Future Of American Bred Dobermans

[Rits]

I guess I just don't get why people who have such a poor opinion of Dobermans have one let alone want to breed one. I also don't understand why someone who admits they did not get their dogs from the best breeders blame the whole breed just because their dogs are not what they wanted.

If there are breeds you feel are so superior then please go get one and enjoy it instead of just bad mouthing the Doberman.
If you dont' think a working breed should work then get a poodle or a non-sporting breed.

I agree Suzan and I hope you do not misunderstand my above post. My post was to respond to the question of "why improve" and from what it seems is happening on a whole, not necessarily every doberman or breeder. I firmly agree that the health is heading in the right direction as breeders and doctors are working nicely together and doing an incredible job. Certainly no easy task.

But I work very close with MU vet school and the doctors there tell me that they are seeing a drop in DCM in our breed because breeders care and are doing a better job.

Wow, it's really great to hear that there is a drop in DCM! Certainly none of that would be possible without improvement.

 

[FredC]

Can you explain what you mean by a dud??

i dont know how to make myself any clearer.. I guess its just one of those things i know what i mean but cant articulate in text.. But trust me i am not disagreeing with you here just trying to articulate a point of view. Frankly we are saying the same thing, however we are just expressing our opinions from different perspectives.

 

[Dobs4ever]

No Rits I had no problem with what you said at all. I understood where you were coming from. Sorry if you felt that as it certainly was no my intent. You do not just bad mouth the breed to a list of doberman lovers. Do we have problems - YES - are they insurrmountable NO. I have never read where you felt the breed was worthless!!! That is what I was referring to - claiming they can't work - people don't want working dogs - working breeders are nuts - I have no problem if people want a lab just not in a dobe suit.

Von in all my years puppies have broken my heart twice. Once I had a puppy that was not properly developed and at 3 weeks we did x rays and I had to make a hard call. Then 4 years ago I had a bitch who got milk fever and the sour milk made the puppies sick I lost one at 5 days and at 12 weeks put another puppy to sleep due to the infection settling in the hips. I cried for two days. Now in doing some outcrossing I lost some of my beautiful heads and had to work to bring them back but I gained temperament so it was a trade off. I did not expect to loose my nice heads.

 

[Matt Vandart]

D4E there is a difference between bad mouthing and stating facts,the difference lies mostly in the interpretation of such facts stated. You are an expert at taking things the wrong way, twisting peoples words and generally being blind to the fact that Doberman health/temperament generally generally sucks. As long as the myth that it doesn't perpetuates the longer the problem will carry on.
I don't hate the breed, I am disapointed in it's current manifestation and how many times do I have to say this I DID I GOT A MALINOIS and I will continue Ito use mals until see improvement in dobe again.

Having said all that recently I got to hear of 2 dobe in the police in the UK and one prison extraction dog this is the kind of improvement I am looking for

 

[DocReverto]

there is a difference between bad mouthing and stating facts,the difference lies mostly in the interpretation of such facts stated.

This is similar to what I was trying to say earlier.

When we participate in events designed to test breed qualities,
IPO sports, AKC, IABCA, PSA, and you have an intact dog/bitch you are opening yourself up to constructive criticism.

The intent of these activities is to judge the quality of a dog. When one says "I don't like that dog". "That dog has a weak temperament" "that dog has a sniper head" we are judging the dog that you put out there in a judging environment.

It's a really tough subject because you have to be careful what you say to people non involved in these sports. Not everyone can take the constructive criticism and roll with it. You just have to understand that without it we would probably have a breed that has 4 heads and 12 legs weighing in at 200 pounds.

Constructive criticism keeps people honest, and striving for more. Every single person in this world is bias to their own individual dog, so most of the time it's hard to see things others have no trouble seeing.

As far as health goes I will agree with Matt as well. I'm glad one doctor has noticed a decline in DCM in Dobes but unfortunately holters/echos are not enough.
DCM is present In a lot of lines, if not most. We have a terrible longevity rating. I have a hard time justifying it by the size of the dog. We can all do better.

I will agree that vaccines are a problem, but comparatively speaking are a minute problem to our dogs dropping dead at 4. Similar to designer dog foods, the anti vaccine movement has only been around a few years. Unfortunately it's a dangerous game to play/recommend unless you know what your doing.

 

[Dobs4ever]

If you took it personal then so be it - I purposefully do not mention names in my post most of the time for that very reason. I guess if you were offended then it hit a nerve. Feeling guilty does that. Since I did not quote anyone I don't see how I could twist words. I stated how I perceive it. I don't think saying there are problems is being blind. But since you made a pointed post I will say you certainly come across as always downing our dogs - A true student of the breed does not trash it on every level. There are not so good dobermans and a lot has to do with poor breeding and/or breeding for on one aspect and there are a lot of fabulous dogs due to good breeding. To trash an entire breed based on personal feelings it very negative and does not help the breed. Someone who truly loves and understands the breed is a little blind. I am 100% passionate about the Doberman Pinscher - here - there and EVERYWHERE. Glad you got a Mal so you won't have to complain anymore about OUR dobermans.

To add:

When we participate in events designed to test breed qualities,
IPO sports, AKC, IABCA, PSA, and you have an intact dog/bitch you are opening yourself up to constructive criticism.

Interesting that after slamming working dogs and breeders now it constructive criticism. Get real.

 

[FredC]

This thread seems to have run it's course.

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