For those who really know about Dobermans, what is your opinion of House of Hoytt Dobes?

-I have a very strong opinion of them, and for those who know me, probably know what it is. The reason I'm asking this is because I just got a nasty email from someone I don't even know, chewing me out for my opinion of this breeder. I did a search, and haven't even mentioned anything about the House of Hoytt for 2 years. So, I'm asking what you think about them. In all honesty, I would just like to send this link to them when I get the general consensus. So, what do you have to say about them if you know who they are and where they advertise? Other people have posted links to breeder websites, so I don't think I'm breaking any rules by asking this. Thanks.



Remember, I NEVER give a TD when I ask a question, so if you get one or more, it is NOT from me, no matter how you answer.The website is like the website of a mental patient. It's just so all over the place. But, after reading and trying to find photos of what dogs they actually have, I found this



"...we stepped totally away from offering our Hoytt Dobe to the public, stepped away from the Conformation Ring..."



So they say they only compete in obedience. My puppy mill dog would rock at obedience. My friend's Heinz 57 would kick butt in an AKC ILP obedience event.



IMHO - not showing, not working = not breeding.



+ "One out of every ten Dobermans in the American obedience ring is a Hoytt Dobe." This makes me wonder how many dogs they are actually breeding. If there are a thousand individual Dobes competing in Obedience and 10% are Hoytt, that's a crapload of dogs bing bred.



Their health guarantee requires that you health test for genetic diseases like Cancer and Cardiomyopathy annually. I know that show breeders do this on their breeding stock, but pet owners? In order to get a replacement pup, you have to have a signed statement from the vet and vet records showing that the tests were done annually. And why would I want a replacement pup from a line that's got heart problems?

And the contract seems to only cover death. What about things like epilepsy, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and unstable temperaments? What about treatable vWD?



Seriously, the website reminds me of a less coherent Courtney Love twitter rant.



++ Another great quote "all traits the early imports were known for, actually many imports still retain a hardness American breeders have been working to eliminate with the exception of those folks seriously involved in ring sports, best known Schutzhund."

See, I was under the impression that the Dobe is supposed to be Dobe, not a Lab or Greyhound. Even if I want a Dobe I can live with (and I spent a ton of time with local Dobe breeders and went to several national specialities), they should still be Dobe at heart, not piles of goo.



+++ It just keeps getting better. "Actually unless you Line breed you have less than a fifty percent chance at obtaining the characteristics of the parents. " Basic Punnett Square high school Bio tells you that this is wrong. DD to DD = pretty much 100% chance that you will get the traits of the parents. Mutations occur and random crap happens, but come on, really?





Bob: Reputable doesn't mean squat. Michael Vick was reputable. Petland is reputable. People are idiots and will endorse anything without being educated.House of Hoytt is a well known, highly reputable, breeding agency. That's a fack Jact.
I've heard of them and I'm not impressed with their breeding or "training" program. Nothing but a glorified puppy mill.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Omg that was funny. This is a joke... right? I mean, this greeder can't really be seriously breeding useless unhealthy unstable junk... right? ... Guys?
Wait... Is this guy saying he line breeds EVERY generation?! I have very big opinions on this.. I truly believe you can breed cousins and such for 1-3 generations, but it isn't a *permanent* thing. Basically this guy is saying he is God and knows everything in his line and won't ever have a problem down the road?



I don't know anything about Dobermans, so I can't honestly comment on anything. What bugs me is I just looked through his whole site, and didn't see any pictures of anything besides "cutesy" shots, and him saying "Dobermans are for protection". Most breeders want to flaunt what they got, and have millions of conformation, working, health testing, and genetic testing photos plastered all on their site. They brag about what dog just won this title, this puppy at 9 months just became CH, etc. Why have I not seen one serious photo of any of his dogs, or even puppies he's produced? Where's the contract? Where's the health guarantees? All I see is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo.



I'd really like to know your opinions and others on him, though.



ADD-

Is that why he keeps saying "we'll give you a road map" and "you make your American Dobe" and all that crap?? Who does that?!



1 out of every 10 Dobes in obedience is theirs? *shudders* So basically they're producing non-stop?



By the way, how can they calculate a puppy will be that? I've met many puppies where we estimated they'd be about 120lbs, and easily went to 130+. And isn't 140 WAY over for a Dobe? How can they even get them that big?



This must explain why there isn't nothing show worthy on their page....