Anyone here own a Doberman? I'm thinking of getting one for myself. What I'm wondering about however is---I know Dobermans need a lot of exercise. I read all over the place that if they don't get that they may get out of hand. Does anyone have any experience with this? How often do you exercise with them? What kind of exercises do you do? And has anyone had his Dobe develop behavioral problems?
I don't have a Dobe, but I have a lot of friends with them. Part of it that it's not just exercise. It's a whole lifestyle. They're active, intelligent dogs who need something to do with their brains, a structured life, and an owner who is realistic about what they are good at (and not good at). For every Dobe I've met who is a big mush with most people, I've met a lot of shy, spooky ones, and one or two who are INSANELY aloof with all but a very small number of people. And many of them are not good with other dogs, particularly dogs of the same sex. The vast majority of Dobermans I know who are really HAPPY in their homes are with families that do obedience or agility or schutzhund or SOMETHING job-ish with them. They need structure- not just exercise, but a purpose. This ties into your question about behavior problems, too. Health is a BIG issue- I would either get an adult from a very good rescue- like DRU (an adult because at least that way you know what problems you're getting into)- or from a reputable breeder- be VERY careful on that, I can make some reccs for people to talk to if you're interested in that route, PM me.) If you want a puppy, expect to pay $2000+ for a carefully bred pup- and please, DON'T support less than reputable breeders. This is a breed with a lot of heartbreaking health problems. Responsible breeders spend a lot of money on health testing and they DON'T breed dogs who fail thte tests- which is a significant number of them. And temperament's genetic too. If it's the look that you like, but you want a (much!) less intense dog, you might want to look at smooth collies (which are totally unrelated, but a tricolor smooth collie with veyr little white has a similar kind of elegant outline) or greyhounds (actually a componnent breed, and a big black male greyhound is a substantial dog! If the health stuff scares you off, look at Beaucerons.
We had one when I was a kid. We had a big backyard for him to run around in, and we walked him too. I played with him every day. But I can't remember his name now. We didn't have him for long. I remember we got him when he was almost fully grown. And he was given away when we had to move into an apartment some time later. He would jump the fence if we left him home alone, so we had to chain him whenever we left (we couldn't leave him in the house because he would tear it up). The chain was very long and tied to a tree in the yard. It was long enough for him to reach the porch for shade, food, water, and a pad to sleep on. But by the time we got back he would have himself wrapped around the tree so many times that he only had an inch of chain left. Every time! He'd just be sitting there with his neck up against the tree smiling and panting. lol He was a bundle of energy. Always running around, chasing lizards and birds, etc. Always pulling when being walked, to the point of choking himself. Great dog! One time I took my 4 y.o. son with me to somebodys house that I used to work with. He had a really big red one. It was barking like mad from the backyard as we got out of the car. As we walked up the driveway I could see his eyes, teeth, and claws as he was tring to rip the gate to the backyard apart to get at us. We went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. The dog could see us through the arcadia door and was still barking at us. My son walked up to the glass and was waving at the dog. It was running around in a circle barking it's ass off. Then it got quiet. I looked over and the door was open, and my son was gone. I ran to the door thinking he was being eaten as the barking had stopped. He was sitting under the dog trying to pry it's mouth open. The dog was looking at us like somebody get this kid offa me please. That scared the hell out of me! Good thing the dog turned out to be cool with kids. Whew.
Such great stories! I already have a breeder. A reputable one. For now she has an 8.5 months old already half-mature pup. So I'm trying to make up my mind whether to take him or find/wait for a younger one. Both have their pros and cons I guess. The pup I'm considering can be bred and he can participate in dog shows. Though, I don't think I'm into that. He's been brought up in a family environment with kids and other dogs. When I went to see him I also saw his mother. We went to a public park and she played some fetch. It's as if the other people weren't even there. She never minded them, except one stranger that walked towards us. She approached him and kind of half-sat half-stood staring at him, but returned when the owner called her back. I absolutely like the looks of Dobermans. They look so elegant and regal. They're amazing up close. I remember liking Dobermans ever since I was a kid. To me, they're the number one breed of dogs. I definitely want one, I have no doubt about that. My only question is whether to get one now or wait a few more years. Other breeds that I prefer are Bernese Mountain Dog and Australian Cattle Dog.
