090709

The ongoing photo journal of Katoba Dobermans' 2009 "Miss & Mister" Litter ~ DPCA Futurity Nominated for 2010

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WEIGHTS

Purple Collar BB             7 # 9         oz
Pink Collar BB                 7 # 3         oz
Lt Blue Collar BB            6 # 15      oz
Orange Collar RB           6 # 14      oz
Yellow Collar BB             6 # 12      oz
Black Collar RD              7 # 6         oz
Navy Collar BD               8 # 4        oz
Red Collar RB                 6 # 14       oz
Green Collar BD             6 # 15       oz

Monday, September 7, 2009

"... prisoners ~ of love ..."

The puppies have bounced back beautifully from their tummy upset ... had a great weekend ... and have returned to their previous, healthy BARF diet. While the
transitional "chicken and rice" period, (making sure tummies stablized), was much to their delight, the 'chicken breast only' was nutritionally limiting ... and the rice was just
making them FAT !!! Contrary to popular belief ... a FAT puppy is NOT a healthy puppy!! So, they've all now transitioned back to "Babbitt Blend" breakfast and chicken
backs for dinner(s). I am catering to a few finicky babes for a short time. AND ... their ever-loving dam, who withstands those razor-sharp teeth & more-than 65 lbs of
pups, still allows them to nurse when she feels they should. In the whelping box, they nursed almost non-stop; as they were introduced to foods, Misty dictated when she
went back in to feed them - several times per day; now, after they have played and eaten a meal, she usually lays down with them for "dessert"... 3-4 times a day. At this
point she is nursing them for shorter periods of time - I see her weaning herself back off milk production as well, and I have her down to just 3+ meals a day, (as opposed
to the 7 she was eating when nursing nine full-time). I never did supplement the pups, nor did I rotate puppies - I did, however, make sure the smaller pups "found a good
spot at the milk bar" before bringing on the larger pups. With both of Echo's (Misty's dam) litters, she allowed her pups to sneak a snack until they were almost 3 months
old. She allowed them to nurse heavily immediately upon their return from the ear cropping (8-ish weeks), and for a couple days after. I am glad she allowed it ~ and I find
it a VITAL part of the continued recovery response work we focus so hard on during the weeks and weeks of bio-sensory program and early neurological stimulation
exercises ... it is reflected in the confidence those pups now carry. I also think it pays a very important role in the readiness to leave the brood. As a sidenote, I once
bought a male who I later found out had been separated from his dam at just a few weeks of age, due to her mastitis. The separation anxiety he developed was
something that NEVER left him and is something I hope NEVER to deal with again. In my rearing of pups, thus far, the dam and "nature" dictates how things should
transition. Regarding Echo's pups, I had nothing but positive feedback from the families who followed direction regarding the transition period away from their dam and
litter mates. Misty has been everything and more than we could have hoped for in a brood bitch,
and I am certain things will be just as positive with the transition of Misty's pups.

Happy Labor Day ... from the "Divine Nine"

"Erica"

"Louis"
Dave & Clare Pelton Family

"Braun"
David & Margret Truax

"Mischief"
Elaine Richman & "Oz"

"Breeze"

"Soleil"
Frank & Tammy Russo

"Rhyme"
William Kellogg

"Violet"

"Zzzen"

Even though this litter is only five weeks old, all but two pups are spoken for. One male and one female are still available, (I don't know which female I am keeping yet). If you are interested in
a lovely conformation bitch with alot of personality and performance potential ... or ... a wonderful conformation male with the potential to really excel in the performance venues, please fill
out a questionnaire, (below), and email it to me @ katoba@comcast.net. I will review it and may contact you for an interview and home check. You may also call Kathy, at 253.312.4839.
Thank you for our continued interest in Katoba Dobermans.

The conformation on these pups is certainly not showing any signs of disappointment - they have been solid and lovely since the beginning and now, at five weeks, are
really starting to look like little showboats. They each have good bone and substance, great angles, nice tails sets, lovely necks & head pieces, and when they move ...
they don't put a foot wrong. At 3 weeks, they were able to hold good balance on the table; at 4 weeks, they stacked beautifullyI am just so impressed, greatful, and ...
excited to see what the future holds for each of them.