To really want a Doberman?

[ProgBannar]

Beautiful dogs, elegant, protective, intelligent - despite their rep I am obsessed with them and want one desperately.

I have owned German shepherds and Rottweilers in the past so I'm used to "strong willed dogs" but even so, everyone looks at me like I'm nuts when I say I want a Doberman! AIBU?

Beautiful dogs, my Doberman was the most loyal dog ever. She was a rescue dog who we got at 18m she was very nervous but in time gained confidence, she developed a huge bond with my mum who had just been diagnosed with cancer & "hated" dogs & she stayed by her side throughout her treatment. When my mum died my beautiful dog mourned for her too.
She was so gentle with my DS1 despite having had me and my now EXH to herself for nearly 10 years and was PTS at the ripe old age of 14. I wouldn't hesitate to have another dobby if my circumstances allowed it x

There's no such thing as a 'highly dangerous' breed.

If you can train and socialise the dog OP and give it a nice life then have a Doberman. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Collies are mental. They need so much exercise and stimulation and they go nuts if they don't get it.

I've never met a nasty Doberman. They're quite sensitive and needy dogs but not vicious.

The dog most likely to bite is a dachshund. There are loads of dodgy breeders selling them and it's easy to be saddled with a neurotic, barky little monster. Not so much Dobermans - there aren't that many unscrupulous breeders about as the demand isn't so high.

@hallie29 highly dangerous breed?

What an odd attitude

I know plenty of Rotties / Dobes who are much 'safer' dogs than a multitude of poodle mixes / mongrels and smaller fluffier dogs round here locally who have no idea how to walk in a lead / jump / pull and more snappy.

Whilst any breed has some traits which are more dominant to assume a dog is dangerous because of breed alone is particularly short sighted.

My friend has a Doberman and he's a very friendly, calm dog. The 2 soppiest dogs I've ever met have been Rottweilers, very docile and sweet.

Collies are mental. They need so much exercise and stimulation and they go nuts if they don't get it.

Some are, but not all. My two are lovely and quite happy to be couch potatoes for the majority of the day as long as they get a couple of 30min walks.

My older boy is extremely sensitive and takes the role of family protector very seriously, always aware of who's around and where people are, although he's never had reason to be aggressive I know he would be defensive if felt we were being threatened. My DB's Dobes have always been far more trusting and easy-going.

“I've never met a nasty Doberman. They're quite sensitive and needy dogs but not vicious.”

That was why I mentioned breeding... badly bred ones can be very highly strung and nervous rather than sensitive.

I'm genuinely surprised that people consider Dobermen a "highly dangerous breed" and would not let their children be in a house with them. Why would a bite from a Dobie be more likely or more painful than a bite from any other dog??
Are people just making this judgement on the way they look??

Never had one myself and they're not a dog I would swoon over but we're all different I guess..

I see one very often while out with my dog and he's a real handful. Can't be let off the lead, jumps up at everyone and pulls like mad. The owner has had a few before him and says that he's nothing like the others.

Have you had one before? Do you know anything about them? In your shoes I would contact a breeder and talk to them, meet one in the flesh and see what they're really like and then think carefully.

We have a Doberman x, she is as daft as a brush. Our JRT rules over her and she’s terrified of the cats.

She used to herd the D.C. when they were little.

If you're used to strong willed dogs you might actually find them a bit sensitive.
They are more susceptible to parvo virus compared to some other breeds, so may need 3 parvo vaccines in the first year.

There are a few dobermans that are regulars at the park I take my whippet to. They are all gorgeous dogs and gentle enough that I’m happy for them to play with my 13 kilo whippet.

All i can say is jealous and can i come for a cuddle if you do get one pleeease

Love dobbies, we used to live opposite two & they were amazing. Have yet to meet an aggressive one, met more aggressive 'hand bag dogs' than I have dobbies!!

our family dog when we grew up was a dobie shepard mix, he was the most laid back dog ever, no aggression at all, we got a kitten and he loved it to bits, the kitten used to climb up his legs and grab his face and start attacking him... and he used to run to us with the kitten attached to his face crying for us to save him.... he would sit on the balcony and sort of whine to the neighbors kittens and call them over, we would come home and there he is curled up with the next doors kittens. miss that dog!

My aunt had a dobermon called Zoe.

Stupid dopey thing who's main obsession in life was to sit on your lap

She didn't seem to understand she was a big dog and not a lap dog

Go for it

PossumPom such a cute photo. 😍

My tiny little Yorkie’s best friend in the world was a gorgeous Doberman/lab cross. My Yorkie was the boss and his old friend would stand back and let him have first go at the food/treats/toys or cuddles. He was a big softy. I now have a massive pure Doberman bitch on my books (dog daycare/holidays) and she is as soft as butter. I usually just look after small dogs but I met her a few times on her walks and fell in love with her.

My old boss had a brown & tan dobbie (sounds weird saying that, but there was a definite distinction between the two colours), he was a stunner. Lived in the pub & basically parked his arse on anybody who would let him

We have a dobe, she's 16mo now and is absolutely crackers. We love her to bits though and she is soft as muck. She's loving, sweet, gentle and a big softie.

However we have had some issues. She is VERY strong willed and very strong physically, although if you are used to a larger breed dog that should be no problem for you. Dobes tend to be very vocal so not just barking but whining and are a dog that needs a lot of attention, they also tend to attach to one person and that person will always have the dog on or near them all the time. They are intelligent dogs and need a lot of mental stimulation, as well as physical. you are unlikely to be able to wear a doberman out.

We have two DD's who were 7 and 9 when we got our Doberman (Now 8 and 10) and she is very good with them but extremely protective of, we have recently discovered that we are unable to walk her if we have the kids with us as she absolutely cannot cope with the kids being in front of us or out of sight and will go crazy.

She is scared of water, fake grass, leaves and Yorkshire terriers. However she is lovely with all animals and adores next doors cat and our bearded dragons and is soft as anything with them.

DH and I have had many dogs, including a doberman cross (who was so bloody chilled out) we wouldn't be without our dobe but please do LOTS of research and understand that they are an extremely wilful dog, ours nearly broke me, mentally and emotionally. She is only now starting to get easier and chill her beans a bit, we absolutely wouldn't be without her.

Oh and get good insurance and a dog crate, ours would have killed herself by being so bloody dumb if we had not had the crate and insurance which has absolutely paid for itself. She goes in the crate every time we are out of the house otherwise she would so something stupid like eat a door or something.

Chihuahua
Bulldog
Pit Bull
German Shepherd
Australian Shepherd
Lhasa Apso
Jack Russell Terrier
Cocker Spaniel
Bull Terrier
Pekingese
Papillon

^ The breeds most likely to bite, doberman isn't even on that list! So those that won't visit a household that has a doberman, would you visit one with one of these that are more known to actually bite/attack? This is how the same site describes doberman:

This dog breed is notorious for being large and scary. However, the breed is actually friendly and skilled. They are highly talented because of their ability to guard and protect and for their ability to detect who is a threat and who is a friend. Many dogs can protect, but often times, breeds cannot differentiate who is good or bad. The Doberman may be the largest breeds you could come across, but they are one of the most loving and caring pets you could have.

I wouldn't want one. They were originally bred to be aggressive, and even if you found a breeder who worked specifically to stamp out that trait, why risk it?

Also, I'm shocked anyone considers Dobermans to be "elegant." Really? Then again, I'm American, and where I'm from, there must be a different stereotype of this breed (ie, Honey Boo Boo's neighbors would be more likely to own this type of dog).

@YoucancallmeVal you're sounding ridiculous and all you would achieve would be making your children scared of dogs.

Cheers for the heads up sweet cheeks.

I agree with Val, and I would not let my young children in the home of a doberman (or any dog, actually) - it is not worth the risk. Children SHOULD be scared of dogs - they have big teeth and can maul and kill.
A poodle can bite and do damage, but nothing like a doberman could. Still, I don't want them getting bitten by a poodle either.

www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs.php have them listed as one of the most dangerous breeds.
So OP, do what you like, but if you have young children, they may lose friends over it. Or their own lives. Not worth the risk, and I judge anyone who has one with young children as reckless, and I would not trust them to look after my child (on a play date).

@Cecily85 They were originally bred for protection, not agression.

I used to work at an animal rescue and came across a few dobermans. All were lovely, but had been poorly trained. Sounds like the OP has experience training strong willed dogs so if she's willing to put in the work this could be a really rewarding match.