Ok, let’s get the convo started… One of my all time favorite breeds out there is the loyal Doberman. My husband just informed me that he wants one… He said “mrs horsekrazy, this is the type of dog I want.” And then proceeds to show me a picture of a beautiful rust colored dobby…which happens to be my absolute favorite!
Soooooo… How much trouble am I in here? Who here knows a reputable breeder in NorCal? Tia, I think… 
Nor Cal is chock a block with doberman breeders! Too many to list, and so much depends on what you would like to do with the dog. There are a number of COTH breeders as well, Im sure you will get places to start right here from this forum. Good luck, take your time, no shortage of nice pups to chose from-- and post pics. My favorite breed.Keep us posted!
[QUOTE=HorseKrazy;7249353]
Soooooo… How much trouble am I in here? Who here knows a reputable breeder in NorCal? Tia, I think… ;)[/QUOTE]
What exactly are your plans for this dog? That will greatly decide what breeder you should contact.
I know an excellent breeder of working Dobermans in CA (Incredible Dobermans)…she is the breeder of my dogs dam.
A fantastic breeder of American Dobermans is in Oregon. Michelle Santana of Foxfire Dobermans. She produces good performance as well as conformation dogs. Good luck with your search.
Well, the dog will definitely have to be a family dog-kept indoors mostly but with access to outdoor activities living on a ranch. My husband mostly wants the dog around to deter theft on our property-which has happened a couple times now. I wouldn’t say we are an overly active family, we have a great neighborhood to take walks in, but neither of us do any running. We don’t hunt, although my husband LOVES to fish. No dog shows either.
My sister and I have raised several guide dogs for the blind, so that type of family interaction is what we would like in our dog.
I have always loved this breed of dog and now that we live in the country I think we have a great place to have one.
I would like like to stick to breeders in California, staying close to northern and central California so that it’s possible to meet the parents!
okay, go!
Don’t forget about Dobbi Rescues. There are lots of nice dobermans that are looking for the kind of home you can provide. Good luck.
I just saw a dobe that checks all the boxes-and she is in a rescue… Gosh she’s cute!
[QUOTE=HorseKrazy;7250089]
I just saw a dobe that checks all the boxes-and she is in a rescue… Gosh she’s cute![/QUOTE]
YESS!!!
Good breeders rarely have both parents on site. That is a sign of a BYB.
I can understand that could be true-to a degree. I grew up best friends with a girl whose father bred and showed Rottweilers. He had both parents on site. He was not a backyard breeder in the terms you seem to be implying. He had many championships and showed and stood his dog at stud (is that what you would call it with dogs too?) to outside bitches.
On the other hand, my sister bought a rare breed of cat from a breeder with both parents onsite-although she was not permitted to meet the mother of litter. My sisters cats were nuts. Really special. I feel like its important to meet at least one of the parents if it’s possible. I think that behavior and social skills are at the very least beginning to be developed when the babies are still with the mother.
I don’t believe that owning both parents automatically makes you a backyard breeder or a bad breeder for that matter. You, as a buyer, need you do your homework and evaluate each situation individually.
i called on the rescue dobe, they approved her adoption to a family this morning-so she is now pending… 
boo for me, YAY for her 
Good breeders may have both parents on site. It really just depends on the breeding goals of the breeder at that time. A good breeder has titled dogs on site, regardless of gender. Breeders sometimes keep a male pup here or there if he is that exceptional, and that male is sometimes bred to a bitch that the breeder also owns. Breeders many times want to use that boy on their own girl(s) to see what and how he produces before offering him to outside bitches.
Good luck in your search! If you do go the breeder route, make sure that you insist on seeing current health clearances for both parents since Dobes are cursed with horrific longevity in the breed. A Dobe in a breeding program should have a yearly holter exam as well as other clearances.
I have a 3.5 year old male named Chase. He is beautiful, wild, deliciously cute, super snuggly, and just a kind, kind soul. You will love sharing your home with a Doberman. They want to be with you 1000% of your day and won’t hesitate to let you know so. Oh, one more thing - most reputable breeders in the US do crop their puppies before they head to their forever homes. So, just make sure that you are up for 8-12 months of posting ears. A breeder that wants you to crop your own puppy is NOT a reputable Doberman breeder.
Definitely ask about the parents being screened for DCM and wobblers. They are both a horrible disease that dobes are prone to inheriting.
Saying that, they are a lovely breed and I can see why someone would want to go the dobe route.
The health testing that should be done on Dobes being bred is hips, elbows, cerf eye exam, thyroid, bloodwork for liver and kidney function, echocardiogram and holter monitor. There is no existing screening for Wobbler’s except for veterinary exam to determine if coordination is normal.
I will agree that good breeders may have both parents on site but most probably don’t. Because even if you own a great stud dog and a great brood bitch you would probably only breed that pair two times…? Maybe three?
Three breedings does not make someone a good breeder…
So…a good breeder has been breeding for generations, and specifically looks for mating that brings out the best in both animals, and very often this is not found in their own backyard.
Yes - do your research! If you find a breeder you trust, and can see some of its offspring, you may not feel the need to meet both parents, especially as one of them (usually the stud) may live far away, or even be deceased. (I have a friend who recently bred her exceptional bitch with frozen semen from the dog she considered to be the ideal in our breed, but who died nearly a decade ago. Not surprisingly, the puppies are outstanding.)
the Dobermantalk forums are fantastic - very knowledgeable people passionate about the breed and love new members and will be great to steer you in the right direction of a reputable breeder.
The Doberman Pinscher Club of America also has a breeder referral list.
Things to look out for: health tested - heart is holtered annually, hips, elbows, VonWillebrand Status is listed etc. - Parents have done something other than being ‘family pets.’
Also a good breeder will crop and dock their puppies prior to sending them to their new owners.
Things to watch out for: Superior-Sized, King, Warlock, white/albino dobermans, touting fawns or blues as rare or exotic. Also Euro/European is often a red flag because lots of backyard breeders/greeders like to pretend that Euros are THE REAL Doberman and sell them as ‘better’ than American Doberman lines - true to type, vision of the breed, healthier (not true) etc.
You’ve already been given names of some good breeders 
Good luck!
A reputable breeder is never a bad choice.
A rescue is never a bad choice.
The only bad choice is giving money to an unethical breeder.
Also (may not be applicable since it seems your in CA) stay away from House of Hoytt or Kimbertal. They are known Doberman puppy-millers and greeders.
(Dobermans are my dream dog and I’m years off from being in a time or place where I can have one so I’m just having tons of fun reading and researching and learning about them).
^^^exactly. There are exceptions to everything. That is why I’m on this forum and starting to ask questions! If it was a horse, this would be WAYYYYYYY easier! ;). I really appreciate some of the comments about what to expect from a reputable breeder as far as health certs and the ear cropping-I’m on the fence with the ears because I like them both ways. I think I’m leaning towards the cropped ear… Either way I had no idea how long it took to ‘set’ them! If anyone on here could recommend a breeder to talk to in my area that would be awesome, my husband and I haven’t had a dog in a very long time!
[QUOTE=HorseKrazy;7251567]
^^^exactly. There are exceptions to everything. That is why I’m on this forum and starting to ask questions! If it was a horse, this would be WAYYYYYYY easier! ;). I really appreciate some of the comments about what to expect from a reputable breeder as far as health certs and the ear cropping-I’m on the fence with the ears because I like them both ways. I think I’m leaning towards the cropped ear… Either way I had no idea how long it took to ‘set’ them! If anyone on here could recommend a breeder to talk to in my area that would be awesome, my husband and I haven’t had a dog in a very long time![/QUOTE]
E-mail for the breeder referral chair person - should be able to point you in a direction or answer questions: DPCABreederReferral@dpca.org
I’m reading this thread with interest, and would like to ask about the “reputable breeders will crop before they send the puppy”. I’ve had many Dobermans, but have been without for 3 years since losing my last one suddenly.
Love the breed. Hate the cropped ears. When I got my first couple, I simply said to the breeder I wanted the ears left alone, tail and dewclaws fine to be done and it was fine. When I went to acquire my last one, I ran into several breeders who refused to leave the ears undone, one even hung up on me. I ended up with a dog I loved, but not quite the quality of my others, because the breeders were so hostile to natural ears. I was floored and confused.
This thread is freaking me out all over again. I was thinking of starting to look for a puppy next year, but I refuse to have a cropped dog, and I want to work with good breeders.
Am I doomed?
I will second the dobermantalk forum. They are very knowledgeable there.
I have to recommend rescues. I looked for about 9 months for my boy and I found him at our local humane society. He is one of the kindest dogs I have ever owned and my first Dobe. He does have an inner ear deformity that causes some balance issues but the vets aren’t too concerned and he still has a great quality of life. He amazes me every day with his kind, goofy, puppy like personality (he’s 4).
I love the breed and I can’t say enough good things about them.
I’m betting that if you talk to a vet that is anti-ear crop, or look at the exact description of what is done surgically during an ear crop, that you won’t do it. I’ve had two breeds that are traditionally cropped, and I didn’t do it to the two that I acquired with natural ears. The other dog came from the pound, and had the worst, most uneven crop you’ve ever seen.
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