Anyone here with experience with the breed? I have done a bunch of research and it seems that the European breeds are better all around dogs and the American breeds have been bred to be giant lap dogs a Labrador in a suit if you will. Anyone know first hand? Thanks in advance.

We had 3 sequentially over 36 years; only one was 'papered' ; domestic small time breeder; don't know current trends.

our favorite : female; red; keep the ears, lose the tail;

they all were sweet intelligent loyal & we'd do it again if we could stand the anguish when they final die;

they need exercise/companionship themselves and disciplined training; ours seemed to become suddenly mature around 18 months.

I don't think there's a difference in the dog personality, it's more the home environment and training.

I grew up with a neighbor who had them and I had one about 20 years ago. Very gentle and cheeky. Europeans don't clip the ears and I wouldn't nowadays.

Bright dogs. I trained mine to ring a bell hanging on the back door when he wanted to go outside. He picked up a few habits that were fun as well.

I’m not taking a shot at the breed but check with your home owner insurance agent. We were asked if we owned some certain breeds of dogs. I believe this was one of them. Better to find out now.

They are a lap dog. A big, long toothed lap dog but a lap dog nonetheless (Hey, they don't know they are that big)!

Most of all, they are a super companion dogs; and were originally bred to be just that. Mine just hated to be out of sight of me....and preferred to lean on me when he had the chance. I just love them. However, like all intelligent breeds, they really do better with a companion dog of their own if someone is not home during the day...or they will find "things" to do. My dobe had a rescue buddy named Roger. They were inseparable.

I found Dobes to be the most intuitive, problem solving, intelligent dog I've ever known. I came to completely trust his judgement of character when meeting strangers. You'll be amazed at the stuff they figure out. Once, when Reuben was later in years (and couldn't move very fast) I still used to give them bones every evening as a snack. Anyway, Reuben knew that Roger couldn't help himself when the back door openend and that Roger just HAD to be the first one out the door. So, one night after I gave the dogs their treats, Reuben finished his bone quickly and then went to the back door and whimpered. Thinking he had to go out to use the yard, I went to the door and pulled down on the handle to let him out. Hearing the sound, Roger sprang up from his unfinished bone to be, as usual, the first one out the door. When the door opened, Roger sprang through the opening and on to the back patio. Reuben however, impaired by his arthritis, turned slowly but purposely around to go back to the living room to finish Roger's bone. By this time, with the door now closed, poor Roger was wondering what all of the fuss was about and sadly peered inside to see Reuben chomping away.

Anyway, I wholeheartedly recommend them and look forward to another one in my house one day. Mine went through multiple rounds of obedience training and tested for his CGC (Canine Good Citizenship). Any dog owner "issues" that come up later can be diffused by possession of this certification and, of course, your dog will be a polite and resourcful neighbor as well.

I don't have a lot of opinion about American vs. European bloodlines. A family tree consisting of all the heritage lines is probably most desireable to have a diverse and vibrant bloodline in the breed. Just make sure that the breeder is reputable, knowledgable and the dogs registered.

For example....

http://www.dillon-dobermans.com

http://www.diravallese.com/mainpage/mainpage.htm

There are many other breeders of course, these are just a couple of contacts I saved for my future plans to own another Dobe.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:
We had 3 sequentially over 36 years; only one was 'papered' ; domestic small time breeder; don't know current trends.

our favorite : female; red; keep the ears, lose the tail;

they all were sweet intelligent loyal & we'd do it again if we could stand the anguish when they final die;

they need exercise/companionship themselves and disciplined training; ours seemed to become suddenly mature around 18 months.

I joke with my Dobie clients that they wake up one day after puberty, look into the mirror, and realize that they're the baddest dudes on the block. It seems to happen overnight (maturation) with my Dobies and GSD the most.

No idea on breed variations, just would say that I love love LOVE every one that comes to my practice. You'll be hard pressed to find a more intuitive, sensitive, and intelligent companion.

I have a dober-rotty, who is a terrific dog. He still acts like a puppy. But he's very intelligent, very loyal and behaves. I adopted him at a year old, he has floppy ears and tail and is a very good looking dog. He gets along with kids, adults, anyone and ALL dogs and dog sizes. He does have a real hard on for cats.

I will also say that when he was 1-5 years old, he needed to be entertained. if I was gone for too many hours and he got bored/mad, he'd take the entire roll of paper towels off of the holder and shred them into a million pieces. OR the best was I had a tall kitchen garbage can with the swinging/swiveling lid......he'd stick his head in there and the lid would get stuck on his head and you'd find it 40' away....and the garbage everywhere.....but he only did this if I was gone like 10 hours. I fixed that when I bought a simple human can with the foot pedal opening lid.....he gave me the dirtiest look when he saw that in action for the first time.

All of our dobermans have been huge lap dogs wanting to be right by / on their humans when it's time to relax for the day. Don't get me wrong, they're extremely high drive dogs, but when the humans settle in on the couch for the evening, these dogs are all about being right there.

The European lines are typically bigger, sturdier dogs than the typical American lines. I can't say with certainty about personality trait differences inherent in the different lines, as most of the ones we've had have been rescue dogs, so I'm not sure how naturally they came by their behavior vs how much was due to training.

Anecdotally, the euro line boys we've had were far more likely to automatically place themselves between us and anything they didn't like.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: the_sandman_454,

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Originally posted by Augen:
I don't think there's a difference in the dog personality, it's more the home environment and training.

I grew up with a neighbor who had them and I had one about 20 years ago. Very gentle and cheeky. Europeans don't clip the ears and I wouldn't nowadays.

Bright dogs. I trained mine to ring a bell hanging on the back door when he wanted to go outside. He picked up a few habits that were fun as well.

Why do we mutilate them over here? They are good looking dogs just the way God made them.

Heidi was a rescue, from a shelter. She was timid, affectionate, loved attention. Great family dog.

Protection, only in that she looked like a Doberman. She would probably have wanted to make friends with the Bad Guys.

I had a big red male Pincherman Dober "adopt" me for about a week when I lived in a sort of sketchy neighborhood in Houston. He appeared one evening and stayed on my front porch. I fed him the next morning. He hung around every day while I was at work for the next several days. I really liked having him there keeping an eye on things. One day while I was at work he moved on, presumably to monitor another sector. I never found out who he belonged with.

Cool dogs.

Sorry OP, but just had to add my story:

Delivering pizza in college and I get to a house. Two dobermans come from around the back of the house and approach the door of my car and stand quietly. I get out and they flank me on both sides and walk with me to the front door. The lady opens the door and looks at the dogs and they then proceed back around the house. I felt sure that she could have said some particular word or made a face at me and they would have both bitten my ass.

Also had a friend of the family with a doberman that was very loving and calm. Seems like a good breed.

There was another Doberman thread recently, see my (and others') comments there.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:

quote:

Originally posted by Augen:
I don't think there's a difference in the dog personality, it's more the home environment and training.

I grew up with a neighbor who had them and I had one about 20 years ago. Very gentle and cheeky. Europeans don't clip the ears and I wouldn't nowadays.

Bright dogs. I trained mine to ring a bell hanging on the back door when he wanted to go outside. He picked up a few habits that were fun as well.

Why do we mutilate them over here? They are good looking dogs just the way God made them.

My understanding of the ear crop / tail dock style originated with their use in the military application. A dobes skin is taunt and their coat is single layered and short. Thus, when they are cropped and docked there is very little for a bad guy to grab onto except for muscles and teeth. Consequently, it also makes them look rather sporty and athletic. So, the style stuck. Many countries have since outlawed the practice and the dog may not be registered if they are cropped and docked. Not so in the US. Personally speaking, mine had natural ears and a docked tail. To each his own I suppose.

Meet Nala, a 15 month old 100% European Doberman. She is the official Top Gun Supply dog. She is not aggressive in any way, but extremely protective. She loves children and will protect all children.

I have had both American and European Dobies. They all have similar personality traits. They share their love of running, playing, leaning and setting their chins on your knee or objects and stare at you for attention. And yes, every one of them truly believes they are 15 lb lap dogs. They are all fiercely loyal and seem to have a sense of humor, because, they will make you laugh every day. They are also very vocal in their attempt to master the human language. It seems like they are trying to talk to you.

The American breed seems to be a bit more slender and a tad more timid or skittish. Nala is a rough and tumble athlete. She is tough and shakes it off. Both are extremely intelligent...scary smart.

Both of her parents are accomplished dogs. The Sire is a Champion working dog.

Mine, "Belle", was a great doggy. She was a big lap dog, and was very jealous when I loved on my other dogs.

She was stolen one day a long with the male DP puppy next door. A really sad day.

Later in life, we went with miniature pinschers which have no connection with their larger cousins. Great little dogs!

My dobie was one of the best dogs ever. Perceptive, intelligent, and a great companion. I swear that dog had a sense of humor.

quote:

Originally posted by Top Gun Supply:


Meet Nala, a 15 month old 100% European Doberman. She is the official Top Gun Supply dog. She is not aggressive in any way, but extremely protective. She loves children and will protect all children.

I have had both American and European Dobies. They all have similar personality traits. They share their love of running, playing, leaning and setting their chins on your knee or objects and stare at you for attention. And yes, every one of them truly believes they are 15 lb lap dogs. They are all fiercely loyal and seem to have a sense of humor, because, they will make you laugh every day. They are also very vocal in their attempt to master the human language. It seems like they are trying to talk to you.

The American breed seems to be a bit more slender and a tad more timid or skittish. Nala is a rough and tumble athlete. She is tough and shakes it off. Both are extremely intelligent...scary smart.

Both of her parents are accomplished dogs. The Sire is a Champion working dog.

Would you be able to recommend a good breeder?

quote:

I don't think there's a difference in the dog personality, it's more the home environment and training.

This pretty much describes most breeds. You can have a lap dog or a killer depending on how you train/treat them. Having said that Dobermans, IME, will tend toward being a Velcro dog. They want to be with their human and can be protective. They are intelligent and if you don’t give them an outlet for their energy, they will find something to amuse themselves with. You might not be as amused by those discoveries. If you run, train a Doberman to run with you, they love it and it’s a good outlet particularly for a young dog.

Closest I got to a doberman was this guy - Felix - or as we called him free licks.



1/2 doberman, 1/2 Sheppard.

Smart doesn't even begin to cover it!

Sense of humor, you bet!

Loved everybody, especially the ladies and babies.

Loved to hunt rodents.

He used to watch my wife while she got lost in her gardening. Once she was fully absorbed he set himself up and waited. She'd look up and notice him and he let lose with a full on snarling you're gonna die and posture.

She'd scream, he'd lay back down and I swear he was laughing. Big old smile on his face, tongue hanging out. She would tell him off and he'd do that front paw forward scratch thing like, I'm just kidding ya.

I miss him, he was a good boy.