ABOUT US.......We are Martin & Jay Horgan, we live in Staffordshire with our Dobermanns & 2 Burmese cats. We breed, show internationally and work our dogs in Schutzhund.

At Aritaur, we do not breed commercially and have on average two litters a year. We know where all the dogs we have bred are, and remain in regular contact with their owners. Our puppies are only placed with carefully chosen families and we do not over breed our bitches. We do not favour one 'type' - English, European or American over another; just a good quality, healthy, confident, sociable good looking dog.

We are very fortunate to have a group of wonderful owners and friends whose dedication to their dogs shows in the very many awards Aritaur dogs gain in the showring.

We aim to continually improve our breeding with the best available stud males and females worldwide, and to produce a Dobermann as sound in mind as in conformation and health. A beautiful Dobermann with an unstable character and poor health is of no value to the breed and in addition to our success in the show ring, you will find character and health are higher in priority for us than just a good looking dog. Our breed does have an unfounded reputation by the anti dog element in society who in their ignorance attack Dobermanns as vicious. We prove otherwise with the soundness of our dogs and those we have bred. We will never knowingly breed from mentally unsound dogs.

Jay is an Affiliate of the BIPDT (British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers); Martin is Chairman of the South Cheshire Schutzhund Club and a qualified track layer with the BSA (British Schutzhund Association). We are both KC/DBC (Dobermann Breed Council) listed judges.

We welcome visitors for advice or training. Our home in the Staffordshire Moorlands between Ashbourne & Stoke-on-Trent (1 m from Alton Towers), is in the middle of the country easily accessible from all regions.

Our Foundation bitch was the outstanding Crislea Centrefold of Aritaur (Juno) bred by Mrs Pat Newey. Juno is a very tightly bred daughter of Ch Holtzburg Mayhem. One of the most special dogs who everyone remembers; she gave us everything and got a lot of cookies and hugs in return!

Ch Holtzburg Mayhem was the UK's Top Stud Dog in 1995 and Top Dobermann Stud Dog in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995. A major influence on the breed in this country; many of the best Dobermanns in the country contain his bloodlines and those of his father Ch Perihelias Resolution, who was also the sire of Ch Sallate Ferris, who remains today the unbeaten UK Breed Record Holder with 42 CC's.

Juno's first litter was to Khaneve Rage n' Honour, a Ferris grandson and established our success with Aritaur Flip Fantasia JW and Aritaur Midnight Rave, who is a Champion producer. Juno's second litter was to Ch Miendy's Soba Up, a predominantly line bred dog on Jowendy's, Manzart and Mayhem. From that litter, we had our first UK Champions - two litter sisters - Ch Aritaur A Little More Soba and Ch Aritaur Surprisingly Soba.

In 2005 we took Dominatrix to Paris for her second mating to Int, Multi & Fr Ch F'Hiram Abif Royal Bell, giving us the excellent 'N' litter already producing CC winner at The Dobermann Club 09 with A. Nominator. His brother A. Notorious has his Sch1 with the highest scores possible at that grade in the UK.

Dominatrix had her last litter in Feb 2007 to a son of Tamerlan, the lovely young Hungarian Ch. Tom Dober Hagi. The 'T' litter puppies (shown from July 2007) have already won many classes; Aritaur Tomahawk Marillium gained his ShCM in 2008. A. Tarantino with Asissi is the Celtic Junior Winner 2008 and won his first CACIB aged 14 months. A. Tarantella has a RCC. Now aged 7, Dominatrix recently won her 6th Irish Green Star, beating other much younger competition.

Unlike some other top winning kennels, many of our dogs are owner/handled with great success, and we are proud that our breeding is of such good quality to gain the highest awards on merit.

If you are considering owning a Dobermann but are unsure if you are right for the breed, we offer an FAQ's page. You should also try to visit a local dog show to meet the breed in an environment other than its' home. You are welcome to call us if you would like more information.