Dogs: Experienced dobie people? Doberman Ear Cropping?

Your breeder is illegally selling the puppies a week too young. I would have strong second thoughts about buying from this person. The puppy will be sore and achy from the vaccinations on the day you get it. Not good.

I bought my Dobe pup from a breeder who had already cropped and taped the ears up on a brace before I got it. The puppy came with complete printed instructions on how to care for the ears. The stitches were already out so I didn't have to go through the bloody process of stretching and cleaning the ears daily (which hurts the puppy). I had a few problems and the breeder helped me right away. This person you plan to buy from is leaving too much to chance. If you pick a vet who doesn't crop ears well, you can end up with horrible ears. If you don't keep the ears cleaned and stretched and set on braces, you will get horrible ears. If you leave the braces off too long, you get horrible ears. Long after the ears have healed, you must still keep them braced up. My pup's ears were braced up until she was around 6 months old. You brace them until they stay up by themselves. If this is your first Doberman, a female is the better choice. NO, it is not true that a male will bond more to a female owner or vice versa. It depends upon how good a trainer and owner and socializer the owner is. Minors usually find that "their" dogs have become their mother's or father's pet. Dogs choose and all the ownership papers in the world can't change it.

Before 12 weeks. Ask the breeder who she recommends. I think dobies look like hounds without their ears done.