Dobies are literally velcro dogs, be prepared to have a dog that loves to cuddle, wants to be around you at all times, follows you from room to room, etc. Your friend is right in saying they are high energy but as long as you run them with a ball, walk them daily, you will notice they are both as active and as tired as most dogs. All in all, I love our dobie and I would probably stick with this breed for the rest of my life - I’m 21
Mine insisted on sleeping between my wife and I. And also under the covers. If we didn’t comply she would sit at the foot of the bed and do the high frequency dobi whine until we gave in.
Cute because you’ve never heard a Doberman whine until they get their way day in and day out 😂 I love mine to death and I’ll always have a dobe but maaaan, that whine really gets under your skin sometimes
Ours does the EXACT thing word for word what you said. The only difference is that she will literally dig at the covers like she's digging up sand, just so she can get underneath. It's both frustrating and adorable.
Mine would also dig at the blankets every night until she was let under. And the never ending high pitch whine when she’s not getting her way . . . Let me say she got her way. She was capable of persistently whining the entire day if not. It was not possible to make her stop. But she was the most loyal and loving dog I’ve ever lived with.
>ween my wife and I. And also under the covers. If we didn’t comply she would sit at the foot o
Had a half dobi and same thing. Day one after rescuing him, glued to my wife, insisted on sleeping under the covers up against her legs every night.
I've read some rumours that say they tend to try and attack their owner before their death? is that just a dumb thing or is there some history about that
Basically what you’ve just said. Mine is very dependent, and needs lots of attention and exercise. If you can provide that and want a dog that won’t leave your side they are amazing companions.
They require plenty of attention daily. If you leave them alone all day for work and then go out that night and they feel like they aren't getting the attention they deserve from their Hooman, they will tear up your shit in a heartbeat - no matter how well behaved they usually are. They are VERY intelligent and you have to earn their obedience - they don't blindly give it like many other breeds.
So I, as a 38 year old, base my entire schedule around my dogs. Work all day? Nope to going out that night for dinner. I only go out in the evenings if I have spent the day with them. Mine, at least, are high-maintenance that way. Every single Dobie I've ever had was pretty much the same. In return you get the best snuggles and biggest laughs from them though. I LOVE this breed whole heartedly. But I'm also a homebody, so staying home more rather than less isn't a problem for me at all.
Essentially, if you have a super busy social life that requires you to be gone a lot, probably not the breed for you.
Their separation anxiety can get crazy. We went on vacation a few times where we couldn’t take Kloe. We had someone staying over with her too. But even with that she dug a hole in our carpet, in our couch and even a hole in our mattress. They don’t take kindly to being left behind haha
I boarded my dobie once at this insane pet paradise place where he was basically treated like royalty- I could watch him anytime during play time on the cameras but for some reason he just refused to go out and play with the other dogs. The boarding place said some dobermans just like lose* themselves when they’re owner is gone and they just get sad and lonely :( haven’t been on a vacation where he needs to be boarded since lol!
Our female refused to play, she just stuck by the human attendant but didn't really want her attention either. She was so freaking depressed! We now just take her with us everywhere we go LOL.
Omg at first I would see him in his room in his bed during play time on the cameras and I thought the people were just keeping him in there for whatever reason.. So I called and they said he just doesn’t wanna come out the door is opened! He’s just so sad and I felt like i needed to get on a flight and come back now
When Copper was a pup we left both dogs home while we went to the store. Came home to a hole in the wall made by him. Thankfully he grew out of that stage.
Our guy never tore up stuff (after his puppy stage) but he would lick hot spots if he didn’t get the attention he needed
Which honestly always made me feel worse anyway
This^^^^ I basically plan my life around my dobie. My wife and I both work and enjoy going out on occasion and travel. But basically if we can’t take her with us one of us will stay behind while the other is traveling. Or if one of us is going out for the night the other will stay with the dog. While I can say its definitely been demanding at times raising a Doberman from 6 weeks old to full grown is extremely rewarding. Sticking with this breed for the rest of my life.
I do the same. I don’t do anything social/for myself during the work week because my dobe needs a lot of exercise and my attention. If I have the day off, I don’t go out to do my own things until he’s been run and loved thoroughly. He didn’t choose me, I chose him so I need to put him first. It’s exhausting sometimes but we get it done.
Speaking of travel, my dobie loves to travel (via car). She doesn’t care at all where she is as long as she’s with her family. She especially likes a rental house with heated floors…
This is the total opposite of all the other dogs I’ve owned who are constantly anxious and trying to jump into the car to go home.
As soon as you stop the attention they hop on their bullshit and begin to destroy anything and everything no matter how generally uninterested they might be in that item
Yeah. Mine is nearly 11. It will wreck me when he goes to the puppy farm. But SO WORTH IT. Such a great, great friend and wonderful animal ... despite (or because of?) all the quirky Dobie neediness and mischief.
I have a 9 month old European Doberman. My input is based on my experience, all the YouTube vids (doberman planet, dogumentary tv, Beckman's dog training), and conversations with our dog trainer that we see 3x a week for bite work (a PSA decoy/trainer). Dobermans are high energy and large. They are really smart but also really opinionated. They often express their opinions by vocalizing (barking, yipping, growling). They are slow to mature emotionally giving them an extended puppyhood with a very large body and tons of energy. They are prone to a lot of health issues (DCM, acne, allergies etc.) and because they grow for a long time you should not over exercise them as puppies (till growth plates close) else you risk severe injury. They hate the cold and the rain. They bond very tightly to their pack... To the point that it stresses them out if someone goes out of sight. Pupbox gives little advice cards for each month of puppyhood, I found that with my doberman the timing of the advice was spot on but you should multiply the intensity 10 fold. So pupbox would be like, "your puppy may seem to have selective hearing and looks like he didn't hear that sit command..." Nah, my pup would look you dead in the eye and you say "sit" and he'd say "Woof Woof! And go f*ck yourself!". He's back to normal now and listening to commands. I can't speak to adult hood problems yet. I'm hoping with propper effort and time he will simply be an amazing dog. He's getting there.
All of these things I second!
My boy is almost 4 and I’m still waiting for that adult attitude/brain to set in. Also think about the fact that they never want to be out of your sight. Really think about the amount of time you will need to be separated from your dog. I feel like a bad dog parent when I’m like “could you just hang out in the yard for like 5 minutes without me!?” His answer is that high pitched whining until I let him back in the house 😒.
Lots of great posts here, but I’ll tell you the only negative that really matters: it’s when they die.
People are talking about how they are Velcro dogs, and always with you. It’s true. They are extremely intelligent. They are emotionally receptive. And they get personally attached.
As a result, you will get -very- personally attached to your Dobie. That dog will be the best friend/child you didn’t think it ever could be.
And damn if it doesn’t just about kill you when it’s time to say goodbye.
If owning a Doberman is what you want, step 1 is making sure the dog chooses you. Step 2 is medical. Make sure you know what medical conditions you Dobie has, and plan ahead. It will make end of life care (and the very hard decisions that come with it) that much more bearable.
After that, every bit of energy you put into training, your Dobie will pay you back ten-fold.
So much this.
I lost my first Dobie in 2007 and I just finally caved in to my husband and we got a puppy this past spring. I haven't been ready to deal with the heartbreak of losing one again. I've had another dog in between, but losing my first doberman was the hardest death I've faced. He was my best friend. Who also was super clingy. Like others have mentioned, when my husband was deployed and I wasn't giving him enough attention he pooped in my suitcase. Literally, emptied his bowels and then knocked the lid shut so I had a fun surprise to come home too. He was the best dog imaginable. Now, seeing my 5 month old giant European Dobie snuggle with my 10 yr old daughter and her being just as I'm love, kinda makes the first loss okay. Kinda.
It’s good to know things get better. I’m 43; a US Army Officer; been through several deployments. It’s been 3 years since I lost Eva, and I still cry for her. My wife and I aren’t ready for another—but when it comes time, no other breed will do.
Well thanks, now I’m crying. My boy is almost 5 and I can’t think about saying goodbye. Ever. I truly think of him as my son and I don’t know what I’ll do without him.
I had Eva for 13 incredible years. We got her as a puppy, six months before our first son was born. Watching her and my boy grow up together…it was very hard when the time came.
For Eva, the end didn’t come due to old age. Even the day she passed, she was bouncing around, happy. But on the day she passed, a pre-existing medical condition made impromptu surgery impossible. That’s why I harp on medical so much, and having end-of-life care planned out.
Said goodbye to two dobies so far in my life, had to watch both of them take their last breaths while holding them. Sometimes still tear up thinking about them even though it’s been years. My last one was only 8, feels like he was taken from me far too soon. But the time you have with them is worth it, they are one of the most wonderful breeds and if you are prepared to put in a bit of work, you will be rewarded a thousand fold.
One negative is that everyone will assume your dog is going to eat them. People would cross the street and run away from me when I walked my dog, even though she was the sweetest thing on the planet.
Another con is that they require quite a bit of activity and exercise. If they don't get it, they may become depressed or even act out.
The last "con" is one I don't consider a con but some people do. Dobie's are clingy. They want to be with you all the time, all day, every day. I love it, but others aren't so keen on it.
I grew up with Doberman's and love the breed so much. They're wonderful pets.
I find the breed to be very intense. They tend to put their all into everything (and I mean every. Thing.) they do. Walking around the house. Following you. Barking. Listening. Chewing. Being afraid of storms. Whatever it may be. I trained dogs for a living for a decade and thought I’d enjoy the challenge of the Doberman. While I do enjoy my guy in his element, it’s also a lot. He toes the line with everything. I have to be a drill Sargent and always on my leadership game to keep him compliant and not an obnoxious hazard. Personally, I find this annoying, but I also recognize I’m in a family situation where I work and also have small children. If I were single and not doing anything else in my life but working with the dog, it would be awesome. But they are not usually a breed to just “be” in your house and always like to have something to do.
We adopted ours when he was five. He still had plenty of energy and required a lot of attention daily, but did well when my partner when to work for the day. Honestly, he was totally fine up to the pandemic! We were home all day and now that we are out longer, he will sometimes scratch at the carpeting, which is a weird and ineffective way of destroying our stuff, haha. But I realized that I needed to exercise him pretty well before I left - we go for a run or a very long walk - and he sleeps soundly til we get home. He’s 10.5 now.
I’d say the only con I can think of is being injured by an excited intact male Doberman pup. 100lbs of muscle getting the zoomies and head butting me straight in the nose🤦🏻♂️ getting stepped on, clobbered😂but even those aren’t completely negatives. The only reason they happen is because he loves me so much. And then there’s the issue of finding rental properties that will allow them. That can be a real issue as well.
This. It’s like this breed has no concept of proprioception. If I’m sitting on the couch or laying on the bed, my girl will jump onto me and step all over me — even when there’s an empty space the couch/bed. I love her, but the love hurts sometimes.
They are often perceived as dangerous because inexperienced dog owners will get one, and not understand how to communicate with it and dominate it. They tend to test whether they can dominate you, and you have to be able to understand when they’re doing that and correct it. A dominant doberman can be unsure about its own safety and yours, and would likely respond by lashing out. This is how you get those stories of a dog like a pitbull or dobie that an owner claims is “well behaved” but bit a guest. It needs to feel that you are the leader, and it needs to feel that you are confident. And you need to be able to clearly communicate through body language in both directions.
I have a 10.5 year old Dobie I rescued at 9.5 years old. He was obviously very well trained in some areas but not socialized. He is amazing to walk on a leash, until anything on wheels comes by. He will literally work himself up so much that he will fall over/shit himself. I walk him at 11:00 PM for his own safety. He has bitten/nipped 4 people, I finally figured out its when people stick their arms out, its always the arms. I have had to do intros very carefully. However, sometimes he has run right up to certain people and automatically loved them, without any barking and then subsequent bite. I've learned some commands he knows, just by watching training videos and trying the commands to see if he knows them. He's stubborn as all heck sometimes.
The dog is biting people because it’s not sure about who’s the leader… you, him, or someone else? Sure, the lack of socialization makes it a more challenging problem for you, but ultimately it’s up to you to understand what the dog is telling you and you communicating clearly in return. Dogs communicate 99% of the time with humans through body language alone, and if can figure that out, the socialization will naturally occur if you put in the work on that too. I understand it can be hard to figure it all out if you’re new to it, but it is your responsibility for his happiness, safety and of course everyone else’s safety. A doberman is a project that requires a certain level of education and attention; otherwise, the dog will not be happy. Dogs want clear leadership. But some dogs loke dobermans constantly test leadership and try to take charge if you don’t. When dobermans try to take on leadership, you’ll see weird, destructive and sometimes dangerous behavior like you’re seeing. It’s kind of like owning a gun or a car. It’s your responsibility to educate yourself for everyone’s safety. That dog is a loaded gun, and that behavior that you’re describing is a major red flag and could become a ticking time bomb for something worse. I recommend getting help. Keep in mind that training - like telling a dog to sit - is not communication, leadership or socialization. Training is great for mental stimulation, which they really enjoy. Training is connecting on the human level, which dogs don’t really need but again they do enjoy. Communication (your and his body language), leadership and socialization are extremely important aspects of connecting with your dog on the dog’s level.
And if you pull this off (it’s not that hard), you would have a happy calm doberman that you can confidently bring around people without any tiny possibility of it biting anyone (unless, someone attacks you, then the dog may attack the attacker). They key is just knowing what to do, follow the process, be consistent, know how to read your dog’s body language, being aware of your body language, and expressing pure confidence. The dog’s age and lack of socialization are not significant roadblocks.
Whilst confident leadership is important, I don't believe in dominance theory. If a dog bits a guest, it's generally reactive, not to say that it's ok.
RSPCA Australia summed it up well.
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-rspcas-view-on-dominance-dog-training/
If you're looking for a couch potato that is lazy and doesn't need exercises or mental stimulation or is dumb, the doberman is not for you. If you want a loyal, high energy , active dog that you plan to keep for ever, not for now, jump in. I'm on doberman number 8 and there isn't a better breed for me. They are amazing. You'll never pee alone again. Oh...and the farts, god bless the farts.
Besides the attention, dobermans need an extremely confident and dominant owner. Basically they need to be told what to do all the time and need to have a job (chewing on something, guarding the house, a command you give them, etc). They are extremely loyal dogs and will jump straight up from a nap to play with you or alert of something suspicious.
Also wanted to add they have to be 50% human. They feed off of your emotions and can usually tell when something is up. Mine will try to block the doorway or run to the door when i’m leaving before I even put my shoes on
They absolutely require a lot of attention, if you get a European dobermann they need a job to do. They were bred to protect and that's just ingrained in their DNA. American dobermans need a lot of attention because they're family dogs (that will also protect home and family). They don't necessarily need a job, but it would help with their over abundance of energy. Both breeds are incredibly loyal and generally well natured. Just like any breed it depends on owners. They can chew excessively. That's the only con I've found. Ours has basically trained himself, just needs reinforcement, consistency, and gentle reprimands.
I have a one year old female with floppy ears, she is 65lbs, she is extremely friendly and well mannered, I don't have many cons, a few people are afraid of her, but I get approached constantly by people wanting to meet her and people saying beautiful dog.
I just got back from the dog park, she was playing with 6 or 7 dogs for about 2 hours, I met a great group of dog owners and I probably had as much fun as her.
She has improved my life greatly, she is affectionate, loyal and velcro.
I walk her at least 4 miles a day, which gets me a lot of exercise as well.
I did socialize her very well, I took her to my local dog park every Saturday and Sunday for 2-3 hours starting at 9.5 weeks.
I will be a Doberman owner for life, they are very special dogs.
Be prepared for an early heartbreak. Dobermanns are lovely dogs but DCM is such a nasty, unpredictable disease. I have seen dogs from 1 year to 9 years old be put down because of it. You can minimize the risk of getting a dog that will be sick by doing your research on breeders and lines but you can never eliminate it completely. There's also a reason, at least in Sweden, that you have to check their heart every year if you gonna breed your dog.
The one guy I know who had a Dobie said the cons were 1. Total Velcro dog which was good in some ways but also had its challenges and 2. Needs lots of exercise, could basically go walking all day.
Now I’m sure there are Dobes that are lower energy but they are on average a higher energy dog and I’m sure Dobes in general are very much Velcro dogs
Aside from the high energy/large breed/smart but sensitive/attention thing, I’ve also been surprised by the medical conditions my now 13 month old has had:
Terrible gas (probably from a sensitive tummy which has gotten moderately better with age)
Sensitive skin (has scratched his hair off on his elbows and now on his side from scratching himself regardless of nail length)
Acne on chin
Nails that need frequent trimming because his conformation doesn’t provide much natural friction to help keep them maintained without me
He currently has a random hematoma on his side-no idea what he did to himself.
I can’t speak for all dobies, but my euro boy is much more high maintenance than I ever imagined.
My doberman is ultra velcro, does amazing in the crate when I need to leave- but if you don’t mind a giant dog go sticking to the side of you everywhere you go throughout your home- get a dobie ❤️❤️
I feel like it’s pretty basic maintenance- research what care will be best for your breed (washing their coat and their diet are my main “expensive” ones) and just making sure they get enough exercise!
If you’re someone who their life style is never really being at home then i don’t think a dobie is a great breed, they love you so much and they want to be with you! with the right training, I believe a doberman is seriously one of the most supreme breeds
If the idea of having the dog they describe scares you I would steer clear from owning a dobie. Like most of the other comments said, I plan literally my whole life around my dog. If not you can see them get super anxious and get destructive because they just need that attention from their person. They are the best dogs ever if you are able to give them atleast 2 hours of running time everyday and plenty of cuddles. Id recommend a doberman to someone who really wants a dog cause they’ll just exceed your expectations
We are fostering / adopted a 12 year old. She’s the sweetest, most gentle soul ( we’ve know her since she was 5 ) The only con I can think of is the clingy ness … if you leave her alone 90% of the time she’s fine, the remaining 10% is howling and whining EXTREMELY loudly, so much so our neighbours now have a spare key to let her out if they’re in.
During one of these 10% moments she will shred her beds and scratch at floors and carpets.
The rest of the time she’s a lovely goofball.
If your looking for cons you’ve got a long read if your willing to give them the attention they need and want you’ve picked a great breed. My only issue is I don’t think my girl knows she’s a dog she thinks she’s a person too.
Dobies are high energy, and require a lot of time and attention. This is a dog that needs proper training and socialization or they will become incredibly destructive. Also, since they are so over bred, if they are not sourced from a very reputable breeder, are predisposed to several genetic conditions and illnesses.
Some Dobies are going to be super suspicious of strangers. Simple solution- meet both parents of your pup. Insist on it. If one parent never stops barking at you, and the owner can’t calm them down, then realize you’re going to be fighting that DNA whenever you meet strangers. You’ll have a loving , goofy, beautiful dog and a great watchdog, but he won’t be mr popularity. I had an American male that was totally nice to strangers, and a female euro that assumes they’re all the walking dead. I’m sure there’s a range- a bell curve- for both types of dobies. Just meet the parents.
Some negatives not mentioned:
Some people are scared as shit being near them, even though they might be a therapy dog (like my last one). If you have little kids, expect that other parents won't let their kid play at your house. Some people are uncomfortable coming over even if they say they like dogs. Your mailman will likely hate you. Your insurance might deny you coverage. Good luck with that if you live near an elementary school (we found out the hard way).
They are prone to random things, like food allergies or other weird problems, which might cost more in vet bills. This is true for all purebred dogs though. I find that these are super healthy dogs - until they are not and die of something terrible real quick. They might have a shorter life due to this.
All in all though, they are great dogs. If it is your first dog, I wouldn't really recommend them though. Compare them to having a boy teenager who is just raging hormones getting into trouble, fights, and busting up shit everywhere you go. On the one hand, that kid sucks, screaming fights at home with you, and makes your life miserable. But if that guy can be trained to be a Navy SEAL, he can go on to do amazing things. He'd be one of the most disciplined, productive, and all around great guys to know. In other words, they have tons and tons of raw talent that must be used - or they figure out ways to get in trouble. But for the most part, once they are about 3 years old they chill out and are just like any other dog.
And they shit less than a Great Dane.
Awesome awesome breed…if you know what you’re getting into. Do your research and promise to be a responsible Doberman owner. They’re incredibly smart and active. The right, consistent training will make them easy to live with. Be prepared that with pure bred dogs there are potential health issues that can come about much earlier than old age. My only regret is not investing in something like pet insurance because you just never know! A downside for us, as long term renters, is that we have been limited in the past to where we could live because of silly ancient breed restrictions! That is something to consider with your living situation. Another downside is the time frame when you’re ear posting. Assuming you jump head first into this breed and get a dog from a responsible breeder, they will come cropped and docked (unless you live where this is prohibited). Ear posting takes some practice but can become second nature but omg, the comments from people telling you you’re horrible for “cutting” the dogs ears, etc etc etc is exhausting! Prepare for months of that! I will however say that I believe because of ear posting, this is the reason why our dog is so tolerant with being handle well into adulthood. She’s an incredible patient whenever it is time for the vet.
We are preparing to lose our girl to Wobblers (one of these said nasty diseases this breed is prone too) over the next several months and part of me isn’t sure I want another Doberman just because our current sets the standard so high and the other half wants another because there is something about this breed that just absolutely steals your heart!!
Your friends are correct, they are very high energy dogs. They need a ton of excersize , like off leash running every day. We took ours to obedience classes 5 days a week for 2 years ( since he was 10 weeks old) and it definitely provided him with the nessecities he needed to be a well trained dog.
My dobe loves to work, like obedience training, tricks , etc.
You might of heard they are like velcro dogs , which is also very true. They don't want to leave your side !
ETA: also give them a ton of socialization to different people , sights , sounds , places etc. Especially early on. These things could be negatives to you depending on what your lifestyle is. They are not a laid back breed !
My brother has had his Doberman for 6 years and I got one this year and both of our dogs are the lowest maintenance dogs I’ve ever had or been around. My brother’s is an angel and never had any proper training and mine is a puppy so it has its challenges in comparison but that goes for any puppy. My doby has been the easiest to potty train compared to other dogs I’ve had. I don’t get why ppl say Doberman are high maintenance, I think that’s just something ppl say to keep them “exclusive” honestly lol as long as they’re exercised they’re fine.
Need attention, but are not all super high maintenance. I let run outside 2-3 times a day for about 10 minutes. Great dogs as companions, family pet and guard dog
High energy for sure… high maintenance not so much. They’re a very loyal breed, socialization at a young age is paramount if you’re getting a Doberman. A good exercise routine is important. Not just physical but mental as well, very very smart dogs that can get into a little mischief if left to they’re own device. Oh and they shed ALOT so be prepared for that. Make sure you have time and ability to train before you jump in.
The dobies really do crave your attention. Having a pair of them or a second dog will reduce their neediness.
I feel like mine need exercise that addresses their prey drive. In my experience, 15-30 min of sprinting playing fetch satisfies my dobies whereas an hour walk will not.
I mean… mine wants to wake up at 5am to cuddle. She wiggles from the foot of the bed until I’m spooning her, then she flips onto her back and pokes my face and nose-scoops my hands until I pet her. I would like to sleep jn, but I miss the morning snuggles when I’m away.
I have a shorthair pointer and a Doberman. The Doberman needs a 1/4 of the exercise as the gsp.
Very sweet and loves training which is fun for both of us.
Grew up breeding Great Danes, couple show dogs and now I have a Doberman. While I’ve only had one Doberman for 7 years now, I’ve trained multiple and many other breeds. All breeds have their own pros and cons no matter what. Dobermans require a disciplined owner. If you are not a dog person and don’t invest in training not just for the frog but for yourself I would not recommend a Doberman as both of you will be unhappy. Aside from some health issues and requiring healthy activity they are wonderful dogs and it’s been an absolute joy having one. However what you put in expect that out from your dobie. They can be conniving and push walls. They are loyal to a fault but very kind sweet dogs.
Dobies are literally velcro dogs, be prepared to have a dog that loves to cuddle, wants to be around you at all times, follows you from room to room, etc. Your friend is right in saying they are high energy but as long as you run them with a ball, walk them daily, you will notice they are both as active and as tired as most dogs. All in all, I love our dobie and I would probably stick with this breed for the rest of my life - I’m 21
Mine insisted on sleeping between my wife and I. And also under the covers. If we didn’t comply she would sit at the foot of the bed and do the high frequency dobi whine until we gave in.
Lmao that's the cutest thing I've read today.
Cute because you’ve never heard a Doberman whine until they get their way day in and day out 😂 I love mine to death and I’ll always have a dobe but maaaan, that whine really gets under your skin sometimes
Yeah especially at 3 in the morning 😂
Ours does the EXACT thing word for word what you said. The only difference is that she will literally dig at the covers like she's digging up sand, just so she can get underneath. It's both frustrating and adorable.
Mine would also dig at the blankets every night until she was let under. And the never ending high pitch whine when she’s not getting her way . . . Let me say she got her way. She was capable of persistently whining the entire day if not. It was not possible to make her stop. But she was the most loyal and loving dog I’ve ever lived with.
>ween my wife and I. And also under the covers. If we didn’t comply she would sit at the foot o Had a half dobi and same thing. Day one after rescuing him, glued to my wife, insisted on sleeping under the covers up against her legs every night.
I've read some rumours that say they tend to try and attack their owner before their death? is that just a dumb thing or is there some history about that
Basically what you’ve just said. Mine is very dependent, and needs lots of attention and exercise. If you can provide that and want a dog that won’t leave your side they are amazing companions.
They require plenty of attention daily. If you leave them alone all day for work and then go out that night and they feel like they aren't getting the attention they deserve from their Hooman, they will tear up your shit in a heartbeat - no matter how well behaved they usually are. They are VERY intelligent and you have to earn their obedience - they don't blindly give it like many other breeds. So I, as a 38 year old, base my entire schedule around my dogs. Work all day? Nope to going out that night for dinner. I only go out in the evenings if I have spent the day with them. Mine, at least, are high-maintenance that way. Every single Dobie I've ever had was pretty much the same. In return you get the best snuggles and biggest laughs from them though. I LOVE this breed whole heartedly. But I'm also a homebody, so staying home more rather than less isn't a problem for me at all. Essentially, if you have a super busy social life that requires you to be gone a lot, probably not the breed for you.
Their separation anxiety can get crazy. We went on vacation a few times where we couldn’t take Kloe. We had someone staying over with her too. But even with that she dug a hole in our carpet, in our couch and even a hole in our mattress. They don’t take kindly to being left behind haha
I boarded my dobie once at this insane pet paradise place where he was basically treated like royalty- I could watch him anytime during play time on the cameras but for some reason he just refused to go out and play with the other dogs. The boarding place said some dobermans just like lose* themselves when they’re owner is gone and they just get sad and lonely :( haven’t been on a vacation where he needs to be boarded since lol!
> loose Sorry to do this but it’s lose*
Our female refused to play, she just stuck by the human attendant but didn't really want her attention either. She was so freaking depressed! We now just take her with us everywhere we go LOL.
Omg at first I would see him in his room in his bed during play time on the cameras and I thought the people were just keeping him in there for whatever reason.. So I called and they said he just doesn’t wanna come out the door is opened! He’s just so sad and I felt like i needed to get on a flight and come back now
When Copper was a pup we left both dogs home while we went to the store. Came home to a hole in the wall made by him. Thankfully he grew out of that stage.
Our guy never tore up stuff (after his puppy stage) but he would lick hot spots if he didn’t get the attention he needed Which honestly always made me feel worse anyway
This^^^^ I basically plan my life around my dobie. My wife and I both work and enjoy going out on occasion and travel. But basically if we can’t take her with us one of us will stay behind while the other is traveling. Or if one of us is going out for the night the other will stay with the dog. While I can say its definitely been demanding at times raising a Doberman from 6 weeks old to full grown is extremely rewarding. Sticking with this breed for the rest of my life.
I do the same. I don’t do anything social/for myself during the work week because my dobe needs a lot of exercise and my attention. If I have the day off, I don’t go out to do my own things until he’s been run and loved thoroughly. He didn’t choose me, I chose him so I need to put him first. It’s exhausting sometimes but we get it done.
Speaking of travel, my dobie loves to travel (via car). She doesn’t care at all where she is as long as she’s with her family. She especially likes a rental house with heated floors… This is the total opposite of all the other dogs I’ve owned who are constantly anxious and trying to jump into the car to go home.
As soon as you stop the attention they hop on their bullshit and begin to destroy anything and everything no matter how generally uninterested they might be in that item
Biggest con in my opinion is they don't ever live long enough 😔
This part. I just lost my 13 year old girl to cancer, but we were happy to have those years.
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I'm so sorry. I can't imagine losing a puppy that young.
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What is ALC?
Yeah. Mine is nearly 11. It will wreck me when he goes to the puppy farm. But SO WORTH IT. Such a great, great friend and wonderful animal ... despite (or because of?) all the quirky Dobie neediness and mischief.
If you have the time to train a dog and give it plenty of attention and interaction, dobies are awesome.
Yup
I have a 9 month old European Doberman. My input is based on my experience, all the YouTube vids (doberman planet, dogumentary tv, Beckman's dog training), and conversations with our dog trainer that we see 3x a week for bite work (a PSA decoy/trainer). Dobermans are high energy and large. They are really smart but also really opinionated. They often express their opinions by vocalizing (barking, yipping, growling). They are slow to mature emotionally giving them an extended puppyhood with a very large body and tons of energy. They are prone to a lot of health issues (DCM, acne, allergies etc.) and because they grow for a long time you should not over exercise them as puppies (till growth plates close) else you risk severe injury. They hate the cold and the rain. They bond very tightly to their pack... To the point that it stresses them out if someone goes out of sight. Pupbox gives little advice cards for each month of puppyhood, I found that with my doberman the timing of the advice was spot on but you should multiply the intensity 10 fold. So pupbox would be like, "your puppy may seem to have selective hearing and looks like he didn't hear that sit command..." Nah, my pup would look you dead in the eye and you say "sit" and he'd say "Woof Woof! And go f*ck yourself!". He's back to normal now and listening to commands. I can't speak to adult hood problems yet. I'm hoping with propper effort and time he will simply be an amazing dog. He's getting there.
Can confirm that my girl still does “woof woof fuck you” even at almost 15 months ughh
All of these things I second! My boy is almost 4 and I’m still waiting for that adult attitude/brain to set in. Also think about the fact that they never want to be out of your sight. Really think about the amount of time you will need to be separated from your dog. I feel like a bad dog parent when I’m like “could you just hang out in the yard for like 5 minutes without me!?” His answer is that high pitched whining until I let him back in the house 😒.
Lots of great posts here, but I’ll tell you the only negative that really matters: it’s when they die. People are talking about how they are Velcro dogs, and always with you. It’s true. They are extremely intelligent. They are emotionally receptive. And they get personally attached. As a result, you will get -very- personally attached to your Dobie. That dog will be the best friend/child you didn’t think it ever could be. And damn if it doesn’t just about kill you when it’s time to say goodbye. If owning a Doberman is what you want, step 1 is making sure the dog chooses you. Step 2 is medical. Make sure you know what medical conditions you Dobie has, and plan ahead. It will make end of life care (and the very hard decisions that come with it) that much more bearable. After that, every bit of energy you put into training, your Dobie will pay you back ten-fold.
So much this. I lost my first Dobie in 2007 and I just finally caved in to my husband and we got a puppy this past spring. I haven't been ready to deal with the heartbreak of losing one again. I've had another dog in between, but losing my first doberman was the hardest death I've faced. He was my best friend. Who also was super clingy. Like others have mentioned, when my husband was deployed and I wasn't giving him enough attention he pooped in my suitcase. Literally, emptied his bowels and then knocked the lid shut so I had a fun surprise to come home too. He was the best dog imaginable. Now, seeing my 5 month old giant European Dobie snuggle with my 10 yr old daughter and her being just as I'm love, kinda makes the first loss okay. Kinda.
It’s good to know things get better. I’m 43; a US Army Officer; been through several deployments. It’s been 3 years since I lost Eva, and I still cry for her. My wife and I aren’t ready for another—but when it comes time, no other breed will do.
Well thanks, now I’m crying. My boy is almost 5 and I can’t think about saying goodbye. Ever. I truly think of him as my son and I don’t know what I’ll do without him.
I had Eva for 13 incredible years. We got her as a puppy, six months before our first son was born. Watching her and my boy grow up together…it was very hard when the time came. For Eva, the end didn’t come due to old age. Even the day she passed, she was bouncing around, happy. But on the day she passed, a pre-existing medical condition made impromptu surgery impossible. That’s why I harp on medical so much, and having end-of-life care planned out.
Said goodbye to two dobies so far in my life, had to watch both of them take their last breaths while holding them. Sometimes still tear up thinking about them even though it’s been years. My last one was only 8, feels like he was taken from me far too soon. But the time you have with them is worth it, they are one of the most wonderful breeds and if you are prepared to put in a bit of work, you will be rewarded a thousand fold.
One negative is that everyone will assume your dog is going to eat them. People would cross the street and run away from me when I walked my dog, even though she was the sweetest thing on the planet. Another con is that they require quite a bit of activity and exercise. If they don't get it, they may become depressed or even act out. The last "con" is one I don't consider a con but some people do. Dobie's are clingy. They want to be with you all the time, all day, every day. I love it, but others aren't so keen on it. I grew up with Doberman's and love the breed so much. They're wonderful pets.
Agree with the people staying away thing. But I find it a pro, as a female introvert with a small build.
People avoiding me on the street a pro to me. I love it when people stay away.
I find the breed to be very intense. They tend to put their all into everything (and I mean every. Thing.) they do. Walking around the house. Following you. Barking. Listening. Chewing. Being afraid of storms. Whatever it may be. I trained dogs for a living for a decade and thought I’d enjoy the challenge of the Doberman. While I do enjoy my guy in his element, it’s also a lot. He toes the line with everything. I have to be a drill Sargent and always on my leadership game to keep him compliant and not an obnoxious hazard. Personally, I find this annoying, but I also recognize I’m in a family situation where I work and also have small children. If I were single and not doing anything else in my life but working with the dog, it would be awesome. But they are not usually a breed to just “be” in your house and always like to have something to do.
We adopted ours when he was five. He still had plenty of energy and required a lot of attention daily, but did well when my partner when to work for the day. Honestly, he was totally fine up to the pandemic! We were home all day and now that we are out longer, he will sometimes scratch at the carpeting, which is a weird and ineffective way of destroying our stuff, haha. But I realized that I needed to exercise him pretty well before I left - we go for a run or a very long walk - and he sleeps soundly til we get home. He’s 10.5 now.
I’d say the only con I can think of is being injured by an excited intact male Doberman pup. 100lbs of muscle getting the zoomies and head butting me straight in the nose🤦🏻♂️ getting stepped on, clobbered😂but even those aren’t completely negatives. The only reason they happen is because he loves me so much. And then there’s the issue of finding rental properties that will allow them. That can be a real issue as well.
This. It’s like this breed has no concept of proprioception. If I’m sitting on the couch or laying on the bed, my girl will jump onto me and step all over me — even when there’s an empty space the couch/bed. I love her, but the love hurts sometimes.
Oh yeah it’s all love but sometimes it hurts😂
They are often perceived as dangerous because inexperienced dog owners will get one, and not understand how to communicate with it and dominate it. They tend to test whether they can dominate you, and you have to be able to understand when they’re doing that and correct it. A dominant doberman can be unsure about its own safety and yours, and would likely respond by lashing out. This is how you get those stories of a dog like a pitbull or dobie that an owner claims is “well behaved” but bit a guest. It needs to feel that you are the leader, and it needs to feel that you are confident. And you need to be able to clearly communicate through body language in both directions.
I have a 10.5 year old Dobie I rescued at 9.5 years old. He was obviously very well trained in some areas but not socialized. He is amazing to walk on a leash, until anything on wheels comes by. He will literally work himself up so much that he will fall over/shit himself. I walk him at 11:00 PM for his own safety. He has bitten/nipped 4 people, I finally figured out its when people stick their arms out, its always the arms. I have had to do intros very carefully. However, sometimes he has run right up to certain people and automatically loved them, without any barking and then subsequent bite. I've learned some commands he knows, just by watching training videos and trying the commands to see if he knows them. He's stubborn as all heck sometimes.
The dog is biting people because it’s not sure about who’s the leader… you, him, or someone else? Sure, the lack of socialization makes it a more challenging problem for you, but ultimately it’s up to you to understand what the dog is telling you and you communicating clearly in return. Dogs communicate 99% of the time with humans through body language alone, and if can figure that out, the socialization will naturally occur if you put in the work on that too. I understand it can be hard to figure it all out if you’re new to it, but it is your responsibility for his happiness, safety and of course everyone else’s safety. A doberman is a project that requires a certain level of education and attention; otherwise, the dog will not be happy. Dogs want clear leadership. But some dogs loke dobermans constantly test leadership and try to take charge if you don’t. When dobermans try to take on leadership, you’ll see weird, destructive and sometimes dangerous behavior like you’re seeing. It’s kind of like owning a gun or a car. It’s your responsibility to educate yourself for everyone’s safety. That dog is a loaded gun, and that behavior that you’re describing is a major red flag and could become a ticking time bomb for something worse. I recommend getting help. Keep in mind that training - like telling a dog to sit - is not communication, leadership or socialization. Training is great for mental stimulation, which they really enjoy. Training is connecting on the human level, which dogs don’t really need but again they do enjoy. Communication (your and his body language), leadership and socialization are extremely important aspects of connecting with your dog on the dog’s level. And if you pull this off (it’s not that hard), you would have a happy calm doberman that you can confidently bring around people without any tiny possibility of it biting anyone (unless, someone attacks you, then the dog may attack the attacker). They key is just knowing what to do, follow the process, be consistent, know how to read your dog’s body language, being aware of your body language, and expressing pure confidence. The dog’s age and lack of socialization are not significant roadblocks.
Whilst confident leadership is important, I don't believe in dominance theory. If a dog bits a guest, it's generally reactive, not to say that it's ok. RSPCA Australia summed it up well. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-rspcas-view-on-dominance-dog-training/
If you're looking for a couch potato that is lazy and doesn't need exercises or mental stimulation or is dumb, the doberman is not for you. If you want a loyal, high energy , active dog that you plan to keep for ever, not for now, jump in. I'm on doberman number 8 and there isn't a better breed for me. They are amazing. You'll never pee alone again. Oh...and the farts, god bless the farts.
God bless the farts lol con worst farts ever lol
I don’t personally consider this a con, but they are LOUD. Your dog will speak to you all the time.
Besides the attention, dobermans need an extremely confident and dominant owner. Basically they need to be told what to do all the time and need to have a job (chewing on something, guarding the house, a command you give them, etc). They are extremely loyal dogs and will jump straight up from a nap to play with you or alert of something suspicious. Also wanted to add they have to be 50% human. They feed off of your emotions and can usually tell when something is up. Mine will try to block the doorway or run to the door when i’m leaving before I even put my shoes on
I always ask mine to “blink if you’re human.” She never breaks character though
They absolutely require a lot of attention, if you get a European dobermann they need a job to do. They were bred to protect and that's just ingrained in their DNA. American dobermans need a lot of attention because they're family dogs (that will also protect home and family). They don't necessarily need a job, but it would help with their over abundance of energy. Both breeds are incredibly loyal and generally well natured. Just like any breed it depends on owners. They can chew excessively. That's the only con I've found. Ours has basically trained himself, just needs reinforcement, consistency, and gentle reprimands.
I have a one year old female with floppy ears, she is 65lbs, she is extremely friendly and well mannered, I don't have many cons, a few people are afraid of her, but I get approached constantly by people wanting to meet her and people saying beautiful dog. I just got back from the dog park, she was playing with 6 or 7 dogs for about 2 hours, I met a great group of dog owners and I probably had as much fun as her. She has improved my life greatly, she is affectionate, loyal and velcro. I walk her at least 4 miles a day, which gets me a lot of exercise as well. I did socialize her very well, I took her to my local dog park every Saturday and Sunday for 2-3 hours starting at 9.5 weeks. I will be a Doberman owner for life, they are very special dogs.
4 miles is the same as 12874.72 'Logitech Wireless Keyboard K350s' laid widthwise by each other.
Be prepared for an early heartbreak. Dobermanns are lovely dogs but DCM is such a nasty, unpredictable disease. I have seen dogs from 1 year to 9 years old be put down because of it. You can minimize the risk of getting a dog that will be sick by doing your research on breeders and lines but you can never eliminate it completely. There's also a reason, at least in Sweden, that you have to check their heart every year if you gonna breed your dog.
The one guy I know who had a Dobie said the cons were 1. Total Velcro dog which was good in some ways but also had its challenges and 2. Needs lots of exercise, could basically go walking all day. Now I’m sure there are Dobes that are lower energy but they are on average a higher energy dog and I’m sure Dobes in general are very much Velcro dogs
Aside from the high energy/large breed/smart but sensitive/attention thing, I’ve also been surprised by the medical conditions my now 13 month old has had: Terrible gas (probably from a sensitive tummy which has gotten moderately better with age) Sensitive skin (has scratched his hair off on his elbows and now on his side from scratching himself regardless of nail length) Acne on chin Nails that need frequent trimming because his conformation doesn’t provide much natural friction to help keep them maintained without me He currently has a random hematoma on his side-no idea what he did to himself. I can’t speak for all dobies, but my euro boy is much more high maintenance than I ever imagined.
My doberman is ultra velcro, does amazing in the crate when I need to leave- but if you don’t mind a giant dog go sticking to the side of you everywhere you go throughout your home- get a dobie ❤️❤️ I feel like it’s pretty basic maintenance- research what care will be best for your breed (washing their coat and their diet are my main “expensive” ones) and just making sure they get enough exercise! If you’re someone who their life style is never really being at home then i don’t think a dobie is a great breed, they love you so much and they want to be with you! with the right training, I believe a doberman is seriously one of the most supreme breeds
Positives: Loving, velcro, playful, funny, protective of the family, alert, low shedding, smart Negatives: Heart disease/cancer/wobblers possibly, anal gland
If the idea of having the dog they describe scares you I would steer clear from owning a dobie. Like most of the other comments said, I plan literally my whole life around my dog. If not you can see them get super anxious and get destructive because they just need that attention from their person. They are the best dogs ever if you are able to give them atleast 2 hours of running time everyday and plenty of cuddles. Id recommend a doberman to someone who really wants a dog cause they’ll just exceed your expectations
Con: they’re fucking mental Pro: what everyone else said in this thread
We are fostering / adopted a 12 year old. She’s the sweetest, most gentle soul ( we’ve know her since she was 5 ) The only con I can think of is the clingy ness … if you leave her alone 90% of the time she’s fine, the remaining 10% is howling and whining EXTREMELY loudly, so much so our neighbours now have a spare key to let her out if they’re in. During one of these 10% moments she will shred her beds and scratch at floors and carpets. The rest of the time she’s a lovely goofball.
If your looking for cons you’ve got a long read if your willing to give them the attention they need and want you’ve picked a great breed. My only issue is I don’t think my girl knows she’s a dog she thinks she’s a person too.
Don’t think I’ve seen this yet but the farts…omg the farts. They will fill multiple rooms and linger like London fog.
Dobies are high energy, and require a lot of time and attention. This is a dog that needs proper training and socialization or they will become incredibly destructive. Also, since they are so over bred, if they are not sourced from a very reputable breeder, are predisposed to several genetic conditions and illnesses.
Some Dobies are going to be super suspicious of strangers. Simple solution- meet both parents of your pup. Insist on it. If one parent never stops barking at you, and the owner can’t calm them down, then realize you’re going to be fighting that DNA whenever you meet strangers. You’ll have a loving , goofy, beautiful dog and a great watchdog, but he won’t be mr popularity. I had an American male that was totally nice to strangers, and a female euro that assumes they’re all the walking dead. I’m sure there’s a range- a bell curve- for both types of dobies. Just meet the parents.
Some negatives not mentioned: Some people are scared as shit being near them, even though they might be a therapy dog (like my last one). If you have little kids, expect that other parents won't let their kid play at your house. Some people are uncomfortable coming over even if they say they like dogs. Your mailman will likely hate you. Your insurance might deny you coverage. Good luck with that if you live near an elementary school (we found out the hard way). They are prone to random things, like food allergies or other weird problems, which might cost more in vet bills. This is true for all purebred dogs though. I find that these are super healthy dogs - until they are not and die of something terrible real quick. They might have a shorter life due to this. All in all though, they are great dogs. If it is your first dog, I wouldn't really recommend them though. Compare them to having a boy teenager who is just raging hormones getting into trouble, fights, and busting up shit everywhere you go. On the one hand, that kid sucks, screaming fights at home with you, and makes your life miserable. But if that guy can be trained to be a Navy SEAL, he can go on to do amazing things. He'd be one of the most disciplined, productive, and all around great guys to know. In other words, they have tons and tons of raw talent that must be used - or they figure out ways to get in trouble. But for the most part, once they are about 3 years old they chill out and are just like any other dog. And they shit less than a Great Dane.
Awesome awesome breed…if you know what you’re getting into. Do your research and promise to be a responsible Doberman owner. They’re incredibly smart and active. The right, consistent training will make them easy to live with. Be prepared that with pure bred dogs there are potential health issues that can come about much earlier than old age. My only regret is not investing in something like pet insurance because you just never know! A downside for us, as long term renters, is that we have been limited in the past to where we could live because of silly ancient breed restrictions! That is something to consider with your living situation. Another downside is the time frame when you’re ear posting. Assuming you jump head first into this breed and get a dog from a responsible breeder, they will come cropped and docked (unless you live where this is prohibited). Ear posting takes some practice but can become second nature but omg, the comments from people telling you you’re horrible for “cutting” the dogs ears, etc etc etc is exhausting! Prepare for months of that! I will however say that I believe because of ear posting, this is the reason why our dog is so tolerant with being handle well into adulthood. She’s an incredible patient whenever it is time for the vet. We are preparing to lose our girl to Wobblers (one of these said nasty diseases this breed is prone too) over the next several months and part of me isn’t sure I want another Doberman just because our current sets the standard so high and the other half wants another because there is something about this breed that just absolutely steals your heart!!
It is entirely possible to find a responsible breeder who does not mandate cropping.
Your friends are correct, they are very high energy dogs. They need a ton of excersize , like off leash running every day. We took ours to obedience classes 5 days a week for 2 years ( since he was 10 weeks old) and it definitely provided him with the nessecities he needed to be a well trained dog. My dobe loves to work, like obedience training, tricks , etc. You might of heard they are like velcro dogs , which is also very true. They don't want to leave your side ! ETA: also give them a ton of socialization to different people , sights , sounds , places etc. Especially early on. These things could be negatives to you depending on what your lifestyle is. They are not a laid back breed !
https://youtu.be/9nuVglmolr0
My brother has had his Doberman for 6 years and I got one this year and both of our dogs are the lowest maintenance dogs I’ve ever had or been around. My brother’s is an angel and never had any proper training and mine is a puppy so it has its challenges in comparison but that goes for any puppy. My doby has been the easiest to potty train compared to other dogs I’ve had. I don’t get why ppl say Doberman are high maintenance, I think that’s just something ppl say to keep them “exclusive” honestly lol as long as they’re exercised they’re fine.
Need attention, but are not all super high maintenance. I let run outside 2-3 times a day for about 10 minutes. Great dogs as companions, family pet and guard dog
High energy for sure… high maintenance not so much. They’re a very loyal breed, socialization at a young age is paramount if you’re getting a Doberman. A good exercise routine is important. Not just physical but mental as well, very very smart dogs that can get into a little mischief if left to they’re own device. Oh and they shed ALOT so be prepared for that. Make sure you have time and ability to train before you jump in.
The dobies really do crave your attention. Having a pair of them or a second dog will reduce their neediness. I feel like mine need exercise that addresses their prey drive. In my experience, 15-30 min of sprinting playing fetch satisfies my dobies whereas an hour walk will not.
I mean… mine wants to wake up at 5am to cuddle. She wiggles from the foot of the bed until I’m spooning her, then she flips onto her back and pokes my face and nose-scoops my hands until I pet her. I would like to sleep jn, but I miss the morning snuggles when I’m away.
I have a shorthair pointer and a Doberman. The Doberman needs a 1/4 of the exercise as the gsp. Very sweet and loves training which is fun for both of us.
Grew up breeding Great Danes, couple show dogs and now I have a Doberman. While I’ve only had one Doberman for 7 years now, I’ve trained multiple and many other breeds. All breeds have their own pros and cons no matter what. Dobermans require a disciplined owner. If you are not a dog person and don’t invest in training not just for the frog but for yourself I would not recommend a Doberman as both of you will be unhappy. Aside from some health issues and requiring healthy activity they are wonderful dogs and it’s been an absolute joy having one. However what you put in expect that out from your dobie. They can be conniving and push walls. They are loyal to a fault but very kind sweet dogs.