Draco of Republic Dobermans

DNA and Health Testing

First and foremost, our dogs are currently very healthy, and are bred from dogs with no history of any genetic disorders. There is a great deal of concern in the world of purebred dogs, about genetics. Purebred dogs typically have a higher level of coefficient of inbreeding. This is a result of many decades (or hundreds, in some cases) of deliberate breeding practices. These practices were incorporated by breeders, ironically, to create better animals. Whether dogs, horses, cattle, chickens…you name it… the goal of a good breeder is to create BETTER, high quality animals. Breeding out bad qualities and concentrating good qualities is the ultimate goal. Good qualities includes health. However, in some cases, these breeding practices have exacerbated certain conditions. But, the practices in many cases created superior animals in several ways. The Doberman was originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. That’s right, the Doberman Pinscher is a very young breed. The Doberman was bred for protection purposes, mainly. Today’s Doberman has been changed by breeders over the last 130 years. He is much more family oriented, playful, and emotional. He still maintains a high level of vigilance and protection instincts. We believe that, for the modern day, this is a superior animal.

Different breeds are more susceptible to different conditions. Many dogs in the purebred world will test “At Risk” for various conditions, when DNA tested. There are levels of risk, and different links and indications. With that said, it is important to remember that testing “At Risk” is not a diagnosis that your dog will develop a condition. And, likewise, testing completely “Clear” will not guarantee that your dog will not develop a condition. The science is very new. Genomes only began to be mapped in the early 2000’s.

Republic Dobermans has the goal of producing high quality, healthy dogs, with diverse (as possible) bloodlines. We approach this with an honest, rational perspective. We guarantee our dogs against life threatening health defects.

If you’d like more information on the health of our dogs, their DNA testing results, or our guarantee, please contact us.