Doberman as a first dog.

[JamieCannister]

I've always been someone who is no fan of dogs (probably dating back to young childhood, being scared by dobermans at a distance (a few doors down had three of them, who looked very intimidating when standing off lead 30 yards away when you're 5 years old!), an old english sheepdog on his hind legs towering over my pram, and a little yapper next door that would bark aggressively at me from two foot away behing a chain link fence multiple times a day for the best part of a decade!)

Saying that I am reasonably comfortable with them, especially well trained larger dogs (I especially dislike small dogs). When I have a bit of confidence it's well trained I am happy enough petting a rottweiler I've just met.

Anyway, I have stumbled upon a couple of youtube channels and I am falling in love with Dobermans. Or at least I am falling in love with very well trained dobermans - I do not like out of control dogs at all!

Aside from the obvious (all dogs need to be very well trained, not least big ones that can cause real harm, it'll need plenty of exercise and attention) what advice would you give someone considering a doberman as a first dog?

One of mine is a rescued Doberman. He grew ginormous, he’s massive. Whilst he is lovely he requires a knowledgeable owner and I don’t think you should get one as a first breed.

Issue one is "how long would it take to be very well trained?" "Can I manage it?" is another issue which I am confident about. "Can the dog manage it?" is another question, and I am sure the answer is always "hopefully, every dog is different".

I can probably answer for you, as I do this for a living

1. how long….its a lifetime commitment. The dog will degrade in terms of behaviour without consistent, ongoing work. The first 3 years will be HELL for a novice
2. Can you manage? In my experience,probably not. Sorry, but that’s decades of experience talking. They are not a good fit for a first timer
3. can the dog manage? Unlikely. They are sensitive but also headstrong. Have guarding tendencies and need strong,confident knowledgable handling. Without it they will struggle and will probably never become that ‘well trained’ version you desire

I would join a Doberman Facebook group, I see there are a few. Whilst I don’t know a lot about the breed, the one I do know is friendly, runs around like mad, seems to get on well with other dogs.

Why do you want a dog OP?

I used to live in a small cul de sac of 6 houses. The neighbour diagonally across from me had a Doberman. If they went out for a couple of hours without the dog it would bark incessantly till they returned. Its thunderous bark was so loud that my letterbox vibrated every time it barked 🐕

Op people talk about training like after x amount of work your dog will no matter what do everything you need them to and ignore every anything aside from your command. In real life I’d say 90 percent of dogs are trained to a degree, but external factors will potentially set them off, as they would us!! Plus you will be a factor! Our dog is ‘trained’or so we thought until we met a dog trainer who our dog would do anything for- as in if he had said go do this thing that will kill you, he’d have done it! Afterwords was back to ‘yeah sure I think I’ll do that for you- sigh’ for us😅😅😅

Op, say you get the Dobie and despite you engaging a trainer, etc (and I have to echo other pp who have said it's a LIFELONG process) the dog isn't "well trained" enough for you - what would you do?

There was a thread involving a woman who bought an Alaskan Arctic dog, known for its strength, to pull sleds and kept it in a boring household with 3 kids and a couple of walks a day.

It bit somebody in the face. Hence, the perils of taking on a dog breed that is big and powerful without having the means to train it or keep it in the correct environment.

Of course, all the idiots came along, and said, it was the person's fault for not approaching the dog in the right way.

If dogs have to be approached in a particular way, or they'll bite, then they would never be allowed in public or near children.

I don't want a(ny) dog. I love the idea of having a loyal, protective, affectionate companion - a proper dog.

That is a very good question to which I would need to consider seriously before making any commitment.

Big and loyal equals rescue greyhound, he’ll lie by your side all day!

A trainer will also only be able to get you so far in the one hour a week they are with you. Unless you a) know what you are doing for all the circumstances that haven’t been covered in a class yet and b)implement everything you’ve been told and practice it with full consistency the 167 hours a week when not at training class, problems are an absolute given. And that’s assuming you get a decent trainer within the minefield of unregulated ‘experts’ when as a novice you don’t know how to tell the difference!
There are some breeds that are more forgiving of this basic truth…..Doberman’s are not

Have to agree they are amazing dogs, brilliant breed in the right hands. Rey asking some of the proper dog websites. Speak to people, and more so go and meet the dogs. Plus, please if u can, get a pound dog, please please please.

People have given you lots of very good advise and I think pretty much everyone agrees it’s a very bad idea.
sensibly you have asked for advise. I’m just not sure you realise the enormity of what you have asked.
can I try and give you an analogy of your question.
I am a very nervous passenger in a car.I have decided I would like to drive and have looked online and driving seems relatively simple. I will book lesson with a good teacher.
I have seen a lovely Jaguar F-type that does 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds will that be a good first car to learn to drive in.

Really terrible idea, sorry OP!

I actually think that an elderly rescue is the best first dog for anyone as they are past their stupid phase, are slower/less strong and their temperament is well known by then. You can learn how to read "Dog" without worrying about whether they are safe to be around.

Owning a dog is a 24/7/365 commitment that cannot be expressed in a youtube video.

I have a friend with an absolutely beautiful D. Very well trained, impeccably well behaved. I have been attracted to the breed for similar reasons to you.

they are immensely loyal and obviously very protective of their owners, so making sure you have one that is well socialised and has impeccable recall is critical

They did huge amounts of research into what they needed to do, as you intend doing. They have access to a lot of space - think wealthy people, with state and Forest walks, and three hours to burn each day - as Ds need approximately two hours or more of exercise a day. Without that, they’ll tear up a house.

I’ve decided not to go ahead as I don’t feel I am a disciplined and structured enough person to commit to the rigour and consistency of training required.

For what it’s worth, this person grew up with dogs, but this Doberman was their first dog

As all these people saying get a rescue, it’s well intentioned but the reality is there are so many badly behaved dogs and if you’re shit at looking after dogs and providing structure don’t get any kind of dog

Not RTFT. A neutered female Dobermann Pinscher will make a loyal companion for the right owner.
A potential first time dog owner who is reasonably comfortable with them, especially well trained larger dogs (I especially dislike small dogs).
is not the right person to get a dog.

When I have a bit of confidence it's well trained I am happy enough petting a rottweiler I've just met.

DO NOT GET A DOG.

OP, please bear in mind that dogs all have very distinct personalities. Breeds have breed traits, it's true, but there is absolutely NO guarantee that the dog you buy/adopt will turn into the ideal dog you describe, whatever training is done.

Your dog might be (eventually) very well trained but then might develop a fear of other dogs if they are attacked on a walk, so might become fear aggressive. They might develop something physically which causes them pain, changing their personality. Would you have the patience and love needed to help them with any of this (dramatic examples I know, but not out of the ordinary)?

What comes across in your question is 'what can the dog do for me' rather than the wish to have a lifelong loving relationship, whatever is thrown at you. It's worth thinking about.

Absolutely not. If you want a bigger dog get a Labrador or a Golden Retriever.

You might want to look into getting an ex-racer (so greyhound, lurcher or galgo). You can adopt them as a mature dog. Do thorough research on the adoption agency and make it known that you are a first time dog owner.

Ex-racers come in all sorts of temperaments. Some very suitable for first time owners, others not so much. They are generally docile inside and have to be kept on lead outside. You can only let them run in a fenced off area.

I had one for a foster some years ago (lurcher). She was very sweet and very much a dog's dog. By which I mean that she was very social with other dogs, but initially a bit wary of people till she got over that. It was easy to train her.

What is a ‘large, serious’ dog? What about a Doberman or similar dog appeals? Why don’t you want a Golden Retriever? It sounds as if you like the idea of a potentially dangerous dog rather than wanting a relationship with a dog and all of the commitments, sacrifices and joys that that entails.

I'm usually quite gung-ho about people getting dogs, provided they've thought through the commitment needed, the hours of training etc etc.

But a Dobe for a first timer? No for several reasons:
They can be delightful, but they can also be neurotic, especially if not fulfilled (I lived with one for a few years, she was a sweet dog but her owners did nothing with her and she was twitchy and nervous).
Even the pet lines derive from serious working dogs, bred for guarding and protection. While breed traits decay if not actively bred for, they can still linger. Hence the derpiest of Labradors will probably want to retrieve things. If you don't want to deal with a dog with those protective traits, don't go for a Dobe.
Health. As PP have said, a health nightmare - they are not a long-lived breed and can drop dead of DCM while chasing a ball in the park.

Virtually all dog are loyal and affectionate, and a lot of them (esp males) are protective. You can what you want from an easier breed.

I have a 30kg lab. When he wants to pull, he’s really strong. Could you handle a Doberman, who I imagine would have more pull on him.

I have a tiny bit of experience with a greyhound (a friend of a friend had one).

The poor thing was completely 100% terrified at all times, absolutely heartbreaking. Could never have one after seeing that.

To the person who mentioned one hour a week training... no! If I were to do this I would be wanting to do more often than that AND be spending plenty of time learning about training dogs and doberman's in particular. I will not be doing this unless I can give it everything.

Anyway, not sure that there is much more for me to say on this thread... plenty of food for thought... if I ever decide to go for it (and it will not be anytime soon, nor without a LOT of planning) I have plenty of things to make sure I am comfortable with first.