I am scared that I won't pick the right puppy... Help?

[Spirit2010]

Well, I know it is ways away now, but, to come to think of it April isn't very far away. How do I know if it is my puppy, that I want? How do I pick the best tempered puppy? Thank you for reading! If you have any questions for me, please ask. :)

[Herschel]

Please try not to post multiple threads on the same topic! :)

[RedyreRottweilers]

If you select the correct BREEDER, you will not have to worry about any of this. The right breeder will interview you, find out about you, your lifestyle, and your goals for your new dog. Armed with this information, and after they get to know you a bit, they will place the right puppy with you, if there is one to suit you in their current litter.

[neapolitanpitbull]

What kind of pup are you getting in April? Select the right breeder and you won't have a problem :) !

[Spirit2010]

Finally decided, a Doberman! :D yay! heh

[bubbatd]

I thought you meant from a litter ! " How to Raise ...etc " gives you puppy tests .

[RedyreRottweilers]

Why have you decided on a Doberman?

Will this be a house dog?

What are the positives of this breed?

What are the negatives?

What are the health issues?

Is there any legislation in your area forbidding this breed? Will your home owner's cover you if you have a Dobe?

What sort of training do you plan to do with the dog?

Just a few things to consider.

[RD]

If you select the correct BREEDER, you will not have to worry about any of this. The right breeder will interview you, find out about you, your lifestyle, and your goals for your new dog. Armed with this information, and after they get to know you a bit, they will place the right puppy with you, if there is one to suit you in their current litter.
Agreed!

If you've chosen a reputable, trustworthy breeder, I would let them select a puppy for you. :) If you don't trust them to do that, then you shouldn't trust them enough to buy a puppy from them. Jmo.

[Spirit2010]

yes, this puppy will be from a litter. :) Ok to answer all of those questions for RedyreRottweilers. :)

Yes, a housedog.
Positives, good watchdog, family dog, good with my kitties. and things like that. :)
Negatives, can be stubborn sometimes, and things like that. :P
Health Issues, Generally healthy; possible cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord; possible inherited blood disorder (Von Willebrands disease); obesity in middle age. Also prone to bloat, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disorders. Veterinary check is advisable before purchasing a puppy. The gene which produces the albino (White) Dobermans is the same gene which produced the famous white tigers and lions owned by Siegfriend & Roy in Las Vegas. The gene is said to be a masking gene, meaning it "takes over" and masks the color that the dog would be otherwise. There is no evidence, that this gene carries with it any deleterious or adverse health concerns that are sometimes associated with all white animals such as deafness, blindness, or unstable minds. Some breeders beg to differ claiming the gene does cause health issues.
from dogbreedinfo.com my ref. I hope this doesn't hold something against me...
Nothing forbidding it, as far as I know, this is my Grandma's land. :P So, I don't think so! hehe.
I plan to do manners, and obedience.
Hopefully Compeitive Obedience, and that sort.
So no worries, I have been considering many things.

[showpug]

Well, since you have just selected the breed you want you will have a lot of time for research. Most reputable breeders have a LONG waiting list. I suggest you start researching the best breeder you can and discuss filling out an application to be put on their list. With dobermans, or any breed for that matter, I would not cut corners. You need to make sure you dog comes from a long line of health and good temperments. This process takes time. I know many people that are on waiting lists for a year or two before getting a puppy...

You may also want to research ear cropping as well if you plan on having this done. It requires $, time and a lot of post surgery care. Some dogs need their ears taped for a year after surgery. If you are not planning on cropping then this is not an issue.

Oh, and in your responses regarding what you know about Dobes...I sure hope you have researched far beyond " and things like that."

[Herschel]

:rolleyes:

[RedyreRottweilers]

yes, this puppy will be from a litter. :) Ok to answer all of those questions for RedyreRottweilers. :)

Yes, a housedog.
Positives, good watchdog, family dog, good with my kitties. and things like that. :)
Negatives, can be stubborn sometimes, and things like that. :P
Health Issues, Generally healthy; possible cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord; possible inherited blood disorder (Von Willebrands disease); obesity in middle age. Also prone to bloat, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disorders. Veterinary check is advisable before purchasing a puppy. The gene which produces the albino (White) Dobermans is the same gene which produced the famous white tigers and lions owned by Siegfriend & Roy in Las Vegas. The gene is said to be a masking gene, meaning it "takes over" and masks the color that the dog would be otherwise. There is no evidence, that this gene carries with it any deleterious or adverse health concerns that are sometimes associated with all white animals such as deafness, blindness, or unstable minds. Some breeders beg to differ claiming the gene does cause health issues.
from dogbreedinfo.com my ref. I hope this doesn't hold something against me...
Nothing forbidding it, as far as I know, this is my Grandma's land. :P So, I don't think so! hehe.
I plan to do manners, and obedience.
Hopefully Compeitive Obedience, and that sort.

So no worries, I have been considering many things.

Hopefully not a white dobe. You won't find one produced by a responsible breeder.

What exactly is it about this breed that made you decide you want one?

[hollybea]

i have never heard of a white dobi.
Is this your first dog? if so im not sure a dobi would be the best choice, gorgeous dogs but not for beginers.

[ihartgonzo]

Dobies can be extremely difficult dogs to own. I wish some Dobe owners would chime in... I don't know a ton about the breed, but I do know they're very strong-willed and not for an inexperienced owner.

[Doberluv]

Dobermans are definitely not for beginners. Their wonderful attributes will only show up with proper and experienced handling. If this is your first dog, and you're not very experienced with having trained past dogs, it can be a nightmare, a time bomb and a real liability. I don't recommend this breed for a beginner. They are very, very difficult puppies.

That said, Dobermans are plagued with possible health problems; dilated cardiomyopathy is in ALL the lines. It's a crap shoot as to whether a particular dog will turn up with it. A huge number do and die at a pre-mature age. The same goes for cancer, particularily bone cancer. CVI (cervical vertebral instability) is another one....a horrible thing. (The three Cs) The three biggies. Then there's a propensity toward hypothyroidism, liver malfunction, skin problems (mostly in the dilute colors....blue/Isabella)

White Dobermans are hit with even more health problems, more severe, more prevelent than ever and anyone who breeds them (or buys them) is irresponsible and contributing to the ruination of this fine breed. When looking at a pedigree, the "Z" should never be in it. That indicates a white somewhere in the line. White Dobermans are albino. Period. There is nothing to argue about. This is fact and has been supported by genetic research. That is not an acceptable color in any country, any club.

When you go to a reputable breeder, they pick the dog for you. You do not pick a dog. The litters are often spoken for before they're even bred. I was on several waiting lists and it took me a good year from the time I started talking to good breeders till the time I got my puppy.

I have had and trained dogs for 47 years. I am very familiar with dogs. And I can tell you that with my first Doberman puppy, there were times I was tempted to send him packing. He was not an easy pup. It took extreme patience not to heave him over the bank sometimes. I didn't bond with him as early as I had all my other dogs in the past. It took time for us to develop what we have now, which is the strongest bond I've ever had with a dog. He's turned out great but I had some doubts when he was a pup.

So, please consider getting an easier breed to "practice" with. I recommend you go through a couple of dogs before considering a Doberman. Forget the watch dog thing. Most all dogs will bark at strangers. That's a dog thing, not a breed thing. I wouldn't want my Doberman to bite someone. It takes an extreme amount of socializing to make a Doberman with a good temperament turn out right and an extreme amount of proper training. In the wrong hands a Doberman can be easily ruined. While they are determined, unrelenting, pushy, they're also extremely sensative and any heavy handedness can ruin them.

They're very playful, very into their owners, very dependent and need tons of exercise and involvement.

Again, I recommend another breed for your first few dogs....a toy breed makes a wonderful pet. That's why I also have two Chihuahuas. They're absolutely wonderful little pets and I tell you what. They have bionic hearing. They hear things long before my Doberman does. They're the ones who start out the barking and then he does. And can they bark? Holy cow! The noise around here can be something else again. LOL. If you don't like that small of a dog, there are so many others....terriers, mid sized dogs....One of my favorite dogs was a Lab. She was a mellow Lab though....not like Marley, in Marley and Me. LOL. That dog sounded like a holy terror. Another great dog I had was a Lab/Beagle/something else mix. There are tons of dogs in shelters that need homes badly....purebreds too.

I can see when I get older (than I already am) not having a Doberman, although that bums me out. But they really are a lot of work and take so much involvement. I can see myself with more Chihuahuas or a miniature Poodle or something. They're trainable, terrible affectionate and interested in things, funny as all get out....the antics they do. Very nice dogs. And all they care about is sitting on laps and having a little attention paid to them. So undemanding.

I just hope you consider this more.

Good luck.

[Spirit2010]

thanks Doberluver, *my mom wants one, and she wants me to train it, and I am scared to death of the breed, I mean I have no problems with it, but, I am scared of it, and they will sense that in me.* Which, yes, I have a dog, and I trained him, well, just now, I figured out he responds to clicker training best. lol. So, he is a great dog, does not jump, nor anything. :P Other than only listen to what he wants to listen to. lol. I have had, two Goldens, now passed on. They were great dogs, and I am highly considering, another. :) Yes, they have lots of energy, but are awesome dogs. :D I got many places with Sugar, I trained her, and I did not have much time with her. :'( She was later put down with kidney failure. you can tell how sickly she was in my avatar, but how good natured. But no, this is not my first dog. no worries, I have been researching, many breeds, for a few hours, each breed, and only have loved, the Golden characteristics. But, I have nothing against any breed. :) I just seem to love retrievers, but, I am not sure what breed to get yet. Still more research to go. :)

[ihartgonzo]

I have been researching, many breeds, for a few hours, each breed

a few hours is the tip of the iceberg. =P researching the breed & researching reputable breeders can and should take months, maybe even years. A dog is a lifetime commitment, and deserves a lot of preparation.

[wookie130]

thanks Doberluver, *my mom wants one, and she wants me to train it, and I am scared to death of the breed, I mean I have no problems with it, but, I am scared of it, and they will sense that in me.*

Why would you want a breed that you are "scared to death of"???

And there are no reasons to be scared to death of the dog, although if inexperienced in this breed, I'd be scared of some of the ramifications if you are unable to handle and raise the dog properly to it's breed specifications...you could be in for a lot of frustration.

Dobes are beautiful dogs, but again, are not for the inexperienced. If I were you, I would have stuck to the boxer/golden retriever thing. MUCH more "user-friendly" and self-explanatory breeds for someone with limited experience.

[GSDluver4lyfe]

If you do get a Dobe (even though you shouldnt live with a dog you are "scared to death of" but make sure you REALLY reasearch the breederss. Dobes were definately hit with the BYB's and puppymillers and its not easy finding a good Dobe. Good Luck!!! :)