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How do you get your dog evaluated to see if they are a good candidate for breeding?

This is NOT about population control or adopting from a shelter or being a "good" dog owner by just fixing the dog first, so please lets not go there. I feel that by doing research I AM being a good dog owner so that I can make the best decision for MY dog and MY family.

Before my Doberman has her first heat I am evaluating my options for her upcoming reproductive health. I have thought about breeding her at some point after 2 or 3 years of age, probably closer to 3 or 4. But before I decide if I want to breed her, I want her evaluated to see if she would even be a good candidate for such a journey. I know there are the medical tests that are required, as well as other optional but recommended tests as well. Where would an owner go, or who would an owner talk to about getting some premedical evaluations done? Such as temperament, breed standard measurements and physical characteristics and the like.

Update:

Yes I have her pedigree from her breeder. It goes back 3-4 generations on sire and dam sides. She is AKC registered, as well as her parents and there were no breeding restrictions.

If I wanted to breed for money I wouldn't be looking into all this first. By my estimates for how I would go about it, I would be spending at least $7k for everything BEFORE ever selling the pups. I would like to experience this WITH my dog IF she is ideal for the journey.

12 Answers

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    First you show her (or if she is a working dog, you enter her in working competitions) to get her title to indicate she meets the minimum standard for the breed.

    For health testing required, see here:

    http://dpca.org/breed/breed_health.htm

    For temperament testing:

    http://www.atts.org/

    Join your local Doberman club, get to know the breeders, learn from them.

    Join your local all-breed kennel club as well.

    Attend shows, trials, seminars and other events.

    Read lots of books on dogs, breeding, Dobermans etc.

    To be honest, if your dog were breeding quality she would have come from a reputable breeder, in which case she would have either been kept by the breeder, sold to another breeder, or sold with a limited (non-breeding) registration since you are not a breeder. Good breeders that know what they are doing do not sell breeding quality females to unknown pet owners on open registration.

    EDIT: Sheri: PLAGARISM is not allowed. Please do not post someone else's work without credit.

    http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/breeddog.htm

    EDIT: AKC registration and having a pedigree mean little - it's good you have them but there are plenty of AKC registered dogs that should never be bred.

    And as I touched on earlier, since there are no breeding restrictions she cannot have come from a good, knowledgable breeder, which means the chances of her being of breeding quality are slim to none.

  • 1 decade ago

    First off , did you get your dog from a breeder? If so and she is Pure bred then she may have come with papers or some sort of breeding agreement . Most Breeders or the ones who care about the animals anyway will only breed dogs that are considered perfect so that down the line later generations have less chance of having health problems passed on . Such as joint problems . You need to get your dog checked out medically and find out her history see where she came from and if the breeder was doing his/her job right. After that if you find out your dog is medically perfect (no heart conditions , no joint problems , no lung issues ect ect) then you need to find another "perfect dog " of the same breed a dog who has been bred before or comes from a line of proper breeding is the best and should be the only choice and then you can let them do their thing.. lets say all of this goes well , your dog is perfect , you find another perfect dog and they do their thing . Then you need to do some SERIOUS research on how to care for your dog during pregnancy , during birth , after pregnancy and how to properly care for the puppies . You need to make sure you have a whelping box big enough for the dog and her puppies but it also has to be something that the mother can get out of . There are so many more things to breeding then just letting dogs go at it .. There is the after care and you should do a lot of research. A great place to start is to actually find a reputable breeder for your breed of dog and learn EVERYTHING you can from them and see if they will help you out . Also have a good vet on call so if you have any questions you can always get a hold of them or if something goes wrong heaven forbid you can get the puppies or your dog to the vet fast . Hope all goes well and good luck with your breeding :)

    Source(s): Owner 4 Labs bred one of them twice .
  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Yes, that test is showing her to her confirmation championship with the AKC and/or putting advanced working titles on her. If you can't show her to championship then she has been evaluated as not a good candidate. If you can you go on form there with health testing and temperament testing.

    Honestly if she was a good candidate she would be from a reputable breeder who would have sold her to you as a show quality dog. Since this doesn't seem to be the case chances are slim to none that she is breeding quality.

  • 1 decade ago

    You should show your dog in conformation and then also work on obedience titles maybe agility titles and shutzhund type titles so to prove your dog. Health test can be done at most vet offices but you should be looking for special clinics for eyes and hips etc to help save some money.

    You hopefully can speak with your breeder and mentor about what dog would best compliment your dog to produce the best quality pups, this is the hardest part it isn't just letting any other PB Dobie breed your dog it is about finding the best mate for your dog

    So to better answer this I would say call your breeder or go to a dog show and start meeting some professional handlers and get a evaluation. When I considered showing my dog I went and saw one of the best handlers I know and trust and she told me what she seriously thought where my dogs weaknesses.

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  • 1 decade ago

    You can start in the conformation show ring. An AKC judge will judge to see if she conforms to the breed standard. If she does, you can start doing the genetic health testing. Actually, you can DNA her for vWd through Vet Gen at any age. Pups that are still in the whelping box can have this done. Have her Thyroid tested, Cardio tested, Hips and Elbows certified with the OFA at 24 months old, etc. Here's the breed standard for you:

    http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/

    To be honest with you, if you didn't purchase her from a show breeder as a show potential pup, your chances that she has potential is next to none. Not only that, if you don't know what genetic health tests her parents have had done, she 100! DID come from a BYB. Google: DPCA. There is a TON of information on the site for you to look at. I'm glad you WANT to be responsible, but now BE responsible. Your b*tch may be perfect to YOU in every way, but in all reality, she could be a train wreck when it come to being a quality specimen of the breed.

    http://www.dpca.org/JEC/illustrated_standard/Illus...

    Source(s): Use to show and breed Dobes. On Dobe #10 right now. She will NOT be bred as she is pet quality and doesn't even come close to conforming to the breed standard.
  • Sheri
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    If you sincerely feel that you have exceptionally good reasons for breeding your dog and can live up to the great responsibility involved, your work is just beginning!

    Your first step is to call the American Kennel Club for a referral to the national and local clubs for your breed. Join the club to meet and learn from other serious breeders. Subscribe to dog magazines, especially the national magazine for your breed and the AKC Gazette. Read everything you can find pertaining not only to your breed, but all breeds. You’ll need an education in all canine subjects, medical concerns, anatomy and structure, behavior, training and even some psychology for working with the owners of your new puppies. Go to dog shows where you can see and touch other examples of your breed and learn what makes them better than average.

    One of the most important parts of your education is learning what the “breed standard” means. Each AKC-recognized breed has a written standard of perfection. It describes what that breed should look, move and act like. Serious breeders constantly measure, test and compare against this standard before deciding whether their chosen dog is good enough to breed. They show their dogs in order to compare them with others of high quality. Standards aren’t easily understood in one reading. It takes study and exposure to hundreds of dogs before you can really see why certain characteristics are important and whether or not your dog has them to such a degree that breeding it would improve the overall quality of the entire breed. That’s the real goal of serious dog breeding and the ONLY reason to breed any dog - to produce animals that are exceptional in appearance, health, temperament and trainability.

    It can take years to gain this kind of knowledge and along the way, you might learn that the dog you have is a fine pet, but not good breeding stock. If so, you’re in good company. Some of today’s most successful breeders began by finding out the same thing. They discovered that getting a dog of suitable quality meant a serious financial commitment and a lifetime of dedication to do their very best even though there would be no real monetary reward for their effort.

    Breeding dogs today is a serious matter. Before going any further, visit your local pound or animal shelter to see what happens to the dogs that were raised by people who thought it would be “fun” to have a litter. “The miracle of death” by euthanasia is just as educational as the “miracle of birth”! If you intend to breed your dog, then you should be fully aware of what the consequences may be.

    Will it be worth it? Most of the time, the answer is no. The decision NOT to breed your pet is one of the most intelligent, educated and loving decisions you can make

    @ DaBassett ... I did not plagiarize THANK YOU .. I wrote this years ago while on other sites as well as had it on my own site. It is now everywhere ... Before you state plagiarism you may want to research to know who wrote it in the first place. I have never been to the site you linked but you will see my above written answer on many sites. I have always taken it as a compliment that others have used it even if I am not listed as having written it. I do when using info, always give credit where credit is due. I guess you don't know as much as you think you do.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The breeders you got her from could help you out and the vet would know what kinds of tests need to be done first. If you find some local Doberman societies they could probably help too, or even the AKC itself.

    Good luck with everything!

  • 1 decade ago

    A good way to find out is to join a breed club, Enter some matches they put on. Your dog will be evaluated by breed specialists. Then if the dog is up to par to the standard enter some championship shows. You could also go to show-handling classes. Many judges teach handling and would be more than willing to give you their opinion.,..Don't just settle for one opinion, get a few. Personal preferences are common in judging.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Both breeds are natural protective of the owner property once they reach 18month old. You must remember no pup is going to be interested in protecting, Doberman; Height; 24-28inches, Weight;65-90 lbs Dobermans are usually protective but also are sweet and docile family dogs. This breed is brave, intelligent and loyal. However some Dobermans are very nervous and aggressive. This breed needs early socialization and obedience training when it is a puppy and this regime should be continued until the dog is at least 18 months old. Dobermans do fine with older children if they are raised with them. Male Dobes can be very aggressive with other male dogs and shouldn’t be trusted with small pets and strange children. Dobermans need lots of exercise and companionship and shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time. Dobermans are intelligent and easily trained but not by a novice dog owner. This breed should spend a significant amount of time at a dog training school. Dobermans make good guard dogs and good watchdogs and are wary of strangers. This breed is not recommended for the novice dog owner. German Shepherd; Heightl 22-26inches, Weght; 75-95 lbs German Shepherds are very adaptable, extremely intelligent and eager to learn. These Alsatians can be trained to an extremely high level as guide dogs, avalanche dogs, tracking dogs and police dogs, Alsatians regularly win advanced obedience and field trials. Most Shepherds are reliable, self-confident, loyal to a fault, protective, brave and even-tempered. Unfortunately some breeders are offering shy and nervous Alsatians for sale. These dogs should be avoided at all costs as they can be dangerous. Alsatians are good with children and should be socialized and obedience trained when they are puppies. Do not train Shepherds as guard dogs as they are already protective of their families. Shepherds need lots of attention and physical and mental activity to keep happy. Alsatians make excellent watchdogs. German Shepherds do better with experienced dog owners. My major concerns would be: Unstable temperaments. German Shepherd Dogs are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of German Shepherds with neurotic behaviors, including aggression, biting, sharpness, and/or extreme fearfulness. Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. German Shepherds MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing. Bored German Shepherds can make a shambles of your house and yard. If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or schutzhund (protection), or herding, or tracking, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. Providing enough socialization. Most German Shepherds have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting. Some German Shepherds go in the opposite direction -- without enough socialization, they become fearful of strangers, which can lead to defensive biting. Animal aggression. Some German Shepherds are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals. Heavy shedding. German Shepherds shed only once a year -- for 365 days. In other words, they shed constantly. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this. Serious health problems. From hip and elbow problems, to bone diseases and cancer, to stomach disorders and skin diseases, German Shepherds are one of the riskiest of all breeds in the health department. Legal liabilities. German Shepherds may be targeted for "banning" in certain areas, or refusal of homeowner insurance policies. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a guard dog should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I still don't get why you would want to breed. Just because you do research doesn't mean it's the responsible thing to do. Guessing you're just looking for a way to make money.

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