Doberman

[ar15meister]

Anyone have experience with this dog?

I have never owned a dog but my girlfriend of 5 years and I are moving in together and her dog was put down 3 months ago. She had an Amstaff.

She wants a dog.

I figure if she is going to get one it might as well be a protective breed that can guard the house and her while I am away. I also like the look of the doberman, the fact that they arent big and drooly and the fact that when a 'would be' mischief maker sees one, they know what it is right away.

Not interested in breed suggestions, just in opinions of this particular dog.

 

[fund razor]

I don't like them. But I am prohibited by your post from suggesting another breed.

Anyway... you shouldn't move in with her. If she got over her dog in three months, she will get over you in 3 days.

 

[TCEd]

Regardless of breed find out the bloodline of the dog, the breeder and intended use of the bloodline i.e. guard dogs, house pets, hunters, junk yard dogs

 

[Sydwayz]

Get her a gun and a home alarm system. The dog means dog sitters when you want to go away for the weekend. A gun does not need a sitter.

 

[Perlmudder]

Our neighbor across the street had one for about 10 years, it passed away last year. It was a nice dog, seemed very well mannered and pretty intelligent. It was a female and he had it trained well, I never really saw it on a leash and we live on a pretty busy street (Strathearn Road). He had older kids, around my age, so I'm not sure how they would be with young kids.

 

[rainmn]

I'm with fund - I don't particularly care for them.

My Uncle has had a few of them over the last 30 years or so, and more than one of them turned nasty over time, to the point where they couldn't be allowed near company. Even the ones that didn't turn nasty all gave me the sense that they had the "crazy" gene. Never trusted any of them.

 

[JupiterSunsation]

Anyone have experience with this dog?

I have never owned a dog but my girlfriend of 5 years and I are moving in together and her dog was put down 3 months ago. She had an Amstaff.

She wants a dog.

I figure if she is going to get one it might as well be a protective breed that can guard the house and her while I am away. I also like the look of the doberman, the fact that they arent big and drooly and the fact that when a 'would be' mischief maker sees one, they know what it is right away.

Not interested in breed suggestions, just in opinions of this particular dog.

Great dogs. Had one for 14 years and my wife who was paranoid about the breed wants another one now. They were the poster child for bad dogs in the 70's much like pit bulls are taking the rap today. They are devil dogs, turn on their owners, brains swell with age causing them to go crazy, etc all 70's urban legends.

Dog never gave me an ounce of trouble, no slobber like a Rottweiler and when they shed it looks like your eyelashes are on the floor. Heart problems plague the breed but a good breeder should be able to steer you clear of that. Females can be small (my sister has a 55 lb one that is great with her two kids but she has turned the dog into a lap dog that doesn't even bark).

The breed is the only big dog I would consider for my family. 3 people in our neighborhood recently got puppies so I know it is only a matter of time before my wife gets one. They come in 4 colors but I still prefer black. I have two young girls so I would lean towards a female just for size/temperment. I joke with my wife and tell her I am coming home with "the lads", Zeus and Apollo, show reference from Magnum PI.
She would love it but I don't want double the bills, double the work and double the dog sh!t.

They have doberman rescue dogs nationwide and I have a buddy that got a great dobie from that program but for my situation I want a puppy to start with.

 

[HiZ]

Regardless of breed find out the bloodline of the dog, the breeder and intended use of the bloodline i.e. guard dogs, house pets, hunters, junk yard dogs

Agreed, check the blood lines!
I have a friend with 2 Rots and a Dob.
They are all calm perfect dogs that you can let your kids ride on.
The stereo type of the Dob being the big and ferocious beast is just that, stereo type.
They are great dogs, do your homework on them for the application and setting of the dog you are looking to take care of.
For instance I have a full blown Plott hound that has a strong hunting blood line, but also family roots. She needs excessive energy draining and loves to chase down anything. But yet is a great dog with people and loves kids. Training, time, dedication, and a good start is what makes for good friendship. It's like a boat, you have to figure out what you want, speed power and looks, start with a good hull, get your power plant in there. Teach it how you like to burn up fuel. Play excessively and make sure to feed it and give it a bath before putting it back in the house.

Ok, I'm done babbling

Mostly Vicious! See

 

[HiZ]

Here is a pic that was taken at the right time, how tenacious she is.
This is my friends little Bernese mountain pup that was a little ba$tard.
Still is years later. But anyway this pic is perfect, it was after about 10 min of him chewing the hell out of her ears and she was done with it.
Perfect expressions................

 

[sledge]

"the lads", Zeus and Apollo, show reference from Magnum PI.

Yep, great dogs, all depends on the breeder/bloodline and the training.

 

[DonziGirl]

My neighbor had one while I was growing up. Very docile and playful with me as a kid. I was pretty young too (early grade school I think). Never had any problems. Obeyed me for some weird reason and would follow me around like a puppy. From what I can tell, would be a great dog but, as with any breed, need to check the breeder and have them well trained.

 

[ThrottleUp Props]

WONDERFUL Dogs!!!! I would never hesitate to own another one.

Julie

 

[stecz20]

i have owned 3 of them. awsome dogs, great with my son and any kids around. there is no crazy gene, only crazy owners.. its a high energy dog, very loyal, and will give its life for you... i will always own one.. right now i have a black male and a red female. my female is 9 and is one of the best dogs ive owned other than the pit bull and my male is 5....

no such thing as bad dogs, only bad people.......

 

[rainmn]

there is no crazy gene, only crazy owners...

In the case of my uncle's dogs that I described above, the owner being the problem is certainly a possibility.

Whatever the cause was, I never trusted any of his dogs. (And I own a 180 lb. dog that I trust 100% )

 

[Wardey]

I had one for 12 years. GREAT dogs !!! Get a good blood line and meet the parents of the dogs. My son has a Ret. U.S.M.C. Dobe currently and he is great also. He does not know how to play so we are working on that. He's always been a worker never a puppy. Had my Dobe for 12 years, then a Rott for 14 years and now a Lab of 10 years now. All of my dogs have been good dogs but I spend alot of time with them. I personaly like my Lab the best of all of them though. My wife says that after the Lab, she wants to be dogless awhile, I say I have never been dogless but I have been wifeless !!! :biggrinjester: Dave

 

[stecz20]

im one of those people that trust my dogs more than i do most people. there are certain breeds that certain people should not own, dobes are one of them. they are powerful and fast, and require a lot of excercise.. they are bad lap dogs and bad if you plan on laying around the house with you can forget about the breed. if you are the kind that brings your buddy everywhere and will let them run and exercise them its perfect. the trait i love most about them is, when they are at attention, you never know what they are thinking, they are regal and very intelligent.. great breed... i always did my homework with the blood lines, but once i got to the litter they always picked me out. i have yet to get a dog i did not love. its important to pick one from the litter that is right for you. the best pup in the litter or the biggest is not always the right one for you...

 

[ar15meister]

Get her a gun and a home alarm system. The dog means dog sitters when you want to go away for the weekend. A gun does not need a sitter.

I agree. I have already tried. She refuses to listen.

I keep a gun at my office, a gun in my car and a gun in my bedroom. The only time I dont have a gun is when I am away from these places because in Canada we cant have one on our person.

I wanted to buy her an HK P2000 just to keep in the house (she doesnt like firing my HK.45 or my 12's, AR's, etc, etc. She wont listen. A dog is a good choice because it can go for walks with her, rollerblade trips, guards the house, wakes me up to get my gun if I am home, etc. In Canada you cant take a gun on a walk.

 

[catastrophe]

One of the best dogs I've had.

Gotta find the right breeder. I've known more than a few that had health problems and didn't live long.

 

[ar15meister]

im one of those people that trust my dogs more than i do most people. there are certain breeds that certain people should not own, dobes are one of them. they are powerful and fast, and require a lot of excercise.. they are bad lap dogs and bad if you plan on laying around the house with you can forget about the breed. if you are the kind that brings your buddy everywhere and will let them run and exercise them its perfect. the trait i love most about them is, when they are at attention, you never know what they are thinking, they are regal and very intelligent.. great breed... i always did my homework with the blood lines, but once i got to the litter they always picked me out. i have yet to get a dog i did not love. its important to pick one from the litter that is right for you. the best pup in the litter or the biggest is not always the right one for you...

How do you let them run and excercise? Again, never owned a dog before so my GF is going to be the one showing me the ropes with this stuff. I would be scared it would get hit by a car, or bite a little podle or something...

Most places in Toronto require a dog to be on a leash and an unleashed Doberman would get alot of people calling the cops...

 

[ar15meister]

One of the best dogs I've had.

Gotta find the right breeder. I've known more than a few that had health problems and didn't live long.

Do you know any in Ontario that you would recommend?