Hi everyone.
I'm finally going to be getting my dobermann pup this Nov 'can't wait'.
I've done loads of research and will be getting him from a very well thought of breeder. It will cost me 800 which I am more than happy to pay.
The thing is people keep telling me that is too much and that they see dobes advertised for 400. Try telling them that i want him from good lines etc, also want him to have good temperment.. But they think i'm being foolish.
My sister brought Lab puppy for 150 so they think 800 is ridiculous.
Someone once said you get what u pay for sometimes and i agree.

This is my first dog and always wanted one so the money is worth it for me. Want him to be healthy and what. But then people say there cheap dog is healthy...
Been getting to me a bit as want to do this right but annoying me that some don't understand.  I know now i should hav kept price to myself lol.
Anyone else understand where i'm coming from? Be easy to buy pup out of the paper but don't want to do that.

Just needed to rant

Hi Dave

Good luck, smashing breed and Yes thats the price or round about you should pay for a good dobe, so i'm with you there ;)

you are doing the right thing, :) getting your puppy from a good breeder and knowing the lines and background of your puppy is so important :) cheaper puppys that are advertised in the paper and such like are normally from byb that do not do health checks, have no interest in the standard of the breed etc,

£800.00 would be about what I'd expect to pay for a well-bred Dobe. I assume it will be coming from a breeder that has had the parents tested for the various health problems the breed can have (von Willebrands disease, PHPV, DCM etc.)? You certainly can get a poorly bred one for far below that cost which could have all sorts of problems.

Well i think you derserve a round of applause & a pat on the back.
You did you research & your willing to wait for the right puppy :)

I'm not 100% sure on Dobe prices but that sounds about right? My boxer male was £650 and well worth it! But some one will be along to confirm approx prices.

I know nothing about the breed but I think it is about what you should expect to pay for a well bred dog.  Make sure you know what health screenings should be done on the breed and check results of parents.  If you are happy with the breeder and get on well with them, you're doing the right thing. 
I would be very wary of anyone charging £400 for a well bred dog.

Yes that's a reasonable price.  We paid £800 for each of our miniature schnauzers (1 and 3 years ago).  'Bargain' puppies are often not the bargains they appear.

You do get what you pay for. :) Ask your sister if her Labrador puppy is KC registered (KC, no other organisation) and if the registration cert clearly shows the results for BOTH parents' x-rays for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, and also up to date eye testing results. A cheap puppy often ends up being far more expensive in the long run due to health problems -and those problems may not show up until after several years. (This is why KC registration matters for pet dogs just as much as for show dogs -the health test results will be on the registration certificate and are verified as correct.)

I agree, we paid £700 four weeks ago for our Irish Setter from a well respected breeder, I am not an expert but in my opinion he is a very good example of the breed, is exceptionally healthy and we had a very good aftercare service from the breeder, in fact we have developed a really nice friendship and I speak to her regularly.

Nicki xx

APPLAUSE!!!

If I was to convert the price for a dobe here in Canadian dollars to the English Pound, thats what it would roughly work out to be.  And I am talking from top kennels, with amazing show dogs and proper health and temperment. 

Yes, you can always find cheaper dogs on the internet but do they do all the relevant health tests, and breed only to better the breed, probably not.   With the wonderful breed you chose, you need one from a reputable breeder.   I would rather spend a bit more, and have great tempered dogs, and healthy ones, then cheap out and get the short end of the stick!

Thanks everyone for your replies it helps!
He is coming from a breeder that is thought of higly by a lot of dobe owners and ALL tests are done.
My sisters Lab apparently KC reg but not sure. I hope her boy stays healthy 'year old'.
She wasn't a proper breeder they said 'surprisingly'.  no diet sheets or anything came with him!
Anyway thanks again.

800 sounds fine if its pedigree is goodand well bred, and ha sthe potetional to be a champ then its fine and anyway i payed more than that.
150 is very little was that pedigree and the damand for labs is high ,so the price can be low.

hope you love the pup.

£800 is 'the going rate' i would say for a pup of that breed from a good breeder. You arent just paying for 'a puppy' dont forget, you are paying for the hours and hours of work that has been put in.

Even asides from the years of experience with the breed the hours and the money spent on showing, going to see dogs, researching dogs.. theres weeks of work when the bitch is in pup, and then weeks of even MORE work when they are born - for 800 your if you work it out weekly giving 10 weeks for pregancy and 10 for raising puppies.. (thats a ballpark figure that lets me do easier maths), then you've paid £40 a week for that pup (for 20 weeks).. and thats before you take into consideration the financial costs to the breeder of your pups existance.

When you see the difference between a well raised, well bred pup... and an indiscriminately bred pup raised by someone who isnt there for most of the day... it suddenly becomes a very low price to pay!

Yea that is a good way of looking at it.. Also the breeder gives life time support which will be invaluble to me! As i've said to my friends you can pay 800 for a holiday which is over b4 you know it. A dog will be with me for years.

On a respected breeders site it does state under £500 is not good but in general £750-800 is the norm

Dave have pm'd you

I paid £750.00 for my youngest toy poodle 3 years ago and £600.00 for the older toy poodle 4 and a half years ago from the same breeder and don't regret it as the poodle I had before them was sickly all his life with collitis amongst other things he was bought by my parents from a newspaper advert for £175.00 in 1990 so was fairly expensive back then. My current 2 poodles are so far very healthy but they did come from a kennel club registered breeder who has been breeding show dogs for quite a few years so I hope this has made a difference.

Thats what a border Collie costs £4/450 ISDS one!

If you put the pounds into the months and years of enjoyment is is nothing really.   Good luck and glad you have went to a good breeder. 

Some folk are just penny pinchers and always end up getting it wrong it all the buy, cheap shoes cheap everything :-D

> Thats what a border Collie costs £4/450 ISDS one!

They must be from one of the International Handlers as the going rate for ISDS dogs is between £200 & £300 for a well bred ISDS puppy.

No thats what we paid for ISDS 2 years ago he is a good one. From Championship stock his Sire was reserve scottish champ His Dam's Sire Welsh Champion.

Our Cocker Spaniel was £650 2 years ago.

I think its not a fine science is it pricing.

Thats about what you would expect to pay for a quality pup, we paid £1000.00 for our newfoundland 2 years ago,

i have been looking for years at toy/miniature poodles and they are around £750.00 .
Good luck with your new bundle and don't forget to come back and tell us all the news !

Hi Dave,

I'm getting a Dobe pup in Oct & i'm paying £800. What lines is your pup from?

> Thats what a border Collie costs £4/450 ISDS one!

I paid roughly that just under 4 years ago for a dual registered dog from very well known lines.

>I paid roughly that just under 4 years ago for a dual registered dog from very well known lines.

Which is not the same as buying an ISDS only registered puppy-in essence a dual registered puppy is a KC reg puppy whose breeder is an ISDS member-who has kept up their dogs ISDS registrations. I know my next puppy will not be that much(I do hope to force the breeder to let me pay this time ;-) )& she will be from a breeder who has a proven track record in producing top class working(as opposed to trialling only)dogs, carefully bred from fully researched pedigrees

> in essence a dual registered puppy is a KC reg puppy whose breeder is an ISDS member-who has kept up their dogs ISDS registrations.

While I appreciate that statement, it is not so in this particular case.  The dog is from strong working lines.  Although I am aware that some of their dogs are actually used for Search and Rescue.

> The dog is from strong working lines.  Although I am aware that some of their dogs are actually used for Search and Rescue.

Interesting a trialist/farmer/shepherd who KC registers their dogs That must be a first I know one or two people who do trials & have some of their dogs KC reg by their owners, but never a trailist/farmer/shepherd who actively KC registers their dogs No wonder they charge so much. Presumably DNA & all clinical tests have been done as well. I'm looking for an ISDS bitch from fully health tested lines & haven't found one yet.

Just found out that the bitch has just been scanned and has 5 if not more puppies!!!! This means pups due end of sept and I will be able to bring my little boy home 7 weeks after that!! So excited... Just hope she does have a boy!
Just thought i would share my news as its exciting getting your first puppy.

How exciting for you..i hope all goes well, lots of shopping to do now :)

Keep us all informed.

Annee :)

Thats great Dave its always nice to share good news  fingers crossed that you get your boy.

Thanks for letting us share your excitement.  :-)

You will be counting the days now!

I will be doing the count down with you as the bitch we hope to have a puppy from has been scanned and due date is end of september too (I'm hoping for little girl :) )
It will be loooong few weeks trust me!!
I will have a little longer wait before she can come home though....

Thanks everyone!
Really is exciting. Will send a deposit 2morr as they already have 2 or 3 bookings already!! Just hope they don't want boy's lol. Is there a chance there could be more than 5 pups that the scan shows? Not sure what average litter size is for a dobe.

All the best Noora on your pup also!

> Not sure what average litter size is for a dobe

Usually 8 - 10.

I certainly wouldn't expect to receive/pay a deposit until pups are safely arrived, rather think ti tempting fate.

8-10 that's quite a lot.
Kind of see what you mean about tempting fate. Others already putting deposit down so i need do do the same if I want to get one. The breeder always has people interested which I think is a good thing.

Can I just ask then, do most people wait till pups are born to pay a deposit then?
I kind of thought it was the norm to book in advance. I am new to this tho lol.

I really would query any breeder that asks for deposits for pups not even born. Most good breeders don't take deposits full stop as it can backfire (best not to take deposits if you want to make sure your pups go to the best possible homes -if a breeder found something bad out about a potential buyer and had accepted a deposit legally they would have to sell the pup if the buyer insisted), so to ask for them before the pups are even born......I'd worry.

>Can I just ask then, do most people wait till pups are born to pay a deposit then?

Lots of breeders won't take deposits at all; I'd certainly have my doubts about a breeder who accepts deposits before the puppies are even born.

> I kind of thought it was the norm to book in advance

I certainly take bookings, but not money until after pups are born, and then just a nominal amount (£50) to ward against timewasters.

I'm not sure what to say now.
I know this is my first pup so I am a rookie.

I do trust the breeder and as I have said before anyone I have spoken to in the dobe world says they are really great. Hoping that makes some kind of difference.

You have got my litlle brain thinking now lol.

there can be breed differences with how things are done, same as stud payment arrangements.

Also times change.  In my breed no-one used to take deposits, but them people didn't mess people about the way they quite often do now, so it is becoming more common to take a small deposit, to confirm a booking so the breeder can put off other potential owners.

I make a note of enquiries before but nobody gets on the list until I've met them.  I don't take deposits because if during the 8 weeks that I have the pups I hear something from the prospective owners that doesn't suit me, or they change their minds about the breed or their circumstances change etc, then I want us both to have the opportunity to change our minds without the decision being clouded by the financial deposit. :)

Have you actually met your breeders and their dogs yet?

No I haven't, and I know that will sound pretty bad now.
Lots of emails and spoke on phone.
I can feel the excitement slowly evaporating

I've never taken a deposit on any puppy I've bred and I don't take them on kittens, although I get told I should, but I have just recently changed my mind over a potential buyer of one kitten and I was so glad I hadn't taken a deposit & was beholden to them because a fantastic owner came along who bought Oliver and bought Dora too!

> Lots of emails and spoke on phone.

That's good but tbh it wouldn't be enough for me.  I 'found' my breeder by asking around, met her and some of her dogs at Discover Dogs then went for a formal meeting.  Once we were approved by her we went on the waiting list for a later litter (14 months app).  We subsequently met up a few times at Dog Shows (I wanted more information and to see the dogs in action again).  Luckily there was a shift in her potential puppy owners and we were offered a puppy much sooner.  I have to say however, I would have waited.  We had chosen our preferred breeder and trusted her to 'give' us the sort of dog we hoped for.  My boy is now two and not a day goes by that I don't feel pleased we got him!!  The breeder was everything I wanted too, lots of advice and support whenever we need it :)

At some point before we collected him we found out how much he was going to cost us - I'd forgotten to ask in the early stages!  I can't recall a deposit although we might have been asked for one between choosing and collecting.  In fact I think I paid in full by direct bank transfer because it was easier as we were travelling straight from a holiday in France to collect him.  1300 miles on pure puppy excitement!!

I don't know how things are done in your chosen breed but I'd not want a dog from someone I hadn't met and whose dogs I didn't know.  To be frank you really should meet the dam before deciding.  You'll learn so much from visiting the breeder - not just about them and their dogs but also the environment your precious puppy will be raised in.  Well worth it I'd say for true peace of mind.

No I haven't, and I know that will sound pretty bad now.
Lots of emails and spoke on phone.
I can feel the excitement slowly evaporating

That's not the intention Dave, truly it isn't.:)  Recommendation from other breeders is good - if they are reputable breeders themselves, and that is honestly difficult for a newcomer to ascertain. 

Just supposing when you visited that the bitch or any of their other dogs were nasty?  Or you found the dogs kept in cramped and dirty conditions?  Permanently kept outside with no chance of any socialisation at all?  That's really important with your breed.  How would you feel having got that far down the line, especially if you'd sent a deposit?  Trapped?

I think that I feel a visit coming on?? :) :)

I respect all your opinions as you guys do know what you are talking about.
Like the bit at the end Westcoast about a visit coming up lol.
I had arranged to see them at crufts but I couldn't make it on working dogs day.

I have also been in contact with others who have got pups from them and they couldn't speak highly enough of them the dogs and there conditions. That was something i asked also.

Again for the advice it doesn't fall on deaf ears..

Just to add that being in a fairly rare breed myself, with buyers normally having to travel many hours to visit, I have  several times sold puppies to people who were unable to visit until the pups were ready to go. I'd got a good enough idea of them from other contact (e-mails mainly, so I have everything in writing, phonecalls I don't like and you have no record of what has been said), often I have had references given to me -and everyone is aware of the fact that as I have taken no deposit, should something not be right when we meet, and when the puppy meets the potential new owner, there may be no sale. That's the risk we both take -buyer and seller. I've never had a problem though, all the people that sounded good were good. So I can understand anyone who feels they aren't able to travel more than once if the distance involved is great (for instance when I have sold to Ireland it was perfectly understandable) -it doesn't have to mean either buyer or seller is no good. But everything has to be left open until the last moment. (And I'd always let the people meet the adult dogs before the pups!! I want to see their reaction to boisterous adults, as well as the dogs' reaction.)

But if people live near enough, then I would expect a visit. I once had two people wanting the same puppy, the last one. One lived 40 minutes drive away and said he could not possibly manage to come for another 2 weeks, the other lived 3 hours drive away and said she could come the next day. No prizes for guessing who got the pup. If you are as close as 40 mins away I see no reason for it having to take 2 weeks. :)

Maybe you could go and visit them and deliver the deposit at the same time :)?
Just so that you have met the breeder and you have also met the mum to be.
Soon the bitch will be nursing the litter and the breeder will not probably want visitors for few weeks...

You could also then ask many questions you might have without the exitement of little babies running around demanding attention.
I would not worry about deposit being asked for, maybe it is norm in your breed or maybe the breeder has had so many people pulling out at the last minute they now ask for deposits to make sure people are serious...

Hi Dave112,

Not been on for a while due to ill health.

Having bred and shown Dobermanns for several years I would very very dubious of handing over a deposit to anyone until you have met the breeders, and the dam of the litter.  As a breeder I would never take a deposit from someone I have not personally met nor would I hand any money over to someone I have not met.  I do ask for deposits but only when the pups get to 4-5 weeks of age, again this is having met owners.

There is nothing to stop you phoning the breeders and asking if you can go and visit, I recommend this as you can see how they keep their dogs and see the dogs in their own environment.

If they are asking for a deposit now and the bitch misses or something goes worng is this deposit fully refundable?  This is why I dont take deposits until later on as things can go wrong.

I am presuming the breeders do full health tests for the breed: vWD, PHPV, Hips, Thyroid Panel and DCM? 

Also if you cannot care for the dog at some part of their life due to no fault of your own will they take the dog back instead of it ending up in rescue?

These are all questions I would be asking.

Have the breeders asked you alot of questions?  Why you want a Dobermann, your experience of them before, will someone be at home with the puppy, etc etc etc?

Hope this is of some help.

Foo