Kobina Andah - thesavannaonline

In a previous article, we highlighted Kobina’s efforts towards promoting canine welfare through the breeding of high value Dobermanns. As an experienced breeder and owner of K9 Pioneers of Africa, he has invaluable nuggets for dog owners, breeders, and pet lovers. Therefore, we decided to do a random Q&A with this Dobermann aficionado.

Kobina Andah owner of K9 Pioneers of Africa on the extreme left

Background to K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel’s Kobina Andah.

Kobina is a Development Finance professional. He started hobby breeding dogs in the late 1980s and founded K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel in 2017, after a break of almost 10 years. He’s working at establishing his own bloodline with which to work in urban search and rescue and also successfully compete in major international championships.

Kobina’s preference for the Dobermann stems from its loyalty, intelligence and high trainability. The breed is known for its protective instincts. Dobermanns are versatile, excelling in various roles (e.g., service, police work). They require regular exercise and mental stimulation.

Q & A with Mr. Kobina Andah – K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel’s view on the impact of winning at Dog Shows

Thesavannaonline: How does this achievement impact the breed’s reputation and your future breeding plans?

KA: The show is a tool for my breeding plan, not the other way around because a breeding plan exists before and many years beyond a show. Shows pick out who amongst peers is producing dogs closest to the breed standard because producing a dog that’s 100% accurate to the breed standard is impossible, and that is why even an excellent specimen cannot be perfect.

Thesavannaonline: What was your reaction when you learned the puppy had won?

KA: I expected him to best all the adult dogs, but he wasn’t even the overall best puppy on show that day, so we have a lot more work to do and shows to attend for the diverse opinions of as many of judges of high repute as possible.

Thesavannaonline: How have clients or other breeders reacted to the news of this win?

KA: It’s mostly our handlers that have the most significant celebrations because they make heavy investments of their time and emotions, and the aim is to win, so we also need to teach them sportsmanship, which is why no single handler works exclusively with one dog. They must be happy for each other and stand ready to step in as substitute handlers if needed.

A few buyers on our paid waiting list showed up to watch. That being said, I have not received any feedback based on Elijah’s performance, maybe because I haven’t made any noise about it or have any content for my social media handles.

Thesavannaonline: Will Elijah be involved in further competitions or breeding?

KA: The answer to your question is yes and yes unless he’s purchased and resides way beyond our reasonable reach, because we export more dogs than we sell locally.

Kobina-Andah-Training-a K9 Pioneers of Africa Dobermann

Building on the effects of winning at Dog shows

Thesavannaonline: How do you plan to build on this success for your breeding program?

KA: The show results affirm that our breeding plan is on the right trajectory. Apart from the Dobermanns of totally unknown parentage, we were the only breeders showing off dogs produced locally. I wish that everyone, especially prospective buyers, appreciate the foolproof route of showing high-value livestock produced to get globally accepted affirmation rather than almost exclusively relying on social media hype.

Advice to people interested in breeding

Thesavannaonline: What advice would you give someone new to breeding and interested in showing dogs?

KA: The biggest and most common mistake is to begin with mediocre dogs in an attempt to improve your stock, because those mediocre genes may pop up when you can least afford them to.

The best way is to seek out a mentor with high value stock. When they’re comfortable that you’re ready, they will start co-owning their dogs with you. The situation will further align the interests of both parties and guarantee mutual benefits.

Even international co-ownerships are possible, but those have higher entry points.

Thesavannaonline: Are there any common misconceptions you would like to address about breeding or showing?

KA Yes, as is quite common, the least informed are amongst those with the most potent convictions, followed by the partially informed.

For this reason, we hold an open day/immersion once every Saturday so people can visit our facilities for a free hands-on experience and education.

The list of old wives’ tales and ludicrous misconceptions is endless. It will be a futile exercise to attempt to mention them all here.

Thesavannaonline: What is your view on Dog Shows in Ghana?

KA: Since KUG started hosting conformation shows almost 10 years ago, this show has had the most impressive turnout of high-quality spectators, which indicates that whatever the show committee did differently regarding marketing and publicity yielded positive results.

Thesavannaonline: What is your favourite aspect of breeding and showing dogs?

KA The most heartwarming aspect of breeding is the unexpected feedback you get when new owners are awed by their new charges. It never gets old, which is what we breed for—excellent specimens of the perfect breed.

Looking for a superior quality Dobermann right here in Ghana?

Read the story below.

K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel has a Perfect Dobermann for you.

Kobina Andah is a banking professional who ventured into the business of Dogs from an early stage. Starting as a hobby, he transitioned into a formal breeding program, birthing K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel. He is pursuing an agenda to have an established bloodline of a superior quality Dobermann “to compete and win both working and conformation championships at the highest international levels”. At this point, he may consider retiring as a breeder.

Kobina Andah’s love for the Dobermann.

What the average person sees in a dog is different from what a breeder in love with a specific dog can see, desire, and nurture. While one may see commerce, a man of honesty sees an opportunity to create the best companion for a man – a friend that will protect. And that is where Kobina Andah stands as a Dobermann breeder of great repute. Kobina Andah’s affinity with dogs came from a very young age. However, his introduction to the Dobermann breed as a child around the 1970’s, the love peaked.

He got his first dog from one of the earliest imports of the breed to Ghana. Young Kobina Andah was now face to face with the lovely canine he had come to love so much. Dr Sydney Quartey and his son, the late Kenneth Quartey, were behind the dogs that gave young Kobina Andah his first Dobermann. As he sought more knowledge to ensure he provided maximum care and got the most out of the dog, Dr Poku Pare and Hans Roth (a breeder of German Shorthaired Pointers) taught him the ropes in breeding.

Why Kobinah Andah chose the Dobermann

As a powerful and muscular dog within the Working Group category of dogs, the Dobermann is a protector and perfect companion. The courage, loyalty and intelligence of the Dog continue to be its selling point. Excellent at Police and Military work, this lovely short-coated canine has proven to excel well in homes.

The choice to breed the Dobermann is one founded on the uniqueness of its qualities.

According to Kobina Andah;

“Dobermanns are the only protective breed developed to live in close contact with humans because the breed was developed exclusively for personal protection. To experience a well-bred Dobermann is the definition of total, unconditional love and devotion.”

Despite loving and breeding the Dobermann, he also has a love for the Dogo Argentino; however, because they require highly experienced owners, he only keeps some for himself and not for breeding.

Having participated in several Dog Shows, Kobina Andah’s K9 Pioneers of Africa has won every category possible since they started doing conformation in 2018.

According to Kobina Andah;

“That was easier because there weren’t that many good quality dogs or serious, knowledgeable breeders and owners. To date, the population of Dobermanns in Ghana is minuscule compared to the other popular guardian breeds, so if a Dobermann can come out of a field of 4 dogs and hold its own against a dog that’s come out of a field of 30-50, it’s quite an achievement. The numbers for Dogo Argentinos are smaller still, but we persevere.”

Elijah is BEST DOBERMANN – JUNIOR CLASS, ACDS

The Kennel Union of Ghana, in partnership with the Shihtzu National Specialty Show, brought to the fur-loving public the 2024 edition of the August Classic Dog Show (ACDS). The event sought to crown the best dog breeds in Ghana and West Africa. Several Kennels and Dog Breeders participated in this annual event.

The highlight of the event, which also had a socialisation component, was seeing the majestic dogs taking turns to mesmerise the crowd and judge with the physique, trod, and conformation to the breed standards. One Dog that stood out was a Dobermann named Elijah. Coming in with an excellent head and movements, he was crowned BEST DOBERMANN in the JUNIOR CLASS, suggesting the exploits of Elijah as a top dog are just beginning.

Elijah’s journey to being crowned at the ACDS 24 event was quite easy, as dogs from K9 Pioneers of Africa are well-trained. However, he required some weeks of “beefing up” to get used to gaiting alongside a handler. Gaiting alongside a handler is quite different from the heel work Elijah is used to in obedience class.

With a strict regimen of maintaining the breed standards of a Dobermann and ensuring desirable traits via pedigree lines, Elijah required very little socialisation prior to the event. He is from a genetically balanced bloodline and gets to interact with visitors to the premises of K9 Pioneers of Africa under supervision.

Kobina Andah had the following to say to buttress the point of socialisation:

“When we want to lay the finishing touches of personal protection training on them, we actually need to bring in people they don’t know; otherwise, protection training is just a game to the dog which we conduct repetitively to achieve muscle memory.”

Elijah is one of Kobina Andah’s Dobermann at his K9 Pioneers of Africa Kennel. The facility is a breeding and training kennel of reputation in Ghana and Africa. Elijah is from the Kennel’s anchor bitch, Ch Ace Ancora and Chairman Carmelo Made in Sicily, both Italian imports from very old and respected lines.

Considering the fact that the definition of breeding is to improve and maintain the breed standard, Elijah’s win indicates K9 Pioneers of Africa is on track. Thus, it is an affirmation of the quality of the Kennel.

Elijah’s synergy with handlers at the ACDS was easy. He learnt to stacking alongside handlers. It made the judge’s examination and inspection much easier.

Regarding Elijah’s future, he’s gone back to his obedience training program and will be prepped for the KUG All Breed Show in November 2024. Kobina Andah will enter Elijah and into the COBA Nationals dog show in Lagos, Nigeria, in December 2024.

A Pioneer of Africa Dobermann and Handler

About K9 Pioneers of Africa

When you think of a pioneer in the breeding of dogs in Ghana, look no further than K9 Pioneers of Africa, owned by Kobina Andah. The Kennel has a reputation as one of the finest places to get a fur friend. It prioritises the well-being of the dogs vis-à-vis their purpose as companions and protectors. From Puppyhood till when a K9 Pioneer of Africa Dog finds a new home, dogs go through varied training sessions to ensure they are up to the task when rehomed.

K9 Pioneers of Africa consider a variety of factors when choosing breeding dogs. Health and Temperament are at the fore; however, physical attributes and genetic diversity also play a vital role in the choice.

“Due to the nature of purebreds, each breed has unique genetic vulnerabilities that may not even be possible to test for, so the rule of thumb is to intimately study the four most recent generations in a pedigree for longevity and quality. Some breeders advise seven generations, but I believe four generations work just fine.” Kobina Andah

Do you need a Dobermann as a Pet or for Personal Protection?

K9 Pioneers of Africa is the ultimate place to get that loving Dobermann, which will stand with you at any point. Aside from offering a number of services, including Dog training for all purposes and Boarding facilities, It is the right place to get a Dobermann bred for your desired purpose.

Locate K9 Pioneers of Africa in Agbogba, North Legon in Accra. Reach them via pioneersofafrica@gmail.com and +233502081233.

They are also available on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

A dog lover and Dobermann breeder, Kobina Andah has bred dogs, especially the Dobermann, for nearly 40 years. Starting in 1987, he went from imports to being born and bred in Ghana Dogs. He has also exported Dobermanns to several other countries.

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Exclusive 1 with K9 Pioneers of Africa Boss – Kobina Andah

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