[Closed] Doberman Ownership

Yes, we made that mistake a couple of years ago after we lost our Rottweiler and love him as we do, it was a big mistake.

It's not that they need the exercise I can cope with that, I wanted a trail dog anyway and he is as fast as they come.

It's the defiance, and disobedience we're struggling to cope with, we've had lots of dogs over the years but this b'stard has been the toughest training call ever.

Personally my advice, get some other breed unless you have had a lot of experience and the patience of jobe.

I shall post a couple of gratuitous 'isn't he wonderful pics' plus his latest companion, another attempt to keep him from shredding the place (get him a friend) so now they both shred the place (female logic).

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The pair of them, together we're a three man wolf pack, battling it out at the foot of the family food chain (other than us it's an all female family)

Edit.. er that little one isn't entirely doberman, it got crossed with a Jack Russell, don't even ask...

They look so lovely. Im prepared to put up with the hard work as I had a saluki cross greyhound before.

I had a Dobermann bitch for almost 6 years. I had her put to sleep last Monday - DCM and kidney disease. Be aware that DCM affects this breed more than other breeds.

She was engaging, charming, funny, clever - I adored her and am very sad to have lost her. However, it was a 6 year battle of wills, I never trained her out of pulling on the lead and as for the barking . . . She broke my knee, hurt my back and wrecked my home.

Would I have another Dobe? In a heartbeat!

Beautiful dogs. Being the current owner of an EBT (the most stubborn animal on the planet), I'd look at a dobermann next up.

If you can train a Saluki greyhound a Doberman should be no problem! My uncle had one cant say I liked it much, if you looked at it for too long it would bark at you which was a bit unsettling with a dog of that size, however some other friends had one called "Kitty" (here kitty kitty kitty and this great big thing would amble across the faryard to try and eat the cat food so the name stuck) it was a lovely dog.

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Isn't he lovely?

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Except when he's chewing up your new BB cap,
or incessantly barking at anyone who walks by, even your riding mates, or crapping indoors even six months after the point you thought you had him house trained, or failing the not chasing the sheep test spectacularly, or the 'don't stop dead in the middle of a Berm to pee' test, so I can't trust him on the trail and have to keep him on the lead, which at times is a great 'dog uplift' but the rest is a massive inconvenience if we end up near livestock.

It's even more annoying I wouldn't part with him for the world, why is that? What is it about the worse they are the more stupid you become. Has he dominated? It is a dominant dog thing...

Karinofnine - really sorry to hear that.

Im on my second, they need strong leadership and plenty of exercise, but at the same time they are very clingy. Never had an issue with training, they are really clever

Not suitable to live outdoors or generally to be left for long periods and i would think again if you want something to accompany you on rides.

for breed specific advice you would do well to join the forum for the DRA. Just to note most of the forum is not visable till you register. They cover food, training, DCM... lots of very helpful people

http://www.dobermannrehome.co.uk/needing_homes.php

Clingy? He barks in Klingon!

Thanks for that link I shall have a look.

Thanks Soobalias - it was hard but had to be done.

I've had 2. Very friendly and great with kids but they are a guarding breed and did bark at anyone passing the back of the house. As above I could never get them to walk without pulling but would walk off a lead no problem. The problem is that they do look intimidating and people react in a different manner to that of a lab or similar breed. Both mine are scattered under a tree in my garden at 7 and 8 years old and we are currently dobe free. I'll have another when the kids are older and I have more time.

We have a 10 month old Doberman x Lab, he's 6 months in the picture below:

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Never had a dog before, so have nothing to compare to. But so far we've learn't:

He's very good with our two children (5 & 9), they can climb over him and he is unbothered. If he's out with just my wife & kids he tends to guard them and key an eye on the kids over the park.

If someone knocks at the front door he just sits and watches, if a delivery person tries to hand a parcel (ie hand/foot in the door) he will give off a warning, again if I'm in the house he seems less bothered.

He only barks if someone is near our fence (alley) but is un-bothered by the neighbours.

He like's big dogs, small dogs seem to annoy him.

If you leave a room with food in it, he will eat it (he can get to most surfaces), but if your in the room it can be on the floor in front of him and he won't touch it.

He is fast over the park, we've started introducing bikes in the garden and he like to try and eat the front tyre whilst you ride.

He has a strong chew, dog toys/tennis balls last minutes, only a kong has lasted so far.

I can just imagine the size of the poos it'd do, that'd be enough to put me off.

Missy was an inveterate food thief and bin raider. When I first got her I had a pedal bin, in a few days she worked out how to open it. If I forgot to take the rubbish away with me when I went out I would return to find burst tea bags and assorted other nasties strewn over the floor (minus anything remotely edible of course). She could also open the oven!

We have to keep a big rock pebble thing on top of the pedal bin, he is also an inveterate thief and bin raider, he's had whole fish, bits of meat, loaves of bread, if the bread knife gets diverted momentarily by the phone or someone at the door.

He's had three pairs of my etnies, countless bb caps, totally shredded a spare wind blocker hoody I gave him last winter when I felt sorry for him thinking he was cold, the only favour he did me was to eat my spd's resulting in a nasty banning incident some time ago before I was fully aware of the sensitivities of this place, so that was also his fault.

In fact looking back on it all I think I shall go home tonight and give him a good kicking, make me feel better, all this bad weather giving me sad syndrome in the summer ffs. 😉

We had a Doberman when I was growing up. My parents had a pub and he was bought to provide a bit of extra security. He was a big softy really and needed loads of attention. As above re the comments about when someone knocks at the door, he'd just sit and wait but you got the impression he was always ready to spring into action!I remember we had a bar manager who'd been with us for a few weeks and had got to know the dog when we were around. One night he had to go upstairs to our quarters to get something. After about 15 minutes my dad thought he'd had an accident or something so went looking for him. Dad went to open the door to our flat and couldn't open it. The dog had the guy pinned up against the door and wouldn't let him out.

Karin - oh that's awful. 🙁 How are you coping?

Sending hugs x

CG, thanks, last week was awful but ok this week. I'm pleased she's not suffering, she knew she was unwell and it was not nice to see. She's fine now.

I'm looking forward to doing all the things I couldn't do when she was around x

We had a Doberman bitch when I was 8 to 12. It was a highly strung barn pot of a dog. I loved her to bits and we went everywhere together. My dad on the other hand would have gladly taken her behind the shed and brained her with a shovel then buried her 6ft under. It was a constant battle of wills. I would have one tomorrow but my other half says no way. Very protective towards children as well. Talk to a breeder first and make sure you make an informed decision.

To cut a long tale short, go ahead and get one

Lovely dog if you know how to train them.

We had two. One male ex-guard dog that was so well trained but retired due to heart problem (heart worm). He was given up or was going to be put to sleep but my brother-in-law took him home and my parents nursed him back to full health. Eradicated all the heart worm.

The my sister was given a 5 months old female bitch that kept "crying" when nobody was around so my mum had to sleep with one hand touching her beside her bed to stop her crying. Since that day she never leaved my mum's side and would follow her all over the place guarding her. Very happy dog and full of energy.

The male dog died of old age while the female dog died of suspected food poisoning (suspected foul play).

They were both very obedient and I would not hesitate to have them again.