Food, Treats and Chews
What I feed puppies up to 12 months. With just 14% Fat and a 1.4 to 1.0 Calcium to Phosphorus ratio, Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy is ideal for promoting slow, steady growth.
What I feed adults 1 year and older. Nature’s Logic has no wheat, corn or soy, but more importantly it has NO peas, NO potatoes and NO added copper. Look for these formulas to keep the copper content in the 10.0-10.7 mg/kg range:
Original Grain-Inclusive in Chicken, Beef, Sardine or Duck/Salmon
or
Original Grain-Free in Chicken or Beef
If you prefer more natural foods, but dislike the idea of raw, then try The Honest Kitchen line of human grade, dehydrated recipes. Or if you feed raw, but would like to add grain-inclusive or grain-free fruits and veggies, check out their Base Mixes.
Farm Hounds Giant size, sustainably sourced, 100% Beef Hide Rolls are for aggressive chewers. Given to your Doberman for 30 mins daily for stress relief and good old fashion fun, each roll will last far longer than other chews you have tried. Check out their bags of dehydrated treats too. See my review of the Beef Hide Rolls in this video.
Feel free to use the one of the following discount codes! DISCOUNT will appear during checkout.
TDW10 for 10% OFF Site Wide
TDW15 for 15% OFF Your First Order of $60+
Sure, you COULD just shove a pill down your Doberman’s throat, but how would YOU like it? Instead, make pill time into treat time with Greenies Pill Pockets. Available in a variety of flavors and package sizes.
Toys and Distractions
Nylabone’s line of chew toys. Power chews for Dobermans over 6 months, and Puppy chews for under 6 months. My guys love the Original and Wishbone Power chews.
Benebone is a line similar to Nylabone. You get the most bang for your buck with Benebone’s variety packs.
Kong toys can double as a distraction device when filled with kibble, treats or peanut butter. There are many knockoff Kong toys- these knockoffs are dangerous, so stick with the real thing!
West Paw toys makes a variety of softer, but sturdy rubber toys. They may not be appropriate though for the toughest chewers. My dogs’ favorites are the Bumi, Tux, Tizzi and Jive. See more about the West Paw company and its toys in this video.
Also made by West Paw, the Toppl is ‘da bomb’ for keeping your Doberman entertained! Fill with yummy goodness and freeze. Plug the side hole with the Stopper, and you can fill your Toppl with liquid or soupy goodness. See ideas of how to fill your Toppl in this video.
Lick Mats are a good way to distract your Doberman and release calming hormones. They can also be used as a reward device when teaching certain behaviors. See how to use lick mats in this video.
Ear Posting Supplies
Subcategory #1
For supplies seen in this video covering step-by-step Backer Rod, Full Post method
I have found that Zonas tape quality has diminished over the last couple of years. So I am now recommending Hampton Adams which is available in white or black. This box of 8 rolls should be sufficient to get most puppies through their posting period.
This adhesive has been the gold standard in ear posting for decades!
This adhesive remover beats UniSolv hands down! Makeup artists use this to remove prosthetics like fake noses off actors, so it is made to be VERY safe and non-drying on skin.
Heavy duty, 175 lb zip ties for strengthening backer rod. These are the Mac Daddy of cable ties. What you don’t use for posting, you’ll find uses for around your house.
Bandage Scissors will not get bogged down by the adhesive on tape and will make short work of thick zip ties. Keep the extra pair in your first aid kit.
Backer Rod aka Caulking Rod aka Foam Rod. The ½” will work for most puppies. Puppies with very small bells may need the 3/8”. Pups over 6 months may need the 5/8”.
Antifungal powder to keep the ear bells dry during posting.
Cotton Rounds for cleaning ears, padding ear posts and to use as bumpers.
Pool Noodles tend to be a seasonal item. To get them from Amazon, you have to buy several. Try your local dollar store or Walmart. Or ask a friend or neighbor with a pool if they have an old one to donate to the cause.
This dispenser is super handy to keep your homemade ear cleaner in (1 part rubbing alcohol and 1 part white vinegar).
Subcategory #2
For supplies seen in this video covering half-posts, paper towel, Zip Tie and Moleskin Zip Tie methods
I have found that Zonas tape quality has diminished over the last couple of years. So I am now recommending Hampton Adams which is available in white or black. This box of 8 rolls should be sufficient to get most puppies through their posting period.
Guard-Tex tape as seen in this video from 4:25 to 18:00 mins. Guard-Tex must be applied loosely, and then secured as shown in the video or it will slide off the ear. Available in green, black or blue.
Vet wrap as used in this example at 32:25 mins. NEVER apply Vet Wrap with tension. Because Vet Wrap does not stick to the ear, and the danger of cutting off circulation, most posters do not use this product.
Gorilla tape for the zip-tie method as from 39:27 to 51:15 mins. Do not apply Gorilla tape (or any duct tape) directly to the ears.
https://amzn.to/4a09l3y (white)
https://amzn.to/3ZYgEUS (black)
T-Rex tape for strengthening posts as seen from 8:00 to 13:45 mins.
This adhesive has been the gold standard in ear posting for decades!
If your puppy has an adverse reaction to Torbot, or does not need quite that much hold, give Skin Tac a go. Creates a very tacky barrier between the ears and tape. As seen at 1:35 mins. https://amzn.to/4h0lEPu (for the wipes)
https://amzn.to/40fmYIW (for the bottle)
This adhesive remover beats UniSolv hands down! Makeup artists use this to remove prosthetics like fake noses off of actors, so it is made to be VERY safe and non-drying on skin.
Heavy duty, 175 lb zip ties for strengthening backer rod. These are the Mac Daddy of cable ties. What you don’t use for posting, you’ll find uses for around your house.
Bandage Scissors will not get bogged down by the adhesive on tape, and will make short work of thick zip ties. Keep the extra pair in your first aid kit.
Milwaukee Jobsite Scissors as seen at 40:00 mins. (I instead recommend the bandage scissors above)
Backer Rod aka Caulking Rod aka Foam Rod. The ½” will work for most puppies. Puppies with very small bells may need the 3/8”. Pups over 6 months may need the 5/8”.
Moleskin (not to be confused with Molefoam which is much thicker) for use in the Moleskin Zip Tie method as seen at 51:10 to 1:06:30
Zymox Ear Wipes with aloe, for ears that are red or irritated. Otherwise I suggest a simple, at-home mix of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 1 part white vinegar.
Cotton Rounds for cleaning ears, padding ear posts and to use as bumpers.
Small Makeup Wedges to pad posts for the Zip Tie method.
This adhesive has been the gold standard in ear posting for decades!
The Breathe Right strips for tips
Bandage Scissors will not get bogged down by the adhesive on tape, Breathe Right strips, and will make short work of thick zip ties. Keep the extra pair in your first aid kit.
This adhesive remover beats UniSolv hands down! Makeup artists use this to remove prosthetics like fake noses off actors, so it is made to be VERY safe and non-drying on skin.