[Cliff]

It seems like for every healthy Doberman there are 10 unhealthy ones. This may be an unfair view because obviously people don't go online and start threads about how healthy their dogs are- but it got me wondering... have Dobermans always had the health issues that they have today, in this volume? Thirty years ago were they in the shape that they are now?

 

[KevinK]

Many (not all) of the health problems are caused by poor breedings, and the good breeders do their best to try to minimize these problems. Like anything, as the demand goes up, so does the supply, and those looking to make a quick buck are unfortunately not always concerned with health and quality. Then, add in humans, who are impatient, uninformed, and want what they want NOW, it most certainly doesn't help the situation. Most people will not go on a waiting list for a year, they will call their local byb who has puppies available for immediate purchase, bring nothing other than your checkbook.

 

[Q734]

It's hard to say. The information age exposes a lot of the downside.
Otoh the genetic bottleneck that happens as a result of "stud du jour" can't be helping anything.
E.g. good luck finding a pedigree that doesn't have one particular dog in it somewhere, if not several times.