Not an exciting update but I will state that I finally feel like I can exhale…if that makes sense. Beau continues to mature into such a good boy. His window barking has reduced a lot. He now barks once and then, gives some quiet grumbles as he races to me to tell me about it. I still limit his window time, but he is more thoughtful about what is worth kicking up a fuss.

We are still working on our skills for Open and he is getting faster with his drop on recall and command discrimination. His broad jump is coming along well and I have been able to remove the cones because he doesn’t try to cut corners any longer. The dumb bell is still our biggest challenge, but we have made progress – infinitesimal progress, but it´s something.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I am still amazed at how good he is on our walks. He still notices dogs and gives little breathy schnurfs (not sure what else to call that noise) but we can walk right by most dogs, although I still change course most times BUT not because of Beau. Hallelujah! So proud of this dog.

As Beau matures, it is critical to have his heart tested every year, starting at age 2. That’s because Dobermans are prone to DCM, or dilated cardiomyopathy. This is something that affects approximately of 60% of Dobermans!! That is why it is crucial to seek out reputable breeders who analyze their breeding pairs to give them the best chance of a healthy litter. This means WAY more than genetic testing. Annual testing is something that every responsible Doberman owner does because when it is caught early, most dogs can live a long, full life with medication.

Beau had his first echo and Holter this week! The CVCA staff was great. Beau hopped right up on the table and did his double down which surprised the doctors and techs who remarked how useful a skill that is (yay!). He fell asleep during the ultrasound!

For me, it was fascinating to see the screen and learn how she measures the valves and whatnot using the stylus on screen. It was amazing to see his heart pumping and the valves working in real time. I totally geeked out on the whole science aspect and the vet was very indulgent answering my questions.

Beau got his Holter vest on and we headed home. He was unbothered by the get-up until this morning, just before we left to go get the thing taken off. I kept the diary of activities, including window barks, walks, exercise, etc. which they used to align to the readings. The summary report is below, if you are interested. But, more fun, are some photos and a video. Thanks forreading our update!