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Soraya Betelges; A Family Dobes Retired Breeder

15K views 48 replies 25 participants last post by  LindaH  
#1 ·
Soraya, mother of my dog Luna, arrived at Ft. Myers airport on March 27, 2014 from Utah where she was one of the most prolific breeding bitches for Family Dobes, having produced 6 litters (and about 40 puppies) for the kennel in 4 ½ years. But this isn’t where her story begins.



Soraya was born in Serbia on May 23, 2007 at Betelges Kennel. Many European Doberman champions have come from this kennel including Soraya’s grandfather, Baron Nike Renewal. Nike was an IDC (International Doberman Club) winner in 1998. One of Nike’s sons, Fedor del Nasi went on to also win the IDC in 2003. That title is to the European Doberman community what the Westminister Best of Show title is to the US. To my knowledge, Nike and Fedor are the only father and son who have won the IDC title. So Soraya’s pedigree is a desirable one. Most of her littermates went on to win European titles, but I suspect they didn’t show Soraya because of her pink lower lips (considered undesirable in Europe) and sold her to a pet home only to have her returned at some point to Betelges Kennel. She was then sold at 2 years old, pregnant, to Family Dobes, then operating in AZ. Then her sad life as a breeder began.



I had seen an email in mid March of 2014, right after she gave birth to her last litter on March 9th, announcing her retirement and that she was available to the right home. When I inquired about her price (how much could a nearly 7 year old, former breeder cost?), Steve Parsons responded that for me “she was free, but for anyone else, much more.” So, we began preparations for the addition of the red Doberman I had always wanted. Steve called a week later asking if we were ready for her, which we were. Her last litter was not thriving and several pups had died. The last three were now being bottle-fed; he wanted to ship her.



We were waiting at the airport when she arrived at the cargo department. They had her 500 series airline crate on a cart (a rather small crate for shipment of an adult Doberman). When they wheeled her out and I saw her, it was love at first sight. I had always liked the breeder and had a lot of respect for him…until Soraya tried to step out of her crate. I opened the door and expected her to jump down and out of the crate so I could take her to go potty. However, we had to lift her. She was limping very badly and even had trouble walking. I was absolutely speechless. I had gotten my two other dogs from Steve (Karma and Luna) and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Her condition was poor to say the least. Our bond was immediate and deep. I kept looking in the rear view mirror where my mother sat with Soraya, cuddled up next to her. Soraya was filthy dirty and had on a navy blue collar that I had seen in the videos when Luna was a nursing puppy…4 years earlier. The collar looked the same as Soraya; as if it had never been washed. (It took two separate baths to get all the dirt off her and the collar went in the garbage. I then gave her a “pretty” one). Once I saw Soraya, I felt like a fool for believing that Family Dobes was a quality, ethical breeder. And then I felt even worse because I had supported this kennel by purchasing both of my dogs from him.



Once home, we quickly discovered why she was in so much pain when she walked; Steve had cut her nails to within ½ inch of the pads of her toes! He had told me a couple days earlier that he “trimmed” her nails and clipped one too close so her foot was tender. He later changed his story to state that they were cut while she was out for her c section. All 16 toenails had been trimmed so far back that there was no way she couldn’t have been crying in pain during the trim. I have to wonder how many times he did this to her. Luckily, I had some Tramadol (pain killers) left from Karma’s spay. I gave her some as soon as she finished her dinner. It helped.



Soraya had been eating Purina Pro-Plan at the kennel, hardly a sufficient diet for a dog producing many puppies. Soraya had muscle deterioration and looked “used up.” My vet was shocked when she went in for her check up the day after she arrived. Her condition was so bad that he asked me if I really wanted to keep her because it was going to be a long road to getting her healthy again. Anyone who knows me knows that answer. During her check up (she weighed 74 lbs. but she now weighs 82 lbs.-her ideal, healthy weight), the vet informed me that she was dehydrated (suggested I give her subcutaneous fluids at home), had broken/severely worn down teeth, mammary tumors, suspected possible Lupus (although very rare in Dobermans, but her feet were so swollen and pads severely cracked), had two growths on the pressure points on her hips from not having any bedding (her breeder told me she tore up her blankets so she only had a rubber mat in her crate) and the growths should be removed. She had bloody discharge from her pregnancy that, when examined under a scope, revealed a lot of bacteria. My vet said to watch for signs of pyometra because a lot of bacteria were present. She had to be on antibiotics for at least a week and needed to be healthier before she could safely undergo the extensive surgery of spay and mammary removal.



So we began the long journey to restoring Soraya back to health. Her records from Utah indicated that she had 3 prior cesarean sections, a total of 6 litters and 1 miscarriage. She received vet care only when she was pregnant or needed a c-section. No check ups. No holter tests, EKG’s or electrocardiograms. All things every ethical breeder who is trying to produce quality puppies should perform annually on their breeding dogs. No hip certification produced for Soraya. But the breeder insists his dogs are health tested. I’m uncertain what he considers “health tested.” Her last c-section was on March 9th, just a couple weeks before she was shipped. I didn’t know this until I received her vet records a couple weeks later and saw her sad medical history.





We switched Soraya to Blue Buffalo Wilderness (a grain free, high protein kibble) and cooked chicken, some hamburger and roast beef to add to the top of her food for the next month. One day I was excited to see a roast in the crockpot and asked my mother if that was for tonight’s dinner. She replied that no, it was for Soraya and not to touch it! Her “Grandma” was giving her the royal treatment she had always deserved. Three weeks later, the vet felt she was barely healthy enough to undergo surgery and it couldn’t be delayed any longer.



On surgery day, I received a call after dropping her off at the vet. No surgery today. He heard many arrhythmias and her EKG indicated a problem. The vet suggested that she have her heart checked by a specialist. I picked her up, crying because I knew this meant DCM (Dilated Cardio Myopathy). The specialist did an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. The specialist heard no arrhythmias and saw no signs of DCM. Great news. But an immediate spay and mammary removal of two mammary glands were strongly advised.



The following day Soraya had surgery. It took the vet 30 minutes to stabilize her heart so he could begin surgery after anesthesia was administered. During surgery, it was discovered that she had gone into a pyometra, making surgery more difficult. During her last c section, the Utah vet had cut one of her tubes to remove mummified puppies (as indicated in her Utah vet records). The incision in the tube had perforated and was leaking infection into her abdomen. My vet said another 24 hours and she would have been in serious trouble. He also said her reproductive organs were a “mess.” We were able to get her spayed just in time. However, time permitted the removal of just one mammary and the largest of the growths on her hips. In post op, Soraya began to hemorrhage badly. The vet had to intubate and open her up again. The source of the bleeding couldn’t be found but it had stopped. The vet recommended that she be taken to the 24 hour hospital where she could be monitored over night. She spent two nights there with the fantastic team of doctors and nurses at Florida Veterinary Care and Referral Center. Biopsy results on her mammary tumors and growth revealed no cancer. YAY! Soraya healed nicely and really began to blossom into the energetic Doberman she should always have been.



I planned to keep her airline crate for emergencies (like evacuation during a hurricane), but when I scrubbed it, the dirt was so embedded in the plastic that I couldn’t get it all out. The odor wouldn’t go away no matter how much soap I used. I couldn’t understand how it could have gotten so dirty when it was supposedly only used to ship dogs. It also had her name on the top. I found that strange. Until I read the following post on the Doberman Talk forum:



“Family Dobes in Payson Utah owned by Steve Parsons



So I worked for Steve for 42 hours before quitting because his puppies are all suffering from giardia, his kennel has had parvo and k9 herpes and his adult dogs are kept in travel crates, and he does not properly care for the animals. He refused to pay me because my 40 hours were all training hours (not even) n he was only going to pay me for 2 HOURS OF WORK AFTER WORKING 42!!! So I'm calling labor commission, and letting people know he breeds ill tempered, and over bred dogs who produce sickly puppies some of which have had eye problem Where they have to be put down because their eyes die n rot out, stomach problems n other health issues. He treats his workers like dirt and pays under the table to avoid paying any employees benefits or have to claim the taxes. Poor breeding for both him and his dogs.”



Suddenly it made sense why Soraya’s airline crate wouldn’t come clean. It’s because she LIVED in it! Apparently, whenever she wasn’t being bred, having puppies, or going outside to go potty, she was in this very small crate. This would explain why her rear legs aren’t straight like they were in the picture when she was two years old in Serbia and her rear leg muscles weren’t as strong as they should have been. If you’ve ever seen Fedor del Nasi or his offspring, one trait that is consistent is the muscle and power in the rear legs. Soraya is built just like her father, yet her muscles had deteriorated. Very sad for this once extremely powerful girl.



Once Soraya was healed, I ordered an electronic collar for her as I use them for training purposes and she had a few unwanted behaviors we needed to correct (counter surfing, excessive barking, pulling the fabric on her dog bed). When the trainer fit her with the collar and began to work with her, Soraya responded in a way that my other two did not; at a very low stimulation level (this feels like a tickle or irritation at a low level. I’ve tried it on myself.), she became very fearful. With gentle encouragement and coaxing, Soraya responded well but still was fearful and reactive when the collar was used even on a low stimulation level. Within a minute, my trainer turned and walked back to me with Soraya and said that she had already had improper training on an electronic collar; either at very high levels for training (this is incorrect use) or had had a bark collar turned up high. Given that she is a barker, I suspect that she wore a bark collar while at the kennel, being shocked severely every time she barked or another dog barked and set off the collar. Although the breeder will swear that he doesn’t condone the use of electronic collars, he certainly has a few horror stories of dogs he used them on with bad results.



There were some additional behaviors that were surprising to me. If you move your hand quickly near her face, she flinched in a startled way and backed away quickly or ran off. I sometimes will put a leg in front of my other dogs to keep them from running outside when I don’t want them to do so. When I did this with Soraya, it was the same response as with the hand near her face only worse. She was afraid if you lifted your leg or touched her with your foot. It made her very fearful. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to what caused this reaction in her. My other two do not respond this way at all.



After Soraya arrived, I exchanged a few emails with her breeder and he knows exactly where I stand on the issue of her treatment while in his care. To this day, I have never seen a video of his entire kennel, which consists of a single-wide trailer. Only videos of the area where the puppies are being nursed. NEVER the entire interior of the kennel. According to his website, he has about 11 adult dogs living in the trailer, mostly females who probably don’t get along with each other very well. So, in my opinion, it gives validation to what the employee said about all the dogs living in airline crates. How else could you house 11 adult dogs plus have room for nursing mothers and their puppies in a single wide trailer? The breeder said that kennel dogs shouldn’t be expected to have the pampered life that Karma and Luna have had. Oh really? Why not? Other breeders pamper their breeding dogs.



Soraya is now very healthy, except for the fact that she has been diagnosed with occult (meaning hidden) Dilated Cardio Myopathy. It’s hereditary so there is a great chance she has passed it onto her puppies. She has had another electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, 2 holter tests (which is where they found the DCM) and countless EKGs. She still needs another surgery and, although on anti arrhythmic drugs, it’s still risky. The other mammary needs to be removed due to tumors and she has teeth that need to be pulled along with a dental cleaning because her teeth are SO bad. Her grandmother and father, Fedor del Nasi, both died suddenly and it is documented that her grandmother died of DCM. Fedor’s owner/breeder never announced his cause of death, so I have to assume it was DCM. Soraya’s cardiologist said that when a Doberman dies suddenly, it’s DCM unless it is confirmed by a veterinarian via necropsy that the cause of death was otherwise. Period. She informed me that 70% of Dobermans have or will have DCM. But with all that she knows about the heart problems in Dobermans, she would still have one in a heartbeat because the breed is just that spectacular.



Soraya is by far the most affectionate dog I’ve ever had. She loves to cuddle and be very close to her family. Since her arrival, she has learned to play (taught by Karma) and doesn’t have to worry about getting into dogs fights any longer (many scars from fights at the kennel). She is just the happiest dog I’ve ever seen. Her temperament is very stable and her protective instincts run deep and true. She has had some bite work training and enjoys any additional training that I give to her. She even plays tug with her bratty kid, Luna.



It just breaks my heart that while at the kennel, Soraya gave so much and received so little in return. But she isn’t the only one. Karma’s mother, Coco (Baracuda Liborium) wasn’t as fortunate as Soraya; the breeder told me that he euthanized her because she had a pyometra and semi-torn ACL. Both are operable. But Coco was 8 years old and no longer able to give the kennel puppies, so maybe he considered her need for surgery just money wasted. It’s especially sad because Coco was his top producer, producing 8 litters during her lifetime there. Karma looks nearly identical to her mother, Coco. Every time someone likes Family Dobes facebook business page, Simply The Best European Dobermans, or likes or shares one of his pictures, or buys a dog from him, they are supporting and promoting the abuse and neglect of a sweet dog like Soraya. Despite the enormous investment in time and money to restore her to health, I am SO glad she has become a part of our family. She has given much more than she has taken. She is my heart dog. :)
 
#3 ·
Soraya's story is, unfortunately, way too common. I won't say much except that our first 2 Dobes came from a person who had many puppies from Baron and Fedor. Our dogs had the most wonderful temperaments and brains, but dropped dead at age 6 of DCM. This man is very active in international showing and schutzhund, and for him, the dogs are basically interchangeable - he breeds so he will have fresh dogs when the current ones die young. I have asked him about it, and he simply didn't seem to understand the issue.

Soraya is so fortunate to have been literally rescued by you. I hope she can stabilize and live a few wonderful, happy years in paradise, but whatever time you have together, may it be just a joy.
 
#6 ·
I doubt Steve will rehome any more. Just use them up and shoot them. Would be very surprised if he spends the $50 or so to put an unproductive dog down. That's a waste of good money to breeders like this and they are everywhere.

This is three different breeders I've read about on DT keeping dogs in shipping crates for most of the time instead of kennel runs or even outside in lots. One thinks the outside dogs have it rough, and they do, but the poor crated dogs that can't even stretch a leg is a horrendous way to live. No way to burn any energy off when they're still young and healthy.

You know the one thing I just thought of that all three of the "crate" breeders have in common, they all three import and breed dogs exclusively from Europe. You know there are many, many more out there that haven't come to our attention.

I'm glad you were able to give a home to Soraya to live out whatever time she has left happy and well taken care of. She is one of the FEW lucky ones.

It's stories like this breeders don't want out and there's only one way in their mind to prevent that.
 
#7 ·
What I Do not understand is how do you have a breeding program and treat your stock in such a manner. Isn't it common sense to treat a Bitch producing puppies better than that described. A healthy happy mother is bound to produce the same with a minimum of issues. If you say it is about money and it cost too much to give extra care , maybe on the surface this is what this guy would say. Their is something deep inside him that is "wrong" and one must get some joy out of going to work everyday and seeing his dogs suffering in cages.
 
#9 ·
Alan,

I have thought this very thing. His Family Dobes excuse for over breeding Soraya was because of her pedigree. If he felt this pedigree was so valuable, why didn't he take better care of her? Or are his standards of care really just that low? Maybe he is just too stupid to know what property care of another living creature really is? Although I doubt that is the case. I believe it's just plain greed. As in all business, if you focus on the money, you will never have enough. If he focused on providing the best care and training for his dogs, he pups would be rock starts and the money would follow. But that is certainly not what happens.
 
#8 ·
I doubt Steve will rehome any more. Just use them up and shoot them. Would be very surprised if he spends the $50 or so to put an unproductive dog down. That's a waste of good money to breeders like this and they are everywhere.

This is three different breeders I've read about on DT keeping dogs in shipping crates for most of the time instead of kennel runs or even outside in lots. One thinks the outside dogs have it rough, and they do, but the poor crated dogs that can't even stretch a leg is a horrendous way to live. No way to burn any energy off when they're still young and healthy.

You know the one thing I just thought of that all three of the "crate" breeders have in common, they all three import and breed dogs exclusively from Europe. You know there are many, many more out there that haven't come to our attention.

I'm glad you were able to give a home to Soraya to live out whatever time she has left happy and well taken care of. She is one of the FEW lucky ones.

It's stories like this breeders don't want out and there's only one way in their mind to prevent that.
I gave this exact idea a great deal of thought before writing Soraya's story and deciding to share it with the doberman community. Going forward, people will never know the outcome of his retired breeders. And I agree with you; he will likely just take the dogs out and shoot them. He will then lie to anyone about what happened to the dog or jus say they were adopted and are living a happy life elsewhere. Only savvy dog owners will question this and ask for documentation. He lost India Betelges and another Obi daughter he called Priss. Both were pregnant when they died he and said that they were poisoned. I'd like to see necropsy results stating that this is true. His excuse for not giving more details (or documentation for that matter) is that the investigation is ongoing. Yeah, sure it is. I'd like to see the police report he filed if that is the case. Feel free to find me on Facebook at CincoDeMayoKim and share her story. Knowledge is power and is the only thing that will help the dogs.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Don't get me wrong as I'm very happy you have posted Soraya Betelges's story. We can explain to people till we're blue in the face the fate of these unfortunate dogs in many byb or commercial kennels but they refuse to believe it unless they hear/see it from someone who has actually experienced it themselves.

Your story of Soraya will help immensely to spread the word about the fate of these "breeder dogs" in general and specifically the fate of Family Dobes poor dobermans.

To think that anyone could take such a magnificent animal as a doberman, a dog bred to give its very all for it's master and to treat it like trash...an expendable machine whose only purpose is to be producing puppies, just angers and breaks one's heart all at once.

In the meantime, these byb are over on Beware of Dobermantalk whining because we're mean and hurting their bottom dollar! Please, give us a break.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Sad to think that Steve has kids right........

Thank you for sharing your story, it isn't easy, but stories like this are exactly what we need to fully get some people to see why breeder research is important, they can charge the "right" amount and have the flashy website and say all the right things, but there are always red flags and this just proves how much a person can hide.

This also speaks volumes not just about stephen and family dobes but about betelges kennels as well, they sell these dogs overseas to people like him and either know and don't care, don't ask, or don't bother to care.... selling dogs to a person like steve is almost more disgusting than the way steve keeps them!
 
#12 ·
What a powerfully sad story that Soyara and you have shared, I'm still fighting back the tears. Thank you so much for sharing your story, I'm sure it was with a heavy heart. You really are a living angel for taking care of her like you have. I wish there was something that could be done to this awful man! Can this he be reported? I would think that many dogs in a trailer and living in those conditions would be an abuse issue?
 
#17 ·
Several have reported him but he is still doing what he does best; ruining our beloved breed. Her story has been shared on Facebook all over the work now. You can look me up there, send a friends request and share her story to your timeline. The more shares the more potential buyers will see it and get a dose if the truth. I have had several people contact me who had been considering buying from him but after reading about Soraya, they have decided against Family Dobes. So share her story. Please.
 
#19 ·
It is so sad that just as Soraya is knowing love and safety, she is diagnosed with DCM. Life really isn't fair. At least you have her now and can make the rest of her time all about pampering her. She was treated like garbage by the person who made thousands of dollars off her broken down back and I find that disgusting beyond words. His slogan should be "Family Dobes: where we treat your puppy's family like trash."

Soraya's story makes me sob like a baby but I want to thank you for having the courage to share it, and also send you many many thanks for saving this sweet girl. I am so glad she will now know a life of treats and blankets and toys.
 
#20 ·
Thanks for sharing Soraya's story. And thank you for taking her out of a life of misery and torture. He is truly a pos, disgusting, despicable creature. He is not even human to me.

I watched the video of her in the yard last night and it brought tears to my eyes. Even though her feet hurt, it must have felt good for her to be able to stretch being out of that god damn dirty crate which was her imprisonment for years. It must have felt good to walk on grass although her feet hurt her.

Thanks again for caring for her and giving her a life she always deserved but never had. Thanks for sharing her story and putting yourself out on the line to bring to light what this pos does to his dogs.
 
#21 ·
Thanks for sharing.

Your story underscores why it's so important for buyers to screen the breeders they're buying puppies from. Screening is most definitely NOT a one-way street.

Personally, I would be extremely hesitant to buy an animal from any breeder who doesn't treat their breeding stock as members of the family for whatever role the animals have in our lives.

I don't trust horse breeders who keep broodmares who do nothing in their lives except eat, poop, and produce a foal each year. All too often, it's the mares who are otherwise unsound, untrained, and unfit to do anything else that wind-up in that life. News flash, a pregnant mare can still have an active life for most of her gestation period.

Likewise, canine breeding stock should have a life other than producing puppies. I don't care if they were titled in the past, that's nice and well, but I want to see them being an active member of a family or at least still working in an activity. "Retirement to stud/brood" is nonsense and I'll have none of that unless the breeder's view of that life still involves training and/or involving the dog in family activities.

I don't need to go over a checklist to find all the reasons I wouldn't patronize Steve Parsons & Family Dobes, Kimbertal, or other greeders & commercial breeding operations. I don't care how professionally-run and tidy an operation is, if the dogs aren't receiving quality human interactions and encouraged to be active & properly groomed on a daily basis, it's not for me. The way they treat & relate to their breeding stock tells me all I need to know about them and disqualifies them right off the bat. I patronize breeders whose animals live a similar lifestyle to how I want my animals to live.

I'm glad Soraya is enjoying a proper retirement in a loving home now. It's sad she didn't have it from the beginning, but better late than never.

And just FYI, I'd think a half-inch claw (can't say I've measured my dogs' claws) should not be uncomfortable, I think that's even somewhat on the long side the way some folks trim their Dobes' claws. What you describing her in pain and being quicked with nails that "short" tells me is that Family Dobes doesn't even bother to trim their animals' nails and hers had probably grown out way too far. The quick follows the length, so when Steve trimmed them down enough to be halfway presentable, her discomfort just illustrated the neglect to which she had been subjected.
 
#25 ·
Nails



You're absolutely right about everything. Regarding her nails; interestingly enough, she wears her nails down more than my other two do. So if she had received proper exercise, they would have worn down on their own needing minimal filing. Proof she was crated most if the time.
 
#22 ·
I hope that you personally share this story with animal Control authorities in the jurisdiction where Steve lives and operates his hellhole. It may do nothing but it is a first-hand account of A dog's condition coming out of his kennel. It would seem to me that they would pretty much be required to investigate based on your first hand witnessing and information. Thank you so much for your courage to get this out and for your loving care of this noble girl.
 
#23 ·
this makes me very glad I did not buy a dog from Family Dobes as I had investigated his kennel when we were looking for Nexus. I was not looking to pay $1500 for a puppy at the time (sadly very uneducated, at the time, and ended up getting a pup from an even worse byb)
If I could go back in time .... but I know better now.
 
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#26 ·
Update: Soraya and her daughter, Luna, and Luna's half sister, Karma, will be participating in the study at University of Florida of DCM in Dobermans. They will all get echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, holters, and a skin biopsy from the inside of the thigh. I'm hoping to get more info on the best treatment for Soraya to further reduce the arrhythmias. This is her third holter since August. Please keep Karma and Luna in your thoughts and prayers for a good outcome and for Soraya as well. They go on January 27, 2015.
 
#28 · (Edited)
A Soraya puppy just died from DCM



Rest In Peace, Hugo. Please keep Janis in your thoughts and prayers. Janis was the human mother to a puppy, Hugo, from Soraya's first litter at Family Dobes, where Soraya lived in an airline crate when not with puppies. (Most of you have read her story) Hugo passed away Monday from heart failure...I assume it was DCM since his mother, Soraya, (now my dog) has it, his grandfather, Fedor del Nasi, passed "suddenly," and it is documented that Fedor's mother, Akuna Matata de Grande Vinko, also died from DCM. Hugo's parents were Soraya Betelges and Questo Betelges from Betelges Kennel in Serbia. This horrible disease has claimed yet another victim and taken this beautiful soul from this earth and left Janis heartbroken. I pray a cure is found quickly because too many of our Dobermans are gone too soon.
 
#37 ·
I do have many pictures of Soraya on Facebook. Just look up Kim Noble.

Also, Soraya's DNA test for the PDK4 gene came back negative. But that is just one known gene for the disease. That test was part of the testing done at University of Florida for the study. Her daughter, Luna, went to the cardiologist a week after I heard of Hugo's passing. I thought it urgent since Hugo was only 5 when he passed suddenly of DCM. Luna being one of Soraya's puppies, as Hugo was, I thought it important to get it done immediately as Luna is approaching her 5th birthday. Her echo and holter were good; no signs of DCM. But she has a grade 2 heart murmur.
 
#33 ·
The story doesn't surprise me. However,why add the BS about a 500 crate being too small to ship an adult Doberman? A 500 crate is typical for any medium sized breed, especially a female. Actually it is the typical size for a large male German Shepherd.