BEVOLASVEGAS
Posted : 11/24/2009 11:06:26 PM
I am not sure if there is a dobe breeder who is successfully breeding for both conformation & schutzhund. I have conceded that I will only have time to train in one venue, & I'm more interested in schutzhund than I am in conformation. Nonetheless, I've been trying to find a breeder who has dogs that can do it all.
I really like the dogs from Kansa Dobes. They are conformation people but they are becoming more & more active in working dog sports as well. I know that they are actively trying to breed the "total dobe" instead of the watered down version that is so prevalent nowadays. I've talked to them on more than one occassion, & both Doug & Jacque are very knowledgable, as well as nice. They are very candid about what you can expect from their pups.
If you are more into schutzhund with a possibility of being able to do conformation, then, IMO, you can't go wrong with Bell'Lavoro. Vicky is amazing. She knows her lines forwards, backwards, & sideways and she's very easy to talk with. She's happy to explain what she is trying to improve with each litter that she breeds. She's candid about what her dogs can do & what you can expect from her dogs. I feel like, for a working dog breeder, she is very conscious of her dogs conformation as well. I have personally met two of Gio's pups, & I was blown away by them. The amount of focus, & drive that their handler was getting from them was mind blowing. (They were 3.5 months old at the time.) They are both nice dogs, but they are not show quality dogs. That said, their owner, who is also their breeder, tells me that she sent the best dog, conformationally, to a working home in Canada.
You might also want to look at Wittrock Dobes. I know that Bonnie shows in the UKC, as well as working her dogs. I love Zzzzzaaron.
I know that Ascomannis has a litter due this week. At least on paper, it should produce some fantastic working dogs. The sire is Bruno vom Wustensturm, whom I am in LOVE with. He's only a Sch 1, but I've got no doubt that he'll end up with his Sch 3. He recently failed his Sch 2 because he didn't out on the courage test. He almost took down the 240 pound helper though, which, IMO, was VERY impressive.
I also think that vom Zenhof has a litter right now that should have some very good working prospects.
I also might look at Sho Me Dobes. She is a conformation breeder, but she has a bitch, Kenya, who is a South American import who could probably be that "do it all" dobe. I've met her a few times, & she is a high drive, firey girl. I really think that she might produce pups who could show & work.
ETA: I just saw that Paige linked, Gio. He is up to a Sch 3 as well as being the first American bred dobe to pass the Korung.