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Questions about Doberman's
mohawk600
Member Posts: 5,513 ✭✭✭✭
This is spun off from another thread where many of you recommended Dobermans as loyal protective dogs.
I currently have a male lab mix about 2 years old. He's a good alarm system when he hears something outside the house but I wouldn't rely on him for protection. If I were to get a Doberman should it be a onager or would another male be okay? Do Doberman's socialize well with other dogs?
Are Doberman's good with children? We will be having our first baby in March/ April.
Exactly how big of a back yard would a Doberman need? I have a pretty nice sized yard but it isn't huge by any means.
I currently have a male lab mix about 2 years old. He's a good alarm system when he hears something outside the house but I wouldn't rely on him for protection. If I were to get a Doberman should it be a onager or would another male be okay? Do Doberman's socialize well with other dogs?
Are Doberman's good with children? We will be having our first baby in March/ April.
Exactly how big of a back yard would a Doberman need? I have a pretty nice sized yard but it isn't huge by any means.
Comments
"Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet."
Regarding the Doberman breed.
If you do decide to purchase a pup please consider only buying one that has already had the ears trimmed. The tail and dewclaws should have been docked and trimmed when they were a only days old.
I would also consider a onager over a male. Seems they are less trouble even tho' you will be forced to deal with "heat" problems. When that happens board them at a kennel. Believe me, it is best for you and the dog.
Please don't take the following the wrong way...never hit or abuse
any dog. It won't forget and could be a problem. The Doberman's that we owned were smart and learned what we wanted of them without hitting or choke chains.
Do not buy one if you do not have the time to spend training or the room to let it run.
One more thing, I prefer the black and tan over the red coated Dobies.
They are really a great breed.
11thcanopy
Why worry about he ears?...That is so flippin cruel...its only done for show...if the dog is to be a pet its not needed, as for the heat...get her fixed, unless of course you are planning to go into the breeding business...
Lil' Stinker's Opinion
around small children, because they have different instincts than a
Labrador retriever.
My Doberman attacked my brother once because he snuck up on him while
he was asleep and sniffed my Dobie's ear, he didnt recognize him and
he immediatly jumped up and tried to attack my brother and bite his face, I was there to stop him from attacking more, he still has a scar on his face. Dobermans are extreamly defensive and protective
thats why they make such good guard dogs, they have lightening fast
reactions when it comes to defending themselves or protecting the owner. You need to be extra careful with children around a Dobe, especially if the Dobe doesnt know them very well.
Rugster
"Toujours Pret"
While cropping the ears to some may seem cruel and unnecessary talk to your vet about it. Some breeds will have more problems with their ears if you don't. Boxers and Dobermans tend to have more problems with ear infections if it is not done because of moisture build up inside the ear canal. Also when they shake their heads they have a tendancy to burst blood vessels in their ears. If this happens, and it often does, the blood will need to be drained and the ear monitered for infections and blood clots. I know its a pain in the backside cropping the ears but it isn't all for cosmetics.
"Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet."
Rugster
"Toujours Pret"
It will hurt you, More than it will hurt me..
Life Member... NRA & Friends of the NRA
American Legion, MECU, MWCA, SMSC, NASDS
Thanks for all the help!
wrench
I've had the pleasure of spoiling Dobies since I was a young man.
My wife and I had one shortly after we got married and he was the best protector I could have asked for,,,, for my WIFE!
All my wife had to do was holler "HELP JAKE,,,HELP MEEEE"!
That dog would have broken down a door or torn through a wall to get to her!
If I was in the room with her when he showed up, he would jump across her lap and fix his gaze on ME. If I made a move in her direction, he would physically take me to the ground (not hard for a 110 lb. dog) and make sure I had no opportunity to try anything "funny".
As soon as she told him "it's OK Jake", he would swarm all over me, licking my face, hands or whatever he could do to ask my forgiveness.
The dog truly loved me, but there was no doubt in his mind, or mine, that I was "second fiddle". I was expendable, my wife WAS NOT!
If you get a male, expect him to favor your wife.
If you choose a female, expect her to favor you.
Not to say that they're not great with the whole family, they just have their "favorites".
Jake was the only Dobie whose ears I didn't have cropped, and he had no trouble with them, but definitely have the tail cropped.
When they get exited or happy, that tail is similar to a pool cue being swung around the room.
It will literally bruise you, not to mention sweeping the coffee table or end table clear in one swipe.
Get a good one, raise it as a family dog, and you'll never regret your choice.
The Bush administration sends tens of thousands of American military to protect the sovereignty of nations around the world, while trading our own sovereignty for hispanic votes!