Hiya, I am the proud owner of a 2 1/2 yr old dobermann bitch. I bought her about four months ago, and she has settle into my home great. I am interested in becoming a breeder,it is something i have always wanted to do, but i am not quite sure how to go about the process! She has just had a season and I am not planning to do it right away (maybe next year), but I was wondering if anybody has any god advice for me. Also I would like to know if anyone can help me in finding out about her pedigree. On her fathers side their is quite a few champions and I was wondering if there is any way I can find out about them. Pleas email me with any comment, all wil be greatly appreciated. Thanx alot :o) Becky. saundeskay@aol.com

Hi Becky, The first place to go for info is your bitch's breeder, who should be able to tell you about the dogs in your bitches pedigree and advise a suitable stud. You could also try the dobermann breed clubs many of whom publish journal every year that will have a lot of info about the top winning dogs, if you don't know the secretary's phone numbers the KC will or come back to the board as the new Year Book is due out soon, it contains the club secretaries numbers and I will be able to e-mail you the most up to date info. One point to think of, your bitch will be getting a bit old to be breed from for the first time by next year or though this does differ from breed to breed. Hopefully some one who knows your breed better than I will post better advice for you. If you are realy keen to breed and understand what is involved I wish you all the best and hope you have not left it too late.

Hi,
the first thing to do is to find out which hereditary problems affect your breed and have her tested/screened for them and have her eyes tested by a dog eye specialist (your vet can refer you), the result should be "clear" of all probs ( except maybe PPM, if that affects Dobes) or NAD ( no abnormality detected) The breed club should be able to tell you all about which hereditary problems affect the breed. It is really important to have 100% clear results and a low hip score, the breed club can tell you what the average and good scores are for the breed. It will not be cheap to have all this done. There is, I believe Von Willdebrands (sorry if spelling is wrong) disease as well, that can affect Dobes which I think will require a blood test. Apart from the fact that "breeders" should have the welfare of the breed as a whole, uppermost in thier minds ( ie doing everything possible not to breed a litter which may contain puppies that inherit a disease) - if they do you can be dragged through the courts by owners if any hereditary disease does crop up in your puppies. Breeders very seldom win these cases even if they have done everything in their power to avoid them. I'm not trying to put you off, just telling you "like it is".

Once you have joined the main breed club and maybe one local to you as well, the owners of the Champions in your girls's pedigree will probably be members and you will get loads of contact addresses from the year book/journal. Breeders have to be prepared to travel to the best dog to suit their bitch which may well be 100 miles or more.

If all her tests are satifactory I would not leave it any longer to breed. I would have thought that her next season would be fine, after all she has only been fully mature for a short while, I think 4 years is the cut off point, as others have said, for a first litter, and pref during the 3rd year at the latest.

Be prepared for huge expense with a first litter, with all the testing to do,(maybe £200-£300) stud fee, (£100-£250) + travelling expenses, and all the equipment needed,(£200+) let alone the huge feed bills (3 or 4 times what you shell out now- pre-pregnant, pregnant bitches need the best feeding and so do the puppies - (and boy to large litters of large breed puppies, eat!!) and vets bills (unless you are very lucky) , KC registration (£10 per puppy) and advertising. Also worming, and lots and lots of work.
You also have time to apply for a KC Affix so that the puppies can be registered under your own Kennel name , this means you will almost certainly get the names you want for them, if you have your own affix in front of the name/s. Have you transferred her ownership into your name with the KC, this must be done before she is mated or you wont be able to register them.

Good luck!!

Hi Becky. Westie Lover's advice is all good advice. Dobes main eye problem is Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous. As she says you must be prepared to travel for a good dog. I well remember sitting on a straw bail in the middle of the Fens in freezing fog on Christmas Eve a few years ago! The things we do for dogs!!!

Regards John

Thank you for al of your advice. It is greatly appreciated. I think that is better to get advice off breeders than out of any book! thanx again. Becky

Welcome to the Forum Becky. Glad you decided to join us :-)

Leigh

Becky.

Please can you email me [email]Leigh@champdogs.co.uk[/email]

I have a telephone number of someone who can help you with the pedigree details you require.

Leigh