Life with dobermans?

[shadowboy]

Sooo after 4 months of trying to adopt from a dog charity I got fed up and we have now picked a little 8 week Doberman pup. She will be ready to come home to us on Friday! I've been doing my reading but wondered if anyone on here lives with dobes and can tell me about some things I should do/ things to watch out for?

Before anyone asks we are experienced dog owners having had GSDs and spaniels as kids and having had and currently owning malamutes. I just wanted a high energy large dog but with less hair!!

A bit apprehensive but also excited. Just hope nanook is happy to share his home with her!

 

[MurphysMinder]

The breeder should be able to answer any questions , but I am sure when dobiegirl sees this she will be along to tell you about her dobes.

 

[shadowboy]

Yes breeders are fab! Spent hours chatting to them on Friday night and they have become Facebook 'friends' so they can help and advise at any point. But I was just wondering if

 

[shadowboy]

They typically had issues/ traits/habits to be wary of or look out for.? (Sorry pressed send too early!)

 

[diamonddogs]

Not specific to Dobes, but any breed with large chests and small waists - be very aware of gastric torsion, AKA bloat. It can happen if the dog does any strenuous exercise after eating.

I lost my Dobe through this horrible condition - after dinner, his sister chased him down the garden and rugby tackled him. He went down, and rolled over on to his back. The vet thought this may have caused it. Basically, the stomach tubes twist and the abdomen fills with gas, and the only way to release is through surgery, but the prognosis is 50/50 at best, so ensure your Dobe rests after meals.

On the plus side, they are probably the most loyal dog you could hope for, highly intelligent and very easy to train if you're firm but fair - but they don't mature till they're 3-4 years old, so you may end up with a giant puppy for longer than you expect!

Though both sexes are lovely, bitches are definitely more affectionate than dogs, but can be more highly strung.

Oh and be warned - they are addictive! I've had four altogether, and my ex in laws have had two. Once you've had one, it's very difficult to feel the same about other breeds (my last dog was a Saluki).

 

[shadowboy]

Thanks for the tip re: bloat. Do they do ok out jogging? Out mal is rubbish despite being bred to run long distances! He prefers to potter. Looking forward to having something to snuggle with!

 

[Elsbells]

Oh yes! A Dobe! Good choice shadow boy. That is if you want to be followed even to the toilet or hanging out the washing and be greeting when coming back inside the house from having a ciggie like you've been gone for months!'? Well that's our experience of them anyway.

We won't have another now as we're not up to it being that much older and the OH having MS, but they are great dogs to be owned by. I'd say the best advice I could offer is socialise, socialise, socialise. We took ours everywhere we went from day 1 and she's perfect. They need loads of brainwork and exercise to tire them out and don't slow down and become sensible for years! Having said that, they are happier in a pack, love their family and are forever in your face. Oh! And you'll find the bitches very maternal.

Whose the breeder or the line? Black or brown?

 

[Copperpot]

My dobie bitch is 8 now. She's a lovely girl. Very affectionate. She's still full of life and running. I was very careful with what exercise she had for first 18 months to protect her joints. After that she used to coming running with me all the time. Health wise she has never really had any issues until recently. She had some lumps appear on her leg, fatty cysts, due to age but I had them removed just in case. Good luck with the puppy!!!

 

[MurphysMinder]

One thing I do know regarding dobes is that you should check parents have been DNA tested for Von Willibrands disease, and of course hip scored.

 

[Alec Swan]

When we read of the life threatening health problems which many breeds, including Dobermans seem to have recently acquired, does it make you wonder just what the breeders are up to, and just why is there a need for the near frantic health checks of parents? Assuring the world that the parents have been tested, would be an admission of failure on the part of those who breed, or their governing bodies.

How have we arrived at the state where one poster has had to be cautious with a young dog's joints up to the age of 18 moths?

30 years ago or so, the Doberman was a relatively uncomplicated animal. Just how have they reached this current state? Does anyone know? It wouldn't be because of what are known as back yard breeders, because those who were correct (sic!) in their principles, would never have used such animals. The problems have arisen because of the mainstream breeders, and the Doberman isn't alone.

Alec.

 

[stormox]

Having my 18month rescued Dobermann for 8 months now, he hasn't always been easy. The main differences between him and GSDs IMHO, is the dobermann is FAR quicker and more athletic. He can run the speed of a greyhound and can jump on top of the oil-tank (over 10 ft) from a standstill. And as he is a sight-hound he is attracted by moving objects in the distance that a GSD wouldn't even notice, and would be 'on the chase' if I let him. He is much more alert to his surroundings, and notices things instantly, way before I do.
HE hates rain, loves getting the stuffing out of soft toys and dog beds, loves playing kong ,loves his comfy bed and loves his family to pieces. I wouldn't trust him with a stranger coming into the garden, after all, he is bred to guard 'his' area, and work with the minimum of human intervention.
He is a lovely dog, but not for someone who isn't prepared to put in time, effort and consistency in their training. Start as you mean to go on, make sure everything he does is on your terms (ie play, but make sure you can say 'enuf' and that you can then put the toy in your pocket and walk home without him mugging you for it). Good luck and Im sure you will have the best companion ever and a friend for live.

 

[Copperpot]

Alec when I say careful with her joints I meant not running with her. I was a long distance runner, going up to 16 miles a day. That would be too much on any young dogs joints much like young children are not allowed to compete at long distances. I had to let her mature and then get her fit enough to actually be able to run for that length of time. Although the most I ever did with her was 12 miles

 

[shadowboy]

Thanks all! Fingers crossed she will become a happy and well balanced girl! Having always had big dogs we are always careful with their feeding and excessive walking as pups. With regards to her 'line' I have no idea as I haven't picked her up yet and Doberman lines mean nothing to me so I didn't n

 

[shadowboy]

*notice what was written!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Dobermanns (along with other breeds) certainly were suffering from Von Willibrands 30 years ago Alec, it is surely just that in recent years more diagnostic tests have become available so perhaps more people are aware of the problems. Equally hip assessing isn't a new idea, my mother had dogs x rays submitted to the BVA back in the 60s under the older scheme, and hip scoring was started in the 70s.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Ive had 4 Dobes altogether, all rescues and 3 of them were 18months when I adopted them, this is quite a common age for them to be handed on because of behavioural problems and the dogs getting out of hand. They are a dog that cant get enough solicisation, dog aggression is the biggest problem but is probably true of other breeds also but with training mine have all been solid citizens.

They have a very high prey drive and need to be brought up around cats otherwise they are fair game, mine are hunters, whether that be deer,rabbits,birds,foxes,rats or mice. I disagree with the other poster who said they stick to you and follow you around the house, mine dont and never have, I wont allow it, so make sure you have very firm bounderies in place and be very consistant. I have firm rules but my daughter allows them to get away with murder, they dont do it with me or look to do it so they know who is putty in their paws and who isnt.

Ive done the KC Good Citizen award with one of mine as part of her training as she was dog aggressive, she has also done agility and was brilliant at it but was held back by me as Im not getting any younger. They have great noses too and apart from lots of exercise when older I like them to do other things, I often hide things for them to search and find and they really are good at scenting out things.

Some people say they are wusses and cant stand rain or the cold, perhaps Ive been lucky but mine have always wanted to go out regardless of the weather. They also have a very high pain threshold, the vets know and have said they love to see a Dobe come in because they never make a fuss or whine.

As they are single coated hoovering dosnt have to be a daily chore, another plus in my book, we also have a Lancashire Heeler and she has a double coat and she sheds far more than them.

They are a very intelligent breed and just seem to know when people are not what they seem, they are suspicious of strangers but mine have all been quick to make friends with the right people, they are very loyal and loving too.

Good luck and cant wait to see photos of your pup, one is never enough though so I should warn you of that.

 

[diamonddogs]

Is your girl docked?

I've had two docked and two not, and the speed of an undocked Dobe takes your breath away! I've had them escape into the garden as I'm leaving for work, and they're so hard to catch compared with a docked dog. I suppose the tail must act as a rudder, because they're so bendy!

I forgot about the only Dobe I had from a puppy. He was a very weak specimen, the result of an accident. The "breeder" had a nice pair of dogs, brother and sister, and at the age of 14 months the bitch got pregnant. The stupid woman thought it would be OK to leave them together when the bitch was in season as she didn't think they'd fancy each other, being brother and sister! So the combination of immature parents who were full siblings resulted in a poor quality litter. Sadly, he escaped from the house and got hit by a car at the age of 10 months. The vet thought he might have survived had he not had a weak heart.

Another thing worth thinking about if you're thinking of breeding in future - it's not unusual for a Dobe to produce 12 or 13 puppies!

 

[CAYLA]

Loving, loyal, stubborn as hell in youth they don't half push those boundaries! some can be right vocal whinge bags , and its true they have a ridiculous high pain threshold, yet most will tell you if you have shut them out in the rain lol and they are heat snatchers and love their home comforts (a lot like greys for their sitting their backsides on a knee or demanding a comfy seat, the bitch I just let go (10 month rescue) was a wild child outside (previous owners fault), she came on nicely with some firm but fair handling, and their energy levels are (off the scale) they need a lot of stimulation and get very easily bored (esp in youth) they are always on the alert and looking for something to do which gets them into bother.
As with any breed, don't set them up for fail and be willing to put the training in through the frustration lol and you will get a lovely dog, but indeed they are long to mature.
I do agree the bitches seem more highly strung and they are a breed naturally warey of strangers so commonly you get the undertone bruff barking at strangers when out or anyone looking suspicious, so socialising from the get go is imperative.
I have to say they are not the easiest of breeds imo (but then Im dealing with the already "ruined" ones) Dobiegirls 2 are very well behaved and have impeccable manners, I was very impressed by them when I met them, (It's that DG, she rules with an iron fist).

 

[stormox]

My fella is docked and has cropped ears. I don't think the lack of tail makes him any slower- he is unbelievably fast, I bet he'd give a greyhound a run for their money! But he was bred in Russia, and sadly he doesn't have a tail to wag, and his cropped ears let in rain, bugs, and are a great inconvenience for him. However, he certainly had no say in the matter, and he was a year when I got him, and I wont hold it against him- he had been too much for his importers, indeed had bitten someone ( a jogger who was running past) when theyd stupidly let him off the lead in a public place after only having him a few days. So I am wary of him around people, but I 'rule him with an iron fist' as CAYLA says, and he respects me and loves me because he has definite rules. If you don't have boundaries and stick to them, I think dobes are very 'tuned-in to their owner and would quickly learn to take advantage of any sign of weakness.

 

[CorvusCorax]

As I have mentioned before, the ones I have met have certainly been free spirited, be giving lovely heelwork one minute and then 'sod this, I am off for a gallop, seeya later' the next
Some of the eastern European lines can be a bit sharp and the ones I have met do not take correction or pressure as well as some other breeds, especially if they deem it 'unfair'.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Thank you Cayla, I told them they were on a one way trip to the vet if they missed behaved whilst you were staying lol, 3 of mine were someone else **** ups and I must have been mad to have had 2 18months siblings together. My current 2 are now 4yrs old and its taken them that long to grow up, they are big puppies still though.

I also had for 6weeks a foster Dobe who was about 10months old, he was a diamond and my easiest one yet, he was returned to me as the wife said he had been aggressive with her, I put him through the wringer when he got back to try and get a reaction out of him but he didnt have a bad bone in his body. All my Dobes have air snapped usually to instigate play or when they get over excited, I think he did this with her and she panicked. He has since been rehomed and Im visiting him this week for a follow up, but the vibes are all good from the new owners who have had a Dobe before.

CC is right about the European lines being sharp, I had one and he became my dog of a lifetime, when I had him at 18months he had bitten a family member, he was also very dog aggressive and if you went to check him he would come up the lead at you. Luckily I found the right trainer for him as he was completely out of my experience and as I said he became a fantastic dog who I sadly lost to Lepto, still miss him desperately.

In my opinion Dobermanns have been dumbed down so they are more people friendly and easier for the majority of people to handle.

 

[Oscar]

My Dobe is 17 months old now. He seems to be calming down 'a bit'! To say he is lively is an understatement. He is also very destructive if left unattended!! Even if I pop out for 10 mins he will find something of mine to destroy, a shoe, an iPod, etc. but he has accepted being caged well as he gets kongs & chews etc.

He is very food oriented, and will steal food given the chance, he even pinches horse feed as they are eating!

He loves everyone and everything, he has never growled at anyone and loves other dogs to the point of harrassing them! If I am walking him and I see another dog or walker cyclist etc he has to go on his lead, not because he is nasty but because he will chase (and outrun easily) people on bikes, jump up at strangers for attention and as I say will annoy the heck out of other dogs!!

He has boundless energy, and needs a lot of exercise and stimulation, my two jack Russell's are the guard dogs, he would love it if someone broke in the house as long as they fussed him!! He'd try and play with a doberman eating Lion if he met one, he's not very bright!!

I do take him hacking, but he has to be in the horses vision or they get scared by him leaping out of the crops or trees. His recall is pretty good but if he sees something more interesting, then he's off, he loves chasing birds that are flying in the sky.

Oh and be careful what you feed them, they have delicate stomachs, I feed Skinners Duck & rice, and a tin of pilchards a few times a week keeps his coat gleaming.

 

[CorvusCorax]

He loves other dogs to the point of harrassing them! If I am walking him and I see another dog or walker cyclist etc he has to go on his lead, not because he is nasty but because he will chase (and outrun easily) people on bikes, jump up at strangers for attention and as I say will annoy the heck out of other dogs!!

We meet a doberman where we walk and he flies past at high speed with a big 'grin' on his face, inviting other dogs to catch him, he loves life!
Mine used to get on with him when he was younger but can get a bit arsey and hackly now he is older so I just keep him on the lead now, he use to throw a massive strop and plant himself and scream as the dobe flew past but I now use it as a good distraction for heelwork

But anyway, I have never seen a dog who looks like he enjoys running so much!!

 

[diamonddogs]

...
Oh and be careful what you feed them, they have delicate stomachs, I feed Skinners Duck & rice, and a tin of pilchards a few times a week keeps his coat gleaming.

When we got our first boy he'd been ill treated and starved, so we took him right back to basics, feeding him on plain rice, slowly building up to normal dog food. We started feeding Chum and Winalot Prime, and he immediately got diarrhoea. The vet told us to change to a medium quality food such as Pal, as quality dog foods are too high in protein for a Dobe's delicate stomach.

Eventually we changed to James Wellbeloved dried food, and he thrived.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......

In my opinion Dobermanns have been dumbed down so they are more people friendly and easier for the majority of people to handle.

And as with Rotts, that's no bad thing. Dogs bred for such specific purpose, and with inclinations to work, or with such breed inclinations, have no place in the average family home.

Alec.

 

[CorvusCorax]

On the other hand, it makes things tough for those who are after a working dog. If you want a passive dog, a GSD, Rott or Doberman isn't the breed you want, no matter how much you like the look of them, and breeding the spunk and spark out of them has been to their detriment in my opinion.

Another debate methinks! Also, my mum's been health testing since the mid 70s, we've always sourced dogs from health tested parents and in those years, touch wood, we've had healthy dogs with excellent hips who lived into old age, bar two from the same litter who's issues couldn't have been screened for (severe skin issues/allergies/character flaw) and who's lines I will avoid in future. They did have good hips and elbows though

 

[Dobiegirl]

Its a tricky one isnt it, dumb them down so they are less hassle for the average Joe or keep them as they were and see rescues full of them as people cant cope with them. They are still a lot of dog though and still have high exercise needs. I had a phone call tonight from the rescue I foster for saying one of the Dobes they rehomed back in August has issues with knocking people down, I have a picture in my head of people stood like skittles and a Dobe hurtling towards them knocking them all down in one strike. I will be given more information tomorrow but the current owners are not happy and they were supposedly experienced Dobe owners,

 

[Alec Swan]

On the other hand, it makes things tough for those who are after a working dog. If you want a passive dog, a GSD, Rott or Doberman isn't the breed you want, no matter how much you like the look of them, and breeding the spunk and spark out of them has been to their detriment in my opinion.

Another debate methinks! .......

Correct, but those who breed for the pet market or the show bench, probably lack any intrinsic interest in the 'purpose' of the breed which they champion, barring the lip service of passing on the breed history, so as D_g says, dumbing down the natural work ethics of these dogs, is a good thing. There are several precedents, Cocker and Springer Spaniels being amongst them, where they're now at the stage of being virtually separate breeds. With dogs which were designed or evolved because of their ability to apply aggression to their work, then this is all for the better, I think.

I suppose that the concerns could spread to cover a far wider selection of breeds, too. I wonder if the general pet owning public actually understand what they're taking on when they buy puppies from those breeds which served man, but in a way which also served themselves. All so often those dogs which were used as tools were allowed a freedom of thought and allowed to express themselves in a way which would be unlikely to suit an en-famile existence.

Mind you, I'm quite prepared for the question "If we remove all the work bred dogs, from the list of suitable breeds, what do we have left?", and it would be a question which would be difficult to answer and would rather sit my argument on its bum!!

Alec.

 

[stormox]

The body-slamming and trying to knock me over (and Im only 71/2stone)is something my lad (6 stone) used to try-I just turned and let him go flying past at head level! But I tackled it by teaching the instant down, and having a short 1ft rope attached to a (prong) collar - when he started to jump at me Id grab it before he left the ground and would pull him down hard and make him lie down. He stopped trying when he found out it didn't work anymore!
The one thing that I find hard to handle with him is though Ive been doing a lot of 'leave it' work,with hens, horses,sheep etc and he is 100% better I wouldn't trust him not to follow his prey-drive if he thought he could get away with it. Therefore though I have him trained to novice obedience/BH standard, I wouldn't trust him not to go for the judge when I shook his hand!! also stays would be dodgy. Whether its his Russian temperament or the fact that he got away with stuff he should been corrected for when young I don't know....

 

[shadowboy]

Thanks for the responses ! I have to say you're all worrying me now! I'm afraid we won't be able to handle this breed?! The mother we met was a dream and very mild mannered and calm I hope this rubs off on pup. I wanted a dog that would match nanook a high energy demands but with half the hair! I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!!!