Warning About Breeder: Erich Henson

[Bellasmomma]

Warning About Breeder: Erich Henson

I wanted to share my recent experience with Erich Henson for anyone considering a puppy from him. After reaching out, I had several major red flags:

• No Real Health Testing: I asked for health testing documentation, and this is the response I received directly from him:

“AS FOR TESTING , I AM BREEDER-OWNER OF DOBERMANS SINCE 1968 , AND HAVE DOCUMENTED SALES IN 42 STATES. MOST OF MY DOBERMANS LIVE 8 TO 10 YEARS , AND SOME ARE SUPERNATURAL LIVING 9 TO 12 YEARS. I TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES TO BUY MY BREEDING TEAM , AND INSOMUCH THEY LIVE OUT THEIR NORMAL LIFE SPAN PLUS SOME YEARS I ONLY TEST FOR ‘BRUCELLOSIS’. IF YOUR WANTING HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS THAT CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM $2500.00 TO $20,000.00 FOR A DOBERMAN PUPPY , DEPENDING ON WHAT HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS YOUR WANTING.”

• Translation: He openly admits that the only testing he does is brucellosis, which is just a basic test for a contagious disease. He does not do the standard health screenings (hips, heart, thyroid, vWD, DCM) that reputable breeders provide.
• Misleading Statements: He tries to justify not testing by saying health certifications could cost $2,500–$20,000 per puppy, which is absurd and not how reputable breeding works.
• Forum History: Many members have already shared complaints about him, and he has a pattern of claiming he’s “retiring” but continues breeding.

Please be careful. A reputable Doberman breeder will always provide proof of health testing and prioritize the breed’s future, not cut corners or give misleading excuses.

 

[MichiH]

Warning About Breeder: Erich Henson

I wanted to share my recent experience with Erich Henson for anyone considering a puppy from him. After reaching out, I had several major red flags:

• No Real Health Testing: I asked for health testing documentation, and this is the response I received directly from him:

“AS FOR TESTING , I AM BREEDER-OWNER OF DOBERMANS SINCE 1968 , AND HAVE DOCUMENTED SALES IN 42 STATES. MOST OF MY DOBERMANS LIVE 8 TO 10 YEARS , AND SOME ARE SUPERNATURAL LIVING 9 TO 12 YEARS. I TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES TO BUY MY BREEDING TEAM , AND INSOMUCH THEY LIVE OUT THEIR NORMAL LIFE SPAN PLUS SOME YEARS I ONLY TEST FOR ‘BRUCELLOSIS’. IF YOUR WANTING HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS THAT CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM $2500.00 TO $20,000.00 FOR A DOBERMAN PUPPY , DEPENDING ON WHAT HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS YOUR WANTING.”

• Translation: He openly admits that the only testing he does is brucellosis, which is just a basic test for a contagious disease. He does not do the standard health screenings (hips, heart, thyroid, vWD, DCM) that reputable breeders provide.
• Misleading Statements: He tries to justify not testing by saying health certifications could cost $2,500–$20,000 per puppy, which is absurd and not how reputable breeding works.
• Forum History: Many members have already shared complaints about him, and he has a pattern of claiming he’s “retiring” but continues breeding.

Please be careful. A reputable Doberman breeder will always provide proof of health testing and prioritize the breed’s future, not cut corners or give misleading excuses.

Sorry to hear this. Did you purchase a Doberman puppy from him? Looks like he’s been at it for a long time as a byb. His site looks like he’s “trying” to be professional, but it’s clear he is not and is breeding just to breed in a disgusting manner.

 

[BGpa]

Brucellosis? What is he breeding...bison?

 

[Ravenbird]

Brucellosis? What is he breeding...bison?

It can and does occur in dogs and is extremely dangerous for kennels, as it is a deadly bacteria and can spread (especially through birthing & placenta to other dogs with the most common "cure" being euthinasia. It can also infect humans handling/cleaning the kennels of infected dogs and their puppies. He probably tests for it if he is a registered kennel to comply with state laws. I haven't looked him up so I don't know what state he's in.

 

[Rits]

He probably tests for it if he is a registered kennel to comply with state laws.

Funny and sad at the same time the only reason his dogs have this test done is because he "has to"

 

[BGpa]

It can and does occur in dogs and is extremely dangerous for kennels, as it is a deadly bacteria and can spread (especially through birthing & placenta to other dogs with the most common "cure" being euthinasia. It can also infect humans handling/cleaning the kennels of infected dogs and their puppies. He probably tests for it if he is a registered kennel to comply with state laws. I haven't looked him up so I don't know what state he's in.

Thanks @Ravenbird I was being a smarta$$ there...should have done a simple search first.

I used Grok as a search engine, and as in all AIs the LLM will try to connect the dots of data,
so if your request is vague it may get "creative"...
so "scroll down to sources cited and apply your own best judgement" is how I roll.

Anyway, here it is and it reinforces a couple of points here from posts elsewhere, "buyer beware", "not a preservation breeder by DPCA testing standards", and "references to AKC standard doesnt always mean best practices in use" etc

Conversation not found

This conversation could not be found.

grok.com

And here is the result when asking Grok: "tell me about brucellosis in digs"

https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_631fc046-4f96-4ce5-ad7c-5a5473f7dcae

 

[Ravenbird]

Thanks @Ravenbird I was being a smarta$$ there...should have done a simple search first.

Well, I know that nobody knows everything and I just wanted you to know that Bruc is not just a bovine thing. I'm here to try to educate, not to rub in!
I don't use any AI for information questions. It's getting harder and harder to avoid as it pops up first, 2nd and then 4th or 7th. I look at University studies or veterinarian websites (not the chains!!!) like Merck, UC Davis, etc. These are based on studies, not opinions and have references of peer reviews. Grok and other AI is just taking this info and other info - which may or may not be reliable - and making it user friendly. I've seen too much AI using info that is NOT true, that I've now dismissed it as a poor source.

 

[JanS]

I don't use any AI for information questions. It's getting harder and harder to avoid as it pops up first, 2nd and then 4th or 7th.

I've been trying everything to eliminate it from everything but that's a no go.

 

[BGpa]

Well, I know that nobody knows everything and I just wanted you to know that Bruc is not just a bovine thing. I'm here to try to educate, not to rub in!
I don't use any AI for information questions. It's getting harder and harder to avoid as it pops up first, 2nd and then 4th or 7th. I look at University studies or veterinarian websites (not the chains!!!) like Merck, UC Davis, etc. These are based on studies, not opinions and have references of peer reviews. Grok and other AI is just taking this info and other info - which may or may not be reliable - and making it user friendly. I've seen too much AI using info that is NOT true, that I've now dismissed it as a poor source.

Ya Grok is comical sometimes how it will try its best to connect two completely separate requests. I always scroll to sources and read there for objective info.

And concur on vet science first.

 

[Two Dobes]

Circling back to this guy...interesting how he mentions his dogs ages; "8-10" and "Supernatural" 9-12!
Supernatural.....I have never heard that regarding dobermans.

 

[Bellasmomma]

Sorry to hear this. Did you purchase a Doberman puppy from him? Looks like he’s been at it for a long time as a byb. His site looks like he’s “trying” to be professional, but it’s clear he is not and is breeding just to breed in a disgusting manner.

No luckily i’m smarter than that. Just wanted others who don’t know that he’s not reputable.