Am i being unreasonable? Doberman!

kateknights

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Hi everyone, I don't know how many of you have watched GMTV this morning? but there was an article about a Dobie, (Me being a big Dobie lover and owner), They showed a clip of the program 'It's me or the dog' with Victoria Stilwell, it had a dobie on it in need of some training!
Then when it went back to the studio, Kate said " the trouble is with those dogs, they look fierce before they even do anything", this really got to me, my boy is the softest most loving dog I have ever known and owned ARGGGGHHHH!!!
So anyway i just went on the website and made a complaint!
Please tell me I have done the right thing? I know I am quite angry at the moment, but i just need reassuring that someone else would have done the same thing in my position?
Kate x
 
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the trouble is with those dogs, they look fierce before they even do anything

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But they do. So do German Shepherds, Rottie's, Staffies, Bull Mastiffs...............
 
I am sorry I totally disagree!
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I was at the vet the other day with my bouncy Lab (the other side of the room) and there was a guy in there with A doberman bitch. He had a couple of leads on rather a fierce looking collar and was having to hold her at the neck facing away from other dogs and people. It managed to turn its head at one point and started barking viciously, bearing its teeth (all at the same time my Lab thought it was a tail wagging contest). He had to take her to the car in the end as if he hadn't managed to keep hold of her (and he was struggling) she could have done a lot of damage. Now this doesn't do their image any good and I can't really blame people for thinking of them in this way - I certainly would to be honest.
 
i think the larger dogs have a bit of a reputation behind them. i personally love dobies and had one previously but on the other hand a rotweiller attacked my horse on the beach a couple of weeks ago and it all ended quite badly. but we have ventured down to the beach again but i must admit i am very wary of rotties now... i just takes one to create a bad rep for them all
 
Having had GSDs all my life this is something I've got used to, and on more than one occasion I have sent off a letter/email when GSDs have been all tarred with the same brush like this. However, it is sadly true that breeds like dobes, rotties, GSDs etc do have quite a few bad uns in their midst and it is the owners of these that cause problems for the rest of us. A house i walk past with my dogs acquired a rottie pup last year which concerned me as their other dogs were always getting out. It was ok up till a couple of weeks ago when this rottie jumped out and had a go at my 2 Shepherds, luckily a well aimed boot got rid of it and they did then call it back, but I am no reluctant to walk that way again.
 
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Then when it went back to the studio, Kate said " the trouble is with those dogs, they look fierce before they even do anything",

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Think you might have overreacted because of your fondness of the breed! She did only say they LOOK fierce, which they do. You and I and everyone else sensible know that's not the case but most people only see them being guard dogs on the telly so would think they were fierce.
 
Of course theses dog looks fierce...esp to those with less experience of larger guarding breeds....after all they where breed to look this way...dobis where first breed by a debt collecter...for personal protection...and I would say it would have done the trick..wouldnt you?
I have a shepherd,rotti, and akita all fierce looking dogs to jo public...I would never take any offence to people thinking they look fierce....and I have been told that plenty of times
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I think she was correct in what she suggested personally.....after all you dont see many people crossing the road when they see people walking a westi,yorki....but u sure do when someone is walking a dobe, rotti e,t,c...its how people perceive these dogs....large breeds with docked tails dont help...as people cant see any waggy tail....which is generally how we assosiate a happy friendly dog
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She didn't say they ARE fierce just that they LOOK fierce, which many of them do. Some breeds have a bad reputation (very possibly undeserved) for attacking people and savaging babies.
 
Also I think you have to consider that non "doggy people" tend to judge by size alone. The bigger the Dog the more aggressive it is.

We have GSD's & my friend has GSD's, whenever we meet up for walks, (which isn't often ) my Dogs are avoided & hers are cuddled to within an inch of their lives by almost everyone we pass.

The difference ? Mine are Bi coloured & hers are white longcoats.
It's all in how other perceive them.

I admit to being wary of terrier breeds ...I KNOW some are lovely dogs, but they are hard to shake off when they decide to attack !!
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I think Dobies look lovely with the floppy ears--not scary at all. Now over here in America, people still crop the ears (
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) which definitely makes the dogs look intimidating.

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They do look intimidating, but then so does a horse to non horsey people. Its just their opinion - so long as she didnt say they are fierce, in my book thats ok.
Prose thos dobbies are gorgeous and so is yours Kate1, I am a big fan and want one myself.x
 
I don't think they look fierce at all (course, I have 4 who look like complete dopes at the best of times)
They do look meaner when they have their ears cropped (mine don't)

These are mine... fierce-looking??? Naaaaaaaaah!!
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Ulla
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The boys; Klaus, Dieter and Otto
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I disagree with what GMTV said and I too would have made a complaint.

I've just come back off of my holidays and my dogs have played with numerous dogs including Dobes who are soft as grease. It was two Labs that attacked my biggest dog, who hadn't done anything wrong, and he has the holes in his skin to prove it. Yet no one will say anything about those breeds which can be just as aggressive as the next.
 
The problem with some large dogs is that they are 'percieved' as being used for a specific thing... Media doesn't helop AT ALL....

E.G Films you'll often have the Rotties & Dobes as hard a*se guard dogs that snarl and bark and are generally not pictured as a friendly breed... nfortunatley this is the perception that people then take of all dogs of that breed.... ignorant as it is.. unless of course they have had a good experience and seen that this is dramatised and they are tarring the breed with the same brush.. in all honestly being racist/doscriminating against a view that is not a 'real' one.

I have to be ssssssssssooo careful with Finn (my soft as putty 9 and a half stone HUGE Rhodesian Ridgeback)

He wouldn't hurt a fly but that does not mean that people won't look at him and immediatley judge what he is capable of... even though he has never show agression nor nastyness to anyone...

When I am out walking - he is always off the lead in the park/open areas (not near roads) and is so good and will come back when called/wait etc... however when approaching a corner I will always make sure he is with me so that if needs be I can clip him on his lead to stop those people that may not be dog sure of being faced with a LARGE dog, albeit an enthusastically friendly one!!

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Just so you can see his size.. him with the donkies... see how big he is in comparison and that was 2 months ago.. he has grown an inch and a half in that time...

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the size of his paws
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I think to people who dont know dogs they do look the part, i have gsd's now and up til recently a dobe too, big men who thought they were tough were scared but to me thats great .. the dogs are es soft as they come but with horses, lorry, tack etc around the yard i welcomed the fact people were wary, i dont think what Kate said was knocking the breed just stating how people percieve them.
 
Well I think "Kate" (on TV) is right to be honest. Dobermans do look scary - which is why they are so commonly used as guard dogs.

I have a jet black shepherd dog and people think she looks fierce.....of course she isn't, she's soft as fluff, but I would agree she does look fierce.
 
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