Sylvia

We are considering purchasing a puppy. Our previous Dobie was a rescue, which I always thought I'd do again, but with having 2 cats we are thinking that it might be much easier to integrate a dog when it is still little.

As I have never done this I am still a little unsure about finding the right breeder. There appear to be 3 here in Idaho and I am also willing to travel a little. How do I find a good breeder - what do I need to look for? What would be red flags?

Sam1491

Reputable breeders - for new folks

This is a good basic reference guide

Check the dcpa website as well, not all the breeders there are good but it's a starting point.

Where in idaho are you? what type of puppy are you looking for? (show/working) do you have any plans for the puppy or just pet?
Aare you willing to travel? how far?
What about shipping a puppy?

The answers to those questions will help other members guide you towards reputable breeders near you as well

Good luck!

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dobermama

Rescues do also wind up with puppies- more often than you might think. That is how my Remy joined our family. I too have cats (including two with zero self preservation instinct), so a puppy was a must. I would recommend applying to any rescues close enough to you, as well as searching for a reputable breeder.

Sylvia

I am in Boise.
The dog would be a family pet, but I am also thinking about getting her/him certified as a therapy dog.
If we were to travel to pick up our new dog, I think that we would want to keep it down to a distance that can be traveled within one day, as finding overnight accommodations with a dog (especially a new puppy that still needs potty training) might not be the best. So maybe about an 8 hour drive from us. Portland and Seattle would be ok, Salt Lake City,...

Is shipping a puppy a common practice by breeders? Does it not cause a lot of stress on the puppy?

RedFawnRising

Puppies are unknown quantities, mysterious little bits of protoplasm that grow into their own bundle of quirks, their own strengths and weaknesses and particular set of naughty behaviors.

That's despite litter grading, and all the great training you give.

With a very knowledgeable, ethical breeder, and a great family who are excellent puppy-raisers, the odds are in favor of achieving good behavior with kitties.

But, so often, all that does not fall into place, and folks end up with a puppy who grows into a more and more obnoxious kitty-chaser, to the point where either kitties or dog must be "gotten rid of."

Ask me how I know. I work in rescue.

So, honestly, if you believe in rescuing, and have had good experiences with that in the past, why not seek out some reputable breed-specific rescues and find a nice young adult that has been thoroughly cat-tested and already displays nice, gentle, manageable behavior towards feline friends?

Just a suggestion

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Julie W

Starlaine Dobermans & Whippets

Family

Foxfire Dobermans - Breeder-Owner of AKC Top Producing Doberman Pinschers

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Sylvia

I am a little apprehensive about rescuing a puppy. You just never know what health problems are coming your way because the dog isn't fully developed yet. With an adult dog you kind of know if they have problems already and can decide if you can handle it.

Sylvia

Well, as far as my good experience - I would do it that way again, but the odds are just not in our favor. What I mean by that is, we got Scarlet off Craigslist. Her previous owner brought her to our house and we were able to check and observe how she reacted to the cats and also, how the cats reacted to her.
Should I come across another cat-friendly Dobie locally, I'd do the same thing again. Meanwhile, I am just exploring some other options, because there are not many Dobies around here.

RedFawnRising

Well, while I'm certainly glad Scarlett landed safely, and you have had good behavior from her, that's a very different situation than what I was suggesting, which is to adopt a young adult (or older puppy) from a great rescue who has had the dog in foster care for long enough to thoroughly evaluate the temperament and personality.

A well-bred puppy is another good option, and I didn't mean to deter you from what you think is best for your family--just more of a caveat that even well-bred pups are somewhat of an unknown quantity, even with the best upbringing, and an adult is more of a WYSIWYG thing

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Sylvia

Oh I totally get the WYSIWYG thing. It's in part why I had preferred an older dog at first. It's just that part of it is you have to see first, and if you travel very far to adopt a dog and then when you get it home a war breaks out between it and existing pets, well, you get the idea. If I come across an adult Dobie in my area that would be a good fit it will be my first choice. If that isn't going to happen, then I think a pup is going to be the easiest way. When you raise an animal from being a baby around other animals it has been my experience that they tend to get along best and be more accepting of each other.

Rosemary

The first thing my Rat Terrier did when we brought him home as a 6 week old puppy was to take out after one of my cats, who was twice his size.

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MeadowCat

My adult rescue boy was far better with my cats than Shanoa, whom I got as a puppy. If you work with a reputable rescue they generally have evaluated the dog for at least a few weeks in foster care. The rescue I work with has several foster homes with cats, so we find out pretty quickly if those dogs are good with cats or not.

Working with a great breeder is another really good option. Be sure to talk about your concerns for your cats with the breeder, so they will know that you need a pup with a low prey drive. Even a low drive pup will still sometimes chase cats, of course, because it's lots of fun, but they are generally easier to train not to chase than a pup with high prey drive.

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vivienne00

Marieldobes on this forum is in North Idaho. You can search for threads (using the advanced search) started by Marieldobes.

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Cato and Emerald's Black Onyx (r.i.p.)
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RedFawnRising

I know I shouldn't, but that makes me giggle.

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Rosemary

Oh, it was funny for everyone but Mackeral, the cat he went after. He really was a terrible cat chaser as a baby. Eventually one of my girls, Marble (the world's ugliest tortoiseshell), decided that she'd had enough of his nonsence. When Lucky was about 9 months old, she cornered him, and proceeded to beat the tar out of him. I mean, she had him cowering, actually shaking and whimpering, while she swatted, spat and hissed at him for a good five minutes. We just let her have her say, because nothing we had tried worked. Her technique, on the other hand, was just what he needed. We just say that she put the fear of feline into him.

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Ilka Of Pear Orchard Cemetery BN RE CGC CA

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Bellisa

You can also go to the American Kennel Club website for a breeder listing. American Kennel Club - akc.org. Another option is to go to local dog shows. You will be able to meet breeders there. Talk to all of them and see who you connect with.