Search16 week old puppy now, or wait til spring?
Hi everyone, I need some advice. We were going to get a puppy in the spring (red male is what we are hoping for). But a couple of days ago we got a call from the breeders. It turns out that a puppy (red male) from their last litter is now back in their care. The story is that the lady that took him, didn't finish paying them as agreed, so they had to go and get him. He's 16 weeks old now. They took him to the vet and everything checked out. They even said they would reduce his price being as he is older. My concerns are: I have no idea how this other lady treated him. I was also told that she has no kids ( I have a 13 year old and 4 year old). Should I be concerned about these things being as he is still young? Or am I being paranoid? Also, I was told by a friend of mine that has a Doberman not to purchase one so close to winter because potty training is very difficult with them in very cold temps (we live in Ohio). Is there any truth to that?
Thanks in advance for your help :) Amy
Thanks for the great advice, we will go and meet him. The main reason I am wanting a male is that I already have an 11 year old Golden female named Belle. She is a very submissive girl. When friends bring their dogs over for visits, she gets along fine with the males, but seems a bit nervous around females. She's never agressive with them, she just doesn't act like herself. I hope to one day bring in a female doberman as well, but that's a ways down the road :)
A good thing about having a puppy in the fall and winter is that limiting exercise is easier. Until he's a year old he shouldn't be allowed to over exert himself of run at full throttle. This can cause damage that will result in dysplasia later in life.
What types of exercise would you recommend for him until he is older?
Thanks!
Getting petted. ;D
Until six months his walking around and investigating the yard is enough. After that easy walks are OK. Just avoid running and jumping until his bones stop their fast growth, around 1 year of age.
Thanks so much for your help :) I will let you know how it goes after we meet him.
Thanks for this post :D I am also looking for a pup & was wondering about housetraining in the winter...always a silver lining in those clouds!!
My first Dobe was a 16 week old female that had been returned to her breeder because she was getting too big. They had lost their old Min. Schnauzer and were looking for another dog. Their son was a good friend of the breeder and he was talking about how nice his friends dog was so they got her as a puppy. They were not prepared for a rambunctious puppy and she had the bad habit of jumping up on people. That was easily cured by stepping into her and gently putting a knew to her chest and rewarding her when she did not do it.
She was a gorgeous animal and I had a wonderful almost 7 yrs before I lost her. I got a male a few years later and she had several litters of puppies. I had that line for over 15 years before her great grand daughter died at the age of three due to brain cancer. I had my original male (the mate to my first female) for almost 12 years.
One nice thing about the Dobe at the age of 16 weeks is they are almost perfectly proportioned miniatures of what they will look like when full grown. (The exception is the oversized paws as they grow first). Do not be alarmed when they have a tendency to track sideways when they walk while young. It is not unusual for a young Doberman to walk through a doorway and hit the doorframe with their hip. They are officially described as "square back gallopers". This means that their spine and legs are the same length giving them an unusual gait. Most dogs run, Dobes have a gait more like a horse, in that they trot and then gallop.
Below is a scanned photo of her when the was 2 1/2. I got one very good dog on the rebound and never had a minutes trouble with her.
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Potty training is more difficult only because their little paws bring in mud in the winter. I've found the Doberman a very easy dog to house train, but the males, like all male dogs, regardless of season, will try marking in the house. At his age though, he should already be house-broke, assuming the breeder raises their dogs in the house. If they don't, stay away from that breeder.
Getting a 16-week-old means you miss the bonding period. Don't let this change your mind though. Bonding is never a problem with Dobermans.
You're right, you don't know how he was treated this whole time. So, there could be problems from that. Have you visited the puppy? A good way to tell if there are problems is how he reacts to you and the kids if you visit him. If he cowers or is hesitant about approaching you or the kids, that's a bad sign. If he come flying into the room, licking and bouncing from one little face to the other, this is normal and good.
A good thing about having a puppy in the fall and winter is that limiting exercise is easier. Until he's a year old he shouldn't be allowed to over exert himself of run at full throttle. This can cause damage that will result in dysplasia later in life.
But really - if this is a GOOD breeder, the puppy is healthy, and you see no signs of behavioral problems - I wouldn't miss the chance to get him. Quality Doberman Pinschers are very hard to find, especially if you're focused on a color and gender.