It’s an exciting decision to bring a Doberman puppy into your home, but it’s crucial to pick the best one for your family. Since every puppy is different, it’s important to carefully evaluate how well they’ll fit into your lifestyle, as well as their temperament and overall health.
There is more to choosing a Doberman than just appearance. You should pay attention to their demeanor and character attributes. While some puppies may be calm and reserved, others may be more energetic. Making better decisions can be aided by your understanding of these distinctions.
Another important step is to test the health of the puppy. A Doberman puppy in good health should be lively, perceptive, and receptive. In the long run, checking for anomalies or symptoms of illness can save you a great deal of trouble.
| Aspect | What to Look For |
| Temperament | The puppy should be friendly, confident, and curious. Avoid shy or overly aggressive pups. |
| Health | Check for clear eyes, clean ears, and a shiny coat. Look for signs of good overall health and energy. |
| Parent Background | Ask about the puppy’s parents" health history and temperament. A good lineage is important. |
| Socialization | Choose a puppy that interacts well with both humans and other dogs. |
| Energy Levels | Doberman puppies should be playful and active. Low energy can signal health issues. |
Selecting a Doberman puppy requires careful consideration of the breed’s physical characteristics, temperament, and overall health. Seek for a curious, gregarious, self-assured puppy that isn’t overly timid or aggressive. Additionally, it’s critical to look up the parents’ medical history and confirm that the puppy has undergone testing for common breed-related problems. A puppy’s interactions with people and other dogs can provide important clues about how it will behave in the future.
- Buying a Doberman puppy: advice from breeders
- Testing Doberman puppies
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Buying a Doberman puppy: advice from breeders
See knowledgeable breeders for advice on selecting a Doberman puppy; they will assist you in purchasing a healthy, happy dog.
Even though it might be a long drive, it is preferable to visit the kennel in person to select a puppy before making a purchase. This way, you can speak with the breeder face-to-face, take a look at the mother (and, if you’re lucky, the father) and learn more about the conditions under which the litter is housed. It goes without saying that you should schedule a meeting with him ahead of time, as breeders are busy individuals who must see a lot of clients.
Once you’re there, explore the area thoroughly. While not all breeders have a showy kennel with wire cages enclosed, theirs ought to be immaculate. No matter how cute the puppies appear, it is better to look for a dog elsewhere if the runs and cages are dirty and the area and the home appear messy.
For puppies to be healthy, they should be in a warm and dry fenced area, lined with clean paper, where cleanliness is constantly maintained. A bed covered with a blanket or rags should also be clean. Puppies raised in such conditions are easier to train to keep the nest clean and to relieve themselves in the right place, that is, outside it. You should not contact breeders who keep puppies unattended in dirty walking areas, where the remains of uneaten, decomposing food and excrement are scattered. Surely such puppies are infected with worms, or even something worse, and, instead of taking care and take care of a newly-minted pet, you will acquire only a headache.
A responsible breeder will inquire extensively about your household and the circumstances surrounding the dog. Is your yard fenced? is a question that piques his curiosity. Not out of pure curiosity, but he might wait to sell you a puppy until you can provide a safe environment for him. The breeder, having recognized his pet, doesn’t want to find out in a few weeks that the dog ran over the car.
Avoid getting in touch with breeders who are attempting to sell a five-year-old puppy without pausing and without putting his ears in place. He probably wants to defer all of the costs to you in order to save money on this. Furthermore, a novice is not psychologically equipped for this; an expert, not a novice, should crop the ears.
When should you purchase a Doberman puppy in order to ensure that it adjusts to new surroundings quickly? Puppies should not be purchased before nine weeks of age, as this is the time when initial vaccinations against highly contagious diseases and antihelminthic prophylaxis are administered. Its coat should be shiny and clean, and the skin should be loose enough to allow for growth. The eyes should be alert and clear, free of dirt and mucus buildup in the inner corners. The puppy should have a tidy appearance and a joyful demeanor, exuding innocence and cleanliness.
The image shows how dense and well-fed the Doberman puppies are:
An average, healthy six-week-old puppy weighs between 4 and 5.5 kg, while an eight-week-old puppy weighs between 8 and 9 kg for females and males. Lower numbers typically denote subpar treatment. In certain instances, seven-week-old puppies weighed as little as 2 kg!
If you need a puppy to participate in exhibitions, it is better to rely on the breeder and ask him to choose one for you. When raising a litter, he knows the potential of each of his pets, their positive and negative sides, he can easily determine not only that one of them will have the proper exterior, but also something without which there is no show dog. Ask him to show you the puppy"s pedigree and give explanations along the way – you should learn as much as possible about its origin. Behind each dog listed in the pedigree, there is a story known to the breeder, he can describe to you in detail what each of them looked like, tell you a lot of interesting things. But you, as a beginner, see in the pedigree only a bare sheet with a list of nicknames that mean nothing to you. If possible, try to see the puppy"s parents, ask about the achievements of the mother and father in the show ring, as well as about the career of their descendants.
If you want to talk to a breeder about buying a puppy by mail or by long-distance phone, first find out everything about him from other breeders and owners: what is his reputation, what dogs he bred in the past and what is their temperament. Don"t fall for promising advertising or assurances that the puppy will definitely grow up to be a BIS winner. A self-respecting, honest breeder will never say such a thing. He can only confirm that at the time of sale the puppy is in good condition and has no serious vices or shortcomings, and his parents have the title of Champion or are truly outstanding young dogs. Perhaps he will provide you with veterinary documents confirming the health of the puppy and that it was sent to you in good condition. The breeder will definitely emphasize the importance of proper diet, exercise and training for the correct development of the puppy. For the individual development and disclosure of the personality of your pet, he will advise you to communicate with him as much as possible, walk, visit unfamiliar places, so that he adapts faster and more easily endures all the hardships of the daily routine of life. And only then can you dream and pray that he will become a champion.
When approaching a breeder who does not currently have a litter, find out if he plans to breed his dogs in the near future, and if not, if he can recommend someone who has puppies of the same bloodline. He may suggest you a lesser-known breeder, but who does have a good champion bitch. Often, such puppies are born in the kitchen or living room and receive the best care. They are used to children, to the noises and sounds that reign in their home, and, as a rule, are the most socialized. It happens that the breeder who recommended this litter to you planned the mating himself and helped its owner with his advice in every possible way. It is possible that he will help you choose a puppy from it.
Regardless of where you purchased the pet, along with it you should be given, at least, a four-generation pedigree, as well as a blue AKC form for its registration. If the breeder has registered the puppy in his name in advance (to keep the kennel name, nickname or prefix), he is obliged to provide you with a properly completed, certified in your presence white AKC registration form (on the back of which the right of ownership of the puppy is registered in your name, which, after you pay the fee and register with the club, will be registered and certified by the AKC). The seller is obliged to carefully instruct you on the diet, exercise and care of the puppy at the time of purchase and in the future, as well as on the care of the ears, if he has not removed the bandages from them for their artificial setting.
Most importantly, a true breeder never leaves his pet alone and is always willing to share his joys and sorrows with you. He is also always there to help you with common problems rather than those that are very big or complicated.
Clearly, not everyone is a good fit for a Doberman, and most owners of these dogs ought to have chosen a different breed for their pets. Breeders are alarmed that Dobermans rank third in the AKC in terms of registrations. A lot of purported "puppy mills" charge "ridiculous" prices for five-week-old babies. It goes without saying that they give temperamentally balanced dog breeding little to no consideration. Such puppies naturally have a lot of issues and frequently wind up in animal shelters.
The rugged Dobermans that are bred in Germany are not needed in America. The majority of Americans favor dogs that can easily adjust to a meek, uncomplicated lifestyle and that recognize multiple family members rather than just one. However, this does not negate the need for a watchful guard to be on duty around-the-clock. Nothing is worse than a cowardly-aggressive or timid Doberman. However, he shouldn’t be a shallow talker or easily agitated.
Regarding the tales of Doberman attacks on their owners, the majority of them are merely hearsay and unfounded. But if we allow "puppy mill" owners to manage the breed instead of actual breeders who take pride in producing well-mannered dogs, these kinds of tales will sadly become more and more frequent.
A well-bred Doberman needs a lot of physical activity, discipline, and training because they are intelligent dogs. Dobermans are not suited for kennel enclosures because they dislike loneliness and seclusion; otherwise, they will become bored and pick up a lot of undesirable habits, like barking nonstop and jumping on the net. This breed requires constant training and human companionship. Dobermans require an owner who can properly handle them and comprehend this.
A Doberman is the best domestic dog there is! He is an excellent teacher. Breeders must take care, though, to preserve traits unique to the breed, like alertness and vigilance. Real Dobermans are a universal breed that can be a loving house dog as well as an excellent guard or security dog, so you should breed dogs with good working qualities.
Dobermans typically get along well with other breeds of dogs. Dobermans never forget their old friends and have excellent recall.
It’s true that your Doberman retriever will resemble its owner, but you can shape it into almost anything you want. The owner’s anxiety and impulsive energy are easily transferred to their pet. A happy, balanced dog is typically owned by a calm, outgoing person. It is not appropriate to turn a Doberman into a spoiled brat or a nasty person. He ought to grow up to be a valued and well-adjusted family member.
Testing Doberman puppies
Doberman puppies are tested in groups when they are five weeks old.
Sudden and loud noise.
Gather the feces in a small space on a floor that has been tiled (linoleum, cement, or something similar). While the puppies are occupied, toss a saucepan or frying pan for them on the ground without warning (keep it away from the babies, about three meters away). Observe how they respond. It could be moving away from the source of the sound; being curious or indifferent; or fearful or apathetic.
Perception of the unknown through vision.
Now place a plush toy or a baby carriage—one without a rattle, please—between the puppies. Watch how they respond. It could be: alertness, interest, fear, or obvious curiosity.
Perception of the unknown through hearing.
Stay away from the puppies so they can’t see it, whistle six times in a quiet voice, and observe how they respond. It could be an attempt to identify the source of the sound, a lack of interest in it, or overt fear. This test requires the participation of two individuals: an observer and a whistler. The flooring needs to be consistent.
Recovering the floor.
Call the puppies from one room to another, which has a different covering, for example, one is covered with tiles and the other with a carpet. The surface that the puppies are supposed to move to should be unfamiliar to them. And again, watch their reaction: who will come to you and who will not. From the first, select those who were not interested in the new flooring, and those who were somewhat confused by it. After all, some of the puppies clearly noticed the difference and entered the room with caution, some even had to be persuaded to cross the threshold, and some refused to enter at all, although they really wanted to do so, but could not overcome themselves.
At 7-8 weeks of age, Doberman puppies undergo the individual testing that is detailed below.
When a puppy is tested individually, the goal is to identify any behavioral variations from the responses it displayed in comparable scenarios during group testing. The testing procedure is still the same; the only thing that has changed is that each puppy is tested individually rather than in a group. This is particularly crucial because some "beaten" puppies act more self-assuredly when their aggressive littermates are away. You should anticipate some behavioral variations in this situation because of the following:
1) The puppy’s unstable nervous system stabilizes as it grows, and by the time it is seven weeks old, it will feel more assured;
2) A puppy that is highly dependent (submissive) will be very attached to its litter and find it difficult to express who they are; this isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just requires more one-on-one socialization;
3) In the absence of dominant littermates, a puppy with low dominance will perform better.
A family member who does not feed the puppies or an unknown person conducts these tests. The extent to which puppies exhibit dominance, subordination, and independence towards humans.
This Doberman puppy video demonstrates how to put a dog to the test:
Selecting a Doberman puppy is a thrilling and significant choice. You can be sure you’re choosing a dog that complements your family and way of life by putting an emphasis on temperament, personality, and health.
Spend time getting to know the puppy’s parents and seeing the surroundings in which the dogs are raised. A conscientious breeder will furnish comprehensive particulars regarding the health and history of the puppy.
You can better understand the puppy’s behavior and fit for your home by having a temperament test done. This guarantees that the dog you bring home will develop into a self-assured and devoted friend.
