Interview mit Anna Tits, judge and breeder of russian dobermann kennel "iz Doma Domeni"
Sylwia Salmanowicz
"Elite House" kennel
October 2009
Sylwia Salmanowicz: When and how started your adventure with dobermanns?
Anna Tits: In 1965 our family decided to buy a dog. My mother chose a dobermann from the combination of very beautifull couple - Gobby and Westa who both were Moscow Winners. They came from old russian blood-lines which was exported from Germany by russian army.
With Wego Grand I went into raptures with everything what was associated with dogs - traning, shows etc. Unfortunately, Wego left early
because of his illness. My next dobermann came from pure german blood-line. My excitement and passion was bigger and I singed up
for cynological courses (1970). At the time when Russia entered to the FCI, I registrated my kennel "iz Doma Domeni" .
S.S: Is there any dobermann from the past who stuck in your mind?
A.T: Every dog had its own specific character and was very special for me. In the past I asked myself same question and I never could find an answer. Each one has special place in my heart.
S.S: Could you say something about your german import - Mirakel v.d Rauberhohle?
A.T: For the first time I saw her mother Nemesis Figi v. Koepsel on the big dog-show in Switzerland and she really impressed me.
I got to know Moller family and in the following years I wanted to have a daugther of Nemesis. I got puppie from the combination
of Alfa Adelante del Citone and Nemesis. My friend brought from Stuttgart to Moscow, beautifull female with excellent character, like
an angel, not only great for working but also as a family dog. She was shown often, 6x Champion, Russian, Club Champion, Class Winner
on IDC 2000, HD-A, IPO 1. I'm really proud of having this female.
Mirakel v.d Rauberhohle
S.S Did you expect that from the combination of Mirakel and Jivago v/h Wantij two brothers from this litter will become so
important and influental males not only in Russia but also in Europe?
A.T: Every breeder expects something special from his litters and I'm not an exception. Unfortunately, there's no instuction for breeders on
how to breed, we have to rely on our instinct and experience. I've chosen Jivago, who was used to give to his progeny strong bone-structure what I also achieved in that litter. From 5 pups, 3 were chosen into the finals on IDC 2003 what heralded a big success for me.
S.S: Pimms or Punsh? Which of them is more special to you?
A.T: I think it's not a fair question. Both dogs are equaly important. I can only say that Pimms is more similar to Jivago while Punsh to Mirakel/Alfa Adelante. They are both special in their own way.
Pimms Number One iz Doma Domeni
Punsh iz Doma Domeni
S.S: Is it easy to judge dobermanns? What is the most important for you during judging?
A.T: Many judges think that the dobermann is an easy breed to judge but in fact is difficult as all other breeds. First of all I pay attention to standard, if the dog is quadratic, has high-shoulders, if chest is not only wide but also deep. As a working dog, dobermanns need to have excellent croup, beautifull, long head and great expression.
S.S: How do you assess development of the dobermann breed?
A.T: In the past a lot of people paid special attention to beauty (conformation). Nowadays, the dobermann has to be a working dog as well
so he is supposed to represent features which are specific for working breeds. Nevertheless, we must keep in balance beauty as well the working abilities. Also today, we put emphasis on health of the dobermann (in other breeds too). When dobermann is not only beautifull but also healthy and has working drives, we have an ideal dog. DV does many efforts to solve all problems of our breed.
S.S: What is your attitude towards danger of health problems (DCM) and also of tendency to breed more and more heavier dobermanns?
A.T: Health problems existed also in the past but the difference is that then dogs were not examined or there was not the possibility to
make an examination because lack of medical facilities. Today, many health results are published and we can compare them which was
not possible before. It's a very positive aspect that we care about the health of our dobermanns and it doesn't matter if we are breeders
or just dog-owners. If we will eliminate ill dogs from breeding we will sort this problem out. If it comes to breeding heavier dobermanns, we can't forget that we have a dobermanns and not a rottweilers. We can't let our dogs to be too heavy or to exceed the height limit. We should keep the harmony between weight and height.
S.S: Dobermann cropped or uncropped? What kind of view do you take of it taking into account that it's forbidden to show cropped dobermann in many countries?
A.T: I'm very consequent about that matter. Real dobermann in my eyes is a cropped dobermann. It's also the philosophy if Mr. Louis
Dobermann (founder of the dobermann breed*). Some breeders after the ban of cropping some breeders they gave or changed breeds. To be honest, I would do the same but I need to emphasize that during judging I pay attention to every dog and I don't separate them on those who are cropped and those who aren't.
S.S: IDC in Russia, do you think it's possible in closest or distant future?
A.T: Of course, I think it is possible but there will be some negative factors towards this idea. At first the obligation of getting visa which is costly and not easy to get. In spite of everything, I would be very happy to see such a big event in Russia.
*translated into english by Michal Jakubowsky
