FIRST DOBERMAN - Page 2

Great looking pup!!!!
 

B - E - A- utiful!

Chaz said: Dobes are "Goofier with their owners" in private.

And how !  Never met one yet that didn't have a HUGE sense
of humour.  It is a laugh-a-minute breed.  Good luck with this
handsome young man  (be prepared for him to make you look
silly every so often...).

Thanks so much for all your responses and guidance. I'm even more excited than before. I will keep you posted as to his or should I say my progress. One of my GSD Bitches  who will have to learn to share me with him!

Thanks again  

Gorgeous dog--can't help but notice [and appreciate] the more substantial build of the European-line Doberman in contrast to the dogs bred here in the US from the bloodlines established here after the introduction of the breed. Everything about this dog says "masculinity', especially the strong conformation of the head and muzzle.

Chaz pretty much described what to expect from the breed, at least the dogs from the US lines, as thoroughly as anyone could want.  I can add only one additional observation: you've never been thoroughly ignored by a dog until you've been ignored by a Doberman. Only a cat can banish your very existence in its sphere of consciousness more completely.  It was one of the challenges the trainers I apprenticed with encountered when the breed became more popular in our area, many years back, and we started having more of them enrolling in personal and commercial property protection training--the program was initially almost exclusively GSD-oriented, since that's what the clients typically brought to us, and we could have the dogs fully finished for the work in about 6 months worth of weekly sessions. So a flat rate was charged, no matter how long it took to finish the dog so it reliably met the clients' needs. It took much longer to get the Dobermans interested in biting anything, be it a rag, a tug, a sleeve or a person, and thus the dogs required more sessions to complete their training than the GSDs.  The Dobermans would sit rock-still, the very image of the Egyptian statues of Anubis, offering not so much as a twitch of an ear or a shift of the gaze that would suggest they had taken notice of the agitator as he labored to initiate engagement.

Once they stopped ignoring the agitator and decided he'd been pestering them enough, however, they took the work every bit as seriously as the GSDs, however.

Looking forward to hearing back when your fella arrives, and of your adventures in training with him as the two of you forge a partnership!

I have had Dobermans for over 30 years.  And for the most part all the information you have been given on this thread I completely agree with.  As many stated that corrections have to be administered carefully.  You will find with most that if you just focus on praising when they do right you build in them the desire to learn and to please you.  Once most of my Dobies figured out that you were trying to train them something you didn't need to use rewards, Praise was the reward they liked the best.


Wishing you the best with your new Dobie.

Reggie

Update!
Hi everyone - I collected 'Nico' from airport warehouse today. Having completed relevant paperwork etc I parked in front of the warehouse, before going inside and opening his crate. I slipped a collar on him, only for him to drag me towards the rear of my car where my son was disembarking!  Nico then jumped into my car and lay down as if to say ' I've had a long journey, now lets get home'  We were delighted that he wasn't phased at all and he slept on the home journey which took approx 2.5 hours.  He is everything he appeared to be in his pics and videos and I am truly delighted  Since then, he has introduced himself to all of my family however was initially quite aggressive towards a couple of my other dogs. Fortunately they ignored his growls etc and he relaxed.  While several of you had warned me as to the Doberman's ability to 'ignore' his owner and/or commands, it was both amazing and humorous to see it in action. Already. on a couple of occasions, he has turned his head away from me, totally refusing to obey a simple 'sit' command.  Nico is fast asleep in his crate right now so hopefully we are in for a quiet night.  Thanks again for all your support and guidance.  Further updates to follow.!