Sunday, December 20, 2009
Under the  Miss ~ eltoe       
The ongoing photo journal of Katoba Dobermans' 2009 "Miss & Mister" Litter   ~   DPCA Futurity Nominated for 2010
Today did not start out like I thought it would at all ... but, why would it right ?!?!
For starters, everyone is cutting molars and is a big cranky. Two of them are cutting the canine teeth and they are coming in HUGE.
Needelss to say, there was no "smiling for the camera" this morning.
While the morning was VERY hectic, it began to slow down a bit in the afternoon ... maybe I was just finally getting a chance to ENJOY part of the day by that time.
Either way, I was asked to do another photo shoot for Dog-Sitter-Debbie ... this time for her boy, Hagen. We were also able to get Hagen and Fallon together for some good
photos as well. Zzzen, (in cognito he is "Joe"), and I went out to "the barn" so he could play and I could could HOPEFULLY get some photos of the dogs.
It had been peaking sun all day thus far, but OF COURSE, while on our way, it began to RAIN and get dark.
When we got there, the juicy clouds rolled away ... low & behold, before we were finished, the SUN even came back out. PERFECT moment  - the first one for me today.
Hagen is a magnificent old guy ... I felt very honored to have been asked to do his photos.
And, besides, he actually likes/tolerates Zzzen, as much as an older dog should have to ...and he is a great mentor ... and that warms my heart.
Here are some of the moments Zzzen had with Hagen, Fallon, and Debbie.
Yesterday, Clare brought Louis down for his weekly ear re-posting. He had fun playing with the other pups and barking like a big dog (he has a HUGE, no-nonsense
bark), at Cahill - who pretty much just laughed at Louis. Brave, brave Louis - hahaha. Then he had his ears done and was a very good boy. Unfortunately, I received a
voice=mail later that day saying he had been shaking his head and was able to pop the posts right out. GRRRRRRRRRRR, Louis :) Clare and Sarah were already on
their way back home by the time I got the message, so it was too late to call them back over. So, I told her to take them out when she got home and wait for me to come
up -  we could meet somewhere North the next day. My Sunday quickly became chalked full of unexpected activity; Todd is at work today; and traffic was down right
ridiculous. So unfortunately, Louis ears would have to wait until Tuesday, as Clare cannot meet me on Monday.
Maybe I will try the Breath Rite Strips method on him ... and PRAY they stay on through Christmas.
Nevertheless, Louis remains the gentle giant ... at 4.5 months of age ... weighing 50 pounds :).
Louis Notes
Rhyme Notes
Sarah keeps me on my toes with the "now' trends in communication - she has remained in great contact with me and sends me lots of photos and many a-texts. Thank
gawd that is ONE thing I know how to do in this age of technology !! Today, she let me know that she is coning over after Christmas - we will train at the training center and
i will get to see how Rhyme and Sarah are coming along. I know she has been diligent with Rhymes ears and also keeping her toenails short Short SHORT. Rhyme has the
same great cat feet that all my puppies seem to be blessed. Sarah also reported that she was sending me the text while the two of them were at the park ...
... Rhyme was jumping like a bunny through the snow - she loves it apparently ... and she enjoys biting at the snowflakes. I cannot wait to see them both ... it's been weeks!
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Violet Notes
While all the puppies are using each other, every toy, and just about anything that fits into their mouths as a chew-toy, Violet is the first to be cutting multiple canine (eye)
teeth. The olds are gone and the new are erupting through like volcano's. And they are HUGE !!! She is a beautiful girl and is enjoying life ... she is a bit spoiled in that she
gets to sleep with me sometimes.  I am convince she and Erica were destined to be together forever. They are complete opposites still ... in every action, in every reaction,
in every movement, in color, in attitude, in personality, in eating habits, in sleeping habits ... it is a PERFECT combo of girls to be keeping.
Erica Notes
Erica was given a very bright new orange collar not too long ago. I brought it home & put it on her and and sometime during unmonitored puppy play (when they were still
in the pen together), the brand new collar appeared to look like a shiny new toy and wash chewed off. I was so sad - it is VERY hard to find bright orange ANYTHING for
dogs that is not just a safety orange. No, that is NOT "Erica's Orange" ... she is more of a bright tangerine of sorts. Anyway, I was able to get a replacement of the same
collar and I was THRILLED - it suits her perfectly. So today she is again dawning her new collar, (see photo at top of this page).
Today was Zzzen's third play date with Debbie and her dogs. Zzzen is a really solid confident dog and today he finally told Hagen when he was getting too pushy. Wow I
am impressed with this guy. That said, Zzzen has fallen deeply in love with Debbie. He gets excited just driving up the road to the barn. I swear he tries to jump into her
arms sometimes. Today, when we arrived at the barn, I opened the door, Zzzen jumped out of the car and turned his head - listening ... then he saw Debbie talking on her
cell phone ... he RAN over and jumped with joy. He follows her like a shadow and does whatever she asks of him. I think this would be a great placement for Zzzen ... I
think Debbie is quite taken with Zzzen as well, but there is one piece of the puzzle that is not ready for a third dog at this time. You know what I always say ... it has to be
good for EVERYONE, or it will never be good for the dog. So, I will just keep accepting the invitations to take Zzzen out for a couple hours of play now and then.
Zzzen Notes
Soleil Notes
I have come to a solid belief that Soleil will be forever changed by her rough start away from Katoba. She has been recovered and has physically recuperated beautifully ...
but she is left with some initial trust issues I think. She is very competitive and antagonistic in play with other dogs - NEVER mean, but never "palsy-walsy" either. She has
some strong reservations about people until she has been around them for awhile and 'becomes comfortable ... with backup" as I say. She does not respond well to
situations that are unpredictable, lacking calmness, or when she is treated in an overbearing manner. She never shys, but, will refuse to come at this point if she feels she
is not going to be comfortable. While that is a sign of an alert Doberman ... it is VERY frustrating given she left here as solid as a rock. Nevertheless, she is becomeing
better and better, What I do know is thsi - she needs to be placed in a forever home where she IS the only dog ... she will thrive and be very successful and happy that ay.
She is, however, the BEST snuggler nowadays ...  I will bring her upstairs with me - she LOVES to be the only one who gets my attention & to sleep with her at night is a
dream to behold - she will stare into my eyes until she literally falls asleep ,,, melting into my arms. I think she will always want to be loved in this way, but she is a Doberman
bitch, so I am sure it will be on her terms as she gets older :).  She is extremely smart and easily trained. She's going to be a beautiful show dog as she does not put a foot
wrong and is very cocky most of the time.
Breeze Notes
I would like to see Brezee go to a loving show home that has no other dogs as well" Why" Because I wasn't her to continue being spoiled !!! hahahaha. Actually, she would
do quite well if the other dog was VERY receptive to her and WANTED a dog companion. Breeze is amazingly beautiful and will be a stunning girl to have in the
conformation ring. Until the RIGHT show home comes along, she is not going anywhere. She is, "The Bean", and Todd calls her. She is WELL KNOWN for he jumping
capabilities. Just this morning, she jumped up on ME and got her foot stuck in my shirt pocket ... thus, ripping the pocket off. It hit the ground and she picked it up as if it
were the Big Prize ... a few minutes later she brought it back to me with a VERY sad and pitiful look on her face ... she plays it for all its worth with that lovely face of hers.
Breeze is a fun girl with lots of happy energy and tons of cuddling to be had. While all the dogs will be playing in the dog room, she is more than happy to take a time out to
come over and sit on the chair with me and cuddle.
Braun Notes
Mischief Notes
No news from Braun or Mischief homes since I posted their individual updates this past week.
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When I began this day I wondered to myself how the day would go.
The question:
HOW am I going to get done all the things I have on this list?.
The Answer:
I'm NOT
I did not get but three things on my list accomplished today.
it is way past dinner time, but the dogs have all been fed;
It is too late to get any more chores done around here, but the dogs all got new clean blankets in their beds and are asleep for the night.
Hot coca and whipped cream ... here I come.
In the words of the famous Shaggy:
"ZOIKS"
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Enjoy the life and times of these very special puppies through their eight-chapter photo journal saga,
(click on the links below).
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
Chapter 3
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
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Copyright2009,2010KBabbitt. All Rights Reserved. use of ANY materials on this site or its linked pages is explicitly prohibited.
If you are interested in being considered for one of the show prospect puppies available, (see above),
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.
"The DOG BLOG ... with Pix"