It also depends on what you want to do with your dog. If you like agility, I'm pretty sure Dobermans excell over Rotts. They're incredibly flexable, agilile, quick and very fast runners. As it was said, Rotts were bred for herding. They are a very old breed. A Doberman was bred to protect his master and is a relatively new breed. He is made up of many breeds. The Rottweiler gives him the muscles, coloring and some of that protective temperament. The Manchester Terrier gives him the tenaciousness. The Greyhound gives him the speed, agility, sleek look and the mellow, sweet side of him, I think. There's German Pinscher, possibly Weimeraner, possibly Great Dane and some others....the records were mixed up way back when and there is some speculation as to what all went into the Doberman along the way. They changed after Herr Doberman began this breed, which started out very aggressive. Anyhow, they have become finely tuned by infusing all these different breeds. But yes...the only job they were designed to do was protect their family, not sheep, not equipment....just their master or family. So, they are indeed very loyal, tending toward obedience, since they were designed to work along side man, although at times, can be quite distractable. But they are excellent obedience pupils. They're known for their playful, silly business and never seem to grow out of it. But in a flash, they're up at the slightest abnormal sound and tend to not back down in the face of a threat. Of course, not all live up to the standards, but that's the idea.
In either case, go to a reputable breeder. Be really careful.
Whenever there is a dog breed which is a fad...the latest "thing," you get a lot of byb's and some poorly temperamented dogs, not to mention, unhealthy ones.
Good luck. They're both lovely dogs.
In either case, go to a reputable breeder. Be really careful.
Whenever there is a dog breed which is a fad...the latest "thing," you get a lot of byb's and some poorly temperamented dogs, not to mention, unhealthy ones.
Good luck. They're both lovely dogs.