[peskypups]

I want to thank you for the detailed information! Not sure I would have any luck without this forum.

That being said, I'm looking to raise a Doberman Pinscher as my first pup. After a fair amount of research for rescues, my biggest issues were transport, age, and odds of relapse.

I started browsing the AKC and DPCA list of breeders. Snooped some more and came across the DT forums on google. Ideally, I wanted to find a respected breeder with a clean sheet, and details.

I emailed a few. After looking through your threads, I am not taking Kevlar up on their offer and hesitant to invest with Indah Lux.

I am asking the DT community to help me out in my search.


I'm looking for a companion. I'm allergic to pet dander and have no way to tolerate frequent or daily grooming. I preferred Dobermans for their short coat, size, and activity level. I want a partner I can go running and biking with. Take with me on hikes, to the beach, and the stables. I love their nature to be protective as I find I do a lot of things on my own.

I have a kitten in my household currently. She is fairly shy (she prefers being hidden under the bed). I would like my pup to be familiar with cats to aide in them co-existing, but I also am prepared to keep them to their own.

Anyway, it is late! I will be sure to check back and start talking with more of you.


:mrgreen:

 

[falnfenix]

Be aware, this is not a hypoallergenic breed. Dander is still a thing.

You can train your puppy to be fine around your cat. It takes work, but it can be done.

 

[peskypups]

Be aware, this is not a hypoallergenic breed. Dander is still a thing.

You can train your puppy to be fine around your cat. It takes work, but it can be done.

Thank you!

I should have rephrased the note about grooming. I am allergic to pet dander, but I have had cats for about 20 years now. I do not have a history of breaking into rashes, it is always my sinuses (sneezing and a cough) after extended cuddles or shedding.

I am 100% okay with monthly bathes and occasional brushing (masks have come in handy for me in other ways).

 

[brw1982]

Hi, peskypups.

I'll also point out that Dobermans can make great running partners, however, it's generally recommended against running / jogging or biking them before 18 months old at the earliest.

The reason being that their growth plates haven't closed before then and you can risk doing a lot of damage to their joints with that kind of activity too young. So, while I think it's great you have activities you're excited to do with a Doberman, you might want to consider that you won't be able to start your puppy in all of them right away.

And I hope others will chime in regarding your plans to bathe your Dobe monthly. These guys have super low maintenance coats, apart from some special cases like some of the dilute dogs I've known. I think bathing them very often might lead to drying out their skin and/or coat.

Most Dobes I know don't require baths that often. They don't have an undercoat and their short, slick coat is super easy to keep clean, IME. Unless something is wrong, I've never met a Dobe that smells either. My Dobes typically get 1-2 baths per year (usually at the end of summer and maybe again at the end of winter) or when they roll in something disgusting or get sprayed by a skunk.

Maybe others bathe their Dobes more often with good results and they'll jump in.

 

[peskypups]

Hi, peskypups.

I'll also point out that Dobermans can make great running partners, however, it's generally recommended against running / jogging or biking them before 18 months old at the earliest.

The reason being that their growth plates haven't closed before then and you can risk doing a lot of damage to their joints with that kind of activity too young. So, while I think it's great you have activities you're excited to do with a Doberman, you might want to consider that you won't be able to start your puppy in all of them right away.

And I hope others will chime in regarding your plans to bathe your Dobe monthly. These guys have super low maintenance coats, apart from some special cases like some of the dilute dogs I've known. I think bathing them very often might lead to drying out their skin and/or coat.

Most Dobes I know don't require baths that often. They don't have an undercoat and their short, slick coat is super easy to keep clean, IME. Unless something is wrong, I've never met a Dobe that smells either. My Dobes typically get 1-2 baths per year (usually at the end of summer and maybe again at the end of winter) or when they roll in something disgusting or get sprayed by a skunk.

Maybe others bathe their Dobes more often with good results and they'll jump in.

Thank you! I'm going to highlight that in my Dobe notebook.

Do you have any information about how short I should allow them for walks in their first few months?

Hahah, even better! I would like to bathe them how according to what works for their coats. I'll change my method to a wipe down with warm cloths. Is that a better tactic for month-to-month?

 

[melbrod]

A wipe down with a damp cloth when he comes in out of the yard works well. If you are going to bath them, use cool water (never warm or hot), don't scrub at their coat, and add a dilute vinegar rinse.

Dobebug here had a fawn dobe who kept a good coat all his life. Here's her skin care advice:

Short coated, single coated dogs like Dobes generally don't need frequent baths--when I'm showing a dog they do get bathed just before a show but the rest of the time unless they get into something really nasty (one of my dogs fell into the Columbia Slough which is yucky--lots of stagnant water and a mud bottom--that got him an instant bath with the hose outside) they only get bathed a couple of times a year. I also don't really recommend brushing unless you can find an ultra soft natural bristle brush (like the kind that is used with wax type shoe polishes to put a high shine on a leather shoe). I use a terry cloth wash cloth and dampen it--that will take dust, pollen and all of the grass etc that a dog who likes to roll might pick up off.

….don't scrub the dogs coat with anything like those rubber curries or your fingernails--that's a great way to get a nasty case of folliculitis going (that's where the hair follicle gets irritated--scrubbing too vigorously, using water too hot--use cold water--dog skin doesn't like hot water or even warm water--it opens the follicle and allows soap, an irritant--to get into the follicle). I've used a very dilute vinegar and water rinse as the final step--1/2 cup plain old white vinegar to a gallon of cool to cold water--pour it over the dog and let him dry without a lot of toweling--he'll stop smelling like a salad as soon as he's dry.

I don't actually bathe my dogs often (even when I had several and the back yard [the dog yard] was mostly bare dirt in the summer and bare mud most of the winter) the dogs that were being shown in conformation got bathes before every show or every circuit and for them I used a very watered down oatmeal shampoo. Only the fawn ever got a leave in conditioner--the composition of dilute hair is much more porous than that of the red or black dogs.

But they all got a vinegar and water rinse when they did get bathed. Takes out residual shampoo and is great for skin and hair (keeps the pH where is should be) and is a good deodorizer.

Try using just water on a towel instead of wipes--they contains chemicals which sometimes on a dog coat will cause dust and dirt to stick--water will actually remove it.

dobebug

 

[melbrod]

Most dobes will follow you as long as they can—longer than they would choose to go on their own—and can really overdo it trying to keep up. So as far as walks go, with a puppy or youngish dog, I pretty much let them go at their own pace. If they want to run around the yard, fine; if they want to just wander around, that's fine too. But it is their choice—I let them stop and smell the roses on walks—it's a good time for meditation. I certainly don't do any "forced" exercise (meaning the dog has to keep up with you) like jogging or biking, especially on hard surfaces, and no game playing that involves a lot of jumping and twisting, until they are at least 18 months old.

 

[peskypups]

Most dobes will follow you as long as they can—longer than they would choose to go on their own—and can really overdo it trying to keep up. So as far as walks go, with a puppy or youngish dog, I pretty much let them go at their own pace. If they want to run around the yard, fine; if they want to just wander around, that's fine too. But it is their choice—I let them stop and smell the roses on walks—it's a good time for meditation. I certainly don't do any "forced" exercise (meaning the dog has to keep up with you) like jogging or biking, especially on hard surfaces, and no game playing that involves a lot of jumping and twisting, until they are at least 18 months old.

Thank you so much!

I apologize for the inactivity for the past few days. I stopped by a local canine shop yesterday to make sure I could have a place locally to visit that wasn't just PetSmart (which does anyone have thoughts on petsmart?).

I have an update on my adoption process! I've been approved for a home visit and I went and did some room organization to make sure if my pup is in my room they are safe. May want the crate with me in here for the first few weeks.

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

I will reiterate about this not being a hypoallergenic breed. I have 3 Dobermans, and my oldest daughters boyfriend of 6 years cannot spend much time in our house because of his allergy to dogs. My house is clean, and my dogs are clean, but it does not matter - he reacts to them. He is fine with cats.

 

[PM2244]

“He’ll stop smelling like a salad as soon as he’s dry”
😂😂😂 cracked me up 😂😂😂

 

[PM2244]

I emailed a few. After looking through your threads, I am not taking Kevlar up on their offer and hesitant to invest with Indah Lux.

:mrgreen:

Can I ask why you are hesitant about Indah Lux? Asking because they are on my list for consideration.

 

[PM2244]

Have you decided on a breeder? I would also like to know why you are hesitant about Indah Lux Doberman’s.

 

[PM2244]

I have an update on my adoption process! I've been approved for a home visit and I went and did some room organization to make sure if my pup is in my room they are safe. May want the crate with me in here for the first few weeks.

peskypups have you decided on a breeder? Why were you hesitant to invest with Indah Lux? Asking because they are on my list for consideration.

 

[peskypups]

Going to add my reply here in case anyone else stumbles upon this thread with similar questions!

Hi, I reached out to a few rescues and ended up fostering a beautiful 4-yo Red male!
I was hesitant about Induh Lux because of their policy around cropping and docking. They do it to all of their puppies unless your intent is to compete in IDC.

If you're looking for a companion I would definitely suggest looking into rescues! Induh Lux would be an option for me still if I had the time to do competitions or start breeding.

Hope this helps Luv!

 

[MeadowCat]

Going to add my reply here in case anyone else stumbles upon this thread with similar questions!

I wanted to address your post about cropping and docking. The VAST VAST majority of ethical breeders here in the US are going to crop and dock their puppies across the board. There are a few breeders (outside of the working line breeders) that will allow a buyer to leave a puppy uncropped, but there are not many. We've talked about this on the forum many times. Regardless of your feelings on the topic of cropping/docking, this is just the case here in the US, as it is the breed standard, and, many breeders feel strongly about it, for a lot of reasons.

 

[peskypups]

I wanted to address your post about cropping and docking. The VAST VAST majority of ethical breeders here in the US are going to crop and dock their puppies across the board. There are a few breeders (outside of the working line breeders) that will allow a buyer to leave a puppy uncropped, but there are not many. We've talked about this on the forum many times. Regardless of your feelings on the topic of cropping/docking, this is just the case here in the US, as it is the breed standard, and, many breeders feel strongly about it, for a lot of reasons.

Thank you. Just want to share this wasn't my only reason for not purchasing from Induh Lux. It was one of my considerations while looking for a pup.