Quote Originally Posted by MissMowgli View Post
Ditto on the health testing. I'm not one of the dog breeding nazis who think only show dogs should be bred, but they should at least be tested for all applicable health conditions so you can give the puppies the best chance at a long, healthy life.
Unfortunately I doubt the OP will be willing to shell out the money needed for health testing - people who don't show or work their dogs rarely do. You're looking at a bare minimum of $500 per dog for the health testing the breed requires.

My female Doberman just turned two, which means I have to start her health testing... here's my cost breakdown so far:

vWD - I knew her status before I bought her - but otherwise about $130
CERF - $40 annually
OFA hips and elbows - I'm getting it done for about $330, but often it's more like $500
thyroid panel - $100 annually
liver panel - $60 annually
holter monitor and vest (I'm buying my own so I'll be able to test my dogs whenever I want, as opposed to going to a vet for one since they'll charge about the same for a single test - about $400) - $600
holter test kit & results - $25

That's a lot of money to people who are only breeding for pets. I don't really have a problem with "pet breeding" - as long as the parents are fullly health tested. But I've NEVER seen a fully health tested BYB Doberman litter.

Perhaps the OP can prove me wrong... but I somehow doubt the most 'health testing' will be a trip to the vet for an A-OK. And in this breed, that's not early enough. Not when two out of every three Dobermans will, statistically, suddenly drop dead - many at a very early age - due to DCM.