I am so glad I found this site - what a wonderful trove of experience and advice! We are looking for a red female puppy, taking our time and hoping around Nov-Feb time frame. We live in Northern Virginia, and narrowly avoided making a mistake with a nearby breeder only (thank goodness for all your posts and info). We have a fourth-grade daughter, who will be the primary caretaker/trainer, and two mid-age inside only cats. We intend the puppy to be a family pet only. I had several dogs, including doberman and shepherds as a child, and our daughter rides horses and loves her cats and any other animals she can get hold of. My husband was not raised in the US and was not accustomed to pets, although he loves our cats and really wants a dog. For these reasons, we prefer a submissive female. In the meantime and from this forum, I am interested in a few things, if you would all be so kind to help me out:
1. We are no longer limiting ourselves to the local area, and are simply focusing on the top breeders in the US, understanding we can ship. I found the DPCA breeder referral (and the local chapter), but am still looking for some kind of ranking of most reputable breeders (found the Breeder of the Year list at AKC and a few in the Working Dog category were Doberman breeders). Any ideas?
2. I believe we are planning to dock the tail but leave the ears uncropped. Will there be any issues if our daughter wants to show the dog or anything that would make the dog unacceptable standard-wise (I have a vague understanding that cropping is outlawed in Germany, UK, and some other countries, but done in the US)?
3. I understand there is a difference between European and American dobermans, and I am not sure, but it seems that the European are stronger and bulkier, while the American are more beautiful in line but not as hardy - is this basically the case?
4. From reading many of your posts, I am going to insist on titled parents, with lineage back at least 2-3 generations; no more than 2-3 litters/year; all the recommended health tests on puppies and their parents; and evidence that the breeder also shows her dogs, not just making money by breeding; and temperament testing (I believe there is such a thing?). Is there anything else we should be looking for/doing?
5. Can anyone recommend a very good course in the Northern Virginia area for training our doberman?
Thank you all for your help!
1. We are no longer limiting ourselves to the local area, and are simply focusing on the top breeders in the US, understanding we can ship. I found the DPCA breeder referral (and the local chapter), but am still looking for some kind of ranking of most reputable breeders (found the Breeder of the Year list at AKC and a few in the Working Dog category were Doberman breeders). Any ideas?
2. I believe we are planning to dock the tail but leave the ears uncropped. Will there be any issues if our daughter wants to show the dog or anything that would make the dog unacceptable standard-wise (I have a vague understanding that cropping is outlawed in Germany, UK, and some other countries, but done in the US)?
3. I understand there is a difference between European and American dobermans, and I am not sure, but it seems that the European are stronger and bulkier, while the American are more beautiful in line but not as hardy - is this basically the case?
4. From reading many of your posts, I am going to insist on titled parents, with lineage back at least 2-3 generations; no more than 2-3 litters/year; all the recommended health tests on puppies and their parents; and evidence that the breeder also shows her dogs, not just making money by breeding; and temperament testing (I believe there is such a thing?). Is there anything else we should be looking for/doing?
5. Can anyone recommend a very good course in the Northern Virginia area for training our doberman?
Thank you all for your help!