to get a doberman puppy with a 7 year old child?

[macthekwife]

just that, would this be just the worst idea?

to train them as a family pet, with classes and not leave them alone together, but is it inherently a stupid idea?

we have cats as well and are trying for another baby.

Why the hall would you get a dog prone to active violently if you have kids. That’s diabolical parenting. Get a spaniel or something. FGS!

Dobermans aren't prone to violence. They are commonly used as guard dogs (like GSDs) and are often shown as "mean" in films / media, usually with those awful cropped and pointed ears to give them a menacing appearance. But they are not dangerous dogs.

Have you raised a puppy yourself before?
I mean, aside from the breed itself, having a puppy and a baby at the same time would be a NIGHTMARE so i would concentrate on the baby before you get a puppy! Otherwise you wont be able to give pup the full focus it needs for training, socialising etc. Its a big job!

I mean, back onto the breed - they can be lovely dogs but require a lot of training because they are big and VERY strong - the jumping every puppy and young adult dog does becomes a bit more dangerous in dogs like dobermans, GSP around young kids. I think unless you have known several yourself (and i dont mean 'oh my mums got a rescue one and she's a lazy chilled out dog', i mean young ones) its not a dog i'd enter into lightly, especially with kids.

with just a 7 year old, fine, not with a baby on the way.
One caveat is they can be a bit iffy with strangers if not socialised well, which could impact play dates etc

Personally I wouldn’t, not many dog owners I know don’t like dobermans, we have 2 that use our dog park, one is fine but very bouncy and knocks over all the little dogs and they don’t like it. The other cannot be taken off the lead as he has shown aggressive behaviour towards other dogs. Yes, you could get one, train them, but they are big dogs and you have to ask yourself if you would be happy leaving your children alone with the dog, as you cannot be there all the time. You also need to consider holidays with or without dog. I don’t have any personal experience of a doberman, maybe join some facebook groups to get more helpful advice.

Dont

I wouldn't get any young dog if you are trying for another baby. It's too much hard work trying to train them, give them a good run at least twice a day and look after a baby.

I'd be more concerned about you thinking of having any dog, if you're trying for a baby. Any dog + crawler / toddler / small person with no impulse control really doesn't work. No particular reason why a doberman would be better / worse than any other bread.

I love dobermanns, I have a dobie cross myself. But the huge red flag to me isn't your 7 year old, its that you are trying for a baby and thinking about getting a puppy who is going to need a lot of training every single day, is a notoriously stubborn breed, and who is going to be a lovable big doofus lolloping around a toddler, and also known for being anxious.

Have a baby, let that baby get to 7, and then think about a puppy of whatever breed then.

Exactly this 👆🏻

Why on earth would anyone think a Doberman is a ‘violent’ dog (whatever a violent dog is).

You appear to know nothing about this breed it seems. Goodness me.

Why do you say in the post title "7 year old child" and then in the main body "trying for a baby" ?

You don't strike me as someone who is really thinking this through.

Maybe it is a better idea to get your family situation stabilised before thinking about what the most appropriate pet is.

Only you know whether "trying for a baby" is likely to equal "a baby" in the near future.

Are you aware of the health issues in the breed? Tbh I wouldn't expect any responsible breeder to allow you to have a pup if you are likely to have a baby on the way.

Dobermans aren't prone to violence. In fact, as a breed, they're known to be brilliant family dogs and great with kids. OP, the main thing you need to do is find a reputable breeder, preferably registered, where you can check parents/grandparents - both for health and for temperament. You'd do this with any dog, obvs. Def don't get one from a backstreet breeder, puppy farm etc.

A puppy will grow with your child. Invest in good training classes, continue training throughout their lives (esp in the tricky 'teenage' phase), have the discipline to commit to a proper routine with adequate exercise, and give your child some of the responsibility for that training and exercise. If done right, they could have the most amazing relationship and learn a lot from it - as I did, aged 10, with our first family dog.

You'd do this with ANY dog. It's not hard but it is a commitment - and it's that commitment that matters much, much more than the breed you choose.

(Sorry if you already have/had dogs and know all this already!!!)

I agree with this. A 7 year old and getting a puppy is one thing, but a 7 year old a puppy and planning for a baby in the near future is a bonkers idea.

I love Dobermans And they can be good family dogs providing they are socialised and trained well. Like any breed.
Dobermans can be protective towards their family so play fighting with friends would concern me.
But not as much as you planning for a baby. Getting any dog would be an idiotic thing to do right now.

Oh, I missed the bit about you trying for a baby. In which case, NO. My last but one dog died when I had babies. I waited until the youngest was 9 before getting our current dog. Toddlers and dogs (any dog) are not a good mix, in my view.

It’s not a breed I would chose with young children, not saying they are a bad breed but they do have traits which would concern me. They are guard dogs, can be barky and over protective, they may guard their food and toys and would need a lot of training. I wouldn’t want one near a new born or young children. I would wait until you have a newborn and then rethink the situation. Having any puppy when you have a newborn is hard work, a puppy is sometimes harder work than a baby 😬

Well, it wouldn't be the worst idea, but that's not how you get a good outcome is it? Choosing things that aren't The Worst?

I'm wondering, what is making you think it might be a good idea?

Have you raised a puppy? Are you an experienced large breed dog owner? Could it be that you are broody, and you're fixating on something small and sleek and cute with big eyes? Don't do it.

I can tell you that Dobermans are not a dog for an inexperienced owner, add in a baby, and you'll be on a one way trip to the shelter about a year later with a nightmare on a lead. Don't set yourself or a dog up to fail like this, wait until the kids are older. The key to this is timing. Don't do it.

Dobermans can be absolutely lovely but they are not an easy breed. They need A LOT of exercise and A LOT of training and A LOT of attention and stimulation and I personally wouldn't have one with cats. They are also very large and extremely strong.

Have you had dogs before? Have you had a large guarding breed before?

Personally, I don't think a Doberman is the right breed for the majority of families. They're a dog-trainer's dog, basically. You would almost certainly be much better off with an easier and somewhat smaller breed.

Honestly

What is wrong with you!!
Why on earth would you risk that with all the safer breeds available to you.

Wait, just seen you're trying for a baby. Of course you shouldn't get a bloody Doberman, then. You probably shouldn't get a dog at all at this point.

Newborn and Doberman puppy! Obviously not.

In the USA, Dobermans are known as one of the "uninsurable" breeds. People who own this breed are denied homeowner's insurance or required to pay extra premiums for a "dangerous"breed.

Yes, you'd be mad. I have a smallish dog and my youngest child is a 7 year old. The dog has had every bit of training going, good genes and we have put hours and hours into his behaviour, seen a behaviouralist etc. But certain things set off his anxiety and he has occasionally shown aggression towards my youngest. I can't ever leave them alone for a second. I can't risk the dog being looked after by anyone with visiting children. It is enormously stressful and upsetting. My comfort is that the dog is not physically capable of seriously injuring a 7 year old and my child is old enough to stay out the way of the dog and understand rules around dogs. It is very likely that they'll be fine together in a couple of years as both child and dog get older (the pre teen has never had an issue with dog). If he was a doberman I'd have rehomed by now (if I could find a home for him), if I had a baby I'd also likely have had to rehome. It's just irresponsible.

Provocative post IMV and I doubt the OP is serious.

I wouldn't waste any time responding to state the bleeding obvious here.