can anyone give me advice on breeding.i have a 12 month old dobermann bitch and i am considering breeding in the near future...thanx

12 months old for a dobermann is too young by far. She probably needs at least another year to mature. In this year to come you can make sure that she has had all the relevant tests. I'm sure others will come up with more but she needs to be tested for vWD, have her hips and possibly elbows scored as well and all these take time. If you intend to get the puppies docked then you need to sort out a vet now do not leave it too late or you could be disappointed.

I have been told vets will not dock puppies...is this true?

vets are the only ones allowed to dock, it is still legal to have your pups docked-if your vet wont join the council of the docked breeds [sooner rather than later] and they'll find you a vet who is prepared to hold up the tradition of your docked breed, put search engine up and go for cdb, and your bitch should be at least 2 before shes bred from with all of the breed tests done beforehand

Also eye tested for PHPV, and I would think she would need to be closer to 3 years than 2 before breeding.

Have you considered the implications of producing a litter of a working breed with strong work and guarding drives. They need to be homed with the sort of people that are experienced for best results. Can you take back a possibly temperamentally unsound dog back into your home, and rehabilitate it? Could you face putting one to sleep that had been ruined by the wrong home. Could you cope with an untrained unruly but affectionate teenager!

Do you know enough about the breed to assess your bitches worth? Do you know what were the good and bad points of her ancestors for at least 3 generations, especially as regards health and temperament. Do you have accesss to the same intormation on potential Stud Dogs, and the knowledge to decide if they are a good match.

If you cannot say yes to most of the above, then I would suggest you set yourself the taask of studying these things. Attend Breed shows, and seminars, and read all you can. If your bitch is truly a superior example of her breed, then try her against the others at a show. After a few shows you should get an idea if your bitch is worthy to be bred from, having a good measure of the breeds required characteristics, as per the breed standard.

Are we allowed to refer to Sierras website? :) I would give the site details, but can't remember them at this moment!

Yes, Quinn, from the way I understand the rules, you or others may give the site URL but I can't since I'm associated with it. Pssssssttt, if you click on my name, you'll find the URL though!

What you got to understand with breeding dobermans is to insure you get the CORRECT homes .
MALE dobermanns as a rule are very difficult and CAN cause problems I know of many dobermanns especially males who had to be returned to the breeder or ended in rescue due to them going in the wrong homes plus I think people get the wrong impression about the breed , if bred and reared correctly they make fantastic pets but too many people want them as a status symbol.
It can also be very difficult to sell them so before you breed please think

Thankyou all for your replys....i will take all advice i am given before i decide any future plans. I know she is not of age at the momment. I am currently taking her into the ring.I appreciate i have alot to learn.

Enjoy the learning curve it is fascinating, and addictive. You end up doing endless pedigree research, then find just one more breed book, and so on, LOL. If you haven't already join your local Dobe club. I have friends in the breed (have joined the South West Club) and am attending dome of their educational events. It is amazing how much you learn by studying other breeds than your own. Well I am Aunty to 4 Dobes who live 4 doors up from me :D when you start showing don't be put off if you don't do any winning straight off, it can be quite a feat to just get shortlisted or a lower placing, as Doberman classes can be very large at the Championdhip shows, and pretty respectable at Open shows too!

Hmm the more i read the more confused i get :). I have always wanted a doberman, and its a breed i will definetly own at some point in my life. Although i was under the impression that it was the females that were the more difficult of the two sexies.

Hi BGY

I think that you will find that dobes are much the same as any of the guard type breeds in that the males can be quite dominant and need correct handling from the start. I have always found my GSD males to be more dominant than my females.

Hi BGY

If you want to adopt a Dobe male for a week or so I have one available <g>

His sister has just finished her season, his room-mate is at the height of hers, and his daughter is just coming up to it and he has spent the last two nights howling - am somewhat relieved I had his mum speyed last year.

Once the seasons are over he will go back to his usual placid self (I hope!) when the bitches are generally much livelier than he is and this seems to be the general opinion amongst Dobe owners I have spoken to that the boys are easier to live with most of the time.

If Kaz would like a chat just click on my name and you will find my email address - did you go to the SEEDC show yesterday?

Christine