How much does a Doberman puppy cost?

A Doberman puppy's price is set by its breeder, and in this breed the health testing done on the parents is the first thing to weigh against it. Doberman Pinscher puppies listed on Puppy Connection right now are priced at $1,700.

AKC's own advice on that testing is direct, and the sections below explain it along with what color, ears and registration mean for a listing.

What health testing should a Doberman's parents have?

AKC lists the genetic conditions that can affect the breed as hip dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, which is an enlarged heart, von Willebrand's disease, a clotting disorder, progressive retinal atrophy, albinism and hypothyroidism. It then tells buyers never to purchase a puppy from a breeder who has not genetically tested the breeding stock for these conditions.

The national breed club's recommended list for breeding dogs is a hip evaluation, a cardiac exam, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist, a thyroid evaluation, and a DNA test for von Willebrand disease type I. Each costs the breeder money, and a breeder who has paid for all of them should be able to show you every result. OFA will certify hips only on a dog at least 24 months old, so final hip results mean the parent was screened as an adult.

Bloat is the other Doberman risk AKC raises, describing it as life threatening and asking owners to know the warning signs. No test on the club's list screens for bloat, so learn the signs before you bring the puppy home.

Which Doberman colors does the standard allow?

The AKC standard allows four colors, which are black, red, blue and fawn, also called Isabella, each with sharply defined rust markings over the eyes, on the muzzle, throat and chest, on the legs and feet, and below the tail. A small white patch on the chest is permitted. A dog not of an allowed color is a disqualifying fault, and AKC lists albinism among the breed's genetic conditions. If a listing describes a white or unusually pale Doberman, ask the breeder plainly what the color is and how it was produced.

The standard lists the four allowed colors without preferring one, so a red or fawn puppy is not a better Doberman because of its color.

Do cropped ears change the price?

The standard describes the ears as normally cropped and carried erect. Whether the puppy's ears are cropped, will be cropped, or are left natural is a question to ask outright, because it changes what you are paying for and what follow-up care the puppy needs.

What does registration tell you?

For AKC papers, both the sire and the dam have to be AKC registered Dobermans. A puppy may also be sold on limited registration, which means it is registered but any litter it has later is not eligible, and only the breeder who registered the litter can change that.

What comes home with the puppy?

The listing here comes with a vet exam, a microchip, a health record and AKC registration. Each listing says what that puppy goes home with.

Read each listing for what it includes, and ask what a health guarantee covers in a breed where AKC names dilated cardiomyopathy among the genetic conditions.

How do deposits work?

Breeders who take a deposit ask $500 to hold a puppy. The terms of a Doberman deposit are the breeder's, so get the refund terms and what it secures in writing first.

The FTC advises walking away from any seller who will take only a gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or wire transfer, and paying by credit card where you can for its protections.

What should you ask a Doberman breeder?

Ask for both parents' hip, cardiac, eye and thyroid results and their von Willebrand DNA status. Ask how old the parents were when their hearts were last checked. Ask about the ears, the registration type, and what the puppy goes home with.

See Doberman puppies

The Doberman Pinscher puppies listed on Puppy Connection show each breeder's own price and details. Choose a listing to see the puppy and reach the breeder directly.