PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE IMPORTANCE, GUIDELINES, FACTS AND
HEALTH CONCERNS OF PET ADOPTION...
THE BREED
Many people see the Doberman and want one for how they look, or for the perception of what they think a Doberman will do or is like. Like any dog breed, you should do your research before deciding if the breed is right for you and your life. For a general overview of the Doberman visit:
https://dpca.org/publiced/living-with-a-dobe/
Dobermans are intelligent, sensitive, loving dogs. They are considered velcro dogs because they love to be by their owners sides at all times. They also like to nudge or lean on you for pets. If a dog is bored or lonely they will typically get into trouble. They are highly intelligent and love to learn, so a trainer program and activities are encouraged. There are plenty of fun activities to involve your Doberman in whether it's agility, obedience, flyball, dock diving, hiking or more. Not only is it fun for your dog, but fun for the owner and whole family too!
For more info on the Doberman visit:
https://dpca.org/publiced/living-with-a-dobe/basic-care/
IMPORTANT!!!
If you contact us or submit an online form & have not received a response within 3 days, check your SPAM folder. Our responses often go to your SPAM.
ADOPTION ELIGIBILITY
Important!
You must live either anywhere in Texas, OR, if you are not a Texas resident, then you must live within a 4-hour radius of DFW. If you live outside this radius please contact the Doberman rescue closest to you. If you are unfamiliar with rescues in your area, you can Google "Doberman rescue" plus your city or zip code. We will consider adoptions outside of the radius above on a case-by-case basis if there is not an active Doberman rescue group in your area.
We are a 100% all-volunteer, state-wide, all foster home based rescue. We do not have a kennel or facility set up. Our mailing address is in Fort Worth, but we are a state-wide rescue. (Our mail has to go somewhere.) Meet greets are set by appointment, 7 days a week, with approved applicants only. If you have not filled out an application, or your application has not been approved by a board member, you will not be eligible to meet dogs. Our dogs are in foster homes all over TX. We do have volunteers to help us transport the dogs so in most cases, adopters are not required to travel to adopt the dogs. Once you submit an application, a volunteer will be in touch with you as soon as they can. Usually within 1-5 days, but at peak times, it may take longer. *And if you have applied for a very popular dog, it will take longer to get a response to your application. Please be patient. Remember, as volunteers, we all have full-time jobs, families & pets of our own & many other responsibilities daily.
Applications are processed in the order received. Dogs are listed as available until the day they are adopted, because unfortunately, people do change their minds at the last minute.
Our dogs are all in individual foster homes, (typically 1 dog per foster home), so they can receive individual care & attention; and so they can learn what it is like to live in a safe, loving home environment prior to adoption. This also allows us to help them learn some basic manners, and for us to learn all about each dog & how they function on a daily basis with people, other pets, car rides, crate training, any barking or chewing habits, and what training they may know already, etc.
LSDR prefers all children in the home be at least 8 years of age, however all applications with children younger than 8 will be considered on a case-by-case basis, for select dogs only who have lived with small children before without any known incident. This is to insure the safety of both your children and the dog! Dobermans typically do great with kids, however children under 8 often don't understand the consequences of living with a large, strong dog. Most dog bites are preventable, and it is our primary goal to protect both the children and dogs, and set our dogs up for success in their new home.
Dobermans are an athletic breed and typically do not do well in apartments. We will consider apartment homes on a case by case basis. If you rent an apartment or a house, please verify with your landlord or management, there is no breed or weight restrictions BEFORE you apply to adopt. The vast majority of rental properties do not allow Dobermans. Ask your management specifically about Dobermans. BEFORE you apply, because it is the first call we make before we process your application. Since most Dobermans are not a fit for apartment lifestyle, there will be times we do not have a fit for an apartment. And to be approved in an apartment, you must live on the ground floor of the apartment complex as well.
In most cases, a fenced yard is required. If you do not have a fenced yard, we will consider your application on a case by case basis, and only certain dogs will be eligible. There will be times we have no dogs that will be a fit without a fenced yard.
You must abide by our adoption terms, including returning the dog to us if you are unable to keep the dog. If you have a friend or family member interested in your dog, you must first return the dog to us and refer that person to us to apply for adoption.
You must be able to provide proper care for your Doberman for the remainder of his/her life. Owning a dog requires your time and financial commitments. Take into consideration vet care, food, training, pet care and emergencies. Renters who apply to adopt must allow us access to your landlord re: breed/weight restrictions and pet deposits.
We recommend adopters attend an training class within one month of adoption. There are exceptions, but this is a huge help to both adopters and dog. It not only provides a bonding experience for you and your new pet, but it helps train both of you & sets your dog up for success. You don't wait for problems to arise before calling a trainer. A well-mannered pet equals a happy household! All pets in the home must be spayed or neutered unless there is a legitimate reason per your veterinarian, or the dog is of show quality, and a copy of the show pedigree will be required for proof. Also, dogs adopted must be kept on lifetime vaccines and heartworm prevention.
ALL of the information on this page is extremely important, please take the time to review all of the other sections on this page, not just this eligibility section.
Adoption fees can be found at the bottom of this page.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Rescue Dog Facts & Myths
Many people think a rescue dog is "broken" and don't want a dog with problems. However, most dogs are surrendered through no fault of their own. The most common reasons people give up dogs include moving, divorce, time, cost, or they are unaware how easy it is to train a dog. Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and unfortunately many people have a throw-a-way mentality.
Some people don't want to put effort into training so they get a dog as a puppy when it's cute and small, and then when it's not so little and cute anymore it's out the door. You can't expect a child to know how to act without teaching manners, so why expect this of a dog?
Unfortunately many Dobermans end up in shelters all over Texas. Whether the dog was used as a lawn ornament by their former owner, escaped the yard or was dumped, the truth is these dogs are incredibly resilient and bounce back just fine after many ordeals they have been through. The true nature of the breed shines through in their eagerness to please, willingness to do anything for their owners and happy nature. As a rescue, we evaluate each dog we get and always try to place the dogs in homes that suit them and vice versa. We are based out of foster homes so our fosters work with these dogs to better assess their needs and work on basic manners.
COSTS & FEES
We do charge an adoption fee. The average amount spent on a dog when it comes into rescue until the time it is adopted is approximately $450 to $850, if it is heartworm negative and has no other illnesses. This includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, registering the microchip, basic medications, a few months of heartworm and flea/tick prevention and food. However, most of the dogs we get in require much more than just the basics. In order to continue running our rescue operation, we need money to keep going and, we rely on the donations we recieve. Many of the dogs are heartworm positive and we do treat them, which is costly. Our dogs are typically in foster care no less than 4 weeks and usually not more then 4 to 6 months before adopted, and we cover the cost of the dogs the entire time they are under our care. In some cases we care for dogs for over a year, not because anything is wrong, but they simply haven't caught someone's eye yet so they patiently wait for their forever home.
ALL of the information on this page is important & helpful for you to review, however you can find our adoption fees at the bottom this page.
HEARTWORM
Heartworm disease is a problem that can happen any place with mosquitoes. Nothing else causes heartworms but the bite of a mosquito.It has been reported in all 50 states so it's important to keep your dog on prevention year-round. Many people think that because they leave their dogs inside they do not need to be on herartworm prevention, but all it takes is one mosquito bite to become infected. From the time a dog is bitten, it takes about seven months for an adult heartworm to develop. At this time the worms infect the heart, lungs and blood vessels. Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches in length, and one dog can have up to 250 worms in its system. The good news is that heartworm disease is easy and inexpensive to prevent. However, the treatment for a dog with heartworms is not only expensive for the owner, but also high-risk for the dog.
For more info about heartworms visit: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html
RABIES
Know the important dangers of an
expired rabies vaccine for your pets...
If your pet bites someone, from a mild nip to a full-blown bite/attack, and it's reported to a hospital, doctor, vet, animal control or police officer, they are required by law to report it to the Center for Disease Control as a possible exposure to rabies. Your pet will be taken into mandatory quarantine at the city/county animal shelter for up to 90 days with no human contact the entire period. You may also incur impound fees in addition to the pet undergoing severe trauma & exposure to sick shelter animals during quarantine.
If your pet is exposed to and bit by a any wild animal including squirrels, bats, raccoons, possums, chipmunks, skunks, birds, etc... and it is reported, authorities are required to report it to the Center for Disease Control as possible exposure to rabies and the same rules above apply.
Please do not ever let your rabies expire. Some cities now allow rabies every 2-3 years while other cities still require an annual rabies vaccination. Check online for your city's requirements by googling your city name and rabies requirements.
IMPORTANT!!!
If you contact us or submit an online form & have not received a response within 3 days, check your SPAM folder. Our responses often go to your SPAM.
CRATE TRAINING
Crate training is a great way to not only potty train an animal, but also provide a safe way to transport your dog, introduce new pets, and limit access to the rest of your house while your new pet learns the rules of the house. Some people look at crating as cruel but done right, it is perfectly safe and many dogs enjoy their crates. Crates are best used as short-term management, not as a lifetime pattern of housing. Your goal should be to work on any behavior problems and train your dog so it's not necessary they need to be crated indefinitely.
When not to use a crate...
NEVER use a crate as punishment or crate your pet too long. Some dogs don't tolerate crating due to fears or anxieties like thunder phobia. Don’t crate your dog if you see signs of anxiety when she’s crated, such as:
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Damage to the crate from your dog’s attempts to escape
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Damage to surrounding objects that she’s been able to reach while inside the crate
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Wet chest fur or a lot of wetness in the bottom of the crate from drooling
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Urination or defection in the crate
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Your dog moves the crate while she’s inside
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Excessive barking or howling during your absence (You can get reports from neighbors or record your dog’s behavior using a video camera.)
In addition, don’t crate your puppy or dog if:
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She’s too young to have sufficient bladder or bowel control
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She has diarrhea
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She’s vomiting
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You must leave her alone for longer than the time indicated in the crate duration guidelines above
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She hasn’t eliminated shortly before going in the crate
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The temperature is uncomfortably high
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She has not had sufficient exercise, companionship and socialization
Separation anxiety...
Anxiety caused by separation from the family, being left home alone or thunderstorms can be difficult to deal with. Each dog is different in regards to how they each handle these situations best. Some enjoy & feel safe in their crate while others may be destructive and try to escape the crate, often injuring themselves in the process. Here are some signs of separation anxiety:
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Destructive behaviors that consistently occur only when she’s left by herself in the house
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Destructive behavior directed at windows, doors, flooring in front of doors or items with your scent, like seat cushions or the TV remote.
Dogs need adequate exercise and interaction and puppies should not stay in a crate for more than a few hours at a time. The same goes for adult dogs being house-trained. Letting them out every few hours will prevent them from soiling their crates and learning the routine of the house. You only need to crate your dog until you can trust him not to destroy the house or get along with other pets in the household. After that, it should be a place he goes voluntarily.
If you dog exhibits behavior problems, please consult a trainer who is also a behaviorist immediately as these things need the correct approach
as soon as possible to get the situation turned around as soon as it starts, verses being allowed to get worse, or it getting worse because you don't know how to address it properly.
Which crate should you get...
There are quite a few different types of crates on the market. The one you select for your pet should be large enough for him to stand up and turn around. If your dog is still growing, choose a crate that will accommodate his adult size. There are crates with dividers made for this purpose. If your dog is an escape artist, make sure to choose a sturdy crate. Some dogs prefer wire crates and others prefer an airline style crate so ask the rescue which style they recommend for your particular dog. In our rescue, for the standard size Dobermans, we use mostly the 42 inch wire crates for home use. A plastic airline crate size 500 for transporting in vehicles.
Crate training...
The crate training process should always be associated with something pleasant. Make sure to not go too fast and take baby steps when crate training and use lots of positive reinforcement. Place the crate in an area of your home that the family spends a lot of time in and make it comfortable and inviting. Before putting the dog in there, leave the door open and let him explore it. Toss treats or toys into the crate to entice him to enter. Start off crating for small periods of time and don't make a big deal of leaving. Teaching him a command like "kennel," is helpful. There are videos to watch that show the crate-training process and we are here to help you as well.
If your dog whines or cries while in the crate, try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes, take him outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, the best response is to ignore him until he stops whining. Don't give in; if you do, you'll teach your dog to whine loud and long to get what he wants.
ADOPTION FEES:
Our adoption fees as of August 1st, 2023:
Pups up to 6 years of age $400;
7 yrs + or special needs dogs of any age $300;
Bonded pairs $500 total for both.
Our dogs are fully vetted at time of adoption, including complete exam by a vet, all vaccinations, spayed/neutered, microchipped, heartworm tested, on monthly heartworm prevention & monthly flea/tick prevention, de-wormed for intestinal worms, and if heartworm positive, we treat the heartworm disease. There are also various other expenses per dog, depending on each dog's needs. If there are any other signs of health issues, those are also addressed/treated prior to adoption as well. The adopter does get a copy of all the vet records at time of adoption.
We spend between anywhere $450-2500++ (many dogs $3,000-6,000) per dog to get them ready for adoption, yet the adoption fee amount ranges only $400-500. We must receive donations to have funds to save other dogs in need.
