Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums banner

Greeder Warning - Erich Henson aka Southeastern Kentucky Doberman

36K views 77 replies 43 participants last post by  DoodleDobe 
#1 ·
Kyjustice started a thread regarding a breeder video. I did a little digging around and thought we should start a thread specific to this guy, as it always turns up in search results in google, and I think he public needs to be a bit more informed.

This is what I posted on kyjustice's thread

I'm glad you posted the video to draw attention to them though. I did a search, and found them on several sites selling pups anywhere from $450 - $750 (depending on colour). Oddly enough, the ones with the most problems (skin conditions on blue and fawn) were going for the larger amount.

They also seem to be more greeder orientated, seeming to sell pups throughout the year from about 4 different litters, already asking for deposits on their 2009 litters. Dates I found so far were:

"around Dec 21st" - like they aren't too sure???Did they just stumble upon them a couple of days later
1-03-09 (they are 4 days old)
10-10-08
Reserve now for March 11, 2009 litter!!!
05-18-07 - only found this date because they were selling their 1 year old STUD dog

Sure there are a few more, as they claim they have been breeding for 7 years, but the sheer volume bothers me. They seem to be breeding every 2-3 months. God knows with what, but I'm guessing their bitches are breeding machines.

Not one title in the pedigree, (and although I am far from an expert in pedigrees - nothing seemed familiar there), no mention of health testing, and I agree with the other comments regarding mums sway back, cuts and scratches on the adult dogs, fence fighting and something is definately wrong with the heads.

I particularly was impressed about the fact that the guy was smoking around his dogs. And also the fact he is selling with "full registration".

Also here is a photo of one dog with a rope??? around its neck


THIS IS JUST ALL WRONG. Can we do something about it - maybe some comments / reviews on the advertisements and classifieds he puts out.
 
See less See more
1
#4 ·
They grow there. Abandoned tires are native to pretty much all ******* areas of the country. If left unchecked they will eventually grow into a full-fledged late-70s model muscle cars, but you'll have to mow to find them.


(why yes I did have a partially-restored old '66 mustang for a while, what's your point?? :p)
 
#5 ·
-Tooo funny Leilel. I live in Alabama and I know just what you are talking about. Unfortunately those tires hold standing water and are breeding grounds for mosquitos which carry eastern, western encephalitis, west nile virus, heartworm, etc. And what's with that guy with his hands around that dog's neck like that?
Dawn
 
#7 ·
Are there any laws that they may be breaking that someone could go out and have a look, perhaps save the breeding bitches and stop so many litters??

Amount of dogs maybe without a license?

Untreated wounds?

Will send an email to Kentucky rescue, they are probably aware of it, but just in case they have any ideas. Maybe we could all take a road trip when the Nationals are on this year, and confront him. Or doesn't that work out there?
 
#9 ·
Sadly, sounds like you're about to be initiated into the ways of the humane officer in America.

If it's got even minimal food, water, and shelter (and that can be defined very loosely) you ain't gonna get jack sh*t else done for the dog.

So far as arriving on their doorstep, you better show up better armed than him. ******** are firm believers in the right to bare arms. Er, bear arms.
 
#11 ·
It just seems so futile. I know that here, my mentor forced a BYB breeder through our local club to take back a z factor pup and return the money, but that was probably a once off.

Apart from emailing the rescue, is there nothing else? How do you guys cope with it. Are there any movements I can join / donate to, or is it just best to try to educate public. The prob I found with this guy, as opposed to Roadhouse dobes, when you did a search for him, their were no negative reviews.

Further investigation shows that 5 of the dogs in his pedigree are z factors (what a suprise)

WZ00613004 RAMBO MACHINE GUN HENSON BLACK & RUST – z
WZ000965/08 SOUTHERN COMFORTS MELISSA BLACK & RUST
WZ00064101 SHARON'S RAY VAUGHAN ALBINO
WP49055103 VICTORIAN RHINESTONE COWBOY - z
WZ000906/10 TRIGGER NAPIER RED & RUST – z factor
 
#15 ·
Kentucky state law states:

525.130 Cruelty to animals in the second degree.
(1) A person is guilty of cruelty to animals in the second degree when except as authorized by law he intentionally or wantonly:
(a) Subjects any animal to or causes cruel or injurious mistreatment through abandonment, participates other than as provided in KRS 525.125 in causing it to fight for pleasure or profit, (including, but not limited to being a spectator or vendor at an event where a four (4) legged animal is caused to fight for pleasure or profit) mutilation, beating, torturing, tormenting, failing to provide adequate food, drink, space, or health care, or by any other means; or
(b) Subjects any animal in his custody to cruel neglect; or
(c) Kills any animal.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to the killing of animals:
(a) Pursuant to a license to hunt, fish, or trap;
(b) Incident to the processing as food or for other commercial purposes;
(c) For humane purposes;
(d) For any other purpose authorized by law.
(3) Activities of animals engaged in hunting, field trials, dog training, and other activities authorized either by a hunting license or by the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall not constitute a violation of this section.
(4) Cruelty to animals in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor




Now weather or not this is the case or not I do not know?? Also if those who enforce the laws don't take them seiously then you SOL. Good luck
 
#25 ·
Kentucky state law states:

failing to provide adequate food, drink, space, or health care, or by any other means; or

But what RFR is saying is that >YES you do have to provide food shelter and water, but the quailty of food water and shelter doesnt matter IOW, as long as there is a vari kennel in the back yard a little bucket of scummy water and rain soaked kibble, they cant get in trouble because they ARE providing them.
Or the bucket of water may be empty, but that was "because the dog knocks it over"
There are FAR too many loop holes in these animal laws...ridiculous really, Im sure you, as an officer(?) understand and you are VERY Frustrated with your hands basically being tied most of the time and not being able to do anything to help the animals, and if you happen to be able to help the animals, the liklihood of the person getting in trouble is slim.

Also, "healthcare" how much do you wanna bet most of these greeders arent doing preventive healthcare?? But unless they get caught for doing something "bad" there is no way really of enforcing this AFAIK.
 
#21 ·
In other words, he can do anything he likes, and treat dogs like sh%t. .
Well the law say he has to supply medical attention, so if those dogs do have open sore or injuries and he is not taking them to a vet it's a viloation. Someone in the area need to visit those dogs and see what the actual situation is and them contact the authorites. I'm pretty sure in all 50 states it's illegal to sell sick and/ or injured animals and from the pic of that Fawn pup, it seems as if it's suffering from some sort of medical condition.
 
#23 ·
Anyone else lucky enough to get a PM from this "breeder"? I got this...

This message is directed to incredibledobe. I am erich henson dobermans located in london, kentucky. The person you started a new thread on, and i have read your thread. Would you please contact me immediately at jehenson46@yahoo.com. Thank you so much, and i anxiously await to hear from you asap!!!
And I didn't even start the thread! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darkevs
#30 ·
i anxiously await to hear from you asap!!!

I'm impressed. ******* Alliteration.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JenTN
#31 ·
I spoke to the guy and he was outrageously rude... rushed me off of the phone before I could finish asking the questions I had.. All he cared to talk about was me sending money ASAP. He also doesn't allow anyone on his property until they have paid for the puppy.

If anyone can suggest a good reputable breeder to me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
#33 ·
Hi, Debbi,

Glad to see you're still researching breeders and haven't gone with the first "puppy-pusher" you meet.

If you are willing to consider breeders located in Kentucky and Arizona, why not give your local Doberman rescue group a try? Also, other Doberman rescue groups are willing to do out-of-area adoptions if you can't find the right Dobe in your immediate area.

Could you let us know what you are looking to do with your Dobe? Knowing whether you want to compete in conformation, obedience, agility, tracking or other events will help us with recommending a breeder to you.

Regards,:wavey:
 
#34 ·
Thank you. I am willing consider breeders anywhere within the states as long as they're a reputable breeder. I have been looking for quite some time lol. I am in the Knoxville TN area-- and I am not able to find a local doberman rescue that has puppies available. The reason this is so important to me, is because I have a 12 year old Shih Tzu that has been my little sidekick since he was 12 weeks old and I think it would be easier on the both of them if I introduced a puppy into the home. I also have some experience in obediance and training. So I would prefer to work with a puppy form a younge age.. (no more than 4 months old preferably). I don't need a show quality dog... Just looking for family pet / companion. Have also had experience with dobies.. My husband and I both grew up with them... Thank you so much for your information... relatively new to this forum and got sidetrack (lost my password actually) so I didnt log on for some time-- but I am still on the search and I know I will eventually find the perfect puppy to bring home! Now if I can just find the breeders section... LOL.. Thanks again !
 
#35 ·
JiDia Dobermans is in Frankfort, KY: http://www.jidiadobermans.com/
A'Carrig is in Burlington, KY: http://acarrigdobermanpinschers.yolasite.com/

Both are DobermanTalk.com members. If they don't have anything available now or in the near future, they may be able to put you in touch with someone who does/will.

Not meant as an exhaustive list, and bearing in mind that what you are looking for in a Doberman may not be what I'm looking for, here are some breeders in surrounding states I think it would be worth your while to talk to:

North Carolina:
Talladega: Talladega Dobermans | Puppies
Gold Gove: Gold Grove Dobermans

Georgia:
Mikadobe: http://mikadobe.com/
Adamas, who has a litter scheduled to be whelped in April: ADAMAS Dobermans- Home
 
#36 · (Edited)
Thanks to everyone who offered advice and info!

Thank you to everyone for your help and advice in my search for a puppy (and I do mean a lengthy search since it has been literally months now since I puppy-proofed the house). I think I have finally found my puppy! He's not old enough to come home yet, but I am super excited to get him... and can't wait to post pictures for everyone...
One good thing about this search is that it has introduced me to a lot of great and interesting people who have been so helpful to me with information etc... Unfortunately I have had a lot of bad experiences (some very sad and pathetic) with some very irresponsible breeders as well... I think it will have been worth the wait though =) ... Thanks everyone and have a great day!!!
Debbi
 
#37 ·
BrodyJ

Did you ever find a puppy? I would be happy to help you find a puppy or help in any way I can.

KenyaARaineCD Thank You.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: KenyaARaineCD
#38 ·
Erich Henson is a Shark

I would like to first tell everyone my Husband had his Dobie for almost 19 years. Then Reds passed away and now a few years later he is ready to welcome a new lil guy. I found Erich Henson on the AKC website, which they should BAN him entirely. I paid in full for our red guy from him trusting the AKC site. Two days before he was to fly out our guy I get emails saying so sorry red male injured. We never saw pics of any injury. He stated most of the pups left ear was gone and will cause deafness so he sold him after we already paid for him to his "defective dobie guy" and he would be sold without registration papers. We were welcome to wait and get a pup from another litter that was conveniently born the day before he notified us. Oh and the injury was said to have happened a week prior to our notification. We did get a full refund from him which in itself was an experience. He is not reputable nor does he care about the dobies they are just " cash cows" for him. It is very disheartening that people like him exist and get away with it. On the wonderful side, I did find a great breeder and met him in person, Brandon and we are now expecting two brothers in 2 1/2 weeks. We planned for one but the fresh little guy picked me and of course I fell in love with him...so we will now have 2 boys...brothers :) IF anyone out there can use the emails I saved to get him investigated, let me know....I saved ALL of them.
 
#39 · (Edited)
...so we will now have 2 boys...brothers :)
I am sorry for your difficulties. I hate to rain on your parade here... but any breeder that will sell you 2 littermates, and especially 2 MALES is not an ethical breeder, nor knowledgeable! 2 males DO NOT work with this breed. Search the forum for male-male aggression. Everything will be fine while they are young and then one day once mature, you will have problems with fighting, and they are generally vicious fights. You are looking at a lot of heartache with 2 males.

Sounds like you have fallen victim again to a Greeder just looking to line his/her pockets. In my opinion, you should find another breeder. Most reputable breeders will not sell you a single male, if you have another male dog of any breed.

Please do your research and if you need breeder recommendations, ask here. There are a number of good breeders in PA.
 
#42 ·
Sounds like you have some challenges finding a good breeder. Please check out the link in my signature line for a breeder checklist.

Also...

The AKC is simply a dog registry, that's it. As stated in the AKC's terms and conditions:

AKC is not affiliated with and does not license or endorse any breeders, including those listed on this site. AKC has no control over their business practices and is not liable for any dealings between you and any breeders. AKC does not sell dogs and makes no warranty or guarantee as to the health, quality, parentage or any value of any dogs. The AKC accepts no responsibility for any transaction between seller and buyer. These listings are provided as a service to the public.
source: All AKC-Recognized Breeds Puppies for Sale - AKC Breeders - Puppy Tips
 
#43 ·
Update

Sorry to dig up such an old thread as my first post on the site. I recently had to put Amber, my 15 year old red down, and decided it was time to find another doberman. I rescued Amber long ago from a friend that couldn't take care of himself at the time, much less a dog. She was my first Doberman and I really didn't know much of anything about them when I took her. She turned out to be the best dog I had ever known and pretty much sealed the deal that my next dog had to be a doberman as well. I researched for a couple of weeks, trying to make sure I made a wise choice.

I called several breeders and wasn't having much luck. I found Mr. Henson via a google search and he was only 2.5 hours away from me. He sent me the pedigree info and pics of the pups and parents. Which in my eyes really did look great (no Z and a few CH). I did some Google searches looking for any info I could about this guy, and only found this one post (I have since found more on this site since I registerd - wish I would have registered before the purchase and found the others). (i hope no one takes offense to this next comment) When I read this post, I saw what looked to me like a lot of people assuming things about his setup and no real idea what he had going on, and then a single comment about someone that had purchased a dog and got a refund for it due to injury (which to me is what should have happened). So I decided to go ahead and drop a deposit. Then things went south.

I have two kids and they had never known a puppy, just Daddy's old dog. I was dead set in letting them get the puppy experience. The entire week, before meeting our new pup, I got my wife and kids extremely excited about getting her. When the day came, my kids were up early begging me to take the day off and drive out early to pick her up. Mr. Henson calls me the morning of and tells me he will only accept cash, even though my deposit was through paypal and he had stated he would take money orders as well for deposits. I had already purchased a money order for the exchange the day before and was quite upset that I was just now getting this info. I told him we were at an impasse, as I was not going to take my family to meet some random guy that I found on the internet, whose only proof he even had puppies were some pics he sent me, with $500 cash in my pocket. He finally agreed to let me use paypal when I told him to just refund my deposit. I already had reservations at this point, but I went to work, and we packed up in the minivan and headed out as soon as I got off. 2.5 hours later we pulled in the drive, and my reservations met reality. I knew right away I had made a poor choice. Dogs were in pins everywhere. He showed me the parents. The Sire was a beautiful dog. He showed me the mom next and I was not happy with her or the pin she was kept in. She looked too small to be having pups, I honestly thought at the time that the dog was still a pup (she was actually about 3 years old). The wire pin that people have referred to in other post is actually electric fencing. I may be naive, but I had never seen someone keep dogs in an electric fence pen before, and did not like the idea one bit. The pins looked large enough, but it was misleading since none of the dogs would come within 2 feet of the fencing. I immediately start having reservations.

The entire time we were there Mr. Henson was trying to push a different litter than the one I reserved a pup from. Seeing the mom of the litter I had reserved from convinced me to at least look at the parents and pups from both. He showed me both parents for the other litter, which in all fairness were both beautiful dogs. So I asked to see both sets of pups. The litter I had reserved a pup from was 7 weeks old. The other litter was 6 weeks old. He brought two females out from each litter. The 7 week pups heads did not look right to me. They looked almost cone headed. He brought out the 6 week old puppies and they looked much better and really took a liking to my kids right away (unlike the first litter). One of the pups in the 6 week old litter was the runt and he confirmed that to be the case, yet it was still just as large as the two 7 week pups. The other pup (the one I ultimately got) was much larger than the other three. So I decided I would take her.

I was so disgusted by how the dogs all cowered to him. How he kept the pups in his basement (that he wouldn't let me see). How the mother of 6 week old pups was already in the pin separated from her pups. How he had probably 20 adult dobermans and at least 4 or 5 females that had given birth recently. How the pins were built with electric fences. The way the dogs acted almost feral (what I was figuring was due to lack of affection). The way he spoke of his dogs like cattle. Just everything about it really. Everything about it screamed to me, RUN AWAY! But how do I tell my kids "sorry guys not today" after I had pumped them up for a week and drove 2.5 hours with them to get it, listening to them talking so excitedly about getting the pup the entire way. I swallowed all the disgust and was just going to do everything I could to get my kids out of there as quick as possible.

I hadn't seen the pedigree of the new litter so, as we settled up and he gave me the shot history and paperwork, I asked that he send me that pedigree as well. When I got home and saw it, I was disgusted yet again. I had gone through all this trouble to make sure I didn't get a Z factor dog, yet here I am staring at the pedigree for my new pup which is a Z factor pup. (There were two different litters of Z factor Dobermans right in my home town for half the cost of what I paid). The first litter was not Z factor, and looking back, I figure that is why he was pushing the other litter on me.

Karma is my new pup. I love her, my kids love her and my wife loves her. That won't change, but the experience of getting her will be engraved in my brain for eternity.

I am sorry this is so long. I just wanted to make sure that the next guy that went googling for Mr. Henson's info would be well aware of what they were getting into. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND MR HENSON TO ANYONE.

On a good note, he did mention to me that he was looking to get out of the business. I guess that is a blessing.
 
#47 ·
I didn't want to punish/hurt my kids over a terrible situation. Me alone, I would have, with out a doubt, drove the 2.5 hours back home empty handed (even if I lost the deposit). I don't know if you have kids or not, but explaining puppy mills to a 7 year old is never going to sound like a lesson, and would have only broke her heart.

Call it a $600 rescue. I can hurt this guy far worse posting in this thread, than I could have going home empty handed.
 
#49 ·
I'm sorry you've had to experience this...

Unfortunately, the odds are its going to end up costing a hell of a lot more than $600 in future vet bills and think of the kids heartbreak if she comes down with DCM and drops at the age of two or three years of age.

Good luck and I hope the best for the girl...
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top