Buy a Doberman Pinscher Puppy

Doberman Pinschers are a great breed of dog, and a great choice for families looking for a loyal pet. To purchase a puppy of this breed, avoid pet stores and seek out a responsible breeder. Ask pertinent questions to make sure that you are getting a strong, healthy puppy. Prepare for the addition to your family by "puppy-proofing" your home, budgeting properly, and researching the breed. Consider adoption as an alternate means of getting your new puppy.

Steps

Choosing a Reputable Breeder

  1. Avoid buying from a pet store. Pretty much all puppies that you see in a pet store come from puppy mills, which are essentially puppy factories with deplorable conditions. Not buying your Doberman Pinscher puppy from a pet store is a way to take away from a business that exploits for profit. Puppies raised in pet mills (as well as their parents) are also likely to carry parasites and suffer from health problems.[1]
  2. Find local breeders. It is a good plan to buy your puppy from a responsible, local Doberman Pinscher breeder. Browse through local classified listings, talk to area vets, ask other local Doberman Pinscher owners for referrals to reputable breeders. If necessary, visit several local breeders to find one that you feel comfortable with, and trust to sell you your new pet. Opt for local breeders so that you can meet the puppy first, visit the environment in which it’s been raised, and establish a relationship with the breeder.[2]
  3. Visit the premises. If you contact a breeder to buy a puppy, insist on visiting the premises before going through with your purchase. Breeders who decline are likely trying to hide the true conditions of their breeding operation; you should be wary if they avoid your visit and offer to deliver the puppy to you instead. Seeing the condition of your puppy’s first home, as well as the state of its mother, is important in determining whether your breeder is trustworthy or not.[3]
    • Observe how the puppies react to the breeder. If they are not friendly, and recoil or shy away, take it as a sign that the breeder might not be caring for them properly.
  4. Assess the breeder. Responsible breeders invest a significant amount of time and consideration into caring for their puppies. A good breeder will ask a lot of questions about a potential owner, and will not be evasive when asked questions. Good breeders care about the health and well-being of their dogs, as well as the betterment of the breed as a whole. [4]

Asking the Right Questions

  1. Inquire about health issues. Your potential new puppy's health is of great importance. Ask the breeder if the mother of the litter is up to date with her vaccines, since puppies get their early immunity to disease directly from their mother. Inquire about any possible genetic defects (from the mother or the father), and ask if the puppy will be seen by a vet before it is sold.[5]
  2. Ask if they offer a guarantee. Ask your breeder if they offer a guarantee, more specifically with regard to the health of the animal (i.e. if the puppy is found to have a severe illness, what will they do?) See if they will cover veterinary expenses, or offer you another puppy from the litter in such an event. This question is sometimes an uncomfortable one to ask, so be as straightforward as possible by saying, "Can you tell me if you offer any guarantee with the sale of this puppy?" and opening up the discussion.[6]
  3. Ask for references. Do not hesitate to ask a breeder for references from other people who have purchased puppies from them. A good, experienced breeder will have no trouble producing a reference, and might even ask you for references as well to determine what kind of pet owner you will be. As an added bonus, getting references creates an opportunity to communicate with other Doberman Pinscher owners who may be able to offer additional advice and guidance about your new pet.[5]

Choosing Your Puppy

  1. Make sure your puppy is old enough. Before buying a puppy, you should make sure that it is old enough to be taken away from its mother and the rest of its litter. The first 8 weeks of a puppy's life should be spent with its mother and siblings. During this initial period it will pick up social skills, be weaned from its mother, grow teeth, and start eating solid food.[7]
  2. Pick a good-tempered puppy. When you pick your puppy from a litter, look for one who seems even tempered and avoid extreme behaviour (too energetic, or too withdrawn and skittish). Note that Doberman Pinschers, as a breed, are known for being alert, loyal, and aggressive when protecting loved ones. Spend time with your potential new puppy away from the rest of the litter to get a feel for its individual personality.[8]
  3. Consider the dog's tail. Some breeders opt to dock the tails of their Doberman Pinscher puppies, so you should decide what your own feelings about it are before purchasing a puppy. This process usually happens days, or even hours, after a puppy is born; it involves tying a band around the tail to cut off circulation, which results in the tail falling off after a few days. This choice is aesthetically-motivated and practical, preventing injury that might occur to a longer tail. Many oppose this practice, which is illegal in several countries like Sweden, Greece, and Ireland.[9]
  4. Consider adopting a puppy. Consider adopting a Doberman Pinscher puppy instead of buying one- the cost will be much lower than buying a puppy from a breeder, and you will be giving a home to a dog that desperately needs love and nurturing. Contact dog rescue groups in your area to ask about Doberman Pinscher puppies, or for a referral to other rescue groups that might deal with the breed.[10]

Preparing for Your Purchase

  1. Plan your finances. Before going through with buying your new puppy, you must be sure that you have enough money for the commitment. Purchasing a Doberman Pinscher puppy from a reputable breeder will cost you something close to $1500. Beyond that cost, you will need enough money to feed a dog that will grow to be very large (approximately 60-70 lbs, or 27-32 kgs), buy supplies, pay veterinarian bills, and cover any emergencies that might arise.[11]
  2. "Puppy-proof" your home. Before you buy a puppy, you must make sure to Puppy Proof Your Home. This means hiding away breakable items, covering electrical wires that might get chewed, locking up potentially toxic substances, and keeping stray items off of the floor. This is an especially important consideration for Doberman Pinscher puppies, which take a bit longer than other breeds to mature, and may remain "puppy-ish" until the age of 3 or 4.[12]
  3. Do some research. The Doberman Pinscher is a breed with a lot of particularities, so doing some thorough research prior to buying one is a good idea. While you may be informed about the basic characteristics of the breed (e.g. that they grow to be quite large, and require a lot of exercise), it's a good idea to brush up on more little-known facts.[12] Some valuable things to know about Doberman Pinscher dogs include:
    • that they are very sensitive to cold weather
    • that they are very much family dogs ans should not be left alone for long periods
    • that they require an especially strong leader and need consistent discipline from their owner

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/allenstjohn/2012/02/22/where-not-to-buy-a-dog-the-pet-store-connection-to-the-business-of-puppy-mills/#de7b71211733
  2. ↑ http://www.gentledoberman.com/doberman-puppy-information/buying-a-puppy/finding-breeder
  3. ↑ http://www.akc.org/dog-owners/future-dog-owner/about-buying-a-dog/
  4. ↑ http://www.akc.org/dog-owners/future-dog-owner/about-buying-a-dog
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.ckc.ca/en/Articles/Choosing-a-Dog/Ten-Questions-To-Ask-The-Breeder
  6. ↑ http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/selecting-a-dog/adopting-or-buying-a-dog/16-questions-you-should-ask-the-breeder
  7. ↑ http://www.fidosavvy.com/puppy-development.html
  8. ↑ http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/buying/articles/how-to-choose-a-puppy.html
  9. ↑ http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/10243465.asp
  10. ↑ https://www.dpca.org/rescue/
  11. ↑ http://dobermansden.com/average-price-of-doberman-pinschers/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/doberman-pinscher
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