open. Lots of sass coming out of these guys when they are awake. Stomping around, little growls and barks, tugging on each other, pawing etc. but they are also very sweet, seek human attention and looove to be held.



Pictures from the week in no particular order:


During the second week of life once their teeth started coming in we started introducing some novel foods to try out to learn the mechanics of eating and it is engaging for their minds. Drake trying mash potatoes.


Dietrich was really getting in there cleaning Ripley's ear lol


Hi Lady that gives us lots of love and attention!


Late night snacking


Drake contently snoozing


Puppy pile


Fat and happy babies


Ripley thought she'd be fine sitting here but ... They can reach!


With no peep found Drake sleeping contently outside of the box. He likely climbed on Mom to escape. The wall went up higher that day lol.

 

[MyBuddy]

With no peep found Drake sleeping contently outside of the box. He likely climbed on Mom to escape. The wall went up higher that day lol.

I wondered if/when they'd go over that! That's so neat that it 'grows' with the pups! Little cuties!

 

[Rits]

More

Oh boy, here we go. The fun begins!

 

[MyBuddy]

Flooding us with pictures! Eyes open and examining the world! Personalities will really come through now!

 

[MyBuddy]

"I eat your face"!

 

[Rits]

Flooding us with pictures! Eyes open and examining the world! Personalities will really come through now!

Oh yes. Its amazing how brave and spunky they get each day. Once their eyes and ears opened, they started trying to stand and walk a few steps more to now they walk around really well with an occasional tumble. The play fighting started a few days after their eyes and ears opened and so did the vocalizing. They had their very first visitors yesterday (my parents) and it was so cute to see them make the connection that there were new people in the room and see a few seek out their attention to snuggle. Others took advantage of confidently stomping around the room and exploring.

 

[MyBuddy]

Adorable!

 

[Ravenbird]

Super job you're doing raising these little ones! What are the pellets in the potty tray? Looks like alfalfa pellets you'd feed to rabbits - use them to smell like outdoors? I'm amazed that they are learning that at 3 weeks!

 

[Two Dobes]

Love all your photos! Did you guys do your own tails? They look great...love to see them scrambling around!

 

[Kaiser2016]

Super job you're doing raising these little ones! What are the pellets in the potty tray? Looks like alfalfa pellets you'd feed to rabbits - use them to smell like outdoors? I'm amazed that they are learning that at 3 weeks!

They are wood pellets formed from saw dust. When the pups pee on them they crumble. I use the same stuff as cat litter. I’m also amazed at their usage of the litter box while so young.

 

[Rits]

What are the pellets in the potty tray? Looks like alfalfa pellets you'd feed to rabbits - use them to smell like outdoors?

Yup! Its alfalfa pelleted feed for horses. Some use pine or paper but I want it to smell like grass, especially since these are winter babies. It is more expensive than pine or paper but I think will be worth it.

I’m also amazed at their usage of the litter box while so young.

The desire to not soil their nest is strong! But getting them to use the litterbox specifically is doberman smarts and a bit of understanding a neonate puppy They wont travel too far at the moment while learning so I have to make sure to go at their pace and introduce the next step at the right time. The classic potty after eat, sleep or play applies for bitty baby puppies too though!

Did you guys do your own tails?i

Yep, we banded them like they do with sheep tails. We also did their dews. Done at 3 days old once they are established and healthy. I researched both ways (band vs vet dock) and took feedback from other breeders experiences with both ways then had assistance from two experienced breeders. I'm incredibly happy with banding them! Its done right at home so the puppies don't have to be exposed to the vet and put their immune systems at risk. There is no blood and very little discomfort for the puppies, they don't notice anything and neither does Mom. Very minimal scarring! They fall off in only a few days. You can control the length of the tail where when a vet does it...they are squirming and its more difficult to get it right. Once its done, its done with the vet. With banding you can cut the band right away, or apply a new one if needing shorter. You remove the scab daily then spray with silver spray and that makes them continuously heal inwards, creating a beautiful hair covered tail. They already look fantastic and all are completely healed except a dot of scab on one or two that are almost healed. Most were healed by 2-2.5 weeks.

 

[JanS]

Aww they're growing so fast and so cute!

I like the banding method too for most of the reasons you mentioned.

 

[jazzies mum]

What a beautiful litter and you are all doing fantastic giving them the best start in life! I have to admit that I have a personal favourite puppy. Little Newt. (Don't tell the others!) Is Ripley starting to get sick of the suckling yet? With those little teeth coming in it sounds a bit painful!

That is really interesting regarding the banding of tails. I grew up on a farm where the lambs were tail banded and castration banded and saw first hand how little discomfort it caused. With this in mind I wish Australian legislation could remove the ban on docking tails! The one thing I would change with Jazz is that she would have faired better without that long whippy tail getting injured so easily.

 

[Rits]

You don't need anything for Christmas when you have puppies and who run to you with glee when you call them.

Sulaco Litter 4 weeks old

GCH Denalli's Hot Off The Press "Ink"
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AKC ptd.(9) / UKC BIS GCH Melrae's Houston We Have A Problem BN RI RA BCAT DJ DS CGCA CGCU TKA WAC SPOT-ON RACEN RATI - "Ripley"

Ferro


Dietrich


Newt


Drake (boy)


Vasquez



Vasquez choosing violence

 

[Ravenbird]

It's so amazing how much they grow week by week!!! Now that they are getting mobile the fun really begins!

 

[MyBuddy]

Vasquez choosing violence

That made me laugh out loud! All very cute!