I’m thinking of getting a Dobermann from a breeder in Serbia. I would have preferred to find one here in the UK, but I really want him to have that classic Dobermann look... so I’m leaning towards Serbia instead.
Has anyone ever imported a pup from there before? Does anyone have a recommendation or a specific breeder’s details?
Cheers!
Translated from French
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Hi, I have a question – why is it that we can’t crop Dobermanns’ ears or dock their tails anymore?
It’s because regulations regarding cosmetic procedures on pets were standardised across Europe. As a result, ear cropping and tail docking have been banned throughout Europe since 2004 (though France actually secured an exemption for tail docking in the meantime).
Ear cropping is still permitted in Eastern Europe and the US, and likely in other countries I’m not aware of...
Hi, let’s not be hypocritical: looks do matter. You go from having an elegant, sleek dog to something resembling a German Shorthaired Pointer on steroids (loool, please don't shoot me, I'm just exaggerating a bit!). I actually think, without wanting to start a debate, that it’s a bit of a shock and it really clashes with the mental image people have of the breed. Just for the record, at a show near me (not in France), a judge failed a puppy (6-9 months) that cost over £4,250 because it was too "molosser-like" in build. I'm a bit confused because I thought—am I wrong?—that dogs with cropped ears could no longer be shown or registered with the Kennel Club? Am I mistaken, or are you talking about a breed certification that happened before the new rules came in?
😁😁 I'm based in Morocco, not France; people come here to get their Dobermanns certified during international shows because of the ear-cropping rules.
let's not be hypocritical: looks do matter. You go from a sleek, slender dog to something like a German Shorthaired Pointer on steroids (lol, please don't kill me, I'm just exaggerating a bit)
I do think, without wanting to start a massive debate, that it's a bit of a shock, and above all, it clashes with the image we all have of the breed!
just for the record, at a show near me (not in the UK) a judge failed a puppy (6-9 months) that cost over £4,200 because it looked too much like a mastiff
I'm a bit confused because I thought—correct me if I'm wrong—that dogs with cropped ears could no longer be shown or be Kennel Club registered? Am I mistaken, or are you referring to a registration that happened before the new rules came in?
Just to bring back a topic that is close to my heart: Dobermann numbers in France are really down, with only 886 Kennel Club registrations in 2016 (https://www.centrale-canine.fr/sites/default/files/2017-09/Stats_LOF_2016.pdf) compared to 1,120 in 2006 (https://www.centrale-canine.fr/sites/default/files/2017-09/Stats_LOF_2006.pdf) and 2,346 in 1996. Of course, when you love the breed for its temperament, it doesn’t matter if they have natural ears and tails or not, but let's not be hypocritical: looks do matter. We’ve gone from a sleek, elegant dog to a sort of German Shorthaired Pointer on steroids (lol, please don't shoot, I’m just exaggerating a bit!).
As for well-known breeders: I’d put Altobello Dobermanns at number one (they’re expensive); number two would be Del Nasi (prices are more reasonable and they handle delivery, the guy is sound). Then I’d suggest Betelges, and above all, avoid pedigrees with too much "Pride of Russia" in them. Just as an anecdote, at a show near me (not in France), a judge rejected a young dog (6-9 months) that cost over £4,200 because it was too much of a "Molosser" type.
Mine also passed away from DCM when he was eight. These days, a lot of breeders here in the UK go to Eastern Europe to find their stud dogs. From a health perspective, it’s hard to be certain they don't have a history of fatal diseases.
You were still lucky to have had him by your side for 8 years... Sadly, DCM affects dogs from both the UK and abroad; it usually shows up around 4 or 5 years old, but I didn't even get that much time for my Dobe and me to enjoy our bond...
It is worth noting that some foreign breeders do carry out the necessary health screenings, which is why it’s so important to choose your breeder wisely, whether they’re based in this country or not!
