First timer.

[superdobe]

Hello All,

My name is Marco and my wife and I just recently bought a home. We for a long time have been wanting a dog to love, cherish and make them part of our going pack. Ever since I was a little boy I have always wanted a Doberman. I think they are so elegant and smart. Now saying that how do I know if the Doberman is right for me. I might love the dog but do I need to anything prior to buying one? Any advice on choosing the right one. What should I look for? I have dealt with small and medium dogs but not this big.

Thank you

[Rich S]

First of all, welcome to DH.

I think the best advice I can give you is to look through our site and read read and....read. Educate yourself. Dobermans are great dogs and I'm and sure everyone on DboermanHub will be more than willing to answer any question you have.

[Dobs4ever]

Welcome to the Hub - Glad you care enough to want to do things right. First I recommend sitting down and make an evaluatoig what your activiy level is - Are you more studious or laid back or more outdoorsy ??? If more quiet then you want a more laid back Dobe and if outdoorsy you can have more drive for running, joogging, camping etc.

Then make a list of what you see yourself doing with your dog and what level of committment you have to training. I always recommend first time Dobe owners attend at least 2 basic obedience classes with their puppy.

Then read everything you can on the doberman temperament and see if it is what you want. They are protective. They might not like everyone. They will most likely bark when strangers are outside the home or approach your car. If you are not prepared or don't want these traits then it is not the breed for you. This should give you a good start.

[superdobe]

Thank you guys for the recent response. We are an outdoorsy type of couple who like to hike and go for walks. My wife like to jog more so maybe thats why i also like to have a protective dog for my wife when she goes on jogs. Also for the puppy training we are going to take him to his puppy class so we can get started on the right foot. One concern though is that we currently work from 5am to 230pm and i was wondering leaving the dog alone for this amount of time is it safe? Of course with a trained Doberman. If it isn't will getting two help out so they could keep each other company? What do you guys recommend? Of course i will be driving home on my lunch to spend time with him/her. Just wondering what am i looking at with this type of work schedule.

[Dobs4ever]

I do not ever recommend two puppies to a first time Doberman home. Way too much. First you want to know that the one dog is trained and successful before adding a second. You do not want what I call Doggy Dogs - In otherwise they will bond far faster to each other than to you becasue they are together more.

You want to start with one and make sure you have the tools you need to train one before jumping off the cliff witout a parachute. I never recommend placing two puppies in a new home. I won't do it. I also won't place any dog with anyone who has other dogs that they are already having problems with. It will just create a big problem down the road for both me and the poor dog. If they don't hae the tools to handle the dogs they have why would adding another make sense to anyone?

[superdobe]

O good. The reason I ask is because my wife feels sorry for leaving them alone and that she would like for him to have a buddy. Thank you for clarifying that for us. Now what about the home and leaving him/her alone. Would him/her be fine? I ask these question because my wife is concern and I have told her him/her will be fine. But I just wanted to double check.

[Dobs4ever]

Well I will proboably get shot at high noon for this one but it is my belief that dogs fit into our life and make it whole. People have to work and be responsible - pay the bills, buy dog food etc. In the wild dogs stay in or close to their den most of the time and only come out to hunt for food. So not a biggy if you properly crate train etc. Plus if you do come home for lunch then all should be well.

If everyone who has a dog has to be home 24/7 then how will dogs or people eat???

[superdobe]

thank you

[RKCM]

Another reason for only having one doberman at first is you want the dog to bond to you, not each other. Not until you have your first doberman trained would you want another doberman. The older one will help train the puppy.

They are kinna like kids. You need quality time with them.

Best

[Rhiannon]

Well I will proboably get shot at high noon for this one but it is my belief that dogs fit into our life and make it whole. People have to work and be responsible - pay the bills, buy dog food etc. In the wild dogs stay in or close to their den most of the time and only come out to hunt for food. So not a biggy if you properly crate train etc. Plus if you do come home for lunch then all should be well.

If everyone who has a dog has to be home 24/7 then how will dogs or people eat???

We won't shoot you.........:D I totally agree and with the ability to come home at lunch time you should be good.........It is great to see you doing your homework before you get a doberman. But as others have said .....read.....read......read..........they are a wonderful breed of dog and highly highly intelligent.

[Sue J]

Welcome to DH superdobe. It's great that you're considering a dobe. They are very loyal to their humans, wonderful companions full of personality and learn very quickly. Good luck in your research.

[Big Dogs]

Welcome to the forum and I believe you will read allot of valuable information from many knowledgeable individuals. You have already started of on the right foot by asking questions and Dobes4ever is right never get 2 puppies at the same time and don't worry about them being alone for reasonable periods of time they need the down time too. You are considering a great breed that will make a lasting impression on you. The advise that I would give you at this point is knowledge is power research the dog and if you decide to go with a breeder research and visit them also. I would also recommend taking the dog to a training class at least for basic obedience as this will only make your experience and bond that much more enjoyable. Good Luck!

[superdobe]

Thank you guys for all you support and advice. Also i want to ask if you know of any breeders in Southern California ( San diego, Los Angeles, etc.) that i am able to go look at and see their dobe first hand?

[Dobs4ever]

I am not sure what part of California she is in but if you want working Dobes contact Incredible Dobermans - Lorna and Patrick O'connor - Otherwise I would contact Eve Auch - Irongate Dobermans Both are wonderful.

[superdobe]

Thank you again. Now one more question i promise. :D Does it really matter how much you pay for a Dobe. I have seen some for 350 all the way up to 4000?

[Dobs4ever]

Depends on what is provided and how much you are willing to risk. For example would a $350.00 doberman come with tails, dews, shot/worming current ears done and microchipped???? Have the parents had at least minimum health testing? Vwd, thyroid, OFA hip and elbows, cerf???? Are the parents titled???

You see with each thing you want to have means someone has to spend money. In some cases BIG money. For example full blood panels for my dogs prior to breeding runs me about $325.00 - OFA is approximately $125.00 for both X rays and then to register, Holter is $325.00 (unless you find it at a clinic and echo is $300.00 00 or so. Then to title your dog and work them so you know you have a good temperament is approximately $500 to 1,000 per title dependins on how far you have to travel and over how many different shows. I know I always tell Gunner it is only money boy so have fun.

Now lets say you have no pedigree to speak of but the puppy is cheap - then you find out it has demodectic mange and it ends up costing you approximately $750.00 to cure, love and train the puppy to about two and then find out hips are bad, then at 3 dog has thyroid issues and you have to have it on thyroid meds for the rest of its life, in the mean time it gets injured and almost bleeds to death becuase it is VWD affected and you spend $3,000 to have blood transfusions, 4 days in intensive care.

The other day someone was taling about getting ears done on their puppy and it was going to cost $750.00 from a vet that might or might not know how to do beautiful ears. Bargain - I think not! Go to a good breeder who takes care of these things in an effort to provide the new family with a wonderful experience. You are far less likely to have problems as mentioned above not to mention that almost always the $350.00 dog looks like crap (roached, poor conformtion etc) and no matter what you do you can't change breeding. JMHO!

[Dobs4ever]

I will add this - I do think you can be snookered on the other end also and pay way too much and in some cases I know of people who sell their dogs for far more than normal and do none of the testing etc. They find the gullible folks and reel them in becasue I do believe some people think the more you spend the better you get but that also is not always true.

[superdobe]

Thank you guys again! One more question, what book do you guys recommend for a late night reading?

[Dobs4ever]

Here are two I recommend

A. K. Nicholas´ book World of Doberman Pinscher
Purely Positive Training - Companion To Competition" by
Sheila Booth