[doberkim]

well, I think that you need to figure out what you want first. Swift Run/Tammy and Cambria/The Whites are about as different as you can get in dobes - decide what you truly want, what you are looking for, what you are willing to pay, what your reasonable expectations about training/ability to train/desire to compete/train are, how well the dog will fit in with your other dogs, and again - what is most important to you - and then look for breeders that match that.

Just in the three breeders you mentioned, they have vastly different prices, health testing, titles and interests as well as ethics.

You can take a nice doberman from good lines and do lots of performance sports and do well, but you cannot take a high drive doberman and make it a couch potato or expect it to be happy just lounging around the house 24 hours a day 7 days a week, for instance.

 

[doberkim]

Well, I personally wouldn't go looking at someone breeding by and large working dogs for the HOPE that you someday MAY be able to do schutzhund with the dog. Any average doberman is an active dog - heck, even the most couch potato ones I have met and owned are still more than willing to go out and hike, run - they just dont DEMAND it.

From what you wrote, no, a drivey over the top dog may not be what you want - ESPECIALLY not as a novice to the breed.

I'd make a list of what you realistically want from the dog. As a happy healthy pet that I wanted to be an upright citizen, a jogging companion, and a wonderful pet - personally I do not think you have to limit yourself to "working" breeders or those that label themselves that. There are plenty of wonderful breeders who health test, show their dogs in performance and conformation venues, and have longetivity in their lines that have a nice balance of working ability/drive and liveability.

Most dobes, I think, have the ability to do most sports out there to some degree, it's simply lack of owners ability, time, funds, or desire that limit them.