Health-testedEuropean Dobermanns

They are the same breed with the same origin. European dogs are bred to the FCI standard and, in most countries, must pass a temperament and conformation test called the ZTP before they can be bred. They tend to carry more bone and substance, a broader head and more working drive. American-bred dogs tend to be more refined and are bred to the AKC standard for the show ring and the home. Neither type is healthier by default. Our dogs are European in pedigree, AKC registered, and chosen for stable temperament first. They are more dog than some families expect, and we will tell you honestly if we think a different type would suit you better.

No one can guarantee that, and you should be careful of any breeder who does. Dilated cardiomyopathy affects a large share of Dobermanns in every country and every bloodline, and no test clears a dog for life. What we can do is test often and breed late. Every breeding dog here has a 24-hour Holter and an echocardiogram with a board-certified cardiologist every year, starting at two and continuing after retirement. We prefer stud dogs of four and older with a run of clean results behind them, we favor pedigrees where dogs lived past ten, and we publish all of it. Our contract also refunds part of the purchase price if a puppy of ours is diagnosed young.

Less than people hope. DCM1 is a variant in the PDK4 gene and DCM2 is a variant in the titin gene. Both were identified in studies of mostly American-bred Dobermanns, where dogs carrying them showed a higher risk of disease. Follow-up work in European dogs did not find the same link for PDK4. Plenty of dogs negative for both still develop DCM, and plenty of dogs with a copy never do. Our Freya carries one copy of DCM2 and is healthy at almost twelve. We test every dog and we do not double up on either variant, but we do not remove a sound dog from breeding over a single copy, and we never present a negative result as a clean bill of heart health. The Holter and the echocardiogram are the tests that count.

Tails are docked and dewclaws removed at three days old by our veterinarian, in line with the AKC standard. Ears are your decision, and about half our families choose natural ears. If you want a crop, it is done at eight weeks by a veterinarian we have used since our first litter, and your puppy goes home at ten weeks once the sutures are out. The cost is $650 and includes the first posting. We teach you to post, and we re-post at no charge for any local family until the ears stand.