My Puppies
Joining the Whiskey Mac Family
I breed when I want something for myself which is not terribly often (I only like to have as many dogs as can fit on my California King at one time). The rest of the litter is placed in homes where they are treated like cherished children and where they will either go on to be champions of the couch or champions of the show ring. Untold amounts of blood, sweat, and tears go into producing and raising puppies. Their life long welfare is my only objective when finding perfect homes. I am going to crawl all up in your business to make sure you are the right home. I Do NOT make any money breeding. No amount of money is more important than the life long happiness of each of my puppies.
The first step is to read my entire site and fill out a Puppy Application. If you are a couple please fill it out together. Please do not skip questions or answer incompletely. There is no such thing as too much information. Please be ready to tell me everything about your past, present and future. If you are not comfortable answering personal questions about your life situation please save both of us a lot of time and find another breeder. I expect prospective puppy buyers to come with just as many questions and I expect my honesty will be returned.
It is important for you to know that I am not the kind of breeder you're never going to hear from again after you take your baby home. When you join this family you agree to stay in contact with me on a regular basis. If this sounds intrusive I may not be your breeder. I will want at a bare minimum photos and videos of baby every 6 months at least for the first few yrs. If I don't hear from you and I have reason to be concerned about one of my puppies I WILL show up on your doorstep..
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I will want him to have an echocardiogram by a board certified cardiologist and a 24 hr holter roughly once a year starting at age 2. I will help find affordable ways to get these tests done. I will require that you consult me if you are having any problems or concerns including veterinary issues. If he is not acting right I want to be your first call. If he did something hilarious I want to laugh with you. If you're unsure about how to handle something I am a phone call away. Do not let me learn that my puppy broke a leg on Facebook. You need to call me first. If you have never posted ears before or just need a little brush up on your skills I am happy to explain/demonstrate my methods as many times as you need to get those beautiful ears standing the way they should. Please see my Ear Posting and Nail dremeling videos. If you are unsure of what food or how much to feed I will help. If you need training advice I am your first resource. Remember I am a professional show dog handler. There isn't a lot I haven't seen. That means if this is your first dobe or first large breed dog you should be seeking my advice on everything. If this is your first dobe and you assume you know more about it than I do you need to find a breeder who hasn't invested as much of her life in to the preservation of the breed as I have. All of my knowledge and experience is at your disposal. I expect you to utilize it.
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No concern is too small for my attention. I am responsible for the well being of every puppy I bring into the world from the day it’s born to the day it crosses the rainbow bridge.
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I don't have time to nag my puppy people so you don't have to worry about that but I do LOVE those silly sweet pix of my puppies as often as you can. If I get pix from you to laugh and cry at I don't have to ask for them at all. If this sounds like the kind of long term relationship you are looking for we are on the right track.
The best way to get to the front of the line is to take the initiative to stay in touch with me. Do your own homework by reading this entire website and exploring the Doberman Pinscher Club of America or DPCA's website (www.dpca.org) then contact me with all your questions. I love talking dobermans with people who are truly interested enough to come with specific well thought out questions. Not having owned a Doberman before does NOT disqualify you, but I will want to know about the other dogs you have grown up with or owned in your life. Please tell me how old they were when they passed and what the cause of death was. I will also want to know how you came to acquire your dogs… rescue, breeder, friend? I will require references and recent photos of your home and yard if a home visit is not possible. I hope to forge the beginnings of a long supportive relationship with my puppy buyers.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Fences Parks Daycare and Pools
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You MUST HAVE A PERMANENT AND SECURELY FENCED YARD TO BE CONSIDERED for a puppy (Five foot minimum). No exceptions and I will need to see any place you intend to have puppy off leash.
Any big dog like a Doberman must have daily exercise to be happy and well behaved at home. After 18 months the dog can be taken out on what we call forced exercise… that is roadworking next to a bike or jogging with you. Before that age they must have plenty of either free play or frequent walks.
Any place you are going to have a dog off leash especially a young dog MUST be absolutely secure. That means there is no way over under thru or around the barrier. It is not enuff for you to intend on supervising the puppy whenever they are out. Phones ring. Delivery people come to the door and neighbors drop by with the best intentions. I don’t care how many obedience titles you have under your belt. This is non negotiable. Thinking it will never happen to you makes it that much more devastating when it does. You will never forgive yourself for that split second you turned away.
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I strongly recommend you use a baby gate if your front door opens directly on to the street. This will allow you to receive deliveries, lend your neighbor a cup of sugar, or tell that pesky salesperson to go away without the risk of baby slipping out the door after a squirl.
A note about doggie daycare. Many will not accept intact animals… that means non spayed or neutered. Remember I require my puppies to stay intact until as close to 18 months as possible. This is so they will LOOK like the Doberman you want them to look like. Dogs spayed and neutered too young will not develop physically to look like a male or female Doberman. Not to mention it often causes life long incontinence. So even if your puppy will never be bred they may not be able to go to doggie day care.
Dog parks are simply a time bomb waiting to go off. Most people who bring their dogs to these places have NO IDEA how to read or understand canine body language. They misinterpret very serious warning signs as being funny or cool. Even if you are a seasoned dog trainer these type of places are extremely dangerous. They are also a breeding ground for nasty bacteria and viruses.
If you have a pool there MUST be a secure temporary or permanent fence enclosing it completely. ​
What is Co Ownership Anyway?
It means the health and safety of that puppy will ALWAYS be my responsibility.
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It means if you mistreat or neglect a puppy I brought into this world I can and will repossess it.
It means I am your first call when you need help or support
It means that puppy will always have a loving home even if god forbid something should happen to you.
It means any offspring I did not agree to produce will not be registrable without my signature.
It DOES NOT MEAN:
I will have a satellite stationed above your house to spy on you.
I will swoop in and take a happy healthy loved member of your family away from you without cause even if we don’t see eye to eye on everything
That I must be a part of every decision you make regarding the dog.
Why do I co own all of my puppies:
Because I loved them first...
I didn’t sleep
When I did
It was in a whelping box
Because I loved them first
I did all the health testing I could
I did pre and post whelping care
Because I loved them first
I missed life events, family gatherings, work, sleep and wouldn't have it any other way
My dogs come first that’s why all the questions
Because I loved them first
I cried over a still born I did cpr on for 40 min
I worried and cried and prayed over the weak and tiny ones fighting for them
I bottle fed and cleaned a million linens
Because I loved them first
I was the first to trim their nails
I was first to give them a bath
I gave them confidence and encouragement
Because I loved them first
I require them back into my home if u can’t keep them
Because I loved them first
I worry and have sleepless nights even when they go to your home
Because I loved them first
When you call me with issues
Don’t think you are a bother because remember,
I LOVED THEM FIRST
Early Socialization/Temperament
A heavily socialized puppy is on its way to being a rock who can tolerate change and stress. My puppies do not just grow up “under foot” they go thru Early Neurological Stimulation practices and Puppy Culture activities at appropriate stages of psychological development that have been proven to improve puppy’s ability to withstand stress and tolerate change. They are exposed to toy dogs from an early age and experience people from all different walks of life. Remember, I breed to prove my dogs in the conformation show ring. Puppies’ mental stability and confidence is required to excel in this chaotic environment. Companion only puppies benefit from the same level of socialization as do my show puppies. I will not use a dog/bitch who “sees dead people” in my breeding program no matter how many awards they have won in the breed ring. Hearing what a laid back and confident adult one of my puppies grew up to be makes all the hard work worth it!
STUD Dogs Used and Health Testing
Stud dogs are carefully chosen from all over the country to solidify breed type, temperament, and structure. Breeding for health and longevity is extremely important in a breed besieged by inheritable diseases such as Dilated Cardiomyopathy Until science finds a reliable genetic marker for DCM it will continue to plague the breed, but in the meantime responsible breeders will utilize the diagnostic tests we do have. All of my bitches and any stud dog I use undergoes the following testing when possible:
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Echocardiogram
24 hr holter
vWd,
Hips/Elbows
Thyroid
Degenerative myelopathy
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A Word About Showing
Who wants to show anyway?​
The reason is simple really. As a preservation hobby breeder I have very infrequent litters with the intent of bettering the breed. The show ring is fundamental in proving that we are achieving that goal. Every litter is made up of both show prospects and those who don’t quite measure up to the standards and are deemed companion puppies. Finding the best home for each of my puppies is even more important than how they would do in the ring however given a choice between 2 equally great homes where 1 is willing to show and one is not my first choice for a show prospect puppy is going to be the show home.
Showing a dog is a lot like having your kid in ballet or little league. It’s a very family friendly environment and the friendships you create there can last a life time and offer invaluable knowledge and support. All dogs that show successfully LOVE IT! If they don’t they go home and aren’t shown. It’s as simple as that especially in the Doberman ring. Dobes must embody everything that makes them dobes in the ring…they must be alert fearless and graceful. They are truly magnificent to watch. If you love dobes you would love watching them show! Especially if it’s your dog lol! They just eat up all the attention and social stimulation of being with their doggie buds at shows. The dogs LOVE showing. If they come and stay for a wk or two they make fast friends with the rest of my string of dogs. So the next time they go out they get really excited to see their special friends. It’s hard work standing around looking pretty and getting fed home made liver treats but somebody’s got to do it lol! Of course all the early stimulation and exposure we provide when they are 2-9 wks old prepare them for the crazy chaotic show environment. But that learning and growth continues when they actually start showing. Show dogs are pretty bomb proof and they make unequalled companions.
What are the dogs judged on?
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Structure, movement, presence, and temperament. Each dog is compared to the one written standard for the Doberman. Those that most closely resemble that standard eventually accumulate enuff points to be awarded an AKC Championship.
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Official Standard of the Doberman Pinscher​
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What is an AKC Championship?
It basically says this dog is enough of a Doberman that he is worthy of being bred. Not all champions are bred. If I finish a WM dog it doesn’t mean they must be bred. But finishing more WM dogs is a source of pride and a confirmation that I am indeed bettering the breed I love so much.
How long does it take?
That depends on a whole lot of factors but the short answer is it varies from a few wks to a yr. Shows are on or around the wknds so 2 - 5 days long.
How long would my dog be gone?
A lot of times you can drop the dog off with me just before I leave for a show and pick them up as soon as I get home on Sunday. If you live a good distance away from me the dog can come and stay thru a few wknds of shows in a row. They go out… they come home… they go out…. They come home. Just like your kids hockey team. They are NOT gone for years or even months at a time.
What do I do differently if I have a show puppy?
Not much really. I ask all my puppy owners to continue the socializing I began in the whelping box. Ball games, parades, restaurant patios that allow dogs. Dog parks are NOT a good place to socialize your puppy. Doggie day care can be good. The dog must stay intact ( not be spayed or neutered) in order to show but all my puppies show or companion must stay intact until 18 months anyway.
How do we know if my show prospect puppy is good enuff to show?
I like to let them grow up some before deciding. If the puppy looks really good at 6 months I might take him to a show or 2 just to get his feet wet. Sometimes the most beautiful 8 wk of puppy falls apart at 10 months. Sometimes they come back together sometimes they don’t. I may decide he is not worthy of a championship. If that happens you can spay or neuter.
Does it cost money?
Absolutely! It is just like any other sport or extracurricular activity your kid does. I make my living showing other peoples’ dogs including dogs Ive bred. The owner(s) pays the expenses associated with showing their dog.
It’s certainly a family affair with kids getting involved in “Pee wee” competition as young as 5 yrs old. In junior showmanship (8 - 18 yrs) kids learn how to groom and show their dog to its potential. Their skills are judged not the conformation of their dog. Emphasis is heavy on good sportsmanship and supporting each other.
Every pet may not be a show dog but be assured every show dog is a pet!
I am the opposite of what we call kennel blind where the breeder thinks anything with their name on it is a best in show potential. Sometimes all I see are my dogs flaws. What this means is that especially when showing dogs I’ve bred I am ruthlessly honest about their flaws. So if I evaluate your puppy as a show prospect at 8 wks and by the time they are 18 months I think they have fallen apart that means no more showing for your puppy. He goes home and can be neutered or spayed. Sometimes I like to “grow them out” a bit before throwing in the towel on a show career. That just means he’s not expected to show until I think he is matured enuff to do so. If we start to show him and I think he’s not going to cut it I will be the first person to tell you and send him home.
I have high hopes for both of these litters. I could wind up with quite a few show potential puppies. Please ask questions and find out more before dismissing showing your puppy.
PLEASE NOTE
Puppies are evaluated around 8 wks of age and deemed either companions with show potential or companions only. Please don't expect to choose your own puppy. There is nothing you will learn in an hour with a puppy that I have not assessed in the last 8 weeks of sitting in the box 24/7. Your warm fuzzy feelings about the first puppy to crawl in your lap are not going to tell you what I already know....that she is actually a holy terror who will not let your old dog have a moments peace lol! I am going to choose the best match for your family's situation. Knowing my puppies' personalities is what I get paid the big bucks for 🤣. I'm not going to put a lazy bum in a competitive obedience home even if he is the first fuzz ball to chew on your toes when you come to visit!
All puppies are docked and given beautiful show crops regardless. All puppies are sold on a contract. Companion only puppies will go with a limited registration (meaning their offspring can not be registered with AKC) and WILL be spayed or neutered at 18 months of age. Show potential puppies are sold with full registration. All puppies, both show and companion only puppies will be co-owned. This is my way of ensuring that all of my puppies will always have what they need to live their best lives.
Puppies do not go to their new homes until ear edges are healed and stitches are removed so generally not before 9 weeks.
Puppies will be akc registered, micro chipped, and started on the Dr. Dodd’s puppy vaccination protocol
You MUST have a securely fenced yard (minimum 5 ft) to be considered.
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Pools MUST be completely enclosed by a lockable gate (temporary or permanent).
Male puppies will not be placed in a home with another large breed male dog.
As of this update (Jan 2025) puppies are $5000.
Should anything ever happen to you or your situation that would preclude you from keeping one of my puppies by contract THEY MUST BE RETURNED TO ME.
