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Age limit on purchasing a puppy

I totally agree but my mom was turned away by some breeders because they were afraid the dog might outlive her.

If you had a "succession plan" (i.e. the dog transfers to a friend/relative upon one's death if the dog survives the owner), would that be acceptable to most breeders?
 
If you had a "succession plan" (i.e. the dog transfers to a friend/relative upon one's death if the dog survives the owner), would that be acceptable to most breeders?
I would think so? I’d imagine the friend/relative would have to pass the same screening process buyers would?
Perhaps the friend/relative just be registered and legal co owner?
It sounds fair and logical in my mind anyway, lol.
 
documented past experiences with a breed
This should be a major factor regardless of age. If you've already survived one Dobe and you're still crazy enough to endure another puppy :tongueclosed: I would expect your life experience to tell you whether you can handle it or not :woot2: I believe the first Doberman purchase should be the most carefully screened. I've said it before and I'll say it again, people should have to take some sort of class before getting any animal. New parents have to take classes, so should pet owners.

I know a lady in her early 80s who got a Doberman puppy. Her experience was what mattered, plus a transition plan to people that were actively involved in the selection process and very experienced with the breed. I honestly thought this puppy would be the end of her. But 2 years in and she's still outgoing, energetic, and a self declared "alpha bitch" :dobe:
 
If you had a "succession plan" (i.e. the dog transfers to a friend/relative upon one's death if the dog survives the owner), would that be acceptable to most breeders?

Well I would think that, contractually, the dog would go back to the breeder if the owner(s) passed away? Unless the breeder was notified and approved of a dog going to another family?
 
Well I would think that, contractually, the dog would go back to the breeder if the owner(s) passed away? Unless the breeder was notified and approved of a dog going to another family?

So, breeders are allowed to put such language into their contracts? Is it more a matter of "reputation protection" or something else? One would think that, for the $$$ you pay, once you "purchase" the dog, it should be yours to do with as you please (i.e. within the context of this discussion - not literally). Anyway, I guess this is how it works with pedigree dogs and pedigree breeders. As an "outsider" to that world (presently), my first gut reaction would be that this is the kind of mindset that would discourage the use of pedigree breeders and encourage BYBs. :eek: Not sayin' I would do that... just sayin'...

Just out of curiosity, would breeders be willing to "negotiate" such terms, or do they, pretty much, stand their ground?
 
So, breeders are allowed to put such language into their contracts? Is it more a matter of "reputation protection" or something else? One would think that, for the $$$ you pay, once you "purchase" the dog, it should be yours to do with as you please (i.e. within the context of this discussion - not literally). Anyway, I guess this is how it works with pedigree dogs and pedigree breeders. As an "outsider" to that world (presently), my first gut reaction would be that this is the kind of mindset that would discourage the use of pedigree breeders and encourage BYBs. :eek: Not sayin' I would do that... just sayin'...

Just out of curiosity, would breeders be willing to "negotiate" such terms, or do they, pretty much, stand their ground?


The contracts I've been a part of say that if you cannot keep the dog for ANY reason at ANY age, it is to be returned to the breeder so they can find a suitable home. They do NOT want their dogs in shelters, being passed around, mistreated, etc. I think that is something the #adoptdontshop movement doesn't realize. If you buy from a reputable breeder, there is NO reason that dog should EVER be in a shelter. I love my dogs and love knowing that they have a place to go that is not being bounced around shelters and rescues. They will go back to people who love them as much as we do who will find them a home.
 
The contracts I've been a part of say that if you cannot keep the dog for ANY reason at ANY age, it is to be returned to the breeder so they can find a suitable home. They do NOT want their dogs in shelters, being passed around, mistreated, etc. I think that is something the #adoptdontshop movement doesn't realize. If you buy from a reputable breeder, there is NO reason that dog should EVER be in a shelter. I love my dogs and love knowing that they have a place to go that is not being bounced around shelters and rescues. They will go back to people who love them as much as we do who will find them a home.
Agreed!
In simple terms, if all breeders included and lived by that there would be a lot less dogs in shelters.
 
I understand it to a degree but many things happen to young people as well that could prevent them from completion of a dog’s requirements of life.

This ^^^^

I have honestly lost count of the number of people I've known that died, most often very unexpectedly, under the age of 60. Only a small handful were due to drugs or suicide. I think we're up to 6 this year alone, with a 7th on hospice.

Meanwhile, my 98 year old great grandmother still drives to bingo!

So it's a crapshoot. My brother was days away from getting a new dog when he died. My other brother had just gotten a new dog in the months prior to his death. One was 19, the other 39.

Life is just too ... Unpredictable.
 
e? One would think that, for the $$$ you pay, once you "purchase" the dog, it should be yours to do with as you please (i.e. within the context of this discussion - not literally)
The big dollars one pays is towards costs of creating them and all the testing that goes with it, as the short answer.
The dogs we find in shelters are not those big dollar dogs. There is almost zero chance you’ll find a dog from a breeder in a rescue that breeds for all the right reasons. I say almost because there is the chance of a breech of contract situation.
Even then, once they get to a shelter or adoption place or at some point along the way the micro chip will be scanned and the breeder is one of the people in the notification list.
 
The contracts I've been a part of say that if you cannot keep the dog for ANY reason at ANY age, it is to be returned to the breeder so they can find a suitable home. They do NOT want their dogs in shelters, being passed around, mistreated, etc. I think that is something the #adoptdontshop movement doesn't realize. If you buy from a reputable breeder, there is NO reason that dog should EVER be in a shelter. I love my dogs and love knowing that they have a place to go that is not being bounced around shelters and rescues. They will go back to people who love them as much as we do who will find them a home.

Well, I certainly would not want the dog going to a shelter or a place where they'll be mistreated. But I do want the ability to designate a family member or close friend whom I trust that will take care of the dog after I can no longer do so for any reason. I don't want my family/friends to not have the option to accept the dog and keep it "in the family," simply because I'm not here anymore. Now, if they choose not to accept the dog, then yes, return it to the breeder. But I want them to have that option. I don't want it to be an "automatic" return to the breeder.
 
Well, I certainly would not want the dog going to a shelter or a place where they'll be mistreated. But I do want the ability to designate a family member or close friend whom I trust that will take care of the dog after I can no longer do so for any reason. I don't want my family/friends to not have the option to accept the dog and keep it "in the family," simply because I'm not here anymore. Now, if they choose not to accept the dog, then yes, return it to the breeder. But I want them to have that option. I don't want it to be an "automatic" return to the breeder.

I don't know that it is an automatic return to the breeder or if my family would have to go through the same vetting process we did while the dogs are in the care of the breeder or how that would work. My family loves our dogs but are already up to their elbows in dogs (2 Shepards, 1 Husky, 1 mutt!) so not sure they'd be able to take on any more, even though that would be ideal.

I should just ask our breeders! derp. I'll see what they say.
 
Many of the reputable Doberman breeders I know are in about my age group, if not a little older so I can't see age being a factor if you're capable of raising a pup and properly training it and caring for it.

I honestly hadn't thought about the age factor before but it hardly seems like a question they should even ask you. I know if you fill out a job application these days they can't ask for your DOB until you've been hired. Well maybe they legally "could" but don't think I ever saw it on any I filled out.
 
So, breeders are allowed to put such language into their contracts? Is it more a matter of "reputation protection" or something else? One would think that, for the $$$ you pay, once you "purchase" the dog, it should be yours to do with as you please (i.e. within the context of this discussion - not literally). Anyway, I guess this is how it works with pedigree dogs and pedigree breeders. As an "outsider" to that world (presently), my first gut reaction would be that this is the kind of mindset that would discourage the use of pedigree breeders and encourage BYBs. :eek: Not sayin' I would do that... just sayin'...

Just out of curiosity, would breeders be willing to "negotiate" such terms, or do they, pretty much, stand working dogs
Most breeders don’t want you breeding their lines (unless you have a breeding arrangement or co-ownership with them) if puppies are high drive working dogs, they will want to find proper homes for them. You are not allowed to sell them and if you cannot take care of them they get them back to assure they end up in the hands of someone who can handle and care for them. Some will actually buy back at a substantially lower price.
 
) if puppies are high drive working dogs, they will want to find proper homes for them.
I could understand this with a high drive working dog.
Your average dog person would not be able to handle a working dog without prior experience I don’t think.
My pups are high drive but certainly not the working caliber of your dogs, so they would go to a family member that could handle them and their needs. Of course he is younger with Doberman experience but shoot I want to live a looong time with my two! We have lots of adventures ahead of us. :cool:
 
I could understand this with a high drive working dog.
Your average dog person would not be able to handle a working dog without prior experience I don’t think.
My pups are high drive but certainly not the working caliber of your dogs, so they would go to a family member that could handle them and their needs. Of course he is younger with Doberman experience but shoot I want to live a looong time with my two! We have lots of adventures ahead of us. :cool:
My son and his wife are the only two family members that I would trust to take care of our dogs. Nobody else would be able to handle them. That is actually how I ended up with Blaze. He was being returned to the breeder and she asked if I would evaluate him for a week or so to see what I thought. She had a pet home looking for a dog but didn’t think he would be a good fit. After 3 weeks and training thru some problems I decided he needed to stay with me. :facepalm::rofl:
 

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