Dobie owners on the forum...

[DobeDad]

Following a little late on this....

Got my first Dobe (and first dog) almost exactly a year ago. We chose a female based on advice from the breeder, books, folks on internet sites like this, etc. We've been extremely happy with her so far (for the most part...occasionally want to kick her out the door! ) but wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.

We didn't really have any dog training experience before we got her so everything has been learned on the fly...let me tell you though, Abby learned how to avoid doing what we wanted faster than we could realize we were doing anything wrong! Very fast learners. Sometimes I think if we were to have adopted an older dog, a lot of the early training issues could have been avoided, but in reality i guess you never stop training.

Its great that you're doing so much research before you ever get one.

 

[Zeus]

Thanks for the replies everyone, well im going to have to read throught them now more carefully and try and learn as much as i can about them as you've all provided great advice.

 

[Sirius]

Now I want another dobie !!! Blueeeeeeeeeee !!!! ugh but with this friggen cast on my leg I can't do anything !!!

 

[Zeus]

Now I want another dobie !!! Blueeeeeeeeeee !!!! ugh but with this friggen cast on my leg I can't do anything !!!

I want a dobie too , what happened to your leg?

 

[chazhound]

A Dobe is a great dog. Chazhound was the best!

Chazhound

 

[Doberluv]

I'm late here too...didn't notice this thread before.

Where are all the Dobe owners?

There all probably too busy playing with their dobies, rubbing my nose in it because i haven't got one yet lol but i will soon... hopefully... when i have some money

LOL! That's cute. Yes, I'm very busy with my Doberboy.

That's the one thing you'll be with a Doberman....busy. Because they're so busy. You have to keep up. LOL.

Most people recommend a female for a first time Dobe owner. Most people do not recommend a Doberman for a first time dog owner.

Females will tend to be a little less drivey. However, dominance is not a word I'd choose to describe a dog. It's more what comes out of....or a bi-product of a relationship with a dog.

I've heard people say that the females are very affectionate, but on their own terms...that like female people, can tend to be a little moody at times. These people I talked to....breeders etc and things I read stated that the males tended to be "good 'ole boy slobs, in your face affectionate..." all the time. LOL. Steady. They say that the females can be a little stubborn at times to train, but have better staying power...a little more focus. The boys tend to be very distractable, but very willing. I don't know first hand a difference since I've only just had my male.

He is truly the most affectionate dog I think I've ever seen, so ready to play or work or just snuggle. I love this dog dearly. We have a really tight bond and understanding of eachother. There is no problem with "dominance." He's absolutely lovely and respectful, highly intelligent, interested in learning and intuitive. He really knows my moods. It's like all their senses are hightened...everything that we see in dogs is just so much more intense with this breed. Lyric is a real goof ball dork. That's what I call him...a dork. He bounds around, pawing at the air, knocking into things and just has a marvelous sense of humor. He is so sweet natured, has never shown one iota of being perturbed about anything anyone does, even if one of my Chihuahuas gets irritated with his antics and hangs off his lip, he looks like, "Duh....what are we playing?" He's oblivious to what a bad mood is.

Yes, the drawback is that you can't go to the bathroom alone unless you're very fast and can close the door quickly...because they won't just come in the bathroom with you. They want to help you through the entire process, step by step and have no qualms.

When I'm walking back down my hall way, Lyric gets seriously in the way. He'll be in front and turn all the way around (barely fits) to make sure I'm coming, where by I have to wait till he gets himself turned back around again and we continue our trek down my not so long hall way. LOL. It's all a big deal...everything.

So, yes....do your research because they're not easy puppies to raise. And you better like hiking and walking a lot and learn about training with lots of positive methods. Too much repitition bores these dogs out of their gords. And copious amounts of socialization is imperative.

Good luck. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Zeus]

Thanks for the advice Doberluv, much appreiciated your dobie sounds like the type of dog i'd love to have

 

[Doberluv]

Oh, he's turning out wonderfully, but when he was a younger pup, I seriously, at times was half tempted to pack his suitcase and send him back. LOL. They can be trying as puppies. But, I found that lots of positive training methods worked sooooo much better than trying to out-will him, or have power struggles. When I started implimenting the clicker training philosophy or generally using operant conditioning methods, his behavior made an about face turn and we were on the road. Yes, you have to be firm, assertive and all that, but using lots of motivation/reward training, distracting from unwanted behavior or preventing it in the first place really made things run a lot smoother in my household.

Have fun in your search and keep up the good work on researching. There's so much to learn. Let us know how things are going. I'm interested in anyone getting a Doberman, how their time goes with them and everything about it.

Did you check out stuff about what constitutes a reputable breeder, how to find one, what questions to ask etc? Hope things go well for you.

 

[Godzuki]

hehe well i like reading all this dober stuff im pretty new i just joined today, but we have 2 females(3 year old sasha red and rust, and 13 week old black and rust named remi) right now and did have a male(bullet) but he has past away.

our old dobe sasha we got after looking for months and bought her from a breeder here in michigan.

remi we just rescued last weekend on sat from a shelter, she is still way under weight and almost scary how under weight she was when we got her but she seems to be putting on some pounds already.
we also have a english springer spainel named molly, but she is a little to mature to play hehe, from what i have seen so far she is more than willing to play with a male dog of any breed, but she seems to have a problem with females, she just wont play much unless shes in the mood.

remi and sasha are getting along superbly and they seem to be perfect pal's.

the only difference i have seen from bullet to our other 2 females is he mellowed out sooner he was still a very affectionate dog. well its time to get my winter gear on and take them all out side to play.

i also have a buddy with 2 red female dobes ill have to send him a link to this place.

 

[wildwings811]

Agilitydobemom was my formername now it is Wildwings811

Anyways Dobermans are a great breed and I love mine to pieces he is an awsome dog but he is also great representative of poor breeding he is a rescue and has had many health problems

Hypothyroidism
IBS
Allergies
Bilateral Cryptorchid
and so on

Even with his poor start being only 25 pounds at one year old and being scared to death of humans (he lived under my bed for two months) he has been a great dog

This summer he earned his CGC and is well on his way to earning his CD in only one year and he just loves agility

If you are considering a rescue I would recommend it I feel they are the best because they show their appreciation but if it is your first Dobe make sure you do lots of research and if you buy a pup buy from a reputable breeder and female is alot easier to handle than a male