09/07/2026
🇺🇸🇩🇪 MEET OUR PARADE LEADERS: VIV & RANGER 🇩🇪🇺🇸
Every year, we choose a child and their Doberman for one very important job: leading the Doberman Gang up Fifth Avenue.
It sounds glamorous — but it’s no small assignment! Our young handler has to work hard preparing their dog to heel through cheering crowds, music, flags, city noise and endless distractions… all while leading several dozen Dobermans and potentially 100 people behind them.
And this year, our leaders are making a little history. ❤️
Viv is 7 years old. Ranger is just 4 months old — making him the youngest AND the first puppy ever to lead our parade! 🐾
But Viv’s history with this parade started long before Ranger.
Her family has been marching with us for 13 years, first with their beloved Porsche and later with Rue. In fact, when Viv’s mom first walked Fifth Avenue with Porsche, Viv wasn’t even born yet.
Then came Viv’s first Steuben Parade — at just 9 WEEKS old! Her mom managed a baby AND a Doberman on parade day, promptly earning herself the unofficial title of Supermom. 😂❤️
Last year, Viv got her first chance at the front of the pack, leading the parade alongside her brother Wyatt and their girl Rue.
This year, she’s stepping up again — but now she has a brand-new partner.
At only four months old, Ranger has a LOT to learn before those paws hit Fifth Avenue. And at only seven, Viv has taken on the challenge of preparing him for one of the biggest, loudest and most exciting walks of his young life.
Thirteen years. Three Dobermans. Two generations. And one very special family tradition.
On September 19th, when you see that tiny puppy and his very determined little handler at the front of our pack, give Viv & Ranger an extra-big cheer.
They’ve got a whole lot of Dobermans counting on them. ❤️🐾🇺🇸🇩🇪
