Which would suit me best - GSD or Doberman?

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Hollyhorse

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I am looking to buy a new puppy and would like either a german shepherd or a doberman. I want a dog that's really person-orientated and will form a one-to-one bond with me. There are four of us in the house and two dogs (very old lap dogs!) with a farm and horses. This would be a dog for me rather than a family dog that would come around with me all day, riding, competitions etc, and look at me as his/her 'mum' if you like! I know that doberman owners will no doubt suggest dobermans and GSD owners suggest GSDs but, personal preferences aside, which would be best for me? Also, does sex make a difference?
 
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I want a dog that's really person-orientated and will form a one-to-one bond with me. Which would be best for me?

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I don't have either so can offer an unbiased opinion - I would go for a GSD as I think they like being one - owner dogs.
 
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Also, does sex make a difference?

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I personally wouldn't recommend this as a bonding method .....
 
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Also, does sex make a difference?

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I personally wouldn't recommend this as a bonding method .....

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I want a dog that's really person-orientated and will form a one-to-one bond with me. Which would be best for me?

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I don't have either so can offer an unbiased opinion - I would go for a GSD as I think they like being one - owner dogs.

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Ditto, GSD. I would go for a girl, they're 'usually' easier than boys.
 
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I have had dobermanns for 25 years and can't see me having anything else. Here is why ( i like all dogs so not going to slag off gsds). Firstly, bitches are easier to train, and less hassle, they are what i like to call babywipe dogs, they get mucky, a couple of babywipes cleans them off pretty well. They cast less hair so your house and car gets less hairy. Temperament wise, they are very protective, very bright, very loyal and affectionate.
Seem to like horses, (well mine does).
I am not saying that gsds don't have some of their attributes so please don't jump on me.
Whatever you decide, please be very careful when you pick your breeder. Go to a proper one rather than a pet owner who has jsut decided to take a litter from their bitch. a reputable breeder will have looked long and hard at the correct sire and dam for conformation and temperament. Also, i think there are so many variations with gsds, because they are more popular, there are more litters bred and a lot of different types around.
If you decide on a dobe pm me if you like and i can possibly help with breeders who have pups.
Remember, by law, dobes now have to have tails. Unless you go to ireland for one.
 
Both would be suitable for what you want IMO....both intelligent and loyal dogs, both suitable to take hacking if that is what you want, with the right training I personally don't mind between dog and bitch, although bitches are more commonly smaller and a little more bidable.
My own personal choice would be a GSD
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simply because they are so easy and willing to train and make great family pets and are loyal of their own and their territory and will rarely stray from their grounds when left alone.
They are also a very hardy breed, will withstand all weathers and won't need a big fluffy bed
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We have a rescue boy Dobie (with a tail, pre ban!!) who we got at 18 mths. Despite our efforts and later on 3 weeks residential professional training, they couldnt do a thing about his lack of recall and tendency to chase horses and livestock.

This is probably because of his experiences as a youngster, lack of socialisation training etc before he was given up to the rescue, but purely based on my experience I wouldnt 100% be able to recommend a boy Dobie with horses.

The training place get a lot of Dobies and they kind of dread the next one arriving as they (usually boy Dobes) are they find quite hard to train. Lovely temperament, would trust ours 101% with children etc, can do anything to him, but wilful! To give you an eg, when training with a citronella collar ours worked out that if he held his nose when the citronella puffed remotely for long enough, the thing would eventually run out, then he could carry on chasing!

Also they have v smooth thin coats and hate being cold and wet, whereas a GSD has a much more weatherproof coat. They are sometimes kept outside but thats v cruel to a Dobe because of the thin coat.

We resolved our issue by fencing 5 acres with 6 foot fencing (££££) as a giant Dobie field (we are surrounded by horses and livestock) and are still working on the issues. I would never not have Dobies now, I absolutely adore them, but I think GSDs are more straightforward to train.
 
ours worked out that if he held his nose when the citronella puffed remotely for long enough, the thing would eventually run out, then he could carry on chasing,

See, told you dobies are smart
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Must agree with haffeliesel on a couple of points. Best with a puppy so you can bring it up to suit your lifestyle and like i already said, bitches tend to be less willful.
The other thing being about gsds being more hardy. dobes tend not to worry too much about the cold if they are able to move around but my girl has a weatherbeeta coat (like a little horsey rug, not pink and woosey) for when it is raining in the winter.
Dobes are pretty straightforward to train tho, but like i say, get a pup.
remember to let us know what you decide, 'the battle of the breeds'
 
We used to have a GSD.. i used to take her to the stables every day, we would go out hacking and she would come with me, she was one of the best dogs i have ever owned. we lost her when she was 10.. I was gutted.. We have dobes now. 3 of them.. one rescue and one male we show and bitch pup.. the male we show to the yard, hes a bit hyper but i have taken him out on a ride.. not a perfect idea, my horse is really dog proof tho.. Either breed would be perfect for you. go to a good breeder tho and have a chat. it depends on how you bring the individual dog up if its going to settle into your life style.. defo get a pup and bring it up, that way it will settle in best. Good luck..
 
We are quite new into showing, we show our male and we have just bought the pup to show whens shes older.. All good fun... I was there on friday but with no dogs.. left hubby with them.. lol
 
I'd go Dobe, purely down to the state of most GSDs hips. I've known several people buy GSDs from reputable breeders to have them crippled by the age of 2 or 3. It's such a shame as they're lovely dogs, and to see them so young and barely able to walk is heartbreaking.
 
We've got Dobes AND a GSD. They're BOTH lovely breeds. The dobe boys are VERY affectionate and soppy... The Dobe bitch (my girl) is VERY bright and a very fast learner but it's quite hard to channel that intelligence constructively (possibly my fault!
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) Our GSD is a very good guard dog and is almost like a responsible mum; she takes her job quite seriously!! I think that GSDs are easier to train and are more straightforward, but that could just be my experience with them.
 
I have also had both but it is the GSD still with me!! Our Dobe was lovely but she was hard to train, we had to re-fence the whole yard to keep her in as she would take herself of hunting, she would do as she was told when it suited her and i found this around horses hard work, my sheps dont want to run away, they want to be so close to me that they trip me up! So from experience of both dogs living on a farm i would never have a Dobe again
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I'd go Dobe, purely down to the state of most GSDs hips. I've known several people buy GSDs from reputable breeders to have them crippled by the age of 2 or 3. It's such a shame as they're lovely dogs, and to see them so young and barely able to walk is heartbreaking.

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That is a shame, i have been around GSD since i was born, mum bred them and now i do so far NO hip problems for us but we only breed with low hip scored dogs, shame to say no full stop on hips i think
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I've had rescue dobe bitches only and they have been lovely in every way. Affectionate and well behaved with the horses. They do however have a stubborn streak and therefore probably not as straightforward to train as a GSD. I have also never had dogs who can sulk as much as a dobe!

They do really feel the cold and need coats on in the winter when they're not running about - the plus side is that they moult in the house much less than a GSD.

Even though I would not change from dobe's having owned them I think a GSD would probably make a slightly better yard companion.

Dobe's have at least as many health problems as GSD's if not more, I have never had so many vets bills with any dog previously as I have with the dobes!
 
Sorry for the late response, I've been away for a few days.

Thanks for the many great replies!
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It's definitely a close one but from reading all the comments and thinking very hard about it I think a GSD bitch would be best for me. There were a couple of more influential points brought up, for example they sound slightly easier to train, good with horses/big spaces, and I'd like one that stays around me at the yard rather than wanders off (my black lab is constantly 'investigating' and you can't take your eyes off her!). I also think the 'hardier' nature of the GSD would suit me best. I think the key thing will definitely be to do a lot of research and ensure I buy a puppy from a reputable and reliable breeder (bearing in mind hip probs) as I'm aware of some 'bad' breeding among GSDs. I'm in the Bristol/Glos area so if anyone knows/can recommend any breeders pls do PM me.

Many thanks again! I shall keep you posted
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I have a GSD and would go for then every time. Very loyal one person dogs, but they choose the 'one' person, me in our case much to hubby's annoyance
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Re their hips, my bitch is now 10 and bouncing about chasing rabbits still. She has 3 glucosimine tablets a day, (from Healthspan in Guernsey as tax free and much cheaper). It's all about buying the right one. The parents should be hip scored and the lower the better. Think 1 parent was 2 and the other 8 or 9. GSD breed council do not recommend breeding with any that have ove 15 hip score I think. Just use a reputable breeder and make sure you see both parents.

Enjoy whichever you go for.
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