121609

Update

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Under the Miss ~ eltoe

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

Breeze and Erica are still at each others throats - literally - today ...
... I have come to the conclusion that they are just NOT going to have "BFF", (Best Friends Forever), status.
No way, no how, not even a hint of hope there ... not the way it looks the past few days anyway.
I just cannot figure out what occurred in the past two days, but ... it is what it is and clearly there is nothing I am going to be able to do to change it ... not yet anyway.
Otherwise, here at Camp Katoba, we do have .............................................................................................................................................................. Holiday Harmony.

"BRAUN" Katoba's Mister Big

I hadn't seen Braun in over a month ... since I referred the Truax's to Dr. Jessica Wilcock, DVM, for after ear care. But now, it was time to start getting him into training
for his upcoming conformation debut in March 2010. I was excited to see Braun - he was such a gorgeous puppy when I last saw him. May sound silly, but when the
puppies go to their homes and I await seeing them again as puppies, their are a few things that I ALWAYS worry about: their true happiness in bonding with their new
human(s), their continued social confidence, their after care of the ears, and the toenails - oh, gosh those toenails. Today was to be a revealing day about Braun's life
and rearing since he left the nest. My heart raced in anticipation; I had the battery charged in the camera for lots of photos; I hope not to see long toenails; I want to see
that gorgeous long showey crop; and I hoped to see him as happy and outgoing as ever ... honestly, I cannot imagine him being anything other than perfect :)

5:00am playtime

My heart leaped for joy when I saw Braun - he is SOOOOOOOOOO sweet and loving and happy. "Thank You, David and Margret, for keeping him that way."
Braun did very well on the show lead - moving around the ring with confidence ... and he began working on the "step-step" piece of the free stack.
David had a busy morning and was almost an hour late, but even so ... with limited time, I was very happy that we got in some VERY successful training.
This dog LOVES to learn and will become a nice show dog ... and later, a great obedience/rally partner for David.

First off-lead free-stack ...
... boy, it's hard to train and
photograph at same time

I took Violet to the training Center with me. Before Braun
and David got there, I had a chance to work with her - she
has the most beautiful stack I have seen in a long time.
GOOD GIRL ! When she had worked long enough, I let her
run around a bit. Sure enough, she found a toy to play with
and play she did - she would fling it in the air, try to catch it
as it came back down ... if it landed behind her, she would
bark at it and then start all over again. FUNNNN-YYY !

Erica is the red bitch I dreamed of having and Violet owns my heart ~ they play together, snuggled together, and enjoy healthy competition over who gets the better part
of my lap :) I adore them separately AND together. Violet reminds me so much of both Logan and Piper ... (sometimes to tears), whereas Erica mimics, (and taunts and
teases), her grand-dam, Echo, through and through. THEY are sisters, but they are also best of friends ... otherwise, I would be keeping Breeze.
Soleil is very dynamic - she is an intense bitch who would probably pass her WAC today; she IS a true show girl; yet, loves nothing more than to be held and cuddled.
Zzzen is a true Doberboy - a loving lap dog who is focused and just wants to please; smart as can be and a showman through and through.
Breeze is a Super Model ... and while I love them all, Breeze is magnificently pretty and holds herself together so well; a lovely sight to see since she was born.
These three pups are truly "special", which is why I have kept them on a very "short lead", so to speak.
Hopefully the RIGHT home will come along for all three puppies available, and the sooner the better ~ but, until that happens ... they stay, they train, they are loved.

So, on to the long-awaited logistics:
Braun's rich brown (red) coat looks plush and lovely, his face still makes me melt, and his personality shines brighter than stars.
Braun and Violet had a fun game of "Keep Away" when he first arrived ... I could not get the smile off my face as it had been so long since I had seen him.
I am thrilled to see that Braun is so happy and he loves his dad ... he is very outgoing and did not hesitate to run right to me when i called him.
His ears are cropped beautifully and long; they had a minor infection last week, but David got that cleared up; he developed pockets, but I am now posting, again, and
will use a slightly different method in order to attempt to rid those pockets. I pray that it is not too late - ears are a one shot deal.
Braun's toenails were very long ... but, in fairness to David, he was misled - by a professional - into thinking the toenails had been kept too short.
WRONG !! Poor David got the "nail lecture", from me, that most all new show dog owners have heard and I am sure David will have the short again in "short" time.
I was baffled by Braun's legginess, the complete lack of body fat & substance, and the minimal muscle development for his age - even less than a month ago.
After collecting some information, I believed that minor changes in Braun's diet and supplements were just enough to cause some lengthening of long bone, restrict
muscle development & cause this very lean appearance ... and even some softening/flattening of some of his toes from the very tight cat feet this litter has.
After some discussion about a complete return to the very detailed diet & supplementation plan - administered in the suggested manner - Braun should be able to get
back on track with the necessary "growth & development" of a PUPPY and hopefully the return to some of those great qualities he was known for.
All of this noted, Braun is still quite lovely and he moves with style and presence ... what a SUPER dog he is ~ "I love you, Braun !"
I cannot wait to see how things progress as he has a great base for muscle and substance ... I continue to look forward to his ring debut in a couple of months.

Sadly, the lighting inside the training center is downright BAD ... and while David was able to get this stack photo for me, the rest of the photos were nothing but blur.
Hopefully next week it will be nice enough "outside" to get some candids, another stack, and some head shots ... he has a BEAUTIFUL head !!!
David is a good photographer and he was willing to humor me with my "point-and-shoot" today ~ THANK YOU, David ... I am VERY glad we at least got a stack photo.

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"BREEZE" Katoba's Miss Congeniality

"VIOLET" Katoba's Miss Priss

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If you are interested in being considered for one of the show prospect puppies available, (Zzzen, Soleil, Breeze),
please begin by filling out the questionnaire, (below).
Email it to Kathy at katoba@comcast.net. Please do not leave anything 'blank' on the form.
Kathy can be contacted at 253.312.4839.