Thank you for your interest in adopting a purebred Doberman from Hand Me Down Dobes! As a rescue, our primary goal is to place each dog into a safe, loving, forever home that is the right match for the dog and you, your home, and your lifestyle.
We are currently accepting applications in most of Ohio, southeastern Michigan, and western Pennsylvania. This limited area is due to our requirement for one of our experienced volunteers to perform a visit in your home as part of the adoption process. We strongly suggest that you complete an application early even if you are not looking to adopt at this moment or if you think there are no dogs that match what you’re looking for. Applications can take up to 2 weeks to process and we do not hold dogs while paperwork and home visits are being completed.
Generally it is the policy of HMDD not to place a dog in a family with children under the age of eight. Previously owning a Dobe or currently having a Dobe or other large breed dog in the home are examples that might result in exceptions to our policy. We do consider each application on a case-by-case basis.
Although not required, a physical fence is always the safest and most desirable. If you have an underground/invisible-type fence, it must be from a reputable company that provides installation, training, and customer support such as Invisible Fence Brand, Dog Watch, and Pet Stop. With an underground/invisible-type fence or no fence, you will not necessarily be approved for all dogs. If we determine a physical fence is needed for a particular dog and you do not have one, we will help you find another dog that will be a better fit for your home. Our top priority is the safety and well being of our dogs.
Every adoptable Doberman in our rescue has received a wellness examination by a veterinarian. The dog is vaccinated so he/she is up-to-date on Rabies, DHLPP and Bordetella. The dog is given a heartworm and fecal test and treated for any medical issues, as well as being spayed or neutered if not done previously. Our Dobes are microchipped and the service is provided for the lifetime of the dog. Our dogs are placed on monthly preventative for fleas, ticks, and heartworms. All of our adoptable dogs are in caring foster homes for a minimum of two weeks prior to being considered adoptable, although most are in foster care for longer. Insightful observation of behavior is noted during this time which is always shared with adopters.
Our dogs range in age, energy level, training needs and home requirements. We are knowledgeable and experienced with Dobes and the dogs in our rescue, and will assist you in finding the right match for you as well as the dog. We appreciate that you stay open minded during the adoption process.
Finding your new best friend is an exciting experience! All adopters complete an Adoption Agreement with us. At the top of this agreement, we provide you with your dogs current health history. We also complete the enrollment paperwork for the microchip service. We furnish a new, high quality, complimentary collar for your pet, along with an HMDD rescue tag. As a new owner you will put identification tags on your dog, but the rescue tag is placed on your dog’s collar providing identification that this is an HMDD dog. If your dog ever becomes lost and for some reason you are unable to be reached, this is one way for us to contact you. All of our foster dogs are fed a high quality, meat and grain based dog food that you can continue to purchase and feed your dog. Stores such as Hollywood Feed and Pet Supplies Plus carry this food as do online stores such as Chewy.com. We do provide a small bag of transition food so if you choose to change, your dog does not have digestive issues from suddenly introducing a new food.
Our adoption fee for purebred pups 12 months and younger is $500, purebred dogs between 1 and 8 years old are $400, and sweet and loving purebred seniors 9 years and older are $300. A $15 service fee will be added if paying by credit card.
Bringing a new pet into your home is a transition for everyone. We will follow up with you with a phone call a couple of weeks after your adoption to check in and offer suggestions or advice if needed. If concerns arise before then, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you! (614) 470-2851
As part of our adoption contract, you agree to take your new Dobe to the vet within two weeks of adoption. This initial visit will allow the vet to open a file for your dog and meet your new pet. Be sure to take your contract with you as it contains your dog’s health records from HMDD. During this visit you will need to purchase your vet’s recommended heartworm preventative. If the heartworm preventative does not include flea and tick protection, you should consider purchasing this as well.
We require that you and your new Dobe enroll in a positive, reward-based, public training class within 2 months of adoption. Dobermans are a very smart breed, thriving on physical and mental exercise. Attending these classes helps to form a strong bond between you and your dog. This bond is very important which is why we do not accept sending your dog away for training. Any training method that uses fear and pain including shock, stimulation, or any other punishment-type collar is prohibited. Learn more about why we require Positive Obedience Training for your new best friend.
Now that you are part of the HMDD family, we want to keep in touch and hear how your new companion has blossomed since being adopted! We also publish a calendar that features our dogs, happy and enjoying life in their forever homes. Please send your annual update and photos if possible to heather@hmdd.org. Thank you!
Questions? Call us at (614) 470-2851 or email us at adoptions@hmdd.org.
We follow the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s Code of Ethics. For more information visit the DPCA at www.dpca.org.
