We're puppy people and our favorite puppies are Doberman Pinschers.
We've had 2 Dobes in our lives so far; Zaphod and Trisha. We got
Zaphod, or "The Mighty Z" as he preferred to be called, in 1989. He was a
great black and tan Dobe with a kind heart and a gentle soul. I've never
met a dog so interested in computers. You would have to practically push
him away if you had a PC opened on the floor. Trish came along 5 years
later and immediately began to run the show. She was a Red Dobe which to
me looked suspiciously like brown.
Both of our friends are gone now. Doberman's have only
about a 10 year life span and I can tell you from personal experience it is sad
but true. "The Mighty Z" passed away in November of 1999. "Little Miss" passed away early in the summer of 2005. We
were very saddened by her loss but happy in knowing she would be rejoining her
big brother. We love them both very much.
Not wanting to be without the world's greatest dog, we went to our local breeder, Dobermann's Di Ravallese and found a new friend.
Angela Ravallese introduced us to our new puppy Baxter. His official show name is Di Ravallese's National Treasure.
Baxter is now almost 3 years old and has become a wonderful friend. He is
incredibly bright and full of energy.
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Little Miss Thang when she was just seven weeks old |
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Our friend Zaphod at twelve weeks old. He grew up to be 110 Lbs. |
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Trisha modelling her new coat. |
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I Love You Daddy - Trisha |
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Trisha relaxing under the Maple tree, listening to her Daddy read Vipers in the Storm. |
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Baxter on the day we first visited the breeder. He's six weeks old |
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Coming home from Angela's |
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"This place looks neat. Where do I sleep?" |
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Sometimes, getting up to eat can be too much work |
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Look - the puppy is eating....awwww :) |
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"Can you please stop taking my picture, I'm trying to sleep" |
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He'll have to grow into the sign |
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Baxter checking out the F-16 simulator. Callsign: DoberDude |
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Hmmm, nozzle temperature seems a bit hot. I'd better throttle back. |
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Baxter and his 5 year old friend Boomer getting to know each other. Boomer is a wonderful dog who loves puppies. |
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12 weeks less a day. Baxter is our beautiful boy. He's learning so fast. |
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Help Daddy! Get it off of me!!! |
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I'm too sexy for my lawn... |
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Hey Sis - You stuck with this class too? Baxter meets up with his sister Ninja at Puppy Boot Camp |
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John Ryan conducting class |
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Do you have an appointment? Boomer helps out around the office |
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I call this work "Nose on Glass" |
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Baxter and his sister Ninja |
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N-Litter puppies (from left to right) Radar, Ninja and Tiger. Gracie is on the end but she's not N-litter. |
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He may be getting older - but he's still too lazy to stand up and eat |
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I am your host - Mr. Rourke. |
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Baxter and Boomer go for a hike |
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Getting ready to go to town |
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More advanced "Stay"ing with distractions |
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Someone lost their keys so we sent out a search team |
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10 little Pinschers all in a row |
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Baxter and his sister Ninja |
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Baxter and Boomer take in some shade |
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Lining up for a trip to town again |
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It's like what Noah would have seen if the Ark was only for Dobermans |
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John walks along side his pupils |
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Baxter takes Best of Breed and 2nd in Group in his first show. Angela was his handler |
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The perfect chair for watching dog shows from. Artwork by Shannon Darch |
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A tiskit a tasket - Baxter nabs a basket |
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Best of Winners - Caledon Dog Show 11/06 |
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Baxter's half sister "Rumor Has It" stacking up |
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This is even nicer than the sofa |
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"In winter we wear a coat and boots - right mommy?"
Coat by Richvale Saddlery |
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Relaxing under the gazeebo |
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Additional network security - What's the password biatch |
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Winners Dog at the Markham Kennel Club |
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Baxter becomes a CKC Champion |
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He may be a champion but old habits die hard |
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I just wanted to note that because of the point in time our beloved Zaphod and
Trisha were around, digital cameras were not. Because of this we have
extensively detailed chronicles of our boy Baxter's growth but not of Z or T.
I'll be scanning some old photos of our dear friends to share on this site.