DanBar Ranch
DanBar Ranch Dobermans
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PLEASE READ
"A Doberman is a hobby - not just a pet."
Diane Jessup
My goal when breeding - any breed - is to produce dogs which would find favor with those who knew the breed best. I like "old fashioned" dogs, meaning those closest to what the originators of the breed had in mind - NOT WHAT YEARS OF BREEDING FOR EXTREME SHOW RING FADS HAS PRODUCED.
EURO DOBERMAN FAD - BEWARE!
Dobermans imported or bred from dogs imported from Europe and Russia are becoming popular. Those unfamiliar with breeding think they can make thousands of dollars breeding expensive puppies. And - they can - that's the problem!
These "money breeders" chose breeds, like the Doberman, which are expensive to produce - if done correctly. The problem is these unethical breeders simply cut out the expensive steps responsible for the high price of a well bred Doberman. The term "backyard breeder" comes from these types; they just use the male dog in their backyard rather than going through the expense and trouble to locate the BEST match for their bitches, and paying a $1500 to $2500 stud fee. They don't spend approximately $7,000 to use frozen semen from top studs in Europe. They do minimal health testing as they don't believe in putting the puppy money BACK INTO the dogs - they spend it on vacations and fancy kennel buildings or a new truck.
In my opinion ethical breeders crop and dock their puppies before they leave home. Doberman rescues are FILLED with uncropped Dobermans because new owners don't follow through. I currently pay $600 per puppy for cropping. I spend thousands every year on health testing. The cost of raising quality Dobermans is high - when done right - so a $2500 to $3000 price tag is realistic when you consider the cost of cropping, the stud fee, the cost of health testing, premium feed, etc. Consider: dividing a $2000 stud fee by say 6 puppies, plus the $600 ear crop, you can see that the price of the puppy is ALREADY over $900 to me! That is without adding in ALL the other costs associated with pups such as food, microchips, vaccinations, health testing, etc., etc., etc!
Please beware of "Euro breeders" who are charging $3500 to $5000 plus for pups from parents with no or minimal health testing. You are throwing your money away - more importantly you are not helping breeders who are striving to improve Doberman health. By not paying for extensive, necessary health testing, these breeders are not giving back to the breed; they are just getting out of the breed what they can. Sure, they will tell you "they don't need to test their dogs" - and that, my friends, is just a lie and an excuse. PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS WARNING TO NEW BUYERS.
WHY DO YOU WANT A DOBERMAN?
I trained my first police K9 Doberman in 1979, titled my first Doberman in schutzhund in 1981. I know the breed and I love the breed - and I pride myself on representing my dogs honestly.
It may seem like I try very hard to talk you out of buying a Doberman. I do. I want you to be honest with yourself about why you want a Doberman, and if your ideas of what a Doberman is are realistic. My Dobermans are a lot of dog; they need tremendous amounts of exercise and time commitment. To thrive a DanBar Doberman needs daily work, exercise and mental challenges. A Doberman has needs - please be realistic in how well you can meet those needs.
They are happy, active, wicked smart and need your companionship. They do best if worked in some form of dog sport such as agility, nosework, schutzhund, obedience or tracking. Please - DO NOT BE SO CRUEL as to think a Doberman should be kept in a wire cage several hours everyday. If you do not have an outside kennel at least 10 x 10 feet, or an appropriate tether arrangement inside of a well fenced yard, do not consider such an active breed. For far too many people "crate trained" just means sticking a dog in a box except for the few times you take it out to play with it - and then stick it back in the box when you are done with it! I will never knowingly place one of my intelligent, active, emotional dogs into this type of sensory deprivation situation. DOBERMANS REQUIRE APPROPRIATE HOUSING.
WHY I BREED DOBERMANS
I have loved the Doberman breed since I owned my first one in 1979, a dog I took to a Police K9 Training school and graduated with. A Dr. Bruckner was in charge of the German Army Dog Breeding center and reports that in 1939 the German Army bred 71 Dobermans, of which 48 were fit for training. Dr. Bruckner believed the Doberman to be one of the best breeds for War Dog training. He "especially admired the ancient type of Dobermann; medium-sized, heavy build without coarseness and with a thick coat, good for outdoor life. He detested the results of the modern way of breeding tall, too elegant (frail) Dobermanns with thin coat and without the proper mental strength." (History of the Dobermann Simon Rieveld)
I am of the same opinion. My dogs have thick hair and can live outside in our severe Eastern Washington high desert winters. I breed specifically for thick, strong build and mental strength. After 40 years in the sport of schutzhund and decades involved with police K9 and commercial guard dog work I admire Dobermans with working temperament.
My goal is to be a small part of trying to return the Doberman to its proud position as a serious ( and healthy) work dog and dependable family companion. Most of my puppies will go into "pet homes" but as a "preservation breeder" I want my Dobermans to make Herr Louis Dobermann proud!
THE DANBAR DIFFERENCE:
(L) Int. Ch. DanBar Hun Siccer (Huni) and 9 month old daughter (R) DanBar Darque Energy.
I'm proud of the bone and substance of my bitches.
