Dobermann?

[Salamamca]

Can anyone tell me about the Dobermann? Good with kids? Good with other dogs? Reactive? Male or female? Anything else I should know?

Check out the health issues in the breed. They are very prone to heart issues (dilated cardiomyopathy aka DCM). They have a very small gene pool, too. These issues bring down their average life expectancy - dogs that size often live to 12, but you'd be hard pressed to find a dobe of that age (not saying they don't exist, just that far too many die at 6/7/8).

Sorry to be such a downer, but this is something to be aware of.

My friends Dobie girl has just died aged 6 😞 a woman on my Facebook has just lost hers aged 8. I never put two and two together, I just thought it was an unfortunate coincidence 😞

I think the short life expectancy would put me off the breed. I know someone who keeps Newfoundland's and he's never got one past 8. It must be heart breaking.

Are you looking for a guard dog?

My dad has Dobermans. They're soft as shit and so sweet with my kids. They literally moon over them. Short life expectancy would put me off though.

At least the life expectancy is longer than a French Bulldog. I read on here that theirs has recently been reduced to 4.5 years.

No, a family dog.

Assuming that the information about the dire health situation in the breed hasn't put you off entirely OP (and sadly it is accurate, there are some very severe health problems) ...

What is your previous dog experience? They are a fabulous breed when responsibly bred, well reared and correctly trained. You would need to research breeders carefully and wait for the right puppy. (Also a note to say that working types will be a whole other ballgame, and you definitely don't want that.)

For a first timer, I would definitely say bitch rather than male.

Also, do you have any other dogs? Worth noting that even if you ensure all the above is in place, they are very robust players, and even with zero malice they can be completely the wrong companions with other breeds.

Can be utter wimps though. Mine is the only dog I've ever owned that complained when you took her out in the rain.

My frenchie is 6. At the minute he seems fit as a fiddle.

Dobermann I had as a kid lived until about 12, but that was in a different country (different gene pool). My only comment is to leave the ears & tail alone, no docking. Natural dobbies are cute.

My frenchie is 6. At the minute he seems fit as a fiddle

Of course there will be dogs that live over the life expectancy, just like some humans do

We had a Doberman/Rottweiler cross when I was a little. Absolutely fantastic family dog, gentle, loved to play, no agression, even liked the cat. Lived to 10.

But and a big but absolutely hated anyone outside the family in the house, was fine outside with others but the second they entered the house his eyes would glaze over and would have to be locked away.

I'd still have him again though!

I loved mine. She was the easiest dog compared to my terriers 🤦‍♀️

She wasn't interested in other people or dogs on a walk - just wanted to run.

She was good with other dogs. And any kids that approached her. I didn't have children at home.

I lost her aged 12 to cancer unfortunately. She was still so fit and healthy up until that point.

Absolutely, I wasn’t trying to be argumentative over it, just offering a ray of hope for any frenchie owners reading ☺️

I don't think they are necessarily good family dogs as owning one will, genuinely, put people off coming to your house.

Dog owners do need to understand that because a large proportion of people do not like dogs, especially dogs perceived to be 'guard dogs', and do not want their kids in houses with unknown dogs.

This does not apply so much to fluffy/cute dogs but a Doberman is clearly in the 'people think they might bite their child' category, rightly or wrongly.

Can be very full-on. Prone to anxiety, especially severe separation anxiety, which is very hard to live with form them and for you. DCM in the genetics of most if not all, potentially leading to heart failure at a young age. Also prone to wobbler syndrome.
Beautiful, intelligent and athletic, not necessarily great with other dogs or strangers.
Bitch likely easier than dog.
Probably not truly ideal family dog.

Me and DP are seriously considering one, we don’t have children but a few points breeders we’ve chatted have made to us, especially younger ones can be giddy so could
easily knock children over with no malice.
They need careful socialisation as young dogs with strangers as they can get very attached to their family (or slightly more tricky, just one member of the family) and be a bit indifferent and at best pretty narky with non household members which can make visitors a headache, they are guard dogs at the end of the day.

@Salamamca have you done a lot of research? There are (literally) hundreds of more suitable family dogs

That said if you've done your homework and you're prepared to put the work in, they do make awesome dogs

Our puppy is a small Shihtzu cross I've had to do 3 lots of puppy training with her and we've still had endless issues. Thankfully coming out the other side now but no way I'd have survived with anything bigger with small people around.

You'll need the patience and resilience of a saint

The ones I know are all hard work. Not easy to train. Not naturally sociable.

I'd agree with that, training ANY dog is hard but you have the added bonus of size, strength and attitude with a Doberman

I personally don't like them.

There is a couple around near me that have them and they're vile. Could be the owner of course!

Then I saw the puppy Doberman with bandages around his ears so it was obviously because they cropped the ears.

The fact that people still think it's okay to crop their ears and dock their tails on any dog is sickening.

Thanks everyone, back to the drawing board!

I have an awesome 8 1/2 year old brown and tan Dobie! Her relatives seem to be living to 10+ and we are aware of some that are 12 +. She is the best! Soppy as anything, definitely has 'a' human (my husband) and she is a Velcro dog, she loves being with him all the time and I am just an extra for when he isn't about. She is a big sulker when she doesn't get her own way, loves forest walks and is great with my daughter as she just ignores her 😀. We will absolutely get another Doberman in the future

And ours has her ears and tail, it's illegal to dock and crop them in the uk, people may see them on some imports but I do believe you can't do it in the uk anymore

I would advice anyone against having a Dobermann.

I got a Dobermann puppy after being told what amazing family dogs they are, I bought an 8 week old female. First couple of weeks was great, she was practically housetrained in two weeks, had learnt a number of basic command (including sit, down, come, stay and wait for your food) and I was amazed by her intelligence.

At 10 weeks old I heard her growling in the garden - thought that was unusual for a 10 week old pup, went to see what she was moaning at and discovered that next doors child had come into the garden and she was stood growling at him. V. Concerning. From here on out she regularly growled at the back door and in the garden.

Still, thought young puppies can’t be aggressive! I continued to do everything by the book … took her to puppy obedience class (where she absolutely excelled) and to puppy socialisation classes … at the socialisation classes she began attacking the other puppies, literally going for their throats (remember she was just a puppy herself). We were asked to leave.

A few weeks later I messaged the breeder saying I was concerned as she was growling at people on walks. He told me to do positive reinforcement training with her (such a young puppy should not be reactive!). By 5 months old she was incredibly reactive towards other dogs and attacked a bulldog.

Fast forward to now, at 4 years old and after 4 years of intense training she is STILL dog reactive, cat reactive, unpredictable with people, cannot EVER be around children, we can’t have anyone in the house and I spend every day worrying about what would happen if she ever escaped the house. We now have double locks on the back gate (for others protection, not ours) and a new front door which automatically closes itself.

All of her siblings are the same. One has attacked its owners and the others im in touch with are unpredictable, reactive and nervous wrecks. I would NEVER have another one.

Just join a Dobermann group on Facebook and search for the words “reactive” or “aggression” and you’ll see how worryingly common it is in the breed.