Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Doberman Dogs
Hi I am a very passionate Doberman dog lover I was brought up with them as a child. I am now old enough to get one for myself I am going to view some and I would like to ask Doberman owners what questions are important to know when buying and also begining with the doberman it is from Training, Grooming, Habits, puppies etc... Please let me know what you beleive the most important questions for me to find out. Please help me with as many questions to ask as possible as I want to be sure I get the right Doberman with the right temprement for my home and family.

My best advice would be to talk to a couple breeders in your area and look at their dogs and see what you like. They would also be able to help matching you with a dog. Just dont buy from a pet store or backyard breeder.
I never took my dobe to professional training but I have a lot of experience with it. Grooming isn't a huge issue for my dobe. He did go through a stage of oily skin but flaxseed oil helped that. He did have a fatty lump on his side but it was just a fatty lump no cancer thank god! Heres some pics of my byron
http://www.dogster.com/?23112 He is the best behaved dog I have ever had and he is a huge baby! I looked around for months before I choose him. I grew up with labs but I'll always have a dobe now!
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I would recommend going to the website of the DPCA: Doberman Pinscher Club of America, and doing some research on the breed. There is a ton of good information and you should find most of the informantion you need to help you in your search. www.dpca.org

check out this forum:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/11341

it is IMO the best one you'll find for dobes, the people are extremely knowledgable and experienced. They've helped me through a few problems with my boy!

I'd check thoroughly for the health of the pup you choose. Make sure both parents have been hip scored and have good scores (ask your vet, and there are many website explaining hip scoring); also both parents should be clear of hypothyroidism, as should their parents and grandparents if possible. The further back the pedigree is clear of any problems the better.

Also the parents should be checked and cleared for cardiomyopathy - this is a nasty, but thankfully not too common, heart disease. Dobes aren't the only ones of get it, but they get it more than other breeds - once a dobe has been diagnosed, their lifespan is likely to be very short - we're talking a couple months, maybe more if you're lucky, so do make sure the parents are clear. The test is done with either an echo or holter monitor - the latter is better I believe - it's like a techno dog coat, the dog wears it for 24 hours and all heart activity is monitored for signs of a problem. Having a vet listen to the heart will not do the trick, make sure those parents are tested!

Also, wobbler's syndrome (spinal problems) and I think haemophilia should be clear from the parents and grandparents (although I don't think it's clear if wobbler's is hereditary or not). best to be sure.

Avoid anyone whose litter was an "accident" - either they are too tight (or ignorant) to neuter their dog, or they just wanted a litter for the experience of it. Also anyone who believes a dog should have a litter to be healthier, or because they want Poochy to have a friend. Chances are it'll take you a while to find a good pup, but it'll be well worth the wait.

One last thing - avoid breeders of "white" dobes, these people have no interest in the good health of their pups. If they did, they wouldn't breed albinos.

good luck!