ARE YOU A DOG LOVER - Pet Parenting Guide

PET PARENTING GUIDE - Bringing Up a Doberman X

PET PARENTING GUIDE

Bringing Up a Doberman X

By

VIKRAM KARVE

A few years ago a cute little baby Doberman X Caravan (Mudhol) Hound girl came into my life. We named her Sherry, Sherry Karve, and she brought a flood of happiness in our lives and I have enjoyed the best moments of my life with my best friend Sherry.  From her father she has acquired the sleek body, swift run, fearless nature, and sight and scent skills of a Hound, but she displays typical Doberman attributes like her pure Doberman mother – best of both breeds.  

Sherry - an alert smile

My Canine Daughter's Name & Age:

Name: Sherry Karve. Age: Hey, you don’t ask a girl her age…!

In a Word, My Cute Doberman Girl Is:

Loyal, Loving, Strong, Fearless, Fit, Agile, Intelligent, Protective Friend

Her Best Characteristics:

Highly Intelligent, Easily Trained, Superb Guard Dog, Playful Active Loving

Her Most Challenging Characteristics:

One-man dog, does not like to be left alone, she has a very aggressive temperament, especially with cats, other dogs, and intruders who try to enter her “territory”, a Doberman needs firm handling at times.

DOBERMAN ATTRIBUTES

Highly intelligent and active, a bit headstrong, needs firm handling, superb guard dog, very protective of her family and territory, fearless, loyal, playful, wary of strangers and children, very easily trained, responds beautifully, needs lots of exercise, loves long walks, vigorous games, hates to be left alone and wants to be a part of the family, loves human company, a fantastic friend and devoted companion, robust and redoubtable.

Sherry - Nosey Nosey

DOBERMAN PARENTING

You must be physically fit and ready for outdoor exercise (playing and long walks) with your dog. Also you must be mentally agile and young at heart to interact with your dog who will demand a lot of your attention.

You must have plenty of space, a bungalow with a large playing area and a garden. In case you live in a flat, you must have the time, inclination and energy to take your Doberman for brisk long walks at least twice a day to a nearby ground for some vigorous exercise and also play rough and tough indoor games like TUG OF WAR 

http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/01/stress-management-by-playing-with-your.html

Sherry and her Bone

You must devote at least three hours a day exclusively for the dog, follow regular routine without exception and give mental stimulation to your Doberman by playing with her and talking to her. Yes, a Doberman is a highly intelligent dog who loves interaction and is always on the alert waiting for you to communicate and she will always try to communicate too. So make sure you talk a lot with your Doberman.

Talk to Me

Doberman is a one-owner dog, likes company of master, is overly protective of master and territory, hates loneliness. You must avoid leaving your dog alone in a flat (a bungalow in the compound is okay) and if you have to do so, talk to your dog, train her to be alone, and do so for the minimum time. Your dog will wait for you (even in a Bungalow) - and when you come will welcome you and want all your attention.

A Doberman is a superb Guard Dog and certainly not a very friendly cuddly dog for children and visitors. However a Doberman will shower the master with love, will demand love from her master and ask to be cuddled and fondled by the master.

Does not like strangers, cats, other dogs and children, and is always ready to attack intruders. A Doberman has a ferocious and aggressive nature and is suspicious of strangers and that is why it makes such a good guard dog. A good guard dog attacks and bites before it barks whereas a good watch dog first barks and then bites. 

Having a Doberman is not advisable for families with small children. If you have small kids it may be best to go in for a more docile and friendly breed like Labrador or maybe a smaller breed.

Highly intelligent and easy to train. (I trained her to fetch the newspaper in just a couple of minutes - see the picture below). Always needs mental stimulation so you must play lots of “brainy” games like “bone game” and keep “talking” to your pet dog both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Sherry - fetching the morning newspaper

Sherry is an Ideal Companion and a very Loyal Friend

A Doberman requires companionship and hates to be left alone. So I take Sherry along whenever possible - the back-seat of the car has been done up and reserved for her. You will also have to adjust your social life. Since I take Sherry for walks in the mornings and evenings I cannot take on commitments during that time (especially I avoid evening social functions as I have to prepare Sherry's dinner and feed her in the evening after her long walk and exercise). If you really want to look after your dog properly you will have to give your dog a lot of your time every day on a regular basis and this will entail curtailing your social life.

A Doberman requires firm handling and lots of playing and physical activity.

Also a Doberman tends to be a highly loyal “one-man dog” and loves me more than the other family members and even gets jealous at times and growls at my wife if she gets too close, especially during our play sessions. Sometimes a Doberman may not like someone else getting to close to the master (or mistress) so be careful and don’t take your Doberman along with you on that mushy romantic date.

A Doberman is a very low maintenance dog. The only grooming you need to is to give her a nice bath once a fortnight followed by a nice vigorous brushing. She is a very clean dog who grooms and licks herself clean every evening.

So tell me, do you want to get a Doberman into your life? 

And if you do, please don’t dock her tail or crop her ears as I think it is a cruel thing to do.

Also, let me tell you that a mixed breed or stray mongrel is more tough, immune to diseases and resilient than pure breed dogs, and properly groomed and trained they make excellent pets. So if you see a stray pup in need of rescue in your neighborhood, just go ahead and adopt it, inoculate and immunize the dog, give it your love, look after it and you will be surprised at how much loyalty and love you get in return.

Bow Wow.

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

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