Doberman? Other suggestions

[lastqueenofscotland]

Having had a permanent WFH confirmed for both me and DP we are going to start looking for a dog in the new year.
Ive had working gun dogs (setters, spaniels etc), and DP had golden retrievers.
I’d rather a shorter haired breed.
Something that wants a decent amount of exercise/training etc but not Collie levels of stimulation needed.
Would want to do activities like competitive obedience, Cani-x and agility (but again… don’t want a collie)
I’d like a large-ish dog but not too heavy set.
I despise the poodle-cross fad so please don’t suggest them

We keep coming back to Doberman’s but does anyone else have another suggestion?

@icedcoffees We had a trailie, he was wonderful, and definitely could have been trained for agility- we did a few little bits but never proper classes

I vote trailhound for the OP they are very easily trainable, love a long sniffy walk,many don't play with toys so no need to throw balls constantly, don't chase small furries, don't smell, are quiet and very gentle

I know a trailhound who is, as many hounds, basically a nose on legs. Once he has a scent, nothing else exists and he is a liability, hardly ever off lead except in a secure field. And not a pleasure to walk on lead either as he stops literally every 5 paces for a looong sniff and wee.
I'd say an HPR breed too.
Or how about a Brittany Spaniel?
Or schnauzer?

I know a trailhound who is, as many hounds, basically a nose on legs. Once he has a scent, nothing else exists and he is a liability, hardly ever off lead except in a secure field. And not a pleasure to walk on lead either as he stops literally every 5 paces for a looong sniff and wee.

They are noses on legs, which is why you work to their strengths. Ie. you do scentwork with them instead of agility.

And if the dog know can't walk nicely on lead, that's because it's not been trained properly (as with most dogs who pull). Loads of trailhounds here walk fine on leads and also compete in cani-cross on a regular basis. They can be well-trained, you just need to treat them like hounds, not spaniels, and most people fail to do that unfortunately.

@Arabelladrinkstea

I have a 2 yr old Doberman who loves agility! If that’s the breed you want I’d go for it, I’m amazed by how many people stop and ask about her, because she’s natural (ears and tail) many people think she’s some type of pointer or hound and don’t realise she’s a Doberman.

My parents had a chocolate doberman....great oaf of a thing, and because of the colour no one even imagined that is what he was.

People would literally recoil and start checking that had all their fingers after being told "Doberman" having made huge fusses and loads of petting him, which he loved. This was back in the 90s when Dobies and Rotties were the Megan Markle of the day in the gutter press.

He was not at all aloof, very friendly, not aggressive...he was set upon by a westie and ran away home. Also never barked and could not give a bugger about intruders. Loved all the grandbabies and would try and give any visitors a lovely big kiss at the earliest opportunity!

I'd consider one, but my heart belongs to GSDs. ...they do not make your "no fluff" requirement!

Would you consider someone like Sandy ? The really intelligent lurchers are often hard to home as people who like lurchers aren't looking for the high energy intelligent dogs, but she loves doing agility

Greyhound? Fair to say they’re so intelligent that they’ll roll around laughing if you try to get them to do agility courses. Despite the hype about 2 20 minute walks a day, many do like lots of exercise and training recall is a good challenge.

I always wanted a dobe, but the health issues bother me, and I hate what the show lines are doing to the back legs. Odd and rickety. I'm considering Giant Schnauzer instead - very closely related, but better conformation, not as over bred. Longer coat, but non shedding and very easy to maintain (I have a Standard).

We have a brown Dobe and I love him to bits, but he is high maintenance. Follows us everywhere, scared of the dark, scared of the rain and SO greedy. The hardest thing to manage is his reactive behaviour towards other dogs whilst on the lead. Having said that I wouldn’t swap him for anything ❤️

Just so you’re aware, Doberman’s are terrible shedders. It’s a never ending battle with the hoover! They are however the most wonderful breed. Our girl is terribly lazy though. Hates anything more than a short walk and point blank won’t go out in the rain 🤦‍♀️

Dobies are beautiful but often hectic and anxious, and disastrously unhealthy. Vislas, ridgebacks (unless a steady sensible line) and Weims similarly beautiful but mad. www.surveyzop.com/mcdvoice/ www.surveyzop.com/myhoneybakedfeedback/

Dalmatian or Labrador

Dalmations shed so much! Friends of ours had one and all your clothes turned white as soon as he said "hello". He was incredibly intelligent though. They were involved in a serious car accident when he was a puppy and he was thrown from the car and went missing in an unknown place for weeks in the middle of winter. Several weeks later he found his way home! Like a cat! It was a miracle.

Anyway, they are beautiful intelligent dogs, but do shed a lot!

I have a German Shorthair Pointer! Fantastic dog, super keen to please etc but definitely hard work in the puppy stages.

Dad had 3. The most beautiful, and intelligent, dogs that you could ever have

Rottweiler!!!

No, hear me out, honestly. We rescued ours (she was a runt and only a puppy) and she's simply brilliant! She's a lean, clever, gentle, loyal, beautiful running machine! She's the fastest of all our dogs and just loves everyone. She's not cumbersome at all and is very clever.

She has a tendency to borrow our objects and look after them while we're out. Anything from boxes of pasta to shoes to pumpkins

@Drowninginpoo

Rottweiler!!!

No, hear me out, honestly. We rescued ours (she was a runt and only a puppy) and she's simply brilliant! She's a lean, clever, gentle, loyal, beautiful running machine! She's the fastest of all our dogs and just loves everyone. She's not cumbersome at all and is very clever.

Already suggested them, lol

Plenty do agility - they’re not fast fast because yes, they’re large dogs, but I can’t imagine a Doberman being any faster tbh.

But they’re just so trainable... you can add in a new command a day and they just go, yep, ok.

Oh sorry tabula I did look but obviosuly not hard enough! X

Just to add, she is brilliant with our horses and loves nothing more that mooching around them and eating their poo.

Sorry collie. Collie collie. collie. Love them

I grew up with Dobies as my mum bred them, and now have one of my own. I would not have another one. Sadly, the breed has changed and often they're very hard to train and extremely highly strung.
My dog is 7 years old, has been consistently trained from puppyhood and is much better behaved than nearly all the other Dobies I've met since I had her. But she's still very hard work. When we see another Dobie out, we stop for a chat. Usually the other Dobies can't go off-lead because their recall or general behaviour isn't good enough. My Dobie is still a handful and very needy. Yes, she's great fun and very good with my kids, and she's good at learning tricks and, of course, a great guard. But guard breeds are kind of anxious by nature - that's why they guard, because they are worried about people approaching your family /property. Look at labradors, for example - generally, they think of an approaching stranger as someone who might give them a sausage and a pat, so they wag their tails. Guard dogs think of stranger danger - their whole life has an undercurrent of anxiety, it seems to me.

Do think very hard about the original purpose of any breed you consider. Vislas need tons of exercise and I've known several get rehomed because owners underestimated this. The trouble is, dog owners tend to be very loving and optimistic about their own breeds and perhaps can be blind to the breed's challenges. Dog breeders even more so!

When I was considering getting another dog, I made a point of chatting to as many dog walkers as possible - ie people walking multiple dogs for a job. As the dogs are not their own, they can be more objective than most of us dog owners and they get hands on experience with many dogs. Highly recommended doing this - met some really nice people, and had some great doggy chats! I also asked a couple of vets which breeds they'd recommend or avoid.

@Drowninginpoo

Oh sorry tabula I did look but obviosuly not hard enough! X

Oh I wasn’t complaining about another rottie suggestion, just reiterating that they’d fit the bill.

I only don’t have one now because I couldn’t find a rescue that they’d rehome with my cat.

A Springador. Best dog ever x