Don't let your puppies grow up to be big dogs!
"Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys," and don't let your puppies grow up to be big dogs.
Why shouldn't you carry a Doberman around a lot as a puppy? Because as my sister will tell you, Dobermans grow up and get heavy. Heavy enough to hurt your back if you try and lift them up like this. However, they are smart dogs and deeply love their people.
Therefore, prodded by that loving bond, they will continue to want you to happily carry them around even after they've put on fifty or more pounds, because they will not acknowledge they are no longer tiny sweet baby puppies...much to my sister's chagrin.
See the photo above and my sister carrying Maggie, our young adult Doberman, before Maggie turned into the size of a small pony. Happy Throwback Thursday!