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Altobello Puppies cost $4000?

8K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  Kalae 
#1 ·
Hi I am considering importing an Altobello puppy to the US. The price is $4000 including shipping, crop/dock. Is this price standard from this kennel? Thanks
 
#3 ·
Everyone has a different opinion and ultimately a dog's worth is based on what the buyer is willing to pay for a given dog.

Personally I do not think the Altobello dogs are worth that expense when you can import cropped and docked dogs for much less.
And you have plenty of options for reputably bred cropped and docked dogs in North America for less.

Altobello is a megakennel, and more along the lines of a commercial operation - this means you will likely not get lifetime breeder support in the same way you'd get by going to a smaller breeder here in North America.

Why were you looking at Altobello in particular?
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
I really liked European look of their dogs. I am open to buying in the US but I was not able to find a US breeder with european bloodlines that did not already have Altobello in them. I am ok with a higher price as long as it is justified.

Do you have another breeder suggestion? I am looking for very high quality European bloodline. I would also to buy in the US so I could visit the breeder. I am located in Central Florida. Willing to drive a decent amount for the right pup. Also ok with importing.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.
 
#6 · (Edited)
There are a few breeders in the US who breed high quality European Doberman lines. Most of them breed working lines, although there are a couple who use showlines, which is what I am assuming you are looking at, in particular the Eastern European showlines.

Though it should be understood most people who are members of and participate in UDC activities have a strong inclination towards performance, sport and work so they will be striving to produce active dogs. You can get lower drive puppies in any given litter but if you are not interested in sport or performance or work, you should make that very clear to any prospective breeder, that you are primarily looking for a companion.

There are also a couple of breeders in Canada which is far from Florida, but closer than Serbia.
https://uniteddobermanclub.com/udc-breeder-directory/

Kansa Dobermans are members on this forum and have specialised in blending the top bloodlines from around the world in their program. They are highly knowledgeable and experienced and they might have suggestions for your area.

A friend of mine was recently looking for a primarily showline european stud for one of her bitches and she seems to have particularly liked one of the Bell' Lavoro dogs. I believe Vicky goes back and forth between NY state and FL.

As with any breeder do your due diligence. Ask about health testing, most importantly, ask to see the health test results/and or certificates. If they claim the dog has been OFA'd, crosscheck in the OFA database.
Before breeding you'd want your puppy's parents to have had an echocardiogram and a holter monitor test within 12 months prior to mating (and ideally within 12 months prior to whelping, evening), and that the breeder actually keeps up with the yearly testing.
Thyroid is also an important yearly test to have.

Ask about the genetic status of vWD. Ask about the hip ratings. Ask about eye certification (especially for european dogs).

Other things ideally you'd want to see would be elbows and knees and liver/kidney panel. Other relevant tests could be: DM status, MDR1 status, DINGS status.
 
#5 ·
is there a particular reason you are wanting a European Doberman? if you have been looking at photos and articles online there is a lot of misleading stuff out there when comparing Euro and American. most people are not familiar with what a well-bred American show line Doberman looks like. Are you near Orlando? There are a bunch of big shows coming up surrounding the AKC national Royal canin show in a few weeks where many top Dobermans and breeders will attend. I would really encourage you to go. If you want breeder support and a puppy with a solid temperament and from health tested parents an American "show" breeder should be worth considering.
 
#7 ·
Your preference is your preference. I prefer to stack the odds in my favor and choose long living, health tested pedigrees from a breeder who I would choose to support. I don't support glorified puppy mills who treat their dogs as commodities and their kennel like a zoo, but that's my preference. And my preference is health over looks. I would HIGHLY suggest finding out the pedigree of the puppy and then searching Doberman databases to see how the dogs in the pedigree died and at what age.

Best of luck.
 
#8 ·
Stay away from Altobello! A couple of years ago I imported my Dobermann (Blackjack Bluffer x Casablanca) from Dejan at Altobello. She arrived to the US with urinary incontinence, we discovered later was due to a pelvic bladder and widened urethra. She also suffered from demodectic mange where she lost patches of hair all over her body. She was sick all the time with pneumonia, conjunctivitis, vaginitis, etc. At 9 months old, she had a closed pyometra which cost us $4,000. Her urinary incontinence required yet another surgery of $3,800. After surgeries and medications failed, we had to put her down at just under 2 years old. Her sister is on his website, Bomba diAltobello. He bred her knowing all the health issues we had with her pure blood sister. I absorbed every cost and Dejan offered me no new puppy or help. He told me she was healthy when he sent her, insinuating that I had caused these problems. I have a suspicion that he sent her to the US knowing there was no way I could send her back. I know their dogs are beautiful, but save yourself the heartache and go anywhere else!!
 
#15 ·
I am beyond devastated to hear this. We lost our beautiful Cairo last year, due to pneumonia. We spend 40.000 DKK (8.000 US Dollars) but they couldn’t save him. The medication he was on due to his skin problems and hair loss patches (similar to what you have describe) made his immune system too weak and when he passed I was completely and ureelt destroyed. I love him more than anything. I never thought anything about it having to due with his place of origin, but you are making me think… The only issue he had from the beginning was diarrhea.

I am sorry that you also lost your Altobello dog young.
 
#10 ·
4000$ for cropped ,shipping etc isn’t bad.Cost have went way up from what I’ve been finding. I would personally be nervous with getting from a breeder overseas unless I had some type of relationship built with them. (Yea I know gotta start somewh

I’ve been looking for over a year and then started about 4 -5 months ago ready to buy. I started with a budget of 2000$ and it quickly went up to 3k then 4K (with it’s a lot of money for me but I also didn’t want to compromise on any aspect of our new Family member.


I’m on the waitlist for a female Black or Red European Dobbie. They do Import most of their dogs from Europe.

They do all the right testing. Echo,Holter each year,OFA ,DNA the works. They have two kennels/partners. One in VA and other in NC and are a smaller breeder. They do show their dogs and some do sporting events.

im sure some of you will have something bad to say or have heard about them but once I found them I knew it was the right breeder for me.
My chosen Breeder is “Valor Dobermann “ out of VA/NC

check them out.I’m on the list and should be ready towards the end of summer/early fall. According to which litter I choose. Etc.The way they do there list,picks is pretty cool. If you need more info or contact info let me know. Hannah would be happy to have you part of the “Valor” Family.
 
#12 ·
4000$ for cropped ,shipping etc isn’t bad.Cost have went way up from what I’ve been finding. I would personally be nervous with getting from a breeder overseas unless I had some type of relationship built with them. (Yea I know gotta start somewh

I’ve been looking for over a year and then started about 4 -5 months ago ready to buy. I started with a budget of 2000$ and it quickly went up to 3k then 4K (with it’s a lot of money for me but I also didn’t want to compromise on any aspect of our new Family member.


I’m on the waitlist for a female Black or Red European Dobbie. They do Import most of their dogs from Europe.

They do all the right testing. Echo,Holter each year,OFA ,DNA the works. They have two kennels/partners. One in VA and other in NC and are a smaller breeder. They do show their dogs and some do sporting events.

im sure some of you will have something bad to say or have heard about them but once I found them I knew it was the right breeder for me.
My chosen Breeder is “Valor Dobermann “ out of VA/NC

check them out.I’m on the list and should be ready towards the end of summer/early fall. According to which litter I choose. Etc.The way they do there list,picks is pretty cool. If you need more info or contact info let me know. Hannah would be happy to have you part of the “Valor” Family.
i looked into Valor last fall when on the hunt for a puppy. Their dogs do no conformation shows, and I see little results in any working sports. Their only claim to fame is 'in top 7 breeders in NC for dobermans, as ranked by I love Doodles'. Fine for pet quality but not at 3k per puppy.

Odd post on an old string about Altobello.
 
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