To really want a Doberman?

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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?

FFS - my Dobie is 5. He is without a shadow of a doubt the easiest, friendliest, kindest dog I have ever met - let alone owned. He loves all children - got him when mine were 4 and 5, and they all adore each other.

Im sorry for the people who believe that they are "bad or dangerous" dogs - but that really pisses me off...... My dogs walks to heel on the roadside, never ever jumps, never chases, doesnt go near picnics or steal food - and people behave like Im walking a serial killer. The reason why it pisses me off so much is becuase, he hasnt seen any 1980s films where the baddies have a Dobe! He doesnt know hes meant to be scary.

Meanwhille outside my kids school is awash with cock-a-bloody-poos and doodles who jump and bark and pull, and dont listen, but because they look like a walking shaggy rug, nobody bats and eyelid. Far better to be terrified of the well behaved dog standing still on the side waiting for people to come to him.

If you want to be nervous or cautious thats not a bad thing as dogs obviously have teeth, but for all those Doberman haters on this thread please do not assume that mine is dangerous... If you think that and jump to that conclusion you are basically saying I am a idiot who willingly walks a dangerous dog near children without a thought or care for other people.

We dont judge whole sections of humans because of how they look... In fact there is a word for people who look at humans and judge them based on their skin colour or reputation in the hysterical media.

Judge my dog on how he behaves with me and my children, not on some myth youve read or been told.

My brother has a 2 yo Doberman. He is the most well behaved, obedient, chilled out dog ever. He is absolutely gorgeous, so lovable and just wants to cuddle. I've added a photo, think hes about a year old in this.

It always surprises me how obedient he actually is. For example, we went out a big walk recently and he spotted some deer in the distance. He stood still watching them, then looked back at my brother as if 'Can I, dad?' My bro said 'on you go then' and he run like the wind after them. Obviously, he was never going to catch them as they were too far away, and even if he did get close enough he wouldn't touch them. He is far too well trained.

He's just turned 2 so has grown up with my DD, she's 3. He is amazing with her, so gentle and protective. He is absolutely massive now, solid muscle, but a gentle giant.

He is not a dangerous dog in the slightest. My mums 14 week old labradoodle is more dangerous.

Oops forgot the pic

My brother's friend from school had his cheek bitten off by the family doberman. It had never showed any aggression before. It was a completely unprovoked attack. He had to have his face rebuilt with plastic surgery.

I always reckon that breeds like Doberman, Alsatians, Danes are ‘safer’ than the fucking fashionable bulldogs, pugs, spaniels, poodle crosses etc

Generally only people really ‘into’ dogs eat a big un like a Doberman and train them really well.

Far too many stupid, lazy owners who don’t train their little dogs and shout ‘he’s only pkaying’ When they jump up or snap.

My brother's friend from school had his cheek bitten off by the family doberman. It had never showed any aggression before. It was a completely unprovoked attack. He had to have his face rebuilt with plastic surgery.

This could and should have been written as "My brother's friend from school had his cheek bitten off by the family dog" - the breed doesn't matter, this can happen with any dog. A well trained Doberman is no more or less dangerous than any other breed. Badly trained or ill treated dogs are an accident waiting to happen, be they Chihuahua or Pitbull.

SharpLily I will write my post how I like thanks. The dog was well trained and very well treated. It still caused life changing injuries.

And it still has nothing to do with the breed of dog.

I'm having a bit of a giggle at those who 'would cross the road if they saw one' or 'would never let their children in a house with one

I wouldn't let my child go in a house with any large dog. It's just not worth the risk. Dogs are unpredictable. Even a Labrador can turn on a strange child. The larger the dog the more powerful it is, harder to fight off. If a Spaniel attacked I could easily overpower it before it inflicted serious damage. A Doberman or Rottweiler has the capacity to kill or maim very quickly.

@OneStepSideways you'd be surprised at how fast a dog can go for someone. My parents had a golden cocker spaniel (who I now firmly believe suffered from cocker rage) and she would turn in an instant and bite and bite.

Annoyingly my parents always blamed us but sometimes we'd just be stroking her and she'd flip. I'm amazed that a) they kept her and b) she didn't ever do any damage to a face, it was usually a hand and I've still got scars 30 years later where she bit me quite badly.

If she'd been my dog, I'd have had her pts. We have a malamute who is a very big dog and when she gets annoyed with one of the children, she gets up and walks away.

Deed not breed!!

I had a doberman, she was an incredible dog and I'd have another tomorrow. We sadly lost her to dcm aged 8.

This could and should have been written as "My brother's friend from school had his cheek bitten off by the family dog" - the breed doesn't matter,

The breed does matter. My small dog has blunt teeth and a small jaw. It could not physically bite off someone's cheek. It couldn't even reach someone's cheek. And if it did, the bite would not be anywhere near as bad as a doberman and my small dog could be batted off or kicked off.

The breed is relevant as it has the ability to cause more harm and it can't be forght off.

Games and fun; plenty of exercise but games and fun top of the list. My Doberman was a year old when I adopted him and he had never been played with. I won him over big time. We played all the time and even swam together. I had him for thirteen years and he was as gentle as a lamb with me, the cats and everyone.

My small dog has blunt teeth and a small jaw. It could not physically bite off someone's cheek

You're kidding yourself there. Obviously big dogs will have bigger, more powerful jaws but any dog can cause damage, particularly to a child - and this is one of the problems we big dog owners have. Responsible owners know our dogs have the potential to cause a lot of damage and we put a lot of effort into socialising, training and understanding our dogs. In my experience a lot of owners of smaller dogs are under the illusion that their dogs can't cause a lot of damage and don't really bother with training etc. (I'm not saying this is you, Hotdog) I've had far more trouble with aggressive small dogs than any big dog.

I agree some small dogs are very aggressive especially ones originally bred for baiting and catching vermin such as Jack Russell's and dachunds - but if a jack Russell went for me, a swift kick would stop it in its tracks. What would I do if a doberman went for me? And there are just as many people with big dogs badly trained as small dogs.

Companion breeds are unlikely to attack due to the breed temperament. They don't need aggression training out of them as they are inherently good tempered. (mental issues aside) that's why breeds like labs, golden retrievers, poodles and min schnauzers are so popular. They don't require a firm hand or masses of training to make them nice and safe.

Breed does matter, yes training and how you raise and socialise the dog matters too - but it's crazy to say breed doesn't make a difference.

@Hotdogjumpingfrogs give your small dog with apparent 'blunt teeth' a raw bone to Kane on then convince yourself they can't hurt anyone.

Its relaxed attitudes like this which cause so much damage.

Small or big a dog can bite - all dogs have teeth.

The amount of small dog owners we see with dogs on back legs / lunging / snapping / barking / at the end of a Flexi lead makes me laugh.

The difference is if my dog behaved like that if prol be reported to the Police hence she is trained accordingly but believing your dog has blunt teeth so couldn't do much damage is just crazy..

Maybe all large breed dog owners could get their teeth filed down then no one would need to worry