A friend of mine in NJ had two of the sweetest Dobes I've ever met. She did have the ears cropped on her dogs, and their names were Spock and Tuvok. I thought those were great names for them!
If you're looking for a breeder, look for a show dog breeder. Not every pup in a litter will be show quality, but they will come from mentally and physically stable stock (can't be a show dog with bad hips and a poor temperment), so you should get a good one. Meet the dam if you can. Those pups that are determined not show quality are still gorgeous animals, and the breeders want to sell them to good homes...if you're not screened thoroughly as a potential owner, go elsewhere. A good breeder wants to make sure the pups are going to GOOD homes, and will keep them until he/she feels the right homes come along.