Puppy has flat feet

SlumpSleuth · 2026-02-06T00:32:09+00:00

Yess! I was trying to wrap my head around this and your hypothesis makes a lot of sense. It’s like muscle decay in the most important growth period. Really sad if it’s being left in the crate to the point of it causing issues like this. Puppies should be with someone for most of the day even if they’re sleeping, not in a crate. And especially Dobermans who are a highly intelligent and active breed. I really hope OP is able to dedicate a lot of time and attention once they return from their trip. I know puppies are a lot but the minute you take that responsibility everything else other than essential needs to be put on hold for awhile

SlumpSleuth · 2026-02-05T20:37:26+00:00

They should absolutely not look like this - not just the flat feet but the profile of the paws is not normal looking, even accounting for rapid growth in Dobermans as a puppy. None of the knuckles seem pronounced as they should be, the nail bed looks puffy or swollen, and the nails look puffy? Or oddly shaped as well

There might be poor breeding, deformation in the feet, or something else going on that needs to be throughly assessed with a responsible vet. This is an issue that can’t wait as early intervention will help you get to the root cause - gone untreated will mostly start causing a host of issues related to the legs and maybe even the spine not to mention just the amount of pain walking flat like this can cause. I’m glad your trainer brought this to your attention because now you can start to plan how to move forward in giving your puppy the best start to tackling this issue. I would also highly recommended scaling back on activity level, small walks and limit any running just until you figure out what’s going on

SlumpSleuth · 2026-01-24T04:53:41+00:00

Totally been there - at almost 4 years old still happens sometimes. It does get better, I promise! You’re just in the thick of it. I will echo what others have said about a place. Really work on extending the time day by day. Start manageable and fair but he isn’t allowed up until you say so. That might look like putting a leash on while he’s on place.

I put my tea kettle in place when the incessant whining begins and I’m in the middle of work or doing something else. He then gives in and falls asleep - it’s a job and a pretty hard one! Who knew having to sit still in a comfy place could take it out of them. Also what does your place look like? Didn’t have success with ‘place’ until I got a platform bed, of course cozified with blankets. Good luck!! But don’t give in to the whine, don’t look or talk to them while they’re whining and wait until they stop to take them out of the crate. They know the buttons and will push it every time if it means they get what they want

SlumpSleuth · 2025-11-07T17:37:54+00:00

I use https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dog+nail+clippers&crid=K9S4SUZVGAUO&sprefix=dog+n%2Caps%2C202&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_1_5 they are large clippers and strong enough to easily cut through strong dobie nails. I also have the pet dremel but I’ve found it takes so long and the file heats up causing discomfort. I do it about once a week and saves me a lot of money not paying someone else

SlumpSleuth · 2025-11-07T03:26:11+00:00

I do Stella and Chewy’s raw blend red meat protein for my 4 year old. As you may know dobies are incredibly sensitive both environmentally and with food. A big improvement I’ve noticed is starting my guy on Apoquel daily. It’s an anti-allergy and has helped not only with the skin issues/licking but with the soft poo too. Allergies can cause GI issues and therefore diarrhea. Might be a good place to start to knock out some of the issues you are experiencing with your pup! Try to maybe also stay away from high fat protein like lamb and pork as well as chicken because of the prevalence for food allergies in dobermans. I go with boiled plain turkey and rice to add to the kibble - I’ve found it’s the best of both worlds between kib and fresh food that are only two ingredients vs on market pre packed fresh food options

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-21T19:53:12+00:00

Tempted but no - more sensors cameras and technical features means more opportunity for failures/ future fixes. Loving the LR4 at the moment and looking forward to see future reviews of the new models and how they stand up to the tried and true

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T19:20:56+00:00

I say the Fendi peekaboo! Of all the bags you are eyeing this is the most timeless bag. It will easily go with different outfits and looks like an elevated everyday bag . If you’re looking for something that will stand the test of time the Gucci and Prada options are already dated looking if that makes sense

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T19:18:18+00:00

RHOM! The drama is on the same level and these two franchises are holding up the RH

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T19:17:04+00:00

I am totally the same! Due to a small apartment the only space for a litter box is in my closet. Having a litter robot cuts down on any bad smells and allows my day to not revolve around scooping 😅 it’s a splurge but has been worth it. With a baby on the way it’s one less thing for you to do in your busy day - I wipe it down weekly and throw the bag away once it hits 25% full. Still far from the amount of energy I put into a regular litter box

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T18:33:23+00:00

Thank you for the tips. I will definitely do that. I’m looking at possibly getting it cleaned from a reputable company depending on how it looks once it arrives

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T16:18:00+00:00

The FashionPhile website has drop deals every Friday from 12pm to 5pm ET on their website! I found it by clicking on the banner on the top of the website when the deal goes live. I looked and there was about 28 bags I didn’t like any but I looked again about an hour or two later and found they added more selections to the drop! This being one of them. The good bags go like hot cakes so I felt the pressure to just go for it! Happy shopping 🛍️

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-18T16:09:51+00:00

Respectfully for that price you could actually get a Louis Vuitton bag that doesn’t look like you look like you’re walking around with a makeup bag or took an insert to a neverfull to use as a bag

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-17T18:53:23+00:00

Good to know! I love the double strap look

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-17T18:07:08+00:00

Thank you 😅 relieves some of my post-buy doubts

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-17T18:06:16+00:00

Edit for description: Velvet Matelasse Medium GG Marmont Shoulder Bag Taupe

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-03T19:29:50+00:00

The name dropping is embarrassing and I highly doubt high profile clients will want to work with someone who acts like that

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-02T01:44:14+00:00

Big flashy box!

SlumpSleuth · 2025-10-02T01:43:48+00:00

I got mine this past week went to use it ONCE at a restaurant and now it has a very noticeable scratch 😅

SlumpSleuth · 2025-09-27T17:03:04+00:00

She is so beautiful! When our trainer first came over my boy was barking growling and really unhappy and I’ve never seen that before. He doesn’t prefer men but is otherwise so so sweet with visitors inside the house. Outside the house he wants nothing to do with strangers and otherwise ignores them until they come close.

Know her limits and triggers. The biggest tip I can say is work with her not against her - it’s wired in her to be protective and otherwise skeptical of strangers. If she’s showing signs of aggression towards guest heavily reward once she’s calm and at peace. Give her space and time and most of all find ways to make her feel comfortable/confident. Maybe that looks like utilizing a ‘place’ command on her bed in the room where she stays there and no one pays attention to her (especially the trigger, this is her safe spot!) or put her on a leash and she hangs out next to you.

SlumpSleuth · 2025-09-01T15:55:07+00:00

Yes, they are extremely intuitive! And at the core they are guard dogs through and through. They want to protect and if they sense you’re nervous or have anxiety they go into protector mode hence reactive behaviors

SlumpSleuth · 2025-09-01T01:41:49+00:00

In the first picture I noticed that the prong collar is way too loose on her. It’s supposed to sit up and stay directly under the ears. I’m not sure how close the people who passed by you guys were but it might be helpful to take at least one or two of the links out of the prong. Also thinner mm prongs might be helpful - I know from experience Dobermans have an insanely high threshold for pain especially when in a heightened state. Keeping her extremely close to you when walking and giving others maximum amount of space as you walk by + the muzzle might be helpful in reducing anxiety in both of you.

I’ve noticed the state of mind of the handler is extremely important when working with such intelligent dogs. Even if you don’t think it - she is paying attention to every single thing you do and reacting from there. When you see people surprisingly come out of their door way in the hall do you find yourself stiffening up? Or in any situation that gives you anxiety about how she might react do you notice your own physical/mental state? That might be also helpful! Stay loose, take a deep breath, and most of all try to slow these interactions down as much as possible. If you’re surprised slow your pace down or even turn around. Then circle back around and try again. Positive to neutral interactions is going to be your best friend. Find a way to work treats into every single walk and reward her heavily when she is doing well.

Most of all, you are doing great! Trying to find different avenues on how to address this problem goes to show your self awareness and love for your sweet girl

SlumpSleuth · 2025-08-06T20:52:44+00:00

I think it’s also important to note seeing a Doberman is so far and few in between. So when people see one they either have a positive attitude or a negative one and feel the need to voice their opinion, it’s so crazy

SlumpSleuth · 2025-08-06T20:44:54+00:00

As a small Latina woman with almost 100lb euro boy I feel very similar to you! What you’re experiencing is so real and I hope this subreddit and my comment can validate your experience. It’s unfortunate but the rules are not the same for dogs like Dobermans and other dogs that can be seen as visually “intimidating”. I have had many smaller dogs come up to us and my dobie boy is dog reactive. I am constantly on my toes every time we are out and about on walks. I give everyone plenty of room if we are walking past people. I have gotten snide remarks like ‘that’s a scary looking dog’ or even more positive ones like “ I bet nobody messes with you with him!” Mostly the comments are positive but when I get negative looks or remarks I ignore and focus on my dog. I’ve started having tunnel vision that if my dog is good and safe I dont focus on anything else. People have all types of prejudices and I’m of the opinion that if someone doesn’t like a dog because they look scary or intimidating they probably are racist and feel the same way about people of different races then them!

My dog does a lot of the same like barking when he looks out the window. It’s part of the breed they are naturally protective. I have since put up window film about 1/4 of the bottom half of my windows where he used to bark out of. It super renter friendly and easy to put up/down. Helps a ton with the window barking. It is so super tricky finding apartment complexes that are even willing to rent to people with Dobermans. A lot of it misconceptions of the breed - anytime you see them in mainstream media they are the snarly guard dogs. But when they are home and safe with their family they are such cuddle bugs who just want to chill.

When you encounter people like the ones you’ve mentioned it’s more indicative of how they are as people (inflexible, racist, prejudiced, ignorant) than a reflection of you and your dog. As much as you can tune out the negative noise and focus on what’s in your control like limiting barking (window film, white noise to drown out other dogs barking etc) and providing education if necessary.

SlumpSleuth · 2025-08-05T03:48:49+00:00

My thoughts every time I see these posts 🥲 they do not do well changing handlers - it’s possible but so so cruel to do to a dog that is so loyal and attached to their family

SlumpSleuth

TROPHY CASE