About Aritaur Dobermanns
OUR STORY
Welcome to
Aritaur Dobermanns
Aritaur was established by Martin Horgan & Jay Kershaw (ex Horgan) in Staffordshire in 1987. We are no longer married, but Martin was an equal part of Aritaur, so his name will stay here. It is now just me breeding, still in Staffordshire Moorlands.
I breed for top quality, healthy, confident, sociable and good looking dogs. I show and train my dogs in the sport of IPG/Schutzhund.
I am a KC Assured Breeder and a 5* Council Licensed Breeder, not breeding commercially with on average one or two litters a year. I know where all the dogs we have bred are, and remain in regular contact with their owners.
jay kershaw
My breeding
I breed sparingly, selectively and conscientiously for strong, healthy, sound dogs capable of good physical and mental stamina whilst working or showing, with trainable and steady characters. We have always predominantly used the best European lines for our breeding due to the soundness and strength of character, but are happy to use a good dog wherever it is from.
Having seen the devastating results of (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) DCM, we have always strongly believed in health testing and were the first UK Dobermann breeders to routinely test all our dogs for DCM. BUT testing does not guarantee us against health problems. All my dogs (whether bred from or not) are routinely tested for health conditions BUT we must all consider the whole dog in a breeding program rather than on a single health result. Removing a dog from the gene pool due to one poor but non life impinging condition when he/she may have outstanding character, otherwise superb health and excellent breed type, would result in catastrophe for any breed.
My promise to my puppies and my buyers is that I will never knowingly breed from dogs or bitches with serious and proven health problems, and will never compromise on character just to breed a good looking show dog.
I am very proud to have a reputation for breeding Dobermanns true to type which have competed at the highest levels of IPO, showing internationally, Obedience, Working Trials, film-work, Agility, Mantrailing, Cani-x, but most of all, for great family companions. I do ask that even if you only want a Dobe as a companion, that you consider your dog and what he or she would like to do; they don’t have iPhones or computers, so consider their needs above yours. Step up to owning a Dobermann, and find something for them.
Aritaur have always adamantly oppose the backward mentality of some show breeders that show dogs should not receive at least basic obedience. It grossly insults the intelligence of this breed. Click for Training.
Most Aritaur dogs are owner/handled in various disciplines with great success. I am the opposite of a political animal, and have never given favours in judging. I am proud that all Aritaur breeding have gained their top awards on merit.
If you are considering owning a Dobermann but are unsure if you are right for the breed, we have a FAQ’s page. Perhaps visit a local dog show to meet the breed in an environment other than its home, and meet up to join local owners for a walk with their dogs.
I no longer campaign my dogs heavily in showing as I just don’t have time, although when I last said that I thought I would take my youngster – Champion Aritaur Vespers out to a few shows in 2022/23, and she made up to a Champion in four shows with her handler Josh Henderson, won the Bitch CC at Crufts 2023 both by 17 months! I train my dogs in the sport of tracking and occasionally man-trailing.
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THE BOOK
Dobermanns: A Practical Guide for Owners and Breeders
Some years ago I was approached by Crowood Press publishers to write a book on the breed as there hadn't been any new breed publications for many years. It took two years and I didn't want to sit at my computer again for months. It is available on Waterstones, Amazon, or most online suppliers or book stores. Hope you enjoy it.
As a breed, Dobermanns have acquired an unjustified reputation as 'devil dogs' due to their courage, loyalty, intelligence and physical strength. This book aims to dispel the myths surrounding this magnificent dog, and shows how Dobermanns can be loving and gentle family pets, as well as their more traditional role as guard dogs.
Dobermanns - a practical guide for owners and breeders traces the development of the breed from its early beginnings in the nineteenth century through to the present day, and offers the reader advice on every aspect of rearing and caring for these beautiful dogs.Topics covered include: The history of the breed; Choosing a dog; Health and welfare; Showing and judging; Breeding. Superbly illustrated with 260 colour photographs.
Author: Jay Horgan (now Kershaw), Aritaur Dobermann
