When I went to pick out my first Doberman pup, I did countless hours of research in an attempt to find the perfect method of choosing a Doberman puppy from a litter of similar looking (and acting) brothers and sisters. Since that time, I’ve talked to countless breeders and further refined this process down to what I believe is the absolute best way of picking a Doberman puppy. Let’s get you that perfect family pup!

How do you choose a Doberman puppy? The best method for choosing a Doberman puppy from a litter is to perform basic litter research, a visual inspection of the litter, and a series of temperament tests on each puppy. This will help ensure you’re choosing a healthy puppy whose personality is a good match to yours.

Hopefully, you took your time in finding a reputable Doberman breeder, and selecting which type of Doberman is best for you, and now you’re ready to pick which individual puppy from their latest litter you want to bring home to your family. This is a critical step because even puppies in the same litter will have very different personalities. Some will work great with your family and some won’t, but only one puppy will mesh the best in your home. Here’s how you can find that dog.

Step 1: Perform Basic Litter Research

The first step is to perform basic research on the bloodline of the puppies in the litter. This will provide a glimpse at the accomplishments, longevity, and health testing that has been performed on dogs in the same bloodline as your future pup.

• Ask your breeder for bloodline information. A reputable breeder will be willing to send bloodline information about the dogs in the litter. Ask for a family tree which includes the registered names and the AKC registration numbers for four generations back.
• Research the bloodline on Dobequest. Go to dobequest.org and use the information the breeder gave you to research the ancestors of the litter you’re considering. Check four generations back and make note of the cause of death (COD) and age at death of each dog you can find in the database. Look for any trends that may show a red flag such as early deaths, or deaths that are the result of an inherited genetic disease.

Not every Doberman is listed in the DobeQuest database, but many are and it’s a good place to start. Just because some dogs may not be listed isn’t necessarily a red flag.

Step 2: Visually Inspect the Litter and Their Environment

It’s important to visually inspect the litter in person, to get an idea of any potential issues they may have. It’s also important to meet the breeder in person and see the conditions the puppies are living in. If the dogs seem like they are the cream of the crop health wise, but they are living in horrible conditions, you probably want to think twice about getting a puppy from that breeder.

Look for the following signs of health problems in any of the puppies in the litter:

• Coughing or wheezing.
• Overly lethargic or not responsive.
• Sneezing or excessive sinus drainage.
• Signs of physical injuries.
• Any abnormalities in how they walk.
• Rear end of any puppies that are not in line with their front end while walking.
• Any unusual behavior.

The puppies should be clean, happy, and playful. They’re puppies after all, and they should be full of life! A normal reaction is a curiosity in the new visitor (you). Excessive fear of your presence should be a red flag.

The litter should be kept indoors and really only go outside for playtime or to go to the bathroom. Their environment should be clean, sanitary, and safe. A quality breeder will be very knowledgeable about the Doberman breed and be very concerned with ensuring their puppies go to good homes.

Also, no Doberman puppies should be sold under 8 weeks of age. It’s important for a Dobies to get their mother’s milk and experience the social interaction with their siblings until at least this age. In fact, selling a puppy younger than 8 weeks of age is a crime in many states.

TIP:

In general, the size of the puppy’s paws is an indicator of the adult size of the dog. The bigger the paws, the larger the dog will be.

Step 3: Ask the Breeder Which Puppy Would Be Best

If you don’t see any red flags with the breeder or their facilities, you should then ask the breeder for their opinion on which puppy would be best for you based on your lifestyle. A reputable breeder will interview you every bit as much as you interview them and they should be able to help you select a puppy that fits your lifestyle.

The breeder is with their puppies 24 hours a day and will know their individual personalities extremely well. They probably won’t pair a puppy who likes to sit quietly in the corner with a marathon runner. So make sure you ask!

Of course, you’ll still want to do your own investigation to figure out which dog will be best for you, but it’s important to take note of the breeder’s opinion.

Step 4: Make Sure You Can Distinguish Between the Dogs

In the next step, you’ll be testing each puppy to determine their individual personality traits and checking them for any signs of poor health. It’s important that you have a way to tell all the cute brothers and sisters apart from each other if the breeder doesn’t have them marked in some way already.

A different colored collar on each puppy, or even just a makeshift collar out of colored ribbon works well. Use a different color for each dog that way you can refer to them by the color of their ribbon in your notes.

Step 5: Spend Time with Each Puppy Individually

This is where the rubber meets the road! It’s important to spend time with each puppy separate from the other dogs or from any major distractions. Ask the breeder if you can have access to a separate area such as a different room or even just a separate area of their yard where you can interact with each puppy one on one.

Most breeders will be very understanding of the desire to spend a little one-on-one time with each puppy individually to ensure you get the right dog for you. In fact, they’ll probably really appreciate that you care enough to put the effort required to find the best dog for you.

You’ll probably need to spend around ten minutes with each puppy so you can check them for any obvious signs of health issues and run them through the most important personality tests. The following sections will guide you through this.

Perform a Basic Health Check

I know you’re not a veterinarian, but you can (and should) still do a very basic visual check of each puppy you’re considering. You may not be a pro, but you’ll still be able to spot an obvious issue.

Here are the other areas you’ll want to check for each puppy:

• Gait – Make sure the puppy is walking straight and without difficulty. The rear end should be in-line with the front end as they walk.

• Coat – The coat should be soft, smooth, and even. Look for any bald or uneven areas that may indicate an underlying injury or nervous chewing.
• Skin – The skin should be supple and soft. It should also be free from any bite marks (from fleas or other small insects), excessive dandruff, and red splotches. Check around the stomach area of the dog and on it’s back between the shoulder blades. Part the hair with your fingers so you can see the skin.
• Ears – Ears should be clean inside and free from any signs of redness, inflammation, or irritation. There shouldn’t be any signs of mites or other infestations. If the puppy has cropped ears, they will likely be bandaged since they won’t stand on their own until at least 12 weeks of age. Ears will usually stand and fall naturally during the teething process (between 12 weeks and 6 months of age).
• Eyes – Eyes should be clear and bright. The irises of each of the eyes should be the same color and shape. The pupils of each eye should also be the same size. There should not be any signs of seepage or crustiness around the eye.
• Nose – The nose of a puppy is an amazing indicator of the overall health of the dog. The nose should be smooth and slightly moist. Any runniness or cracks in the nose may be a sign of poor health.
• Teeth and Gums – The teeth should be bright white and each tooth should be uniform in color. A slight amount of yellowing is ok as long as you don’t see any other colors like grey or brown. The gums should be a healthy and even pink color with no discolorations around the teeth. There should be no cracked or damaged teeth.
• Paws – The pads of each paw should be soft and free of cracks. The nails should appear smooth and free of any notable flaws. The paws themselves should not be turned in or out and should face directly forward.

In addition to the items mentioned here, the puppy’s dewclaws should be removed and the tail should be docked (at about the second joint). Tail docking is one procedure that is a very simple one when the puppy is a newborn but is much more difficult when they’re older. So just make sure this is already done on the dog you are considering.

A Doberman puppy can get their ears cropped between about 7 and 12 weeks of age. That means that your puppy may or may not have their ears cropped. Either way is fine but if you’re wanting to get the ears cropped, make sure the dog is young enough to allow you sufficient time to get it done before 12 weeks of age. Any later than that and the ears may not ever stand up.

For more information on the proper appearance of the Doberman Pinscher, take a look at the AKC Official Standard of the Doberman Pinscher. Although this applies mostly to adult dogs, it will still give you a good idea of what to look for in puppies as well.

Perform Temperament Testing (Campbell’s Test)

The Campbell Puppy Aptitude Test was developed in 1973 by William Campbell. It was performed on thousands of dogs and the test was perfected to help predict the adult temperament of a dog based on certain traits shown at a young age.

Besides temperament testing to help determine each puppy’s individual personality, it’s also a really good idea to spend some time with the pup’s parents. The Doberman’s personality does tend to be influenced somewhat by genetic factors. If you really like the temperament of one of the parents, look for a puppy that closely resembles that parent. Dobermans will often inherit temperament traits along with physical traits from one parent more than another.

Since the personality does develop with time, try to do these tests as close as possible to the time when you will be taking the puppy home.

Perform the following five tests, and select the answer that best describes the puppy’s reaction:

1. Social Attraction Test

Place the puppy on the ground approximately 5 to 10 feet away and facing away from you. Kneel down low and clap your hands a couple of times to get the puppy’s attention.

A.) Comes easily with tail up, jumping on you or nibbling your hands.

B.) Comes easily with tail up, pawing at or yelping at your hands.

C.) Comes easily with tail down.

D.) Comes hesitantly with tail down.

E.) Avoids you or runs away.

2. Following Test

Place the puppy on one end of the room. Walk away from the puppy while calling out to the puppy, patting your side or clapping your hands, and encouraging the puppy to follow you.

A.) Follows you easily with tail up, and trying to play with your feet.

B.) Follows you easily with tail up.

C.) Follows you easily with tail down.

D.) Follows hesitantly.

E.) Does not follow or runs away.

3. Restraint Test

Gently place the puppy on its back on the ground (make sure the ground is soft) while holding the puppy carefully in place by one hand on his or her chest for about 30 seconds.

A.) Struggles while biting or growling the whole time.

B.) Struggles with no biting or growling.

C.) Struggles at first but then calms down.

D.) Stays in place without struggling, licking at your hands.

E.) Stays in place without struggling, but appears afraid.

4. Social Dominance Test

Lay the puppy on the grown and hold him in place gently with one hand, while petting him from his head, down his neck, and across his back for about 30 seconds.

A.) Struggles the whole time while growling or biting.

B.) Struggles the whole time with no growling or biting.

C.) Struggles at first but then accepts the petting.

D.) Rolls over on his back and accepts the petting.

E.) Moves as far away from your hand as you’ll allow and doesn’t move.

5. Elevation Dominance Test

Lift the puppy up by wrapping your hands around his torso. Hold the puppy in the air with his feet a few inches off the ground.

A.) Struggles the entire time while biting at your hands or growling.

B.) Struggles the entire time with no biting or growling.

C.) Struggles at first but then calms down and/or licking at your hands.

D.) Stays in place without struggling, licking at your hands.

E.) Stays in place without struggling, but appears afraid.

Add up how many A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and E’s the puppy got during these five tests and use the information below to help you predict the puppy’s natural temperament.

After adding up the results you should see a trend where the puppy tends to fall either closer to the A’s or closer to the E’s. The ideal dog is somewhere in the middle.

• Mostly A’s – This dog displays very dominant and aggressive behaviors. This puppy is not a good choice for a family with children or elderly in the home. Prone to aggressive actions like biting. May have difficulty in a home with other dogs of the same sex. With intensive training and the right environment, however, this dog could be excellent as a guard or personal protection dog. Not a good choice for a first-time dog owner.
• Mostly B’s – This is a dog that may be stubborn and try to be dominant in the household but is still trainable by someone with experience. This is not a good choice for a family with children or elderly in the home due to its dominant nature. Not a good choice for a first-time dog owner.
• Mostly C’s – This dog is well tempered and an excellent first-time dog. This dog will likely work well in a family, including one with young children in the household. Loyal and predictable, a Doberman with mostly C’s will still be a valuable home protector.
• Mostly D’s – Mostly submissive, this dog can still be an acceptable family dog. However, he might react negatively to harsh correction or could bite if frightened. This dog will likely seek out lots of reassurance and attention.
• Mostly E’s – This dog is very submissive and may bite out of fear. This type of dog is not a good choice for a family with children or elderly in the home. This dog may also be prone to phobias and scare easily.
• No Obvious Pattern – If the puppy’s scores don’t show any pattern at all and the results appear to be “all over the map”, repeat the testing to check again for any noticeable pattern. If the results are the same, then you’re dealing with a very unpredictable dog. These dogs are difficult to train, may bite, and they’re certainly not recommended for any owner other than those very experienced with training. Definitely don’t get a Doberman puppy with this result if you have children in the home.

Reading the results of the test is simply looking to see where on the scale the dog falls. At the upper end (near the A’s) is a very dominant and aggressive dog. On the lower end (near the E’s) is an easily frightened and submissive dog. Somewhere tightly in the middle is a very well rounded dog that is ideal for most situations.

“If none of the puppies seem to be a good fit for you, be willing to walk away from the litter. The most important thing should be finding a puppy that’s right for you.”

– John Walter (DobermanPlanet.com)

Printable Puppy Scoring Sheet – Just for Dobermans!

I’ve created a printable scoring sheet that you take with you when you go to pick out your puppy. This will help you to test and keep track of the scores of each puppy. Save the completed score sheet for when your dog is an adult, these are lots of fun to look back at later on!

Download the Puppy Health & Personality Scoring Sheet here.

Should You Pick a Male or Female Doberman?

The choice of a male or female Doberman is a tough one but it may also help you to save time while testing the puppies. If you know you only want a female, for example, then you only need to perform the personality testing on that portion of the litter.

• Male Dobermans: Males tend to be a bit more impulsive and require extra care and training. They’re also more inclined towards leadership, excel at guard duties, and are fairly independent. Male Dobermans are also larger than their female counterparts. Generally, they’re about two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier.

• Female Dobermans: Slightly smaller and sleeker than male Dobermans, females are generally a bit easier to train and tend to be less dominating. They’re very loving and thrive on lots of affection.

If you already have a Doberman in your household, I would strongly urge you to consider getting one of the opposite sex for your next Dobie. Unfortunately, there are some issues with same-sex aggression in Dobermans.

For a much more in-depth comparison between male and female Dobermans, including their temperamental differences, see my article Male vs. Female Doberman: Which is Better?

Once you pick out a puppy, you really need to DNA health test them yourself. You never know if the information you were given from your breeder is really true until you do your own test. It’ll also give you an idea of the potential longevity of your dog, genetic health concerns, who their relatives are, and a lot more. See my Doberman DNA Health Testing Guide here to see how to do this easily at home.

Related Questions

Are male or female Dobermans more aggressive? Although male Dobermans are larger and have more muscle mass, females have a reputation for being more protective, territorial and aggressive. Females also mature quicker and are ready for guard work at a younger age than their male counterparts.

Are male or female Dobermans easier to train? Both sexes of Dobermans are considered highly trainable, but females tend to mature earlier and are easier to train than their male counterparts.

What’s the biggest puppy in a litter called? While there’s no official word for the largest puppy in a litter, many refer to them as the giant, colossus, or titan of the litter.

The post How to Choose the Best Doberman Puppy from a Litter appeared first on Doberman Planet.

If you are serious about getting a Doberman puppy, you’ve probably noticed that it can be difficult to find a quality breeder. Unfortunately, reputable breeders of Doberman Pinschers are becoming more difficult to find.

Over the years, I’ve found some very good (and some not so good) online resources where people looking to buy a Doberman puppy can go to see what puppies are available. I’m always adding to this list as I discover new sources for Doberman puppies and work hard to keep the information on this list up to date.

Where to Find Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale

It’s important to get your dog from a reputable breeder to ensure they will live a long, healthy life without costly health complications. These resources are just a starting point to get you in contact with breeders. It’s up to you to make sure the breeders you contact are reputable.

You may come across listings for Backyard breeders and puppy mills during your search, these are poor sources for a Doberman. Backyard breeders (BYB) are people who breed their dogs on the side and sell their puppies to anyone who will buy them. They generally don’t perform health screenings and are not concerned with ethical breeding practices. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in generally very poor conditions and they’re considered the worst place to get a puppy from.

Reputable breeders, on the other hand, will health screen their dogs, practice ethical breeding, perform all necessary early life veterinary care of their puppies, ensure their dogs are going to good homes and will provide kennel club certification papers with their dogs. They will cost a little more from a reputable breeder, but it’s worth it.

For more information on how much you can expect to pay and how to spot a reputable breeder, see my post on the costs of buying a Doberman puppy.

Doberman Buyer’s Guide: If you want an in-depth guide that will help you choose what variety, sex, age, and lineage of Doberman would be best for your specific situation, see my article all about picking the best type of Doberman for you.

American Kennel Club (AKC) Marketplace

• Link: AKC Marketplace – Doberman Pinscher Puppies
• Risk Level: Low
• Search Options: Distance, gender, champion bloodline, puppies available now, puppies coming soon

The American Kennel Club is one of the must trusted kennel clubs around. They have their own marketplace where breeders can list their puppies for sale. This is one of the lowest risk marketplaces to find a breeder of Doberman puppies.

The marketplace has a slew of search options, plenty of pictures posted by the breeders, and they will also prominently indicate if the puppies being offered are from a championship bloodline.

Breeders want to stay in good standing with the AKC so they can continue to list on their marketplace. The AKC performs systematic inspections of their dogs and kennels. Breeders also earn badges based on their involvement with the breed, years participating in AKC canine sports, titles their dogs have won, consistent health screening of their puppies, and when they’ve attended certain AKC education courses and seminars. They will also tell you if the breeder you have chosen is a registered member of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) and what competitions they participate in (obedience, agility, conformation).

Any prospective buyer of a puppy from a breeder listed on the AKC marketplace can also call the AKC and confirm that the breeder is still in good standing with their organization. You can contact AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767.

Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) Breeder Directory

• Link: DPCA Breeder Directory – Doberman Breeder Referral
• Risk Level: Low
• Search Options: State, text search of the listings

The Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) is another great place to find Doberman puppies for sale in the U.S., Canada, and other countries. They’re a member of the AKC and the only national Doberman specific club that is sanctioned by the AKC. Their breeder referral section is a great place to find reputable Doberman breeders.

They have a very simple listing of breeders with limited search functions. There is a text search option where you can enter your state or country so it will show you results just from that area. There are no pictures or descriptions of the litters available on their directory. It’s merely a directory of a contact information for these breeders. However, most breeders will have a link listed to their website where you can go to see pictures and specific information on the dogs they have available. One section in this directory to pay attention to is how long they’ve been a member of DPCA. This will be an indication of their dedication to the Doberman breed.

In order to be considered to be included in the DPCA breeder listings, breeders must be a current member of the DPCA and in good standing with both DPCA and the AKC. They also must have been a member for at least five years. This is one of the main reasons this list is considered to be low risk.

United Doberman Club (UDC) Breeder Directory

• Link: UDC Breeder Directory
• Risk Level: Low
• Search Options: Breeder name

This directory contains mostly European Dobermans. If you don’t know the difference, take a look at my article about the differences between European and American Dobermans here.

These dogs are generally working dogs, meaning they tend to be high-drive dogs that are great for things like protection work, search and rescue, agility competitions, etc. However, there are certainly some breeders here who also value breeding a good family dog, so it’s worth a look.

This website has very limited search functions, it’s basically just a list of breeder names with their contact information. But the breeders listed here will generally be pretty heavily involved in the breed and you’re very likely to find reputable breeders here. If you want a European Doberman, I’d start here.

Doberman Diversity Project Participating Breeder Directory

• Link: (Discontinued)
• Risk Level: Low
• Search Options: None

UPDATE (June 2022): The Doberman Diversity Project has discontinued its “Participating Breeder Directory”. You may consider emailing the Doberman Diversity Project and asking for a referral to a good breeder who has the health and behavior of their dogs as their top priority.

The Doberman Diversity Project is a non-profit organization who’s dedicated to improving the health of the Doberman breed. They run health studies and many other programs geared specifically towards the betterment of the breed.

They maintain a list of breeders who have participated in some of their past projects. The great thing about this list is that since these breeders have worked with the Doberman Diversity Project in the past, you can bet that they care very heavily about the health of their dogs.

If you’re looking for a breeder whose top concern is the health of their Dobermans, then you’ll definitely want to check here.

Puppy Spot

• Link: PuppySpot.com – Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale
• Risk Level: Moderate
• Search Options: Gender, age, color

Puppy Spot is an online service that lists individual puppies for sale on their website instead of just individual breeders. They also have a bigger hand in making sure that only quality breeders work through their service than many online sources for puppies.

Surprisingly, they don’t have an option to search by distance but it seems that most of their puppies are shipped to their new owners. Each listing will have pictures of the individual dog as well as some basic information about the pup’s parents. They even have some listings with videos available of the puppies.

While Puppy Spot is not officially sanctioned by the AKC, any puppy bought through their service will come with an AKC registration packet. This website takes many extra steps to help ensure their puppies come from responsible breeders. They have a “no puppy mill promise” for the breeders listed on their site. They also have their own in-depth health examination that is required of every puppy shortly before it goes to their new home. The puppies also must be up to date on de-worming and vaccinations. They expect new owners to go get the dog checked again within two days of the puppy’s arrival by their own veterinarian to confirm the test, and to also qualify for their health guarantee.

Puppy Spot claims to carefully screen each breeder who lists on their site and will investigate as appropriate if any issues arise after they list with the site. They may remove the breeder if they find any violations of their standards. They claim that less than 10 percent of the breeders who apply to list their dogs on their site are accepted due to their stringent standards.

Next Day Pets

• Link: NextDayPets.com – Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale
• Risk Level: High
• Search Options: State, gender, price, for sale or adoption

Next Day Pets is basically an online classified listing specifically for puppies. It can be high risk since you are more likely to find backyard breeders listing their dogs for sale here. They do seem to have a good number of Doberman Pinscher puppies to choose from. However, there are a few breeders I recognize on the service so I know there are some reputable ones there as well. Definitely make sure to do your research on any breeder you contact through this site.

The listings on Next Day Pets will indicate if the puppy has a champion bloodline, if shipping is available, and other basic information. They also offer email alerts for when new puppies are listed that match your criteria.

Listing on the site is free, although some upgraded plans are available. This means you need to be extra careful about making sure you are contacting a reputable breeder through the service.

Puppy Find

• Link: PuppyFind.com – Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale
• Risk Level: High
• Search Options: State, gender, birth date

Puppy Find seems to have a large number of Doberman Pinscher puppies listed on their site so there are definitely plenty of options. But it is another online classifieds type site specifically for puppies so it’s definitely considered high risk. If you contact a breeder through this site, please make sure to be extra careful in your efforts to ensure they are reputable and not a backyard breeder or a puppy mill. It is likely that there are many such breeders on this site.

The search functions on Puppy Find are fairly limited especially when considering their large number of listings. You’re able to show search results from a specific state and order those results by the puppy’s gender, birthda, if a photo is included in the listing, and a few other options.

This website is free for anyone to list their litter on and does not do any quality checks or guarantees. Each listing will have a section about the breeder which is provided by the breeder themselves (and not checked for accuracy). It will, however, show how long they have been a member of the site which is somewhat helpful.

Craigslist

• Link: Craigslist.org – Community – Pets – Doberman
• Risk Level: Very High
• Search Options: Distance, text search

Craigslist is probably the most well-known website for listing everything for sale you can imagine. Finding a Doberman Puppy on Craigslist is extremely risky since you almost always find backyard breeders listing their dogs for sale there. You have to be extremely careful. The only advantage I can see about using a service like Craigslist to find a Doberman is you can usually find many options within driving distance which means you can go see the puppies and you’ll have an easier time picking one based on their individual personality and how they interact with you.

Craigslist no longer has a section for pets under their “for sale” section. To find Doberman puppies for sale, you’ll have to look under the pets section of their “community” area and search for “Doberman” in the search box. If you click the link above it’ll take you straight there. Besides a text-based search of the listings, you can also filter by distance and whether or not they have an image for their listing.

Hoobly Classifieds

• Link: Hoobly – Pets & Animals – Dogs & Puppies – Doberman Pinscher
• Risk Level: Very High
• Search Options: Country, State, and text search

Since Craiglist discontinued its pets section under the “for sale” category, Hoobly has taken its place for those who want to list their litters for sale on a basic online classifieds service. Like any classifieds listing service, it’s considered high risk since there are absolutely zero checks done on the breeders or their litters prior to listing.

There is the occasional reputable breeder who will list on these services, however, so just make sure you do your due diligence to ensure that they breed responsibly, including health tests and that they are involved in the Doberman breed in other ways as well.

Sources for Rescue or Shelter Dobermans for Adoption

Adopting a Doberman from a shelter or rescue is a great way to find a new member of your family. Unfortunately, you never know exactly what you’re going to get, that is why each source listed under this category is considered as high risk. Also, many mixed breeds will be listed as a Doberman Pinscher so be aware that you may not always be getting a purebred.

Adopt-A-Pet

• Link: AdoptAPet.com – Adopt a Doberman Pinscher
• Risk Level: High
• Search Options: Distance, gender, age

Adopt A Pet is a place where rescues and shelters will list their dogs as available for adoption. This is a good place to go if you are looking for an older Doberman who needs a home. Like any other adoption or rescue, you are doing a good deed by giving a needy dog a home but you really don’t know what you’re getting. There are a lot of mixed breeds listed as Doberman Pinschers so if you want a purebred, you need to be careful.

They have basic search functions and photos of individual dogs available. Their listings including information about the dogs color, if it’s house trained, if it’s good with other dogs or kids, whether it’s spayed or neutered, if the dog is up to date on their shots, and what the adoption fee is. The listing will also indicate which rescue or shelter has the dog, and what the basic process is for adoption. You can also set up e-mail alerts so you’ll be alerted when a new dog is listed matching your criteria.

If you are interested in finding out what’s involved in the adoption process from a rescue or shelter, there’s a good breakdown on what you can expect on their site here.

Pet Finder

• Link: PetFinder.com – Adopt a Doberman Pinscher
• Risk Level: High
• Search Options: Distance, gender, age, color, personality traits, and more

Pet Finder is another resource for finding an adoptable Dobie from a rescue or shelter. They seem to have a lot of Doberman (or Doberman mixes) listed on their site. This is a great resource for an older Doberman but just like with any time you adopt a dog, you don’t exactly know what you are going to get, but you are doing a good deed! Many mixed breeds will be listed as a Doberman here as well.

There are a ton of search and filter options on this site and they also offer e-mail alerts so you can be notified when a new dog is listed that matches your search criteria. Their listings are pretty basic and include contact information for the specific shelter or rescue that currently has the dog.

Other Sources for Dobermans

• Local Classifieds: These are very risky since this is one of the go-to places for Backyard breeders to list their dogs for sale. It will be completely up to you to do your research on anyone you contact through the classifieds in your local paper.
• Pet Stores: Pet stores will often offer Doberman puppies for sale but unfortunately you just don’t know where they’re coming from. Not all pet stores are the same though so talk with your store and see how knowledgeable they seem about the dogs they have for sale and where they come from. See if you can get contact information for the breeder. If they won’t give you that information, that’s a red flag.
• Community Bulletin Boards: Just like with finding your Doberman puppy on a classified listing, this is a high-risk source. It might be convenient since the puppies are usually local, but don’t be afraid to drive a little further and get a puppy from a reputable source.
• Word of Mouth: This can actually be a really good method for finding a reputable breeder if you talk to the right people. Get involved in a local Doberman Pinscher club and speak with their members. A lot of them will have great recommendations on quality breeders, just be sure to do your checking on any breeders that are recommended to you. To find local Doberman Pinscher clubs near you, you can check The Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) Chapter Clubs listing (click on the “Find a Chapter Club” tab). Or for another listing of Doberman clubs by state, take a look at PetsWelcome.com Directory of Doberman Pinscher Clubs in the U.S.

Picking a Specific Puppy

Now that you’ve found a great source for your new family member, you’ll need to pick a specific puppy from the litter. Not all puppies in a given litter are the same, in fact, far from it. Each puppy has it’s own personality and will have its own temperament as an adult.

To help make sure you pick a puppy who will have a great, calm, family-oriented temperament as an adult, I wrote a guide called How to Choose the Best Doberman Puppy from a Litter. Take a quick read over it so you’ll at least know the key points to look for. There’s also a free printable puppy scoring sheet you can take with you which will help enormously with your decision.

TIP: Before you bring home a new puppy, there are more than a few items you’re going to need. To see my comprehensive list of all the items you’re going to need to buy before bringing home a new Dobie puppy, see my New Doberman Puppy Shopping List here. You’re going to need to know how much these things cost!

Related Questions

How much does it cost to adopt a Doberman? Adopting a Doberman Pinscher will cost anywhere between $50 to $300 in adoption fees, depending on the requirements of the specific shelter or rescue.

Where is the best place to buy a Doberman Puppy? The best place to buy a Doberman Puppy is through a reputable breeder who holds themselves and their dogs to the highest of standards. Many of these breeders can be found through the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA).

DISCLAIMER

The risk level assessments listed on this page are based entirely on the author’s opinion. Many reputable breeders will list puppies for sale in online outlets listed here as “high risk” or even “very high risk.” Conversely, non-reputable breeders may also be found in the resources listed here as “low risk”. It is important that you do your research before deciding to work with any specific breeder. Neither Doberman Planet nor the author makes any guarantees or warranties about any of the information or resources presented here. The information presented here is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

The post 15 Places to Find Doberman Puppies for Sale: Best to Worst appeared first on Doberman Planet.

I’m often asked by people interested in owning their first Dobie how much a Doberman puppy typically costs. After working out exactly what I spent in the first year of Doberman ownership, and discussing puppy costs with many reputable Doberman breeders, I can tell you there is a specific price range you should expect to pay for an American Doberman.

How much does a Doberman cost? The average price of a Doberman puppy from a reputable breeder is between $1500 and $2500. Pet quality Dobermans will be closer to $1500, while a show quality Doberman will cost closer to $2500.

This price range is for the typical American Doberman. However, there are also European Dobermans which can cost over $3000. There are also various Doberman colors available including black, red, blue, fawn, and white. But besides the cost of the puppy, there are many other costs you should expect in the first year of Doberman ownership. That’s why I’ve worked out what I spent the first year of owning my Doberman, so you won’t be caught off guard.

The Average Cost of a Doberman Puppy

You’re ready to count out your hard earned cash for a cute Doberman pup, but how hard will it be on your wallet? Well, Doberman puppies have been known to be sold for prices ranging from $500 to $3500. In general, it’s good to be wary about the quality of dog you are getting if the price is unexpectedly low (anything under about $1000 should be a red flag). With purebred dog breeds, you typically get what you pay for.

However, the typical American Doberman, purchased in the United States from a reputable breeder averages between $1500 and $2500. European Dobermans are even pricer and if they’re purchased in the United States, they’ll typically cost upwards of $3000.

I have compiled a list of places to find a reputable Doberman breeder here. This list will also help you spot the breeders that you should avoid.

There are many other factors that can affect the price of a Doberman puppy, however. Factors like:

• Bloodline – If the puppy comes from a bloodline of a Doberman that has won a show or competition, it will cost more.
• Breeder Reputation – Some breeders are just better known for producing healthy, strong, and well cared for puppies. They may be also known because of the number of their dogs who hold show titles. If you get your Dobie puppy from a breeder that’s known far and wide, it’ll cost you more.
• Kennel Club Papers – If the puppy itself is certified purebred by an accredited kennel club in your country (such as AKC in the United States), it will cost more. If only the parents are certified, it may cost slightly less. If there’s no certification, the puppy will cost significantly less.
• Ear Cropping – A Doberman can get their ears cropped between about 7 to 12 weeks of age. Most breeders won’t separate a puppy from their mothers until at least 8 weeks of age. So many breeders will sell Doberman puppies with their ears already cropped. This will increase the price of the puppy.
• Disease Testing – If there is testing done on the puppy (or the parents of the puppy) for common Doberman medical disorders such as von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) it will raise the cost.
• Tail Docking and Dew Claw Removal – These are very common and almost all breeders will automatically do these things to their Doberman puppies unless a customer specifically requests not to.
• Vaccines – Some breeders will offer Doberman puppies for sale only after they have had their first round of vaccines. This will increase the cost of the puppies.

The typical Doberman puppy from a reputable breeder will come with their tail docked, dew claws removed, disease tests completed, and kennel club papers. Still common (but slightly less so), they’ll come with their ears already cropped and their first round of vaccines completed.

Types of Breeders

I’ve mentioned the phrase “reputable breeder” a few times already. It’s important you understand the differences between a reputable breeder and other common breeders of Doberman puppies. This is probably the biggest factor affecting the price of a puppy. These are the three most common types of breeders you’re likely to find offering Doberman’s for sale.

Puppy Mills

Puppy mills generally offer the cheapest dogs for sale. They are commercial establishments that focus on breeding dogs on an intensive schedule and typically provide inhumane conditions. Dogs from puppy mills can have health problems, inbreeding complications, and even injuries due to poor living conditions. You should never purchase a dog from a puppy mill.

Average price of a Doberman from a puppy mill: $300 – $600

Backyard Breeders (BYB)

Also offering very cheap dogs for sale, backyard breeders are dogs bred by people who don’t breed dogs for a living and often offer puppies for sale that were the result of unplanned K-9 pregnancies.

Backyard Breeders often don’t follow applicable laws or best practices for ethical dog breeding. They may be first-time breeders who decided to “give it a try” to see if they can breed their dog and sell some puppies to make some money on the side. They’re often well-intentioned, but inexperienced. This can be a questionable source for a Doberman puppy.

Average price of a Doberman from a backyard breeder: $500 – $1000

Reputable Doberman Breeders

These are breeders whose business is focused around the dog industry and on Dobermans specifically. They often participate in dog shows and competitions, keep tedious records of the dogs they breed, and will usually have long wait lists for their litters. Buying a Doberman from a reputable breeder will often involve them asking a lot of questions of you, to make sure their dogs are going to a good home.

Reputable Doberman breeders have methods for shipping the dogs nationwide already established and will have their Dobermans tested for medical issues common in Dobermans such as von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). A purebred Doberman bought from a reputable breeder will come with kennel club certification papers.

Average price of a Doberman from a reputable Doberman breeder: $1500 – $2500

Initial Costs of Doberman Ownership

I know, you’re excited to pick up your cute Doberman puppy. But before you do, you should know that there are some considerable initial costs when you first get a new puppy besides just the puppy itself.

I’ve compiled a list of items you’ll need for a new Doberman puppy here to help you out. Make sure to have a look at that list—it’ll save you a lot of time and money finding what works well for a Dobie puppy.

In general, though, it’s a good idea to be prepared for these expenses at a minimum.

Additional Costs to Get Started

All dollar values are approximations and are intended to give you a general idea of the initial costs of Doberman ownership. This is in addition to the cost of the puppy.

Many owners of new puppies elect to sign up for dog insurance to help cover medical costs. If you sign up for a puppy specific plan, then it will likely cover many of the initial medical-related costs for your new puppy. I decided to go with a plan offered by Banfield Pet Hospital (this is the nationwide veterinarian that is often located inside PetSmart stores) since it was very reasonable and covered almost all the initial costs after we brought our Dobie home.

My First Year Expenses Owning a Doberman Puppy

There were so many smaller expenses that I didn’t expect when I first brought home my Doberman, Cooper. I decided to catalog the expenses I incurred in the first year of ownership so I can let other potential Doberman owners know what to expect.

The first year of ownership is significantly more expensive than the later years when your dog is full-grown. So, unless your dog has an unexpected medical issue, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that every year won’t be as expensive as this first year.

Before you mention it in the comments, yes, I only paid $600 for my Doberman. To be perfectly honest, this was before I knew the dangers of buying from a backyard breeder. I will give the breeders some credit however, they seemed to really care, had both parents at the home for me to meet, had kennel club papers for both parents, and proof of genetic screening for certain Doberman conditions (for the parents only, not the puppies themselves).

It was definitely still a risk, and my next Doberman will certainly come from a reputable breeder, but things worked out for me. I ended up with one great (and very loved) new family member.

These were the expenses I incurred during the first year of Doberman ownership.

My Expenses the First Year

These numbers are rounded up to the nearest dollar. “Other Equipment” includes things like a leash, bowls, crate, bed, doggie door, carpet cleaner, dog waste bags, puppy pee pads, etc.

Knowing what I know now about Doberman’s, there are a few things I will do differently for my next dog which will affect the expenses a bit. These include:

• Buying my Doberman puppy from a reputable breeder. I didn’t, but next time I will. This will probably add about $2000 to the cost of the puppy.
• Use a higher quality dog food. I choose Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food. There are much higher quality foods out there but they will cost a little more. This would add probably around $400 a year to my food expenses.
• More time spent training. It’s important to focus on training in the early years. I would still do it myself but more training means increased treats costs since treats are used heavily in training. Probably about $50 additional for the year.

As you can see in the table, a lot of the expenses in the first year are listed zero because they were covered by the puppy health plan that I purchased through Banfield Pet Hospital. This is just how I choose to help cover these expenses and there is nothing wrong with deciding to cover your expenses on your own, out of pocket. You’ll need to decide what’s best for you. Without this plan, neutering, vaccines, and deworming would have cost approximately $900.

What I really liked about the plan was that it covered 100% of the costs of an unlimited number of veterinarian visits. That way if I had any concerns about my dog I could see a veterinarian for their opinion for free. As an overly worried new Dobie Dad, this was a great feature of this plan!

Also, I choose to go with a slightly more expensive ear cropping service through a very well known veterinarian about 45 minutes away from me. They were well known for doing great work with Doberman’s.

They used techniques that are as pain-free as possible which included localized anesthesia and full sedation during the process. Also, they would do all the posting and other aftercare of the ears as they healed. I figured it was worth the additional cost. Cropping ears usually cost somewhere around $500.

Monthly Cost of Owning an Adult Doberman

As I mentioned earlier, owning an adult Doberman (over 1-year-old) is considerably cheaper than your first year with a new puppy. Trust me, after that first year, it’s usually smooth sailing! That’s because there are a lot of one-off expenses that you’ll have to get done early on in your Dobie’s life.

Now that my Dobie is five years old, I have a pretty good handle on what an adult Doberman usually costs. These are the typical expenses for owning an adult Dobie.

Average Monthly Expenses for an Adult Doberman

Many of these numbers are approximations and all numbers are rounded up to the nearest dollar.

I would consider this to be the typical cost of owning an adult Doberman. However, you should always be prepared for unexpected expenses with an emergency fund. If your pup unexpectedly needs prescription medications or swallows a sock that gets stuck in his intestines (it happens) and needs surgery, you may have to dip into your emergency fund.

Other Potential Expenses

There are other expenses that come with owning these dogs that you may or may not need to pay for depending on your situation. These are a few examples.

• DNA Testing – I no longer really consider this an optional expense, not with Dobermans anyway. You really should test your Doberman’s DNA so you understand what genetic disorders you might be battling down the road. This can cost a few hundred dollars, but honestly, it’s well worth it. See my Doberman DNA Health Testing guide here with help on how to do this at home yourself.
• Training – Training for your dog is especially important in the first year. I choose to train my dog at home myself, but using a puppy class or certified trainer are great options. This can cost from $65 for eight weeks of group puppy classes to $150 per hour for private in-home training
• Day Care or Pet Walking Services – If you work for eight hours a day like most of us, you may find yourself needing daycare for your pup or pet walking services during the day while you’re gone. This can cost between $15 and $40 per day for daycare. Pet walking can be cheaper if you find a trusted neighbor kid to do the job!
• Ear Cropping – This should always be done through a reputable veterinarian who has experience cropping Doberman’s ears. This will cost between $300 and $800. Learn more about ear cropping here.
• Pet Insurance – Pet insurance can help cover medical costs should your Dobie need to see a veterinarian and typically costs between $30 and $100 a month depending on what it covers.
• Shipping – If you buy your puppy from a breeder out of the area, you may need to pay for shipping to get your new puppy home. Work with your breeder and agree on a reputable service. This will typically cost between $200 to $800 depending on how far the dog needs to be shipped.
• Kennel Club Registration – If your dog didn’t come with papers and you decide you’d like to get your dog registered with a kennel club (such as AKC), this will usually cost around $35.
• Tail Docking – Tail docking should ideally be done when the puppy is a few days old. Docking a puppy’s tail usually costs between $10 and $50 per puppy. It can be as much as $1000 to dock an adult dog’s tail. Learn more about tail docking here.
• Dew Claw Removal – Removing the dewclaws on a puppy is done when the dog is a few days old. This typically costs around $20 per puppy but it can be as much as $500 to remove an adult dog’s dewclaw.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s always important to be financially prepared for the unexpected. Dobermans are very intelligent and strong dogs, but they are far from immune to sudden health problems or accidents.

Finding a Cheaper Doberman

There are other ways someone might be able to own a Doberman for a cheaper price than by going through a breeder. The first three places listed below often involve getting a slightly older Doberman.

• Doberman rescue centers
• Humane society
• Other adoption centers
• Overseas

Doberman rescue center and humane society Doberman’s can work well for a family without kids. But if you are adopting an adult dog with an unknown history, it’s important that you know what you are doing and certainly, don’t bring them into a home with children. To find Dobermans up for adoption, you can check online resources such as AdoptAPet.com. Adopting a Doberman will cost between $100 to $300 in adoption fees.

Some people will buy a Doberman overseas and bring them back to the United States. This makes sense, especially when dealing with purebred European Dobermans. They can cost over $3000 when they are bought within the U.S.

In Russia, Ukraine, or Poland, the European breed of Doberman can be bought for significantly less, usually between about $500 and $1500. However, you will have to either bring the dog back yourself or have it shipped internationally. It’ll cost around $250 to fly back with your new Dobie should you decide to go pick him up yourself, or around $800 to have the dog shipped back to the U.S.

How to Find Products That Work for Dobermans

Dobermans are a fairly unique breed, and it’s very easy to waste thousands of dollars on products that seem like they will work great but leave you disappointed once you try them with your Doberman. You just can’t walk into your typical pet store and buy anything you see, like owners of other breeds can.

Since I found myself often helping people who were at their wits end after wasting time and money on products that weren’t right for a Doberman, I decided to make a directory of products that either I’ve personally tested or my clients have, and they are confirmed to work great for Dobermans.

These items are listed in the menu at the top of this page under “Recommended Products”. As I find new products that work better, I will continually update this list.

You can find my list of recommended products for Dobermans here.

Related Questions

How much does a blue Doberman cost? Blue Doberman Pinscher puppies generally cost the same as their black or red counterparts. You can expect to pay between $1500 and $2500 from a reputable breeder.

How much does a fawn Doberman cost? A fawn colored Doberman puppy should cost the same as a Doberman puppy of any other color, or between $1500 and $2500 from a reputable breeder. However, some breeders will attempt to collect a premium for fawn colored puppies.

How much does a white Doberman cost? A white (or albino) Doberman puppy is incredibly rare and owning one is controversial among Doberman owners due to their potential for health problems. They’ll cost about the same as other Doberman puppies, or between $1500 and $2500.

How much does a European Doberman cost? Purebred European Dobermans purchased in the United States from a reputable breeder will generally cost between $3000 and $4000. The same dog purchased in many European countries will cost between $500 and $2000.

How much does a King Doberman cost? A King Doberman (or “Warlock Doberman”) isn’t a recognized breed. This type of dog is often described as a larger Doberman Pinscher. However, they’re usually a cross between a Great Dane and a Doberman. Many breeders attempt to market them as a form of purebred Doberman and charge as much as $4000 for a puppy.

The post How Much Does a Doberman Cost? Puppy Prices and Expenses appeared first on Doberman Planet.