doberman
pinscher puppies doberman pinscher breeders
Mistel Dobermans
- Six Consecutive Generations of Breeder Owner Handled Doberman Champions
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First and foremost, Mistel is not a commercial kennel. Mistel is a hobby kennel dedicated to producing occasional very high quality litters. We do not breed for the purpose of income, as we have full income from other sources. We breed a litter every year or two … only when we want something for competition in the show ring to represent our program. Our goal is to produce show quality dogs with outstanding temperaments so they can contribute to the happiness of a family environment. We usually keep only one puppy, with the remainder being placed in show, obedience, or companion homes. The few grown dogs that we have are all AKC champions and all live in our home with us. The litters are whelped inside our home, and the puppies are individually socialized and trained. Since we breed so seldom, it is imperative
that we thoroughly research our choices and breed the best possible combination
of sire and dam. We simply cannot make mistakes and maintain our limited, but
highly successful breeding program.
Mistel Breeding Fundamentals The Dam Our dams are always champions. We do not subscribe to the practice of breeding a bitch that was not good enough to complete her championship to some champion male in hopes of getting a good puppy. Though having a champion dam does not guarantee that the pups will be outstanding, it does guarantee that impartial AKC judges assessed the bitch and they determined her to be of champion quality (not the breeder). Quality bitches bred to quality dogs usually offer the best possibility of having quality pups. The Sire Sire selection in crucial. We do not breed to a mediocre dog with an outstanding pedigree. We also will not breed to an outstanding dog with a weak pedigree, as they often do not produce well. Rather, we find a superior dog that has a strong pedigree filled with high quality champions and champion producers. Geography is not a criterion for our breeding program. We determine the best match for the bitch irrespective of location, and breed to that dog … even if it is completely across the continent (and it often has been). Breeding based on how close the dog is to the bitch limits the opportunity of breeding to the best. Proper testing of the sire for genetic health problems is a must. Sires are usually tested for thyroid function, sound hips, VWD status, heart testing, and other genetic issues. These test results become an important part of our evaluation and selection process. The Pups At about three weeks into the pregnancy, we ultrasound the dam to determine that she is pregnant and that everything is proceeding normally. Late in the pregnancy, we will ultrasound again and x-ray the dam to determine the number of pups and to confirm that all is normal. About a week before whelping one of us will sleep in the whelping room until the pups are born, ensuring that we will be available if anything unusual occurs. After whelping, one of us will continue sleeping in the whelping room to monitor the progress. Tails are cropped and dewclaws removed at three days. The puppies are weaned at 3 to 4 weeks of age. After weaning socialization begins. Friends visit to play with the pups, and the dam leads the pups on explorations of our 4 acres of fenced woods and hills. Shots are given on a predetermined scheduled. At eight to nine weeks, Dr. Patty Edwards in Atlanta crops ears. Dr. Edwards is one of the preeminent veterinarians in the US for Doberman ear crops. We do not allow show prospects to leave without ear crops by Dr. Edwards. We continue with socialization and begin show training during this period. Puppies are allowed to go to their new homes after the ears are healed and they have been posted for the first time. Breeder Knowledge Proper breeding requires knowing the pedigrees and the strengths and weaknesses of each animal in the pedigree. Knowing names on the pedigree and counting the number of champions is not an indication of knowledge of the pedigree. Knowledge requires the breeder to see many of the dogs in the pedigree in person, to speak with top breeders, and to observe first hand the results of other’s breeding programs. Gathering the kind of knowledge to be a successful breeder can only be accomplished through dedicated effort. Resources for this information are available by reading, by being active in dog clubs, and by attending many dog shows. Of particular importance is attending the annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Specialty Show to exchange thoughts with other top breeders, attend educational seminars, and observe the best Dobermans in this country. We are proud that we have attended 31 of the last 35 DPCA National Specialties. Attending shows as an exhibitor or as a judge also allows us to evaluate potential sires, and to see the results of other’s breeding. Since we still actively show, we are in attendance at many shows during the year. As a Judge, Bob also has the opportunity to have his hands on many Dobermans in all parts of the country for formal evaluation.
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