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!
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On the other hand, Koko 06, no, it’s not just a matter of taste! Dogs use their ears and tails to communicate with other dogs. If a dog has cropped ears and a docked tail, they lose their means of expression...
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In terms of his looks, mine had a docked tail and natural ears. But because he was so well-proportioned, he had a lovely face, and temperament-wise, he was an absolute sweetheart. It’s been four and a half years since he passed away and it’s still just as hard; I miss him terribly.
Mine passed away from DCM as well when he was eight. These days, a lot of French breeders are getting their stud dogs from Eastern Europe. From a health perspective, it’s hard to be certain that they don’t have a history of fatal diseases.
You mentioned giving a dog a second chance and not being quite ready for it just yet... If you do start thinking about it seriously, I’d recommend looking into a specialist Doberman rescue. These organisations regularly take in young dogs and adults, including some from Spain that are already cropped and docked. They also get youngsters from Eastern Europe or adults from owners who were overwhelmed by the energy of a Dobie, even if the dogs don't have any real behavioural issues other than that typical energy and the breed's mischievous, playful nature.
As for breeders, if I’d been looking for another puppy instead of Sirius, I’d had my eye on the Altobello kennel. I really liked the build and conformation of their dogs, though I never actually got in touch with them... (I believe they’re based in Serbia).
I’ll let those with more experience weigh in, though—if anyone has other opinions or quality breeders to suggest, please do jump in!
In the first instance, I'd choose a female to live with that little pack of boys, especially since Cane Corsos and American Bulldogs are already quite a handful. They’re still young, and you can’t always rule out a bit of friction... Dobermanns aren't exactly wallflowers either when it comes to temperament, and even the girls can hold their own.
Think about getting the boys neutered or the female spayed—maybe even get them all done at once—as that'll help keep those hormone-driven conflicts at bay even better.
I’ve had two different experiences with this, which I’ve actually mentioned here before (sorry, I’m starting to repeat myself!). My second Dobbie came from a decent breeder, but unfortunately, the individual who imported him didn't do the paperwork properly. I ended up with the wrong pedigree—it was actually his litter brother's—and it was impossible to track the man down again. But he was a stunning dog, very well-adjusted, weighed about 7 stone 12 (50kg), had great movement and a lovely build. He had a fantastic temperament too—stable, not a scrapper, and very friendly with people and other dogs (I hadn't had him neutered and he never tried to bolt or showed any unprovoked aggression).
The only downside was that he passed away at just 3 years old from Cardiomyopathy... So, do insist on health screenings and ancestry; don't take "no" for an answer when it comes to the health history of the bloodline.
With my latest Dobbie, it's a complete mystery. After losing Loutchik, I came across a "pro" who had imported two pups from Bulgaria. They sounded lovely on the phone but turned out to be abusive and dodgy as anything. I didn't buy Sirius out of choice or because I fell in love with him—I only did it to get him out of that awful situation. He’s got physical and mental scars; there’s no way of knowing if he came from a proper breeder or a puppy farm, and it’s been impossible to report the monster who put him in that state. Despite his trauma, he could have been a handsome lad; he must have been beaten because he’s timid, even with me. His pet passport was signed off by two different vets, so that wasn't forged, and the age matches up too. Whether Sirius came from a puppy farm or a real breeder and was just mistreated by the importer, I'll never get any answers!
Thanks for your replies,
If it helps put your mind at ease, my parents are massive animal lovers and I’ve had 10 dogs since I was a little girl. We’ve had everything from Pinschers (with cropped ears and docked tails), Labradors, GSDs, Cocker Spaniels (docked), pointers... Not all at once, mind you! My dogs never suffered because of their procedures, and I have to say, I actually regretted not docking the tail of my last Cocker...
I’m not looking to get a rescue. I’ve had a really bad experience in the past that I don’t want to go through again (and I’m just not ready to try a "second chance" dog again yet).
We wanted to ask if anyone has been in this position before and could share their experience. We’re really worried about ending up with a "dodgy" breeder who doesn’t respect the breed, or stumbling across a puppy farm with all the inbreeding and other issues that brings.
In the family at the minute, we have two males: an American Bulldog (2 years old) and a Cane Corso (1 year old).
We really want to be careful about choosing the breeder and the puppy (I don’t just mean the one we fall for at first sight), to avoid any issues with socialising or with other animals (whether they’re strangers or our own). No matter what, we’ll stand by the dog until the very end, like we always have.
Obviously, we’ll be visiting the breeders in person—that goes without saying! But if you know of any who are already known for being top-notch professionals, we’re all ears. It’ll help us narrow down the search ;)
Thanks for respecting our choice; I’ve seen how people get slated on some other forums...
I’m 100% with Be Cool (hi Bernard, haha!). I had a Dobe with natural ears, and the ear infections were constant; treating him was a nightmare.
Granted, they’re not the only breed prone to ear infections (Cocker Spaniels get them plenty too, even though their ears have never been cropped), but if we can at least spare them that... Originally, ear cropping was for utility; nowadays people label it as purely aesthetic, but in the end, maybe it’s not just that.
Same goes for the tail; actually, looking at the latest photos of the dog belonging to the trainer who helped me with Gypsi, I noticed his 100% natural Doberman had a lovely bandage on its tail. No prizes for guessing why.
And dogs don't just communicate with their tails and ears; they use their whole bodies. Dogs born with bobtails or no tails at all don't have any more trouble communicating than any other dog.
As for importing, if it's done by the book, what’s so shocking about it? Are we really going to judge people who set their hearts on a pedigree puppy instead of a crossbreed? Should we be judging people and labelling them as elitist or snobbish?
On the flip side, should pedigree fans be judging crossbreeds and mongrels, treating them like they're "impure" or second-rate? When you love dogs, you love them all, regardless of where they come from or their pedigree. Everything else is just subjective, and it's up to each individual whether they want to do their bit by adopting from a rescue or go to a breeder for a puppy.
Anyway, it's not the first time a debate about ear cropping and tail docking has flared up before moving on to breeds and so on... and it probably won't be the last.
Regarding tails, I’ve done quite a bit of research on Boxers—one of my favourite breeds—and there are plenty of accounts of recurring tail injuries which are apparently really painful and a right pain to treat... Aside from that, I think anyone who’s ever come across a Boxer with a long tail can vouch for the ‘coffee table sweeper’ effect, which is quite a nuisance. A Boxer’s tail is proper sturdy; it knocks everything over! I have friends who had one with a natural tail... and they went back to short tails for those very reasons.
From a strictly ethical point of view, I find it difficult to take a stance. Should this kind of thing automatically be more shocking than elective neutering or the simple concept of selective breeding, which is the foundation of every breed and the very reason domestic dogs exist?
We want humans to stop messing with dogs, but the only reason dogs exist is because humans have been tirelessly modifying them for thousands of years... So it’s not easy to pick a side; you can't rewrite history.
Personally, I’m far more shocked when I see a Bulldog that’s clearly uncomfortable and can’t breathe than when I see a fit and healthy dog that had its tail docked at birth.
Breeding dogs with natural handicaps just to satisfy purely aesthetic requirements—now that’s dodgy. I came across some Pugs recently and, bloody hell, I felt awful just looking at them. It’s terrible.
