doberman x gsd

Jotter

going to see doberman x pup tomorrow, was wondering if anyone has any experience in owning one of these dogs. My dh loves them bec his neighbours had 2 when he was a kid and hes keen to get one. im a bit nervous as they grow to be big powerful dogs. i have owned lovely boxer in past and have done a course in animal behaviour but i want to be extra careful in choice of dog bec we have baby who is asleep on lap hence the one handed bad typing!
any advice appreciated ps also have 2 cats thanks!

Ruu_Old

It all depends on how you raise the puppy, make sure the puppy will keep his distance from the baby and learns to respect that.

peasant

Also make sure that the dog grows up with the cats and that both you and the cats both get to convey the message that the cats are also part of the fimily and not to be messed with.

Ban me?

With a name like that how could I resist.

He got his wish.
Richie

Rabies

What about the old wives tales of cats and new born babies? Or maybe the stork will come back and take the baby away from it's unfit dog loving parents.

OP, there are a few threads around about raising a pup along with a baby. Some good advice in most of them.

Alfasudcrazy

I had a lovely doberman from 1988 to 1996 and I now have two dobie pups which I got at 10 weeks old last september - now nearly 7 months old. They are to me at least the best dog ever.

You do need to understand though that they are highly energetic and always up for some fun. As they grow they become very strong and heavy.

That siad they are very intelligent and seem to know when gentleness is required of them.

A doberman by itself can become depressed and lonely - they need other dog company as well as human. Also having another dog companion for it will mean they bother you less as they tend to play away with each other most of the day.

I would not trust doberman with strangers - they are very protective and they take the view that any visitor is an intruder up to no good until otherwise proved - as in being greeted warmly by you or/and by giving it a hug or some treats.

cotton

I've 4 dogs, 2 are doberman x's. They're brothers from different litters. One we got at 6 weeks & the other at 12/13 weeks. They live quite happily with the 7 cats. The cats let them know who the bosses were early on. One of them sees them as his little hareem & cleans their ears & visa versa. Wrestles with them over toys but never wins.:rolleyes:
They are extremely protective dogs, won't trust anyone, inside or outside the home until they're happy I'm happy.
They do grow big & strong. My advice would be to socailise them as much as you can when they're young & lead train them very early on or you're arms will get pulled from their sockets. They love the company of other dogs, I wouldn't have one on it's own.
They're very very funny dogs, will have you in stitches, big eejits but very sensitive too.

Jotter

thanks guys, went to see the pup and he was gorgeous very nice temperment also. He crawled into my lap and I just wanted to run away with him there and then! I spoke to a couple of trainers and a vet and they all could see no probs once hes trained properly etc but then spoke to a neighbour who has a dobie (whos lovely!) and she thought it might be best to wait till baby is older just bec of their size. Was very sorry to say no to the pup but we have a fenced garden thats at risk of coming down in high winds so think well get walls built before we get a dobie, cant imagine the neighbours would be too happy with a big dobie in their garden looking in their windows!!:D

Thanks anyway for the advice!