Without fail the most common question I am asked is “How much are your puppies?” I can tell a lot about a client by when they ask that question. If that is the first question out of their mouths, generally these Doberman puppies are not for them, people concerned with price before health quality, temperament etc seldom will appreciate the type of Doberman puppies we raise. I am the type of guy who wants to get my money’s worth just like the bulk of the world, but I finally learned that sometimes that means you spend more to get better value. Cheap isn’t always good. Here are some of my rambling philosophies on value. So how much are our Champion bred Doberman Pinschers? I guess you’ll have to call and ask the right questions to find out J

A word about Value

It is my opinion that you really do get what you pay for in a dog. When you purchase a car, they are priced (through honest people anyway) according to their overall mechanical and cosmetic condition, how they have been cared for, what features they have etc. Thankfully when buying cars there are buying guides to help determine the worth. In Dogs there is no guide to go by. Often I am asked why there is such a difference in the value of my Doberman puppies, and not only my pups, but between my pups and someone else's. It really comes down to value, what are you getting for your dollar, and naturally the environmental factors such as supply and demand influence it as well. I have seen Dobes for sale in today's market for as low as $300. I have seen them as high as $75,000. I have also seen people turn down $300,000 or more on really outstanding dogs. The differences break down roughly like this. Most important is the one thing most first time buyers overlook, that is the "quality" of the breeder. Do they have an understanding of the breed, genetics, and health? Do they have clear breeding goals that they are trying to achieve? Do they have experience? Was this a planned breeding with a goal to get closer to their model of perfection? Most importantly, are they going to be there for you after the purchase? It is my opinion that $300 pups come from accidental breeding or deliberate breeding between two dogs that happen to be Dobermans. Usually the breeding goal is cash. Generally it will be a first time breeder with little or no experience or education. Again this is just my opinion. Generally you will find that the pups will be worth what their parents were worth. It is very rare to find a a world champion quality pup from two $300 dogs. This type of breeder generally has not had any health testing, and likely doesn't have a good vet for regular check-ups and help along the way. This kind of care is very expensive, and the cost must be recouped somewhere. I admit 15 years ago, I raised $300 pups. I learned a lot over the years and developed my program and my education. I have learned that I would lose a great deal of money if I were to breed great quality dogs, from outstanding parents, care for them right and place them in their new homes for $300. It can't be done. Most importantly, I have learned if you have a problem with your $300 dog a year later, the breeder cannot be contacted, cannot remedy the problem, and won't answer your calls about health and training issues. They only answer calls asking about their puppies for sale. Breeder support is more important in many cases than the pup you choose. They have been through it all, they can answer most of your questions, and if you stump them, they know where to go to get the answers. More importantly, they are willing to do all of that. Naturally that time and dedication has value, and has real costs associated with it. Start there first when determining value, then consider the face value of pup. My Doberman puppies are available at a dollar amount according to what I think their potential is. Some dogs will be better athletes than others. Generally those traits are highly heritable, meaning if mom and dad are great athletes their offspring should be as well. Some dogs have better conformation than others making them ideal for show. those traits likewise are highly heritable. Some dogs are lucky enough to have both great conformation and athletic ability. Also important is their genetic potential which becomes a deeper genetic study that I can explain if you want to understand more. Pedigrees are important to some people and that to can influence price. Based on which female produced the pups, we know what to expect from those litters, and that is how we price our pups. What will the demand be for this bloodline, this conformation type, their temperament, the accomplishments of their ancestors as well as their own etc. We only produce pups that will meet our program goals, if they don't we don't continue breeding those females. We have given up many wonderful dogs that did produce great pups this last year because we can only feed so many, and the current girls are that much better. Determine what is important to you with your dog, what you want to accomplish, and then see if that type of dog will fit your budget. If you want to win an international championship, expect to pay more for your pup. If all you want is a great pet, pick one from a breeder with great support, and great health programs and a replacement policy. We want you to get the dog that best meets your needs, and we want you to know you got your money's worth.

Our puppies do cost more than many available out there, and for a good reason. We take time to research and select the best Champion Dobermans for our program, and plan each breeding carefully to produce the right kind of Doberman puppies for you. I want you to get a high quality Doberman puppy that you will be proud of, that will live for many years of effective service. I also want to be a support to you and your new Doberman, and that will take time and resources. Isn't the help and education worth a little more? With dogs you do get what you pay for, and with many dogs they don't come with any support. We will help you raise and train your dog wherever you want or need help. 

Steve Parsons

480-993-9797

http://www.familydobes.com

http://www.dobetalk.com