Please give your opinions about this puppy thanks

[Elizabeth]

Hello I am looking into buying a doberman puppy and would like your opinions about the one in the pic. I'm not sure how old it is in the pic maybe 3 weeks? It's a female and here are the pics of it. Please give me your honest opinions --good or bad as to what the quality of this pup appears to be. I'm not planning on breeding but I might want to learn how to show, I don't expect to win but that's okay! It's for fun but I still want everyone to know It's a doberman lol. There are quit a few people selling around this area so I can be a little choosy. Please give me honest feedback, what the dog has going for it and what it's obvious flaws are. Thanks. I did have a better pic that I took but for some reason it wont let me post that one so we have to work with what I have.

[RKCM]

Hi Elizabeth and welcome to DH.

In buying a puppy, you support what you buy so you want to buy the puppy from someone that health tests their dogs, and that takes good care of them. Going to the place is a good idea if you can. At the age of the puppy in the picture, all doberman puppies are cute. They grow up and not all look the same when grown. I would want to know the age of dogs in the pedigree that have passed (longivity) Longivity does matter. The DPCA has a breeder referral for your state, but like anything else...check them out before you buy. Do you have picture of the parents....remember you don't get blood out of a turnip, as they say in Texas.

If you intend to show the dog in conformation, you want to buy from someone that has finished champions and can help you. It's a very expensive hobby and the most competitive in dogs shows. Why enter the ring expecting to lose? If you are going in the ring, it is just as easy to have a dog that can win as it is to have one that has no chance.

Almost all dobermans can succeed in obedience if they are healthy. That is a venue that is a lot of fun and the people are nice too. I would surely look into that.

Let us know more about your decisions. We are here to help if we can.

[Rhiannon]

I agree with RKCM and in addition to that I would ask the breeder what they do to justify their breeding program. Do they themselves show dogs? Ask for a pedigree and then that will make it easier for us to help guide you. If you are thinking about showing then you might as well get a puppy from someone who shows etc like RKCM states. Does the breeder offer any type of written contract and health guarantee. It is hard for any breeder to guarantee that a doberman can finish it's championship due to all of the outside factors such as training, food, and conditioning and the tough competition out there. Ask any of us who show it is hard but we are more than willing to help answer any and all questions for you. Also it is very difficult to determine in looking at a three week old puppy what their chances are in the show ring later. I hold onto my puppies sometimes until they are 12 to 16 weeks old before I make my final choice.

[Shadowlands]

At such a young age it is almost impossible to tell you what this particular dog will be like and whether it any disqualifying features. As RKCM and Rhiannon stated, it is more about the breeder and their dogs before. What are they like? The dogs registered (pup needs to be if showing), health tests done (and the results), do they offer health guarantee? Are their dogs champions meaning they are or should be in line with the breed standard?
Honestly, if you are interested in showing, then you should be looking for a breeder with that in mind. If you are not sure about whether you want to show, I would go to a few shows in and around your area and talk with some of the breeders/handlers there (doesn't have to be just dobe handlers) and this will give you an idea of the time and hard work that goes into making their dogs champions.
I'll be honest, I spent four years researching breeders and their lines before contacting a couple and deciding on one (she does phone and in her home interviews before deciding if you will get a pup or not - over and above the application).
I certainly hope we helped. It's a lot to process when thinking of venturing in the dog show world. But well worth it in my opinion!

[Aesa]

Hello I am looking into buying a doberman puppy and would like your opinions about the one in the pic. I'm not sure how old it is in the pic maybe 3 weeks? It's a female and here are the pics of it. Please give me your honest opinions --good or bad as to what the quality of this pup appears to be. I'm not planning on breeding but I might want to learn how to show, I don't expect to win but that's okay! It's for fun but I still want everyone to know It's a doberman lol. There are quit a few people selling around this area so I can be a little choosy. Please give me honest feedback, what the dog has going for it and what it's obvious flaws are. Thanks. I did have a better pic that I took but for some reason it wont let me post that one so we have to work with what I have.

it would be much easier to say something about it, if we know the breeder and the pedigree of that pup. if you can ell us who is the sire and the damn of your pup, we can tell you, if its a good choice or maybe not.