Hey all,
I'm looking to get a new dog. I already have a 3 year old male boxer and he needs a buddy. My previous roomate had an older male boxer and they got along great, but together got quite hyper and it was hard to calm them down. I'm currently looking at Dobermans. They seem smart, loyal and protective which is what I'm looking for. Anyone have any experiences or suggestions? Thanks!

Josh

 

Hey 4Door,
Have a Dobie here. Female, 5 years old now, 65lbs (there abouts). Very loyal and protective. Smart, that's open for debate. Sometimes when she looks at you, you swear she's thinking something, other times, kinda like a fog rolled over her brain. Guess you can say the same about humans...hahaha.

Anyway, we rescued her from some very non-nice people (methers) that used her as a training dog for fighting, so she's been abused. Wasn't sure what was going to happen at first. Now, I'd like to get another Dobie to keep her company.

She's very alpha when other dogs come over, or even at their house (she pushes around a 100lb English Bulldog like he's a toy). She gets along great with the other dogs though, and people. She tends to be very aggressive if she is leashed though, but we think that's due to her prior owners and what they used her for. We keep her off the leash as much as we can.

Not sure how helpful that was, but Dobie's are a great dog, as long as you know what you're getting into. I will tend to go with a female dog for my next dog as well. They seem a bit easier to deal with.

If you have any questions, holler. Good luck to ya.

 

Points to you!

Rescue dogs usually make awesome additions to your family. Check around your city for a rescue organization specific to dobermans.

 

I have a 2 year old cat he was lonley so i got him a boxer all white with a watch eye the dog loves his new chew toy!

 

I think getting another dog that has the same temperment as the boxer can lead to problems. You need to get a female that is less hyper than boxers tend to be, Perhaps a yellow lab. I wouldnt get another male unless you are sure the boxer will be submisive. Sometimes a large breed female when put in with a smaller dog will let her protective nature make her aggressive

 

Good points. My boxer is very well socialized, but he was dominent over the last Boxer he lived with. He currently plays with Pits, rotties and other dogs and rarely shows aggression.(unless they try to take his bone or whatnot) I was leaning towards a male because I heard the females were hard headed and not as easily trained. I couldn't ever have a lab or any long haired/tailed animal. Been there before! My parents have had labs and collies.

I'd love to rescue a pup, but not an older dog. I believe it's that first six months to a year that really makes the dog. Cudos to you rangerxlt02 for doing so. How old was she when you got her?

 

She was 3 when we got her. At least she wasn't hand shy (thank goodness). She does have an aweful fear of garden hoses though, so we think the prior owners used to spray her down with a hose to "teach" her a lesson. Kinda hard to wash her at first, she'd go curl up in the corner of the deck and not want to come near us. When we first got her, we'd be very careful about reaching for her mouth, etc. Now, I shove my arm in her mouth when rough-housing. Not so much as a bite or pressure, she knows who's alpha here...lol.

Now that we've moved, she has an acre to run around on and a lake to jump into for washing, at least when it's warm out. Makes things easier.

Good luck on finding a Dobie pup. That will be my next dog, so my current Dobie can be all motherly with her.

 

My wife bought a purebred female basset in 99. This dog is the exception that proves the rule...a dominant, energetic basset. Around Christmas 2000, we adopted a male bagle (3/4 basset, 1/4 beagle) from the animal shelter. He had been abused. He has been a great companion for the female and, more importantly, has taken the edge off of her. I know though, that when one is gone, there will be a substantial case of separation anxiety for the other.

As far as Dobermans, we had a male as I was growing up. Very smart and obedient. Also timid, but very protective of our family. I believe you'll end up with a good companion dog.

 

When I was a kid my mom rescued 5 from a dork that cropped their tails too short and was going to kill them. We took them in and gave three to new homes and kept two for my brother and I. They were some of the best dogs that I have had and just like my Rottie now, very, VERY loyal. Great dogs

 

i was just talking to a guy today asked if i wanted his rottweiler. i think he was serious. dog was looking at me all sad nobody wants to play with him.

 

we had a 1/2 rot 1/2 husky, great dog. we currently have a yellow lab, another great dog

 

We have 2 Great Danes. Very good dogs and they love to ride to town in the back of my truck. They are big show offs. When they realize they are being noticed they stand up straight and stick their chest outs and ears go straight up. They pose actually. They are very smart but they need alot of room to run their energy out if not they will run it out in your house and destroy the place.

 

I have an american AKITA female 5 years old.......Very tame and we got her for our yellow lab (now deceased) . The lab was real laid back and the akita gave him alot of company.

 

Ask around and find a breeder you're comfortable with. Or since you might go rescue, also find a trainer who does temperament testing. Also try a google search for dog rescue and check out both the dogs and the rescue groups in your area.

Contact and interview the folks in these groups, tell them your situation,and you'll be able to tell pretty easily which ones know what they're talking about and can be trusted to find a good fit. You also might be able to locate a breed specific rescue group in your area.

Dobies are usually very smart and energetic, and are pretty sensitive in that they really enjoy and need your company. Otherwise they can get kind of twitchy. They are very loving, and protective by nature; combine that with the intelligence factor and you have to be willing to train constantly and thoroughly for the first several years so they know when and how to respond...or not to respond...to everything.

My wife had a dobie for a while, I know several at the local dog park, good dogs when trrained to it. Our pooch is a 2 yr old "pooderman"...a poodle doberman cross. She's a total hoot, looks like a mid size wolfhound, and is great with my 4 yr old, great with other dogs, but I had to really crack down as she hit 15 months, as she was getting aggressive and feeling her oats a bit too much with other dogs, and my daughter.

But she caught on fast, and now the only time she shows aggression is when another dog is bugging the kid...she just slams 'em down and growls until they figure it out. A Dobie in disguise.

 

A word of caution. Most insurance companies wont give you homeowners ins if you have a rotty, dobie etc. I have a rotty, he will be 10 tomorrow. He is very gentle, but we still use caution. We also have a beagle, she's old as dirt. Her and the rotty compete for the best spot near the woodstove. We fostered a little german shepard mixed who was going to be put to sleep. Needless to say, she is the newest addition to our pack. She does well with our kids. Good luck with your search. Tempermant is the key. Treat them right, they'll be the bestest friend you ever had.