If you want a dog with less health problems get a cross breed. All pedigree dogs have their problems.
I wouldn't be getting a spaniel if you are leaving it on its own in the house. Personally I wouldn't get a dog at all if it's left on its own often.

Gorgeous


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...fb7265c587.png

Ive had a few breeds over the years, currently ive got a jack russell x staffie, always had a jack russell and staffies and various crosses one of the best for most things was a boxer x staffie we had from the dogs home, a lovely soft playful dog, she only ever barked when there really was a reason too. Also lived to 14!
But our most recent breed was a Whippet, never in my life did i think id have a Whippet but they are awesome, may be worth looking at as an oddball consideration.

A Doberman is definitely at the top of the list. I knew well bred dogs weren't cheap but didn't realise they were quite this expensive ie £2k to £3k:eek:

Anyway, for the doggie experts out there, does this place look bona fide? By paying the extra (ie I've seen pups advertised by private sellers for under £1k) do you actually get a better quality dog?

http://ukdobermans.co.uk/home

Thanks

Spoon is probably best placed to answer about that breeder as they claim to be specialists in protection dogs and Spoon knows that business very well through German Shepherds as per his previous posts on dog threads.

Look on pets4homes

You didn't like the Dog Rescue idea ?

Thanks, I'll try and pm Spoon.

Busta, yes, that's where I saw them advertised for under £1k. But that's with private sellers and I just don't know enough about dogs to tell the good from the bad. So it might be a case of me having to pay through the nose to compensate for my ignorance.

Dave, we'd really like to have the dog from a pup so I don't think dog rescue would work for us.

Thanks

Have you looked on Champdogs? It's the biggest site in the UK for dog breeders to sell their litters. Do not use Gumtree/Preloved/Pets4homes as that's where all the puppy farms sell and people who haven't got a clue what they are doing sell.

You want a dog from parents that have been fully health screened and you need to do your research on what specifics apply to Dobermans on that front. Champdogs is an excellent site and I highly recommend you look on there for an excellent breeder who isn't at the same time massively over charging you. Such breeders do exist!

Thanks, I will try Champdogs. :thumb:

The dog with the softest, gentlest temperament I have ever known was my wife's aunts Doberman bitch.

Get one like my 38lb Alsation/Cat hybrid.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...db2304e46c.jpg

Can't believe no-one has mentioned a Border Collie yet - 100% most trainable and cleverest dog - super cute too.... :)

And who the fcuk pays £3k for a dog!! - FFS - first world problems :shakes head:

Dumb as fook thou

Just as long as you don't mind 50 miles of walkies a day.

Edit. But they are awesome dogs.

a fool and their money.......

agree - but they shed hair like fvck

Oh buddy. You've not seen hair shedding until you've seen a North America timber wolf shedding hair.

Edit. Well he was a hybrid to be technically correct.

Alaskan Malamute bitch sheds twice a year,you could stuff a mattress.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...690cf4c61.jpeg

How someone can say Staffordshire Bull terriers aren’t good looking dogs I don’t know

Maybe I’m biased :)

You’ve hurt franks feelings.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...8189e017de.jpg

Seriously though, from what you’ve described you couldn’t go wrong with a Labrador. I had a Labrador Alsatian cross as a kid, and he was a fantastic dog.

I read a list of preferences not to get if you want the perfect dog for families

1. Dont buy a dog if it's small as cat or bigger than a sheep
2. don't buy a dog if it's nose is shorter than 2"
3. don't buy a dog if it's described as faithful, loyal, fiesty, tenacious
4. don't buy a dog if it's a working dog, eg sheep dog, gun dog, guard dog
5. don't buy pure breeds

What a load of nonsense

What a beauty.
Im not a doggy person and wont be getting one any time soon but if I did then this is what I would have.
Guy down at the local cricket club brought one down as a young pup and all I would say is it didn't have legs , it had springs...! It bounced all over the place but looked absolutely fantastic.:thumb:

Staffie every time.

This is what scares me about threads like this.

Ive had rotties for 20 years. And I would never recommend them to someone who is inexperienced. They are loyal, beautiful, intelligent, proud and stubborn as ****. Need proper training and its a lifelong process. Put in the effort and they are so rewarding, but its a lot of effort.

Moving on. No, that place does not look bona fide. They are circumnavigating the law that (correctly) now says you can't cut half their ears off as pups and dock their tails. What part of that did you miss?

The fact that you are even asking if this is in some way how to go about getting a Doberman tells me (and anyone else with a bit of understanding) that this is not a breed for you. You're way smarter than this Deep. Way smarter.

A couple of smart suggestions on this thread. Vizsla, Staffy, Lab and some really stupid ones (based on your family circumstances)

The most sensible suggestion is to go to the RSPCA or Dogs trust and rescue a dog. Ideally an adult one that will have been assessed, helath checked and you'll know what you are getting. Forget all the "don't know the history" crap. Take the family and see what fits best. Do the right thing.

If you're determined to get a pedigree puppy, much as I despise a lot of what the kennel club stands for, the website is a mine of useful information and will help you see what's aviailable that fits your needs. And budget a decent amount of money - anything popular and well bred, with health and genetic checks, will set you back a fortune these days.

Beautiful. He's a stunner :thumb:

Yep. Far too many amazing animals that don't have good homes out there.

Also, all this purebred nonsense is destroying the DNA lines of multiple types of dogs, all for pedigree nonsense, the animals just end up with degenerative health problems for their entire lives, it's not fair on them.

+1 (Other than the Vizsla as personally I think they and anything pointer related are too emotionally high maintenance for a first dog)

He is seriously cute :luvlove: