Doberman Pinscher

JacksonsMom

Active Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
8,694
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Maryland
#1
Ok, think I have a new found love for Dobermans. They always appealed to me aesthetically but never thought I'd be the type of person who could actually live with one, or enjoy the breed, or whatnot.

But I visited a friend who was house sitting for her sister and they had two gorgeous Dobermans! I was really excited when she told me they were Dobes because I've never been around them in person to be honest.

I fell in LOVE with the boy, Gemini. And he loved me back equally. Oh my he was just a sweetheart. He kept leaning up against me and wanting a good butt scratch. The girl, who was the black & tan, named Roxy was a sweetie too but I just had a connection with Gemini. I loved his brown/chocolate whatever you call it coloring too. Also, their ears were cropped but they were kind of short, which I think I may actually prefer. In general, I am not a fan of cropping/docking, but on a Doberman, I just think a crop looks really nice but sometimes can seem a little too extreme for my tastes.

They were the most well behaved dogs I've ever been around too, and listened extremely well.

Here is a photo of Gemini:
[/IMG]

(he looks WAY better in person. The pic does not do him justice).

Anyways I wouldn't even consider them for a loonnggg time. But am curious if it's typical of the breed to want/need so much attention, and allow such from strangers (I literally had just met him). They weren't like "in-your-face-lick-you-all-the-time" attention wh*res but if you invited them over, they'd gladly lean against you and enjoy a good petting.

How big of a problem is the DA thing? I know I've read it's mostly males that have same sex aggression right? How would most be with small dogs? These guys were fine with the cat, and didn't seem to care about it at all. That'd be my only huge turnoff. Also, how about health issues? I know they have a few serious issues - average lifespan?

Bascially anything about them.... they've sparked my interest.
 
Last edited:

Emily

Rollin' with my bitches
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
2,115
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Illinois
#2
Others will be better qualified to answer, but I can tell you that wanting lots of attention and wanting to be touching their people a lot does seem to be Dobe thing. :)
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#3
Keep in mind that while I know a lot of Dobermans, most of them are related to one another with a couple of exceptions, so my experience with the breed might not ring true completely to all Dobermans. I know people think my breeder tends to breed softer dogs, though I really don't know how true that is. As even with the time I've spent with my own and with other dogs she's bred, I've seen super soft dogs, even dogs and some pretty hard dogs.

But in my experience what you encountered is fairly typical of a Doberman. Mine are aloof in public, but come into my home and they are all over you. I tell them to leave my guests alone a lot of times otherwise they literally will sit with them for hours to be petted/touched. Boys inparticular seem more lovey dovey with all people, whereas girls are like that with their family but not quite as much with guests/strangers. But yeah, sweet and sucky is definitely a word I would use to describe any of the Dobes I've known and owned.

They are not always the easiest dogs to train as I find them quite bouncy and distracted as youngsters, but once the focus is there, they are quite easy once you find their motivator. Keira works for food the best. She's too amped up to work nicely simply for praise, and to be honest, she's quite selfish and doesn't care about praise that much when training. She is pretty non motivated by toys. Ripley, OTOH, will work for anything. Doberman puppies are not for the faint of heart. They are very trying and I was exasperated more often than not through Keira's puppyhood. Ripley was quite easy until he hit about 8-10 months old and then he was a pain until about 18 months to two years, and he still has days occassionally that I wonder where his brain disappeared to.

One of my favourite things about Dobermans, or at least the three I've had inparticular, is that once they know something and it's enforced, they generally respect it. Unlike Dance who I am constantly telling what to do or not to do or whatever, they Dobermans don't push my buttons like that often. I say get out of the kitchen? The Dobes say "ok, mom says stay out of the kitchen". Dance sneaks by and says "Is she looking? I bet she won't notice... oh, look, a crumb. Totally worth it.". There are a lot of instances like that throughout my day. For as head strong and bull headed as they can be, they also really do want to make you happy and are very respectful of any rules set out for them as long as you stick to them. Not that I don't like Dance's mischevious and devious ways (I actually love it most of the time), but the Dobes are just easier that way.

I don't find that outright DA is a huge thing in the breed. Some Dobes certainly are, but overall I find SSA is much more of a concern. And yes, it is far more common among males, but females can be also. And when it does occur in females, it's often times a lot more serious. Males fight for the sake of fighting but female seem to look for blood. Neither of my dogs have shown any signs of DA or SSA, but that's not to say it'll never happen. Right now though they're good with all dogs, though rather snooty and aloof in that they prefer not to interact much or play with other dogs that they don't know well.

Health wise they are prone to heart issues (DCM is huge), thyroid issues are common, you can see hip dysplasia, VwD, cancers (bone cancer seems very common) and more. Overall I don't find Dobermans to have more issues than a lot of other large breeds, but a couple of the ones they do have are devastating. Life span is about 8-10 years. I've known several now to have only make it between 5-7yrs but I also know a good amount between 12-16yrs old.

I find Dobermans to be complete goobs and sucks with their people. If they could they would find a way to permanently attach themselves to you at all times. Velcro is an understatement. They are always watching, too. Mine don't like me out of their sight for long but they're used to me leaving them alone also. I am not one of those people who lets my dog follow me into the bathroom and wherever else they don't need to go (like a quick run down to the basement to get something out of the freezer, for instance). My two never, ever get tired of attention and it's up to me to tell them when I've had enough and to please leave me alone now. Dobes can be quite pushy and demanding for attention, which again is something I don't let mine get away with. I'll pet you, but you have to be polite. When they're young and learning inparticular they are very wirey and a lot of owners have been slapped by a big paw, run into, whipped in the head with a giant dober nose, etc.

It is my experience, especially after watching my mom interact with my dogs (who is a dog person and knows a lot but can be lenient), that Dobermans thrive best in a home with an owner who is willing to lay down boundaries and rules and be consistent with those boundaries and rules. Give a Doberman an inch and they'll take a mile. Or more. Keira is a dog that I nearly can't stand when my mom takes over her duties, but with me, she is very pleasant and quite easy to live with. It's like night and day.

They are very active dogs but as mature adults, I find that mine do well with a good run a couple times a week and then the rest of the week mostly they play in the yard, or (in Ripley's case) play fetch for about a half hour in a little park. They are good about having do nothing days also, though are certainly less busy in the house when they've had good exercise.

You get out what you put into this breed (as with any dog) and they will give you your all. I can honestly say that I don't think any dog has ever loved or been quite as obviously devoted to us as the Dobermans are. As much as I can find Ripley's always worshipping gaze and need to sneakily rub himself on my unsuspecting outstretched hand or foot a little nauseating at times, it's just who he is. Keira is equally as needy and lovey but she's not as pushy about it (with me). They are beyond sweet and loving.

Dobermans come in four colours. Black, Red, Fawn and Blue. The dilutes (fawn and blue) are often frowned upon in the Dobe world as they are very prone to skin and coat issues (CDA) and most end up almost or completely bald by mid life.


I'm sure Sizzle and others have slightly different experiences, but those are mine. And hopefully it all made sense - it's hard to focus on telling you everything I want to about the breed while I'm also trying to work, haha.

Edit: They sure have a special way of digging deep into your heart. Now after writing all of this out I just want to go home and hug my Dobes, haha. As sappy as that sounds. I adore this breed so much and would continue to have many more if not for a few things that make them a little less than ideal for me. The biggest being is that: 1) I enjoy spending time with large groups of dogs and the potential for SSA is too high and worries me and 2), I am terrified that I might lose my dogs young and it's a horrible feeling.


This is the face that looks at me pleadingly for attention every day (my brother took this picture a few months ago as Ripley was looking at me):


ripley by Devan K, on Flickr
 
Last edited:

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#4
I think Toller pretty much covered everything, LOL

I will agree with the attention whoriing....big time. The leaning thing? Ya, that's Orson up and down. It's never enough for him to be near you, he must be leaning on you, sitting on your feet, or touching you in some fashion.
 

yoko

New Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2005
Messages
5,347
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#5
I can't say much other than the ones I have all met have been pretty close to what you just described.

He is a very handsome boy!
 

JacksonsMom

Active Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
8,694
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Maryland
#6
Thank you Toller for that AMAZING description! It pretty much sounds like the limited time that I saw of the two I was around for a full day and a night.

Now, granted, these guys were a bit older (the boy was 5, the girl was 7). So, being around a puppy I am sure is entirely different! Lol.

But yeah, all you had to say to these two very calmly was: "get off the carpet" and they completely totally respected that and would go lay in their open crates. They were sooo well behaved and seemed to enjoy just going in the backyard for a bit and they'd come back in sort of excited and bounce for a second, but very aware of their size, and never jumped or was too rough or anything.

Definitely have a new love for them though! I think, like said above, the only thing that would turn me off would be SSA, as I like male dogs as a whole so it would be nice if I could trust to have two males and have them get along. I also enjoy doing other dog related activities that something like SSA would put a damper on.

But something to think about in the far future!
 

SizzleDog

Lord Cynical
Joined
Nov 12, 2004
Messages
9,449
Likes
0
Points
0
#7
Gorram it. I lost an entire post. I'll paraphrase, because it's after midnight and I'm tired.

SSA = not to be trifled with. If you have a male dog when you are looking to add a Doberman, get a female Doberman. And vice versa. Size, neutered vs intact, and age rarely have any affect on SSA in Dobermans. Don't risk it.

House manners = mine have always been excellent house dogs. Dobermans can be mischievous, but for the most part they are extremely in tune with their owners and seem to instinctively know how to behave.

Health = Health is paramount. Do not go to a breeder that does not health test... and I don't just mean hips and vWD status. Do not sacrifice health for anything. The most health testing seems to be done by show breeders... but do not assume a show bred dog cannot have an impeccable temperament. They are not as "watered down" or as "soft" as some people would lead you to believe. Many show bred dogs have more than enough natural protective instinct for the everyday owner.

Things to consider = If you do end up with a dobe that is naturally protective (as all of mine have been) - make sure you're mentally prepared to deal with it. My dogs have all responded aggressively to human beings at one time or another, and it can be scary.... but it's partially why I own Dobermans. Dobes are powerful, frighteningly fast, bold, egotistical and territorial, and mine have never been afraid to square off with people they think are either up to no good, or simply somewhere they shouldn't be (i.e. my property or too close to my car.)

Ears - unless you go to rescue, BYB, or a breeder that primarily breeds dogs for protection sport, you won't get short-cropped ears. And to take on a protection sport bred dobe purely because of a preference of short-cropped ears... that would not be a good idea. That's like a person with tiny hands and no firearm experience getting a Desert Eagle to use as a concealed carry, because they think it's pretty. There are some show breeders that have shorter crops done on their dogs, and some breeders (i.e. Foxfire) that are known for their super-long show crops. Kaylee's puppies actually didn't get super long ears.... here are a couple of her puppies:



(Kaylee pup on the right, Jayne's sister on the left)



I actually wrote a blog about dobes, after I met a particularly foul Doberman BYB last month: http://www.prairiedobecompanion.com/2012/05/dobermans.html
 

JacksonsMom

Active Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
8,694
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Maryland
#9
Sizzle, I've always admired your dogs! They are GORGEOUS.

Also, I saw some photos while googling, of these Dobes with HUGE chests. It just didn't look right to me - it looked... abnormal. I really like how your dogs don't have that look, they seem more proportionate. Is that a show dog thing, a BYB thing... or just preference?

Interesting on the ears too. These dogs I visited with had been bred - apparently the female had two litters but was now spayed. I highly doubt these people were qualified to do so. They seem into their dogs, pictures of them all over the walls, and obviously well cared for, so I'm not going to judge without knowing them, but anyways... I have to wonder where they got their dogs with such short crops.

Honestly, I think the SSA is just the biggest turn off. They would probably be a breed I'd consider way down the road (after Jackson is gone) and I maybe wasn't as into doing doggy things and events. Because with my life now, I really enjoy not worrying about Jackson and being able to take him anywhere and be around any dogs or heck even bring any dog into his house and it be okay.
 

AdrianneIsabel

Glutton for Crazy
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
8,893
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Portland, Oregon
#10
We have a lot of female loving female dobes at my work but each male dobe has been a total douche to all males he's met.

We have some really big chested, some very quiet tempered, and heavy on "show only" line dobes. While they make very nice dogs (and several are doing agility here) I never really cared for the breed, even after working with them, until I got two sporting bred dobes in my agility classes and I was head over heels. (of course based on my dogs this is more my style anyways)

They (the working bred) remind me a ton of a standard poodle and a malinois mixed by way of temperament. High drive but goofy drive, they love to leap four off the floor and spin. They are excitable and silly, they want chase games and leap like fawns when they're going. They (the working bred) have tug drive and its a great tool because all the dobes I work with can can be extremely chompy on your hands. They tend to be a bit less biddable than my malinois and more humorous, they're also able to calm and intensely swoon over their owners though, even at a young age. Meaning, they appear to be owner devoted for the sake of devotion, at a young age I'm pretty sure my mals only swooned because I was the keeper of all that were toys.

Given this is super minimal in experience but I work with anywhere from 1-3 dobes a day so this is my take. The health seriously scares me though.
 

Aleron

New Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
2,269
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
NE Ohio
#11
Also, I saw some photos while googling, of these Dobes with HUGE chests. It just didn't look right to me - it looked... abnormal. I really like how your dogs don't have that look, they seem more proportionate. Is that a show dog thing, a BYB thing... or just preference?
IME that is definitely found in some shows lines but not in all.

Interesting on the ears too. These dogs I visited with had been bred - apparently the female had two litters but was now spayed. I highly doubt these people were qualified to do so. They seem into their dogs, pictures of them all over the walls, and obviously well cared for, so I'm not going to judge without knowing them, but anyways... I have to wonder where they got their dogs with such short crops.
More than likely their dogs came from pet breeders, since like most more popular breeds that is where the majority you will run into came from. Pet breeders generally do not crop puppies prior to placement, so they likely had a local vet do the crop. Most local vets seem to do one style of crop on all dogs and it's usually short with a wide base because such a crop is more likely to stand, even if the owners don't totally follow the after care instructions. The longer and more elegant a crop is, the harder it can be to get it to stand. A lot of the cropped pet dogs I have seen that have even a moderate Dobe/Boxer/Dane style crop do not have both ears standing properly. I have also seen some really, really bad local vet crops. Ears that were messed up by the local vet, ears that are uneven or look....just bad on the dog. Which is a reason more serious breeders tend to use a good cropping vet and have all puppies done prior to placement.

Honestly, I think the SSA is just the biggest turn off. They would probably be a breed I'd consider way down the road (after Jackson is gone) and I maybe wasn't as into doing doggy things and events. Because with my life now, I really enjoy not worrying about Jackson and being able to take him anywhere and be around any dogs or heck even bring any dog into his house and it be okay.
I wouldn't say those things would be impossible with Dobes. I know people who have Dobes and foster without any issues. Although one did get pretty seriously bitten when a fostered male Dobe decided to take on one of the resident males (all neutered), it was the only major issue in years of fostering with a Dobe. I also know Dobes that are fine at dog parks, multiple dog households, etc. But I know people who have had SSA with Dobes (both in males and in females) too.

I would say though, that if being a friendly, accepting and easy going dog with dogs and people in all circumstances is important to you it would probably be best to avoid most guardian breeds, many but not all of the herders and pretty much the entire terrier group. Not because it is impossible to get a Dobe that would fit what you want but because you'd be better to go with a breed where the things you like in a dog are part of the breed's character and actively being bred for.
 

SizzleDog

Lord Cynical
Joined
Nov 12, 2004
Messages
9,449
Likes
0
Points
0
#12
Huge Chests = not all show lines have these, but it seems like the South American dogs made it more common. I despise pigeon chests, which many people see as correct but really aren't. They're supposed to have deep chests, but not so deep they look like they're deformed in some way. I like my dobes' chests:



Devotion for devotion's sake... GREAT way to describe the breed. It's a key feature. :)

There are plenty of breeders out there that have a great balance of looks, temperament, health and drive. The trick is just knowing where to look... and in that case, having a good resource who has been in the breed for awhile is your best bet. ;)

I don't want to say SSA is "different" in dobes, because it's not. But it is a bt more complex than what you might think. My dobes are SSA, and yet I can bring dogs into my house and have no issues. I can also take them out in public with no issues. It's.... complicated. LOL. When I have more time, I'll try to explain it more.
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#14
Good points, Leah! All of them. And I have to say, I loved the blog post you made about the breed recently.
 

Aleron

New Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
2,269
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
NE Ohio
#15
I don't want to say SSA is "different" in dobes, because it's not. But it is a bt more complex than what you might think. My dobes are SSA, and yet I can bring dogs into my house and have no issues. I can also take them out in public with no issues. It's.... complicated. LOL. When I have more time, I'll try to explain it more.
My experience with SSA has been in GSDs but my most SSA GSD girl easily went to daycare with me daily, could go to other people's houses and be fine with their dog, never had issues at shows or classes or out and about. To her, most non-family member dogs were not interesting enough to acknowledge. I could bring dogs into the house with her and she was tolerant of bitch puppies she lived with...until a they reached social maturity. It was very specific and involved mature, household dogs. IME with GSDs, girls are more likely to have SSA towards housemates. Males are a mixed bag - some are SSA with only household dogs and some are SSA to male dogs they meet out and about and some are selective about which males they find offensive. True SSA is definitely more complicated than plain old DA, as some very SSA GSD bitches I know have been fine with their kids and grandkids living in the household with them (but do not try to add an "outsider"!). Some SSA dogs have rivals that they will fight to the death with but can be fine with other same sex dogs in the household. Some are fine for years but get into a scuffle that turns into a brawl and they no longer want other same sex dogs to breathe the same air they do. And some are fine with 2,3,4 same sex dogs in the house but add another and suddenly they aren't fine with any of them.
 

Shai

& the Muttly Crew
Joined
Dec 14, 2009
Messages
6,215
Likes
0
Points
36
#16
I don't have Dobe but spend a lot of my time around several of them...two in particular but there's also a rotating crowd lol. Seems like every few weeks I'm standing in a crowd of 4-8 Dobes...

They are a mixed bag of Confo, Companion-sport (agility, obe), and/or Protection bred. I think Toller08 nailed the ones I see pretty well. The protection ones are definitely more aloof, more intense, more likely to apply teeth, and more likely to take offense. The two I know best are confo/sport bred (intended to be multipurpose)...one has her CH and MACH. Really nice dogs. Extremely well socialized and very comfortable with strangers but prefer their owner followed by a few close/repetitive acquaintances. They live in a 3-girl-Dobes household and do well together but their owners have been in the breed for decades and are very good at managing and preventing escalation.

Heart issues seem to be both extremely prevalent and very serious in this breed. I don't know the particulars but it seems like every Dobe person I know IRL loses dogs or retires dogs due to heart problems.

I like the breed a lot to be honest. Have zero interest in owning one, but like the breed a lot lol.
 

crazedACD

Active Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
3,048
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
West Missouri
#17
Regarding the SSA, I fostered a male dobe for a little while that I absolutely would have kept. I think they are great. But, after settling into the household, he showed some concerning behavior especially to the male dogs and that was that. I did a lot of research into the subject and didn't want to end up with a huge problem. He just wasn't comfortable living with all the other dogs too, he definitely wanted one on one attention.

A picture of Bo just for kicks :). His ears were horribly done. The previous owner didn't have a clue, kept him tied out on a prong, he had sores on the back of his neck. He went to dobie rescue..
(He drooled a lot, too..)
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
164
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
Texas
#18
There really isn't anything that I could say that Sizzle and Toller hasn't said already.

I LOVE my doberman. I've been with many different dogs and the dobes always stood out. While I considered a few breeds for my first dog I have never regretted the breed choice that I made. Dobes are so velcro, so sweet, and so attentive - it just kills me (in a good way). My boy is aloof with most people but great with kids. While he is polite and sweet in general he has stood between me and a creepy individual more than once. While the same sex aggression truly isn't something to risk, I have no concerns when I take my (intact) boy out in public and to dog events. That being said, they aren't really dog park dogs. Again, there isn't anything specific about the breed that hasn't been said already. They're phenomenal dogs :]

 
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
1
Likes
0
Points
1
Age
41
#19
All the above Dobermans are absolutely beautiful! I enjoyed reading everyone's stories ! I'm a new Dobbie Mommy , I adopted Juniper "June" May 20th and she turned one 9 days later . It was a very rough start but each day we understand each other more ! She had to learn to trust our family ! ❤ I can't imagine how she felt when we drove off with her ! She must had been so confused and heartbroken ! But , she has adjusted so well and is extremely smart ! She fits into our family like she was always here ! She's one happy girl !
 

Attachments

Members online

No members online now.
Top