I get a lot of questions about how we determine which Doberman puppy goes to which home. Often people want to select their own Doberman puppy. Perhaps, they believe they should feel an instant bond or click with a particular pup. Sometimes they want to make sure they get the most dominant puppy or perhaps the quietest. Ultimately, they feel that they have specific things that they want. These feelings are all understandable. However, when someone comes to see the Doberman puppies they only see a snap shot of the puppy.
As the breeder, I live with these puppies every day. The puppies are born in my bedroom and I spend many hours with them every day. No one knows the puppies better than I. Also, very few people have the experience to adequately assess a litter of working Dobermans. Often, the most outgoing Doberman puppy of my litter is far too much for the average owner to handle. The calmest Doberman pup of my litter often has more drive than the most energetic from a conformation bred or pet bred litter. If you have other pets, then a very dominant puppy may not be the best selection for you. I want the Doberman puppy to fit in its new home. I also want to make sure that the new owner can handle the puppy. It’s also very important to me that the Doberman puppy grow into a dog that can do the work the owner intended.
It is important that I know as much about your dog experience and home situation as possible. I also need to know what preferences you have in a Doberman puppy. As the puppies grow, I begin to get an idea of their personalities and I start thinking about the homes I have available and which puppy will fit best in each home. At 7-8 weeks old (before the ears are cropped), the Doberman puppies are evaluated. They are taken to a location they have never been and evaluated by someone they don’t know. I test for natural retrieving ability, pack drive, pain tolerance, grips, prey drive, noise tolerance, dominance behavior, energy level, compliance, obstacle navigation, general security and presence. I observe the evaluation and consult with the evaluator (an experienced dog trainer). I take all of this information (including past observations) into consideration when determining what home each Doberman puppy will have. If it comes down to more than one suitable puppy, then I will allow the new owner to select from those puppies. If I do not have a Doberman puppy that I believe will fit into your home or that can do the work you intend for it (therapy, SAR, Schutzhund, agility, obedience etc) then I will return your deposit.
Experienced Schutzhund (have titled a dog at least to Sch1) and SAR handlers: I realize that experienced handlers have very specific traits they are looking for in a Doberman puppy and often look for a certain type of puppy that fits well with their particular training style. These experienced handlers are welcome to come and test/observe the puppies and I will assist you in your puppy selection.
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