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.

Newborn & a puppy. No thank’ee!
Both are so much work. Imagine having twins, but one has the strength of an eight year old, will chew throw pair of shoes in minutes, needs to be taken on hour long walks where all it wants to do is massively and catastrophically embarrass you in front of strangers, and won’t wear nappies.
Shit idea, and if this is your first dog, Doberman is probably a shit idea even if the timing were right.

we've had cats and dogs together a lot

What happened to all these many dogs you've had? Seems odd to have had so many and now you don't have any. Dogs live a fair amount of years and if you're trying for a baby you can't be that old.

I wouldn't have a large, powerful dog with a tiny baby. But your partner sounds fixed on the dog so you may have to rethink the baby. I like Dobermans BTW but I still think you're mad.

I certainly wouldn’t! Get a family-friendly dog if you really want one - it’s not as if they’re hard to find.
To me, Dobermans will always have associations with concentration camps. Perhaps they shouldn’t any more, but they’re certainly not famed for being family/child friendly.

Can't comment on Dobermans as am 6 months into my first dog, a lab.
I have two kids, 9 and 12 and training a dog is hard when/if your kids are not on the same hymn sheet. Treats from the table, allowing them to jump up and tearing around squealing. I spend as much time training them as the puppy.

We got 2 cats when our youngest was 6 months old. Just in time to teach her to crawl into the litter tray. Honestly I think as much as having a dog is lovely it is going to make your life more complicated and essentially give you three children.

Well, I can only speak for our dog, but she literally comes everywhere with us. She has, since puppy hood, met thousands of people, kids, babies, other dogs, and had a full and busy life as part of a family. We regularly have kids she's never met in our garden, and she's not savaged one yet. She knows the difference between a kid getting a ball out the garden, and a bloke breaking in, in the dead of night.

Doberman owner here, they are called velcro dogs for a reaon. I also have a small toddler and have never had a problem.

If i was trying for a baby I wouldn't go for another dog at all!! So much training is needed.

If your partner wants a dog will he be doing any of the training? Will it cause resentment when it is left to you and you are bringing up a baby and a puppy, as an adult dog is not in his prime untill he is around 3 years old.

Can your partner not use a 'borrow my doggy' site?
If your asking for others opinions and are not committed to getting a dog then there is going to be issues down the line.

Ask your DH why he has chosen the breed, sadly there's an influx of them on SM with the cropped
ears and tails, so quite trendy and already appearing in rescues.
Lovely dogs just maybe not the best time for you to get any dog.

It's a no from me - mainly because of the potential baby in the near future.

We have an 18 month old Australian Labradoodle, I also have DC 9 and 6.

I am not going to lie, the puppy phase was hard work. She's still very puppy like even now, very bouncy. I had rescues in the past, growing up. The thing with rescues is that they tend to be slightly older so past the puppy phase.

I wouldn't want a puppy and a baby at the same time

As for breed, they all have their pluses and minuses.

We got our breed specifically for temperament (bred originally to be a therapy dog), good with children and non shedding. Since getting her I am really pleased we took time to research the breed, she is a great dog and a great fit for our family and friends

Do you realise how absolutely, excuse the pun, dog tired you are going to be with a new baby? You won't have time to pee, let alone take the dog out to pee.

Also, a Doberman is a status dog and anyone who says it isn't is lying. Your DH wants to look macho. Gross.

Is it? I see hardly any of them these days. In the 80s perhaps. But they’re quite a ‘niche’ breed these days, the status dogs seem to be Staffies or Bullies.

I agree with the majority I love Dobermans, great dogs, however they are big and all puppies can be somewhat "giddy" need lots of attention and exercise and will probably chew all the babies favourite toys!!
Dog breeds are a really really rough guide to personality and most dogs that "look" aggressive and scary aren't (depending on upbringing)

I wouldn’t - and I say that as the current owner of a Dobermann

It's illegal to dock tails now in the UK thankfully, and rather than vicious, I think dobermans with the ears up look idiotic. Hopefully these cosmetic fancies with fall out of fashion.

People buy them docked from abroad @FigTreeInEurope

No such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners. Know your breed, dobs are lovely dogs, but you need to be an experienced owner and have lots of time and put lots of effort into training them

They do, and if they're going to all that effort to get an imported dog, just because it looks aggressive, they're likely going to raise a nasty, angry dog whatever the breed. Many people don't even realise ours is a doberman, with her floppy ears, over enthusiastic wagging tail, and need to snuggle up to everyone she meets.

The last one I saw at the park was barking/jumping and going towards my toddler and being pulled back by it’s owner 😡 I would not get one with children.

Someone I know has one of these. It barks and bites, people won’t go to her house for tea because they are afraid. I know this is probably bad training, but even so, those bites draw blood.

You see all different breeds behaving like this. It's not the breed, it's shite owners.

just don't
you have a child and a potential newborn
puppies are not playthings to be bought on a whim whatever breed they are, they need time, training and commitment , think it through properly. walking it in the dark, rain (possibly) with a baby who wont be put down and your knackered

No. I'm sure they can be as docile as the next dog, but I just wouldn't get a large powerful breed with small children, full stop.

No bad idea

Dobermans aren't very good at knowing where their arse is generally. 😂 They can knock small children over by accident. If you just had a 7 year old fine. But trying for a baby, you could end up with a toddler and a young doberman at the same time 😳

My Dobermann often tries to sit in my face if I’m laying down 😂 she’s also partial to parking her arse on your dinner plate whilst you’re still eating 🙄

OP - my Dobermann hates everyone, especially kids. Don’t do it. Brilliant dogs but extremely hard work and you need to know what you’re doing. Has your DH trained a dog before? I mean … a strong dog with almost human like intelligence? There is a reason the police don’t use them …