Hi I am located in Pasco, Wa and for years have wanted a doberman and have been researching all the Washington breeders. I have emailed a few but only one got back to me. She has a breeding soon but will not know anything for another month and said check back but prority goes to homes who do agility, obedience, rally, etc. Which I am aware of. My question is what really are my odds of getting a pup from one of these top Washington breeders for companion family pet only. Should I keep trying? Does it happen often that they sell to family's for pet only?
If you are a good fit for a dobe pup and have patience you will find the right breeder and puppy. You could adopt through a rescue group as an alternative too.
I've heard great things about Foxfire. We got ours from Irongate Dobermans. Piper is our first from a breeder and she is a great dog. The breeder doesn't have a website. Her name is Eve Auch.
Irongate Dobermans, Truckee, CA
Eve Auch at Irongate@saber.net or 530-582-4942
Thanks everyone for the feedback and have searched foxfire plus Wittrock, Bonnie. I wasn't sure if she was breeding anymore at the moment. Sent her messages but no response. I looked at fox fire for pricing on her site but don't recall seeing anything. 2,000 is about the limit for me. I checked Wingate too she told me to check back Starlaine is over my price. Wanting a red male.
It seems like the going rate for a well bred pup is $2000-3000 these days. If you're mentioning purchase price as one of the main or first things in your email it's likely you won't get a response. Be sure to explain your experience and expectations with dobermans or dogs and your living situation/home and other pets. It doesn't have to be an essay about your life but just to show that you have researched and are interested in the breeder's breeding program and will provide a good forever home for the pup.
As GreenKouki mentioned, please don't discount a dog from a REPUTABLE Doberman rescue. They will have taken their time to really get to know the dog, some even do basic obedience training. They do their very best to make a good match for a forever home.
My previous Dobe, before my present girl ( who I raised from a wee pup) was from such a rescue. They gave me the perfect boy, 1 1/2yrs old, for me. He was true class act, went to work with me every day, was never destructive and lived to almost 13 yrs.
There are many great dogs in rescue through no fault of their own.
Raising a puppy, esp a Doberman puppy, is fun but A LOT of work and can be challenging!
Well I have not brought up price in any email with them. But the couple I did contact I had seen the pricing on site and already knew. Wingate is $2000 and right at limit. I have been raised around all kinds of dogs from rotts, beagles, Terriers and labs. I have not owned a doberman but my father did. I have always wanted one for as long as I could remember. Just going to keep searching and trying I know it will fall into place.
I have also looked at recuse I just want to make sure my getting a healthy dog with good testing and great with kids as I have a 2yr old daughter and 9 yr old son. And I know it's a lot of work been around a lot of animals was raised on a small farm and also trained my own horse. Just looking for a great dog now.
The pedigrees dont make my socks twirl, and while hips were done, I didn't see any information on other health testing, specifically cardiac and thyroid in addition to the hips, at a bare minimum
Kimbertal lines in the mom--seems a big red flag to me.
Also, though it says the puppies are sold on limited registration unless otherwise approved, why do they have directions on how to build a whelping box on their website?
Thanks again the health testing is one very important thing I keep looking and asking when talking with breeders. One breeder got back to me and answered all questions but kept doging the question on what health testing he does on the parents. Seemed very off to me.
If they dodge the question, it really should cause you some concern. Most folks who do health testing keep copies of the results to share. Now some things CAN get misplaced if your desk looks like mine does at times<G> but vWD results come in email form, OFA issues certificates, and has a listing on their website to verify claims of clearances, and if they put the money into Holters, I can't imagine they didn't file those reports in the dogs files. For me, if you're going to maintain multiple dogs for breeding purposes, each dog should have a file, with all relevant information in it. Registration, pedigree, health clearances, reproductive record, and any other vet records. Now is everyone going to do this? I don't know, I may be a bit anal about some things<G> I just strongly feel if you're going to breed dogs as a business venture, then all recordkeeping should be done in a businesslike manner
I am just about an hour from Pasco, and I can tell you there aren't any reputable breeders in our immediate area. You have already mentioned the ones that I would say based on reputation are reputable. Just be patient, it will be well worth your wait. A couple I didn't see mentioned yet are DeeRun in Graham WA, Electron in Seattle, Sherluck in Kent, and Ravensown. Here is a link to the Puget Sound Doberman Pinscher Club.
Thank and yea I have search all of those and then some. I will drive 4 hrs and more to find a good pup and meet the breeder and dogs. You are right patience. 😉 So hard sometimes lol.
I know we crossed Prima Dobermans off our list. I want to say they sell for $3,000+ if I remember correctly. I want to say that we thought there were red flags when we looked into them. I don't really remember though so I might not be remembering correctly. Definitely research them, but do a thorough job on that one. I don't want to publicly post something and disparaging and be talking about the wrong breeder but I'll PM you my concerns and you can check them out.
Have you tried Northstar Dobermans? One of my neighbors was able to get a family pet from them pretty easily, though it might have been by chance as far as timing. It took a LONG time for us to find a breeder that would talk to us, and then one that we liked. Don't be shocked if you have to wait 6 months to a year, maybe even longer for a red male. Keep in mind you may need to up your budget to $2500.
If $2k is a hard line, then seriously start stalking pages like pet finder and put in application for the Doberman rescue in Seattle (area) and Northern CA.
As far as Northstar goes I have done some research on them and heard as well that there is some limited health testing done. Not sure if it is completely true but I am a bit worried about the pedigree with them and dcm and liver problems being a concern. Everything I read and learned had me pretty much staying away. Anyone have any info on this?
I am glad you are being careful and doing your research. It may seem tedious right now, but in the end you will be so glad you put this time in.
If you go with a good breeder that has a history of longevity, thorough testing and dogs than can compete in the conformation ring, amd then develop a relationship with that breeder showing you are serious and willing to wait, I can assure you, you will get a dog you want. Not all puppies out of a litter of 8 - 10 are made for the show ring and yet the minor differences will not make a difference to you, I wouldn't think. For instance,
I went with Eve Auch in Truckee, Ca. because I liked the history of longevity in her line, her health testing and the fact that in most of the litters bred, the dam and sire were finished Champions and with a CD (obedience) title and WAC (working aptitude certificate. I liked that. I told Eve since I had been in the show ring with another breed, I knew I wanted a really good looking Doberman, but that I was not interested in
breeding and did not have the time anymore for the show ring. That is the how I got my 'Jada'. She had white toes on her back paw and I agreed to spay her. I thank my lucky stars I waited as she is everything I wanted in a Doberman bitch.
I agree with you completely. It is tedious for sure but I will wait as long I as need to find the right pup and breeder for me and my family. The health and longevity are very important to me as is a sound temperament. I know all the researching and talking and getting to know more of the breeders and making sure I just keep getting back to them that I will for sure find the right pup. I look forward to that time.
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