|
Frequently Asked Questions we often receive....
 Below we have tried to cover many of the FAQs we regularly recieve by email. Please take a few minutes to scan the list of questions before emailing us. We have also tried to answer some of the questions that you may have that you are not comfortable to ask directly. If your question(s) are not answered then please contact us and we will do our best to help you.
I’m interested in buying a Dobermann how do I find out more?Well you have started in one of the best places... on the web and specifically on a breeder’s site with information to read. However, you need to take all information you read on breeders site with caution, we are all human and as a result we all have our own opinions and many of us differ which doesn’t make anyone right or wrong but it does make things more difficult for you so what other sources do you have: - Dog shows-go and see the dogs and ask people questions there.
- Working Trails
- Breed Clubs
- Ask breeders if you can meet them and their adult dogs, many people have done this well in advance of buying a puppy.
- Rescue centres - some centres will let you walk a dog or foster a dog.
- The Kennel Club Website
(Back To Top)
Are Dobermann good with children?As a general rule yes. However no dog should be left unattended with children and even if your dog is good with children they can still be playful and clumsy so you should always be careful. As you rear a puppy with children you need to ensure that the children understand the way the dog thinks and that the pack order is in place for the whole pack and the children learn the dogs boundaries and commands etc otherwise it may end up Mum and Daddy then the Dog and then the Children! If the puppy is well bred (i.e. not fearful) and if children are good with animals and treat them kindly and with respect, then as with any dog, Dobermann are excellent with children. Dogs are also proven to benefit children in terms of social ability later in life and decreased likelihood of having allergies. (Back To Top)
Should I buy a dog or bitch?This is a very personal decision and is often based on previous experience of having dogs however as a general rule I recommend Bitches if this is your first dog. When males reach approx 18 months, they often become dominant with other males no matter how much socialisation you have put into them. This can take much of the fun out of socialising and exercising your dog. Males can also be much more independent and challenge the authority in the home. I do not recommend males for people with young families who do not have previous experience with large breeds and preferably Dobermann. Bitches are generally easier to manage, depending on the breeding of the dog. (Back To Top)
Can I keep two male Dobermann together?We do not sell males to homes that already have a male dog or that will ever try to mix adult dogs. Dobermann males do not mix and although some people differ in their opinion of this we feel very strongly on this. - What if one of them is castrated? - The answer is still no. We will not sell two dogs or a second dog to the same home.
- What about males from other breeds? - Still the same answer, one male dog per household!
(Back To Top)
What is the difference between English and European Dobermann?This is an area which creates much debate and differing opinion. Some people are devout followers of one side or the other an now many kennels have mixed the lines so there is no true one or the other in some UK kennels anymore. The main difference we find is temperament. European Dobermann were and still are bred for purpose. They must be able to display the characteristics they were bred for originally and this is done through the ZTP test. In the UK we had a much smaller gene pool and generally the character was bred out of them and the focus was on movement and “look”. However, these are generalisations and there are exceptions. We focus more on European lines although we do have some excellent UK lines in our kennel which bring better movement and angulations. The advice that we give to people is that the European pups and adults tend to be a little more cheeky, a little more keen to chance their arm and see if today...just maybe today I am allowed on the sofa...so consistency is needed. Generally they tend to be more active and they will need attention and exercise. The best way to understand the difference is to meet them... (Back To Top)
How much is a puppy?Our pups are normally priced at ÂŁ950. However, the price may vary dependant on the particular mating. (Back To Top)
What is included in this price?Included in the price will be: - KC Papers
- 6 Weeks free insurance
- Full Information pack with rearing and training guide
- Copies of all health, Champion, Character Test and Working Certificates of parents
- Micro chipping
- First Vaccination (dependant on age)
- Letter to your Vet explaining when the pup was wormed, vaccinated and health test of the parents
- A small bag of food to get you started including several weighed out and prepared meals
- Collar, Lead, blanket and Towel
- For an extra cost we can also arrange additional items such as a crate, additional food etc
(Back To Top)
I can buy a puppy for £400 why are yours more expensive?Unfortunately we sell most of our pups to people who have already had a bad experience with a pup they bought thinking all pups were the same. Many Dobermann are dying far too young of DCM, Wobblers and VWd. We invest a lot of time and effort into ensuring we breed responsibly not just for dogs that have strong characters and for beauty but also for HEALTH! We also will not use the stud dog next door. Of the litters in 2008 and 2009 we have or will travel to Latvia, Serbia, Polish/Russian Border (Polish side) and Berlin to use the right stud dog on the right bitch. We won’t use a stud dog that hasn’t been fully health tested or that has not passed the German ZTP (Character Test). (Back To Top)
What health tests should the parents have?As a standard we always check the following:
- Hips – We hip score all of our adults either in the UK or abroad.
- Eyes - (PHPV) or Dutch Eye Disease
- Von Willebrands – VWd
- Further we do not breed from any lines that we know to have Wobblers or heart disease in them and we also trace longevity of the dogs in the pedigrees that we use and can discuss these down to individual dog when you ask about a specific litter or mating.
Not only should you ask this question when looking at a pup but you should seek evidence of the answer. Unfortunately we have been made aware of people claiming to have health tests that they have not so always ask for proof! You are making a huge decision and we are saddened every time we get another person call us to say their dog died at 5 years old. (Back To Top)
What does health testing prove/do?Unfortunately there are no guarantees for some things, however VWd is now fully understood and responsible breeding can eradicate affected pups. With the other health issues the doing the tests ensures that adults with health problems are not used to further the breed and the intention is by then doing so that the resulting pups will also be healthy.
PLEASE SEE OUR HEALTH PAGE FOR FUTHER INFO (Back To Top)
Do you think I should spay/castrate my dog?We do not recommend this at all. Many vets recommend this operation far to easily and more importantly far too young. Also some so called behaviourists think castrating a male is the answer to all your troubles... Believe me it’s not!!! There is a lot of scare mongering about cancer and unwanted puppies. If you are a responsible owner and can ensure your dog isn’t off “flirting” with the neighbour’s dog then there is no need to spay or castrate and frankly in my opinion the statistics about cancer don’t stack up... compare them to cervical and prostate cancer likelihood in humans and we don’t castrate men or give woman hysterectomies just because they don’t intend to have children. And in fact when humans do undergo these procedures they often need to undergo hormone treatment after...so why would it be different in a dog? No... we really advise against this. (Back To Top)
Can I see both parents?When buying a puppy from us you will always be able to see the mother of the pups who will still be with them until the pups are collected. However, as mentioned above we often use dogs from across Europe that do not belong to us. For this reason it may not be able to see the male. However we can provide pictures, and web addresses to see him and even the contact details of the owner should you wish to contact them for reassurance. (Back To Top)
How do I choose my puppy?There are a lot of books about how to choose a pup and generally people think that you should choose the one that comes to you first. Well that is the dominant pup... the pack leader and going to be the biggest handful in the house/family when you get it home and definitely NOT the best choice of family dog when you have young kids. On the other hand if a pup is scared of you or fearful then that would not be a good choice either. However, this should not be confused with quietly confident or happy to come when called or when the leader has already greeted you. We take all our dogs back if they don’t work out so it is in our interest to ensure we get the right pup for the right owner. Outside of colour and sex we generally chose your puppy for you and to date we have not had anyone upset with the choice. Often our pups will go to show or working homes so as a result we will often pick for character or looks for these homes first before picking for the pet homes begins. (Back To Top)
How do I know if you are a good breeder or not?That really needs to be your decision however you are welcome to read our guestbook for comments from some of our previous puppy buyers. (Back To Top)
Do you breed Blue, Isabella (Fawn) or White Dobermann?No. We do not use any dogs or lines that we know will throw Blue, Isabella or White Dobermann. There is a lot of misunderstanding about Dobermann colours that often have skin problems and SUBSTANTIAL hair loss after the age of two. Please do not buy any of these dogs thinking they are a “cool” or rare colour that is desired. You will not see any in shows in Europe or the UK for a reason! See our page on Dobermann Colours for more information. (Back To Top)
Will my puppy be docked?Yes. We live in Northern Ireland and breed our dogs there where docking is currently still legal. We will continue to dock while it is still legal and feel very strongly that docking should continue for the welfare of the dogs. It has nothing to do with looks. (Back To Top)
Some of your adult dogs are cropped, will my puppy be cropped?We get 3 or more calls a day asking this question and the answer is NO! Cropping is illegal the UK and has been for a very long time. Our adult dogs were imported and legally docked in a country where copping was legal at the time. (Back To Top)
Is there no way I can get a cropped puppy in the UK?NO!!! Not legally and if it is illegal we don’t want any part in it! (Back To Top)
Can you import a cropped dog for me?We have imported cropped dogs for some of our close friends and family; however we do not import dogs generally or to order. Importing is a very expensive and risky business and we do not recommend importing unless you have a relationship with an overseas kennel that you have visited and seen your puppy like you would in the UK. (Back To Top)
Do Dobermann make good Guard Dogs?I have included this as it depends on your interpretation of guard dog. Will a Dobermann defend you and your family? Yes indeed! Do they make good dogs to sleep outside or in a factory, building site or other premises? NO! A Dobermann is a Companion dog and should be kept with people the majority of the time. They do not have the thick coat to sleep outside even in the summer and they generally pine and become destructive if left alone for long periods. (Back To Top)
What does “work” mean on your website?Working in the context of this site generally refers to working trials for Schutzhund, IPO or VPG. It may also refer to tracking trials or agility. It does not refer to guard dog or security dog generally although some of our dogs have been trained for civil protection and security work.
PLEASE SEE OUR WORK PAGE FOR FUTHER INFO (Back To Top)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
