Choosing A Dobermann

From The Dobermann Trust UK

                    How to Choose a Dobermann Puppy

If you’re reading this page because you’re thinking of buying a puppy, please stop.

Stop for just two minutes and think whether you could offer a home to a dog who was once a puppy and who has been given up by his owner.  A dog who was once taken home supposedly to be loved and cherished by a family forever.  Or maybe even a dog who as a puppy never had the start in life that he deserved.  You could make a difference to their lives.

They all need a family to love them forever and you can find them on our Dogs Seeking Homes page.  If we don’t have a dog to match your family, one of the other Dobermann Rescue organisations probably will.  There’s a list at the bottom of this page.

BUT! If you’re determined that a puppy is right for your family and nothing else will do….here’s how to avoid some of the common pitfalls.  Don’t compromise, and DO NOT make the mistake of settling for a badly bred, unhealthy, poor specimen of a Dobe from a backyard breeder or puppy farm.  Help us keep our purebred Dobes pure and healthy!

• Choose only a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder.  This gives you some protection
• Never buy a puppy without seeing it with its mother
• NEVER EVER allow someone to deliver a puppy to you
• Don’t try to find a puppy on the internet forums or classifieds
• Don’t buy a puppy advertised as ‘Full Pedigree but no papers’.  The parents may very well be KC registered dogs with breeding endorsements.  Often when a dog is sold by a reputable breeder the papers are ‘endorsed’ to state the puppy cannot be bred from.  This can be because of a known genetic fault which should NOT be allowed to be passed on.

When you’ve identified a breeder and arranged to go and visit:

• Ask if the puppies were born on the breeder’s premises, if not, where were they born?  If they were born elsewhere this can often indicate puppy farming.
• Ask how old the bitch is – she should be at least 2 years old
• Ask when the bitch last had a litter. It should be at least 12 months.
• Ask how many litters the bitch has had.  Should be less than four in her lifetime.
• Ask what health testing the breeder has done on the parents and ask to see the results.  If the answer is none, WALK AWAY NOW.
• Ask if the mating has taken place previously – if so, you should be able to see photographs of the previous litter.  You’ll want to see how the dogs look as adults/grown.  This also should confirm that the breeder keeps in touch with the puppies owners
• Ask if the puppy has been socialised around children, other pets, busy environments, livestock etc
• Take in the cleanliness of the surroundings.  Puppies bed, feed and water dishes should be spotless
• When you buy a KC registered dog from a KC Accredited breeder it should either be supplied with a 5 generation pedigree certificate or a clearly documented statement ”Kennel Club Registration Applied For” showing the pedigree of the dog and a receipt for the deposit/amount paid.
• Puppies should not leave their mother before 8 weeks of age and should have shiny coats, bright eyes and be inquisitive and alert to their surroundings.
• Puppies should be wormed, vaccinated, vet checked and good breeders will provide a puppy pack documenting their feeding and exercise regime, including their vaccination card.
• Each puppy should be supplied via a contract of sale which should include lifetime backup for the dog.  If at any time you cannot keep the dog it should go back to that breeder who will underwrite its care for all of its lifetime.  If your KC Accredited breeder does not offer this DON’T BUY FROM THEM.
• As soon as you collect your puppy take it to the vet to be checked over.  If your puppy is not healthy your breeder should take it back and provide a full refund.