Having a great Dobe as a friend and companion offers the ultimate reward of ownership. Yet there is an area of the Doberman world that offers a different type of reward: the performance ring. For most of our clients obedience competition is the preferred challenge but Agility is gaining in popularity as more of a fun sport rather than the seriousness of obedience.

In the obedience & Agility ring the handler and Dobe are judged as a team. The point system is based on how well each exercise is performed and one does not usually have to run around the country to complete each title as one must do in Conformation. In fact, we will gladly add the Companion Dog training and Degree as part of your new Hoytt Dobe's development program. See: Grand Victor Program.

But here's the final point to be made for the GV pup. This is the one that is a quick study, has a natural focus you can build on, high confidence but not over active. A social kid who will face a complex life of environmental changes such as office, home or homes, a service dog, a therapy Dobe or out Rescuing the lost/finding the injured. It has the earliest of comprehension and what in the Obedience world is seen in the very best - consistency. All these points allow with correct guidance to go from Start to Finish in the shortest time.

This is a complex genetic and individual selection. Our choice for our Grand Victor Program Dobes and obviously truly more complex private life. Our most recent GV graduate with a future job description that will be directed as Winston was guided - also on our site. Or Storm who left as a SP2 student who will head to the office almost daily with his mom and dad who practice law in partnership. After work he's just one more great looking wonderful personality, well mannered but not yet mature Hoytt Dobe ready to excel at what ever he is must learn while still being the life of the party when invited ( this boy will soon be also on our site in more detail).

A BIT MORE ABOUT CONFORMATION SUCCESS

While obedience judges a dog and trainer's working aptitude, the conformation ring judges physical beauty. Everything from movement to markings, head shape to top line and a few dozen other areas. The only downside to the Conformation Ring is the variables in each judge's idea of the best, so there are times when no matter how you believed your Dobe was the best, you walk out of the ring biting your lip and trying to be a good loser and this can go on for years when you attempt this on your own. For those of us who do not like to lose at anything, this can present a real challenge.

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Summary On Conformation ... from this kennel and other sellers a SHOW DOG is a youngster who is selected on background qualities as well as lack of obvious faults at the time of its placement but the appraiser must know what they are doing and still things can change with age.

Most sellers offer puppy show dogs; regretfully few have the knowledge to pick a pup that even comes close to being a future Champion. There is so much speculation since all the primary growth stages are still to come that one must rely on knowledge of a Dobe's background and the actual quality at the time of selection to make our final decision. And remember the top conformation handlers do not want a dog who knows how to sit - these folks who are known big winners want everything structurally perfect with high energy so it shows itself off naturally and not be handler/lead sensitive.

NOTE: Obedience requires handler and or lead sensitivity one more area of final need for a great obedience dog. Can you have both? Yes. But we like the obedience first and deal with the sensitivity problem later in the conformation ring. Takes longer but we can enjoy the dog as a companion right away. Others may go for the Championship first and then begin a harder transition toward obedience.  These Dobe folks are few but truly live their lives around ring performance... 

The fastest way to a Championship are dogs only trained to stand, Gait that have a more independent personality since the must hang around in cages for days at a time and not miss their freedoms of home and family. All this hanging around for just a few minutes on 'stage' - this when they are handled by a Professional multi dog handler. Average cost $1500.00 to $3000.00 a month in hander, boarding & training fees. Or go for the best known handler on a one on one program and the costs without a win will be as much as or more than $8000.00 plus bonuses when the kid wins. Conformation is a must for each breed but I can tell you first hand. When a customer shows in conformation I love it. But my dog, I'm over that part of the dog world. After all I'm HOYTT and today I'd rather take my guys to the lake for the week end.