Im kind Of Thinking about breeding

I know it's hard to show. Here it is 10points to finish and you need one major. I am planning on sticking to the small shows to start, and hey you never know were I might get. Yes I will aim for the national specalty, but if I dont get there I whont be heart broken. If I need to I will get a pro to handle, I am willing to do that, but I do want to handle as well. By small shows I mean local ones, with like 1200 - 1500 dogs, not hug prize money CH only type shows. You know what I mean?

I just want to learn, thats all. And have fun doing it

Doberkim....since I have been out of Dobes for many years, could you enumerate some of the finer specimens alive today that you feel that are good enough representatives of the breed to be worthy of breeding? That would make it unnecessary to go to Europe to get decent conformation? Thank you!

To become a Conformation Champion, your dog must earn at least 10 points under at least three different judges and have earned at least one 2-point win, either at the breed or group level. Your dog must also be individually registered with the CKC or have an Event Registration Number.

alternatively, can you point me to one european doberman with wonderful structure, longetivity in the pedigree, and thorough health testing?

i think there are quite a few dobermans in the US that are largely american bred (understanding that american lines ALL go backt european imports) - that are "total" dobermans - these dogs have proper structure, these dogs have proper temperament, and the dogs are titled on both ends - both in conf. and working events. the dogs are thoroughly health tested and come from breeders who are honest and share the results of their health testing.

there are some lovely looking european dogs - however, even in europe there are "working lines" and "show lines" - however, i have found with almost ALL of them, their health testing ends at hips and eyes - and that doesn't suit my needs. in fact, i have grown quite dissatisfied with the assertation that DCM in dobes is an american disease.

i think its disingenuous to try to say that european breeders are any "better" than american ones - they focus on different things, but in the end the dogs are dying of the same diseases, and have their own structural issues (cow hocks, bowling ball fronts, lack of underjaw) - just being able to bite doesnt make it better.

To become a Conformation Champion, your dog must earn at least 10 points under at least three different judges and have earned at least one 2-point win, either at the breed or group level. Your dog must also be individually registered with the CKC or have an Event Registration Number.

We aren't trying to bash you Jenn, just share our experience.

I bought my first show prospect in 1990. She was a good bitch, not a great one. Her bite went off, and she was long in body, so I chose not to use her. I used her sister instead. She was major pointed with all health testing. I sent her to a dog who had been #1 the previous year, was producing VERY nicely, and whose pedigree matched up with hers very well. The entire litter was riddled with health and temperament issues. A complete dead end.

In 1995 I purchased another bitch at age 6 months. She was stone cold gorgeous. However, her temperament left a lot to be desired. I tried to breed her once, she could not conceive. She always had season issues, split heats, varied intervals. She had cystic ovaries and would never have conceived. Another (expensive) dead end.

In 2002 I acquired an import bitch. Bred her to a nice young CH dog. She had an ER section, ruptured her uterus ending her breeding career, and I ended up with no surviving puppies. She is spayed and will live out her life here as my adored pet.

I made an agreement to purchase my middle bitch before she was born.

She is from CH parents with all health testing, and generations of top producers. Her sire has produced numerous BIS and BISS winning get. Her dam is down from one of the finest bitches EVER in my breed, and she is linebred on this bitch.

She is elbow dysplastic and homely. She will live out her life here with me as another adored pet.

In 2004 I acquired Penny. Things look pretty bright for her in the ring, but it certainly remains to be seen what will happen with her in the whelping box.

I wish you much better luck, but many of us know how crushingly difficult it can be to come across that bitch that you not only can be successful with in the show ring, but who has what it takes to build a breeding program on.

It's only taken me, what.....let's see.....17 years.

I have no info on any particular dogs. I just know that many breeders will often turn to Europe....especially it seems England, to open up the gene pool in some breeds.

I asked you about current Dobes so I could look them up and see what is out there. Since you are not so inclined.......so be it. I do not even know any names of "top dogs" these days. To me, dogs like Ch. Elfred's Sparkplug, and Ch. Elfred's The President, or Ch. Dobergal's Man Of The Year were darned nice example's of what a Dobe should and could look like. But hey, that goes back 20 years, lol. Guess I am an old foggie officially now.

I gave up any thoughts of breeding Dobes after cardiomyopathy killed Luka, and after vWD became known. Just too many insidious things that can kill these wonderful dogs. Too much heartache.

Such wonderful dogs. Such a shame.