Ruth!
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss!
My sister and I went through one last May. She was a 9 yr. old red Doberman and her name was Penny. She was such a character, we called her a redhead and that she was the "Reddest of the Red, Red Heads!"
We adopted another "Red One" (EmmaLee) last September, and while she is NOTHING like Penny, she kept our blk/tn 12yr Doberman Mahana and nearly ten year old "Rotterman", (we believe she's half Rottweiller and half Doberman), Stormy on their toes.
Mahana was very creaky, but would play with her! Then, ten days after my parents lost their 10+ Standard Poodle this January, Mahana passed away in our (veterinarian) father's arms while we were visiting him at their home. (She ADORED him, and seemed to completly forget my sister and I were alive when Dad was there, so the circumstances sure helped Dawn and I to feel better about it.) It was so quick! Frankly, that's the best way to go.
Anyway, enough prattling on, I can't wait to see your new "baby"!
Please do post a photo!
Celeste