Has anyone had a bad experience with a doberman pinscher?
Dobermans can be some of the sweetest, most lovable dogs you will ever have the honor of owning. They were bred for protection dogs in the beginning, not guard dogs. Guard dogs, ie Great Dane, will bark and alert you if something is suspicious. A Doberman will fight to the death to protect you if there is real danger. They need to be trained properly. They are GREAT family dogs, are good around children and are known as Velcro Dogs, because they love their owners so much they want to be with you constantly. So they do require a lot of attention. The Doberman at the animal shelter had probably been abused or neglected. There's no way to know what that poor dog had been through. We recently adopted a female Doberman whose owners were going to put her to sleep because she was afraid of storms and would bark and pace around. Really good people? She is so sweet and would not give her up for anything. They are great dogs and I would recommend them to anyone who will take the time to train them and gain knowledge about the breed. Good luck
Calling all experienced doberman owners?
Hey i was wondering, do all dobermans need a firm, confident, dominant, master? I really need to know this because, dobermans seem to fit me and i love their temperament and how they are protective. But i would say I'm not exactly the firm dominant type. I mean if i did get a doberman, i would set rules and try to be the alpha and everything, but, since i'm not that firm dominant type would the doberman sense that in me and not respect me and would ignore my rules? Besides that, dobermans suit me really well! Their energy, their playfulness, their exercise needs, their temperament, all that and i love how they make a good guard dog. The one thing i was concerned about is how they need a confident firm master and i don't think i am really that type. Or i also thought, i could pick out a dobe puppy from a litter that is more submissive but i don't know. Should i still consider getting a dobe or should i cross them off the list???? I really like them though : (
Have Dobermans killed people?
Yes they have, in war, in law enforcement and in homes.Dobermans were bred to be a body guard more than property guard. They are most likely to bite a perceived human threat to their owner or family. They are not random biters. But given their speed, tensile steel like strength, and suspicious assertive nature, a threat can end in death.Protection breed owners cannot have it both ways. These dogs need a ton of socialization. Not to take away their protection but to give them confidence around all people. In a threatening situation, they will be far more discerning and effective. Socialized they become the reliable protection breed they were intended to be. Tolerant, but alert to changing situations. Unsocialized Dobes don't know what's normal, so they don't know the difference between a right and wrong situation. Someone giving you a handshake, or a hug, or an intimate touch doesn't deserve to be bitten. Conversely, if my Dobes don't know what normal is, they may not know who is a regular visitor and who needs extra watching. Potentially dangerous breeds require work.My girls enjoy my friends, but if anyone were to take a swing, they would react. I learned this firsthand when a pal had to much to drink and began waving his hands wildly in my spouses head while yelling a joke out. Sadie, my now gone gentlest Dobe knocked him into a chair and stood up on him. Staring daggers and growling. He was sober instantly, apologizing. A few moments later she went and laid back down. But she kept an eye on him. When he left, she walked him out, waited for a goodbye and came in. Good thing she weighed the situation out as he being a regular friend. She may have damn near killed a stranger who raised their hands over our heads while yelling.
Would a Doberman be an ok first dog for someone willing to do the research, put in the hard work, and go through multiple professional training courses? Also, I have experience teaching people martial arts, and taking care of sick/disabled people.
There is no such thing as a bad “breed” of dog. As long as you are a loving, fair, consistent and patient owner you can get any dog you like. If you are willing to do the training and the care it is irrelevant what sort of dog you choose. Bad owners could turn any dog into a fighter - and it is absolutely the case that some of the most loving breeds are the ones who are most maligned. Most Dobermans have gentle loving nature’s and practically no dog EVER becomes violent or grumpy on its own, it is because humans have made it that way.Use ONLY positive reinforcement training (reward the good behaviour, ignore the bad) and don’t ever punish your loyal canine friend, they are pre-programmed to please and punishment just confuses them. Register with a vet and make sure your dog is vaccinated wormed and health checked regularly. Groom and teeth brushing are good things to establish early and if you are getting a puppy be aware they are a LOT of work!! You have a lot of responsibility to ensure your puppy learns the basics of good behaviour early (before 16–20 weeks old) including lots of socialisation with humans and dogs in lots of different places. The more work you put in in those early weeks will reap years of rewards and puppy classes are great - just remember to practise what you learned.Research and only feed a reputable balanced natural ingredient dog food. Generally speaking the ones in the supermarket are shit so avoid them. Royal Canin and James Wellbeloved are both good. A marrow bone from the butcher is probably the best treat you could ever give your dog and my dogs all love antlers as well. Limit raw hide treats and chewy morsels. Use high value treats for training (cubes of cheese, meat, something your dog loves and doesn’t get) not shop bought dog biscuits or “training treats”Finally enjoy the love and companionship and hilarity your beloved canine friend will give you, they deserve the label mans best friend.
Are Dobermans high energy?
I mean, i'm guessing they're not couch potatoes, but i doubt they would have the same energy a border collie has. Long story short, how many hours of walking would a doberman need to be healthy? I'd apreciate answers from someone that has experience with the breed, but meh.
Will my Doberman attack someone?
You really don't know if he'll attack a stranger until he actually does it. The growling could be a prelude to a real attack or could just be territorial barking. Some Dobermans will attack and some won't. Mine probably wouldn't unless I was personally being attacked. He also growls at people outside my house, but won't even look up if someone comes into my house. Since you don't know what your dog will do, you have to ask yourself whether or not you want to wait to find out. He could bite a robber or your mother-in-law. It's much more likely to be a friend or family member. I would work on having people go by the house after you have the dog in a submissive down position. If the dog is quiet, treat him. If he barks, correct him. Pretty soon he'll be happy to see visitors. Just remember that Dobermans are not stupid. They can tell the difference between a real threat and a visitor. Training him to accept passer-bys and visitors will not make him ignore a violent intruder. He may not have the same controllable response as a Schutzhund or police dog, but he will respond.
Dobermans and Townhomes?
I know people with Dobermans and townhomes - actually I have lived in townhomes and had Dobermans but you have to be ve4ry careful, as someone already mentioned, because there are often restrictions that are breed based - I know, very ignorant but that is what the world is about to a great degree, unfortunately. You need to be prepared to face these ignorant biases with most any large breed but particularly those that have specific prejudices against them. Also, you need to do a whole lot of learning about any breed you are desiring to obtain and be a responsible dog procurer as well as owner or the prejudices will be founded. Locate several good, knowledgeable breeders that can help mentor you with regards to breed health, temperament and structure and that can help you locate good breedings from responsible breeders.
What are the differences between a Doberman and a German Shepherd?
More than anything it depends on the individual dog. Dobermans were originally bred as personal (human) protection dogs by a tax collector. They are derived from a mix of aggressive European Shepherd dogs and Terriers. German Shepherds were bred to guard sheep and then to for police work. Both, in general have high protective instincts. In my experience Dobermans are not as smart, in general, as Shepherds, but are obsessively focused on their humans. So they seem smarter to people. They live to please people and are generally "velcro" dogs- they don't like to leave your side. You will never go to the bathroom alone again. They are generally more focused on people than other dogs. Dobies seem goofier to me, but scarier to most people even when the dog is relaxed. Shepherds on the other hand seem to be fine laying down and relaxing 10 feet away. They will even sometimes fall asleep there, even when there is company!Both breeds have been bred to an extent as pets in the US rather than working dogs, so there is a wide variation in individual dogs as to their ability to guard or police. Dobies are generally more high strung and mature late emotionally. They are usually big babies with their families and like a lot of attention. Many Dobies have hereditary heart problems. Shepherds with bad breeding have a high rate of hip displacia and I've seen some dogs that I was told came from a behaviorally "unpredictable" line. Other Shepherds are very laid back. Both need good socialization. If a dog is naturally a good guard dog then socializing it will not stop that instinct at home or if it's owner is threatened, but it will help if the dog needs to be in public, ever has children or friends around it or brought to a vet. Both are good dogs. It depends if you want a high strung goofy baby who dotes on you 24/7 (Dobie) or a relatively sober companion who can relax once in a while (Shepard). Personally, I have a Dobie mix right now and if I ever get another dog it will probably be another Dobie or mix. He has saved my life at least twice when someone tried to break into my house, I can bring him almost anywhere and he's good natured, lives to please, enthusiastic about everything and upbeat. I used to be into wolf hybrids, and while hybrids are much smarter dogs they roam and are much higher maintenance. But, whatever dog I get would be based more on the individual dog than the breed.