Just to echo what others have said a cheap puppy is a no go.  There is a reason they are cheap.  £800 is the maximum you should pay for a Dobermann (imo), yet again only if all health tests have been carried out. 

thank you lucky stars its not a newf you want.
they are around 1250.00 mark right now.

Hi everyone.
Thanks for all your input.
Unfortunately the breeder lives about 3.5 hours away! If it was less I wouldn't have hesitated to visit by now.
When pups 5 weeks I would go and choose one, well breeder said they will help match one to me. Then at 7 weeks I would go and collect. So its a fair bit of travelling 'worth it' .
In event they decided I wasn't right for them I'm not sure about deposit. If there isn't enough pups born then my deposit will carry onto there next litter, which i'm happy to do.
All health tests are done 'a must for me'
The breeder are using a bitch from someone i've been in contact with for quite some time. The bitch was one they originally bred.  Again i've not met her but I've spoke to some others that have. I know it would ha ve been better to have met and i wish i lived closer.
They did ask questions and i've given as much info as poss..

I need to get some sleep as shattered lol. 

Yes visit at 5 weeks and collect at 7 sounds right to me.  Just replied to your email.  Good luck with your new puppy.  You will be fine xxx

I would prefer that my prospective buyer was to visit before the pups were born and then trust me, the breeder to choose their pup for them to collect at 7 weeks with, of course, lots of photos emailed in between.  Still only 2 trips but both you and the breeder would know sooner rather than later if you weren't happy with each other. :) :)

I sort of agree with WestCoast but I have never let a breeder choose my puppy for me. I have let them guide me, and I have guided puppy owners to a suitable puppy but to say this is yours.... I couldnt do it and I wouldnt expect it.  I would never place a bossy puppy with a less confident owner, I do my best to advise.  Puppy owners should have a choice in my eyes x

I would never place a bossy puppy with a less confident owner
Nor would I. :)  But that's why I like to meet my owners first so that I (who has spent 8 weeks full time with the pups) can select the right pup for the right home.  Prospective owners only have a small snapshot of time with the litter.  The one who is quiet when they are there may be so because they've been lunatics for the previous 2 hours! :) 
In 25 years, I've always offered my prospective owners the pup that I think is most suitable.  If they were to choose, they may well choose the most unsuitable and I wouldn't let that happen, for the sake of my pup and the new family. :)

A couple of members who have contributed to the thread have asked me where I was getting him from. Thankfully they agree its a good breeder.
Again a lot of things you have all said has made sense about meeting owner etc. I will see if there is anyway i could arrange to go down.
If I can't  I will accept possibly it may not go the way I would have liked.

Have a look at the web site "sheep dog training" you should get to Andy Nicholas site and we have one of his from Glen & Pearl. There fabulous, cant show them, there not classical and def not breed type but there fabulous!! He is my OH best friend and he really really loves him to bits and the dog loves him as much they are insperable.

> A couple of members who have contributed to the thread have asked me where I was getting him from. Thankfully they agree its a good breeder.
> Again a lot of things you have all said has made sense about meeting owner etc.

Dave, from all your previous posts it's obvious you are very keen to find the best breeder and the best puppy for your needs.  To have referrals and recommendations from others that you have found a good breeder must go some way to putting your mind at rest.  If that is as far as you can go at this this stage then it will still be better than some prospective puppy owners who don't do the research and unfortunately find they've found a puppy farmer.  As Marianne as said it isn't possible for everyone to travel and you can't feel bad about that.

> I will see if there is anyway i could arrange to go down.

Quite sensible, if you can get there you should - from this meeting you'll know so much more about the dog you're likely to get than any amount of emails and phone calls can tell you.

> If I can't  I will accept possibly it may not go the way I would have liked.

Alternatively, being open to the possibilities it may not be exactly as you'd like it is wise too.  Just be sure you know what might go wrong, and make every effort to overcome these scenarios before they happen.

Good luck.  You don't need to be anything less than excited - just add a dash of caution into the mix as well!! :)

Thank you!