ABOUT US.......We are Martin & Jay Horgan (n Kershaw), 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 very 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 despite our success in the show ring, you will find character is a very high priority for us.

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 requiring 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.

At Aritaur we breed for show and work, but always for companions first and foremost. We breed sparingly, selectively and conscienciously, for strong, healthy, sound dogs capable of good physical and mental stamina whilst working or showing, with good sound character and steady temperaments. We combine the strong English lines of our kennel with some of the best European and American lines to bring fresh genes into our breeding and to further improve our consistently winning dogs and bitches. Having seen the devastating results of DCM on dogs and their owners, we strongly believe in health testing. All our dogs (whether for breeding or not) are heart tested around every 18 months at Liverpool University, and we test for PHPV, VWd, Thyroid and Hips. If you are buying a puppy you are making a serious financial and emotional commitment and our commitment to our puppies and our buyers is that we will never knowingly breed from dogs or bitches with serious genetic health problems. We will not compromise on character just to breed a pretty show dog and we also take a view of the value of the whole dog in a breeding programme rather than on a single health result. Removing a dog from the gene pool due to one poor test when he/she may have outstanding character, otherwise superb health and excellent breed type would result in not many Dobermanns being bred. We take a longer term view on eliminating undesirable issues.

Our Foundation bitch is the outstanding Crislea Centrefold of Aritaur (Juno) bred by Mrs Pat Newey. Juno is a very tightly bred daughter of Ch Holtzburg Mayhem, and has to date 10 Stud Book Number (qualification to Crufts for life) winning progeny from 3 litters, including 4 Champions ~ 2 UK, 2 Dutch.

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 a RCC winner from puppy with Aritaur Nominator who with his brother Notorious, are showing excellent working promise.

Dominatrix had her last litter in Feb 2007 to a son of Tamerlan, the superb young Hungarian dog Tom Dober Hagi. The 'T' litter puppies (shown from July 2007) have already won many classes; Aritaur Tomahawk Marillium has won two BPIS and qualified for Scottish Pup of the Year, A. Tarantino with Asissi is the Celtic Junior Winner 2008, and won his first CACIB aged 14 months. A. Trinity at Mandareus is qualified for Crufts 2009, and A. Tarantella has won two Ch show BPIB. 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.

If you are interested in an Aritaur puppy whether for show, work or purely love and companionship, and would like more details, please click HERE or call us on 01538 703072.