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View Full Version : Dobers right for my family?


ruckusluvr
09-06-2009, 10:41 PM
Hi all! My name is Amanda and I am new here from Kentucky! My husband and I have two shetland sheepdogs that are the lights of our lives. Both of our dogs are young and healthy. We do not plan on ever having a third dog, although we talk about it all the time!

I am wondering if a Dobie is right for our lifestyle. I am actually more of a herding dog person, but Hubby and I both think that Dobies are so elegant and graceful looking!

I am pretty active. I like to go walking about 45 minutes in the morning, and again at night for only 20-30 minutes. I have a medium sized fenced yard, but by time we can have another dog I would imagine we would have a large fenced yard. My hubby is a couch potatoe and wants a dog that will lay on the floor next to the couch with him.

I have a cat and two rabbits now. I see me owning more small animals in the future and also things like ducks and chickens. I also love taking the dogs on play dates and to dog parks... so a dog with DA is out of the question.

I am a bit of a push over. I am a natural shy and nervous person. I think that has actually made my shelties protective of me. I am scared that a Dobie will be more likely to feel like it has to protect me.

I do not want a dog that I have to worry about biting anyone. I would love to go to baseball games, petco, etc without worring about the dog freaking out. (shelties are fruit cakes so they freak out often!)

I realize that most of this is probably a DOG thing, not a BREED thing...
either way, I just thought that I would share what I am looking for in a dog.

What do you think? How would a Dobie fit with our lifestyle.
I am interested in a older puppy (6 months to 11 months)

Dobs4ever
09-07-2009, 08:40 AM
Hi Amanda and welcome to the Hub from Missouri. You obviously love animals and sounds like they get proper care. Too many can become overwhelming. The active lifestyle combined with the couch potatos is not a problem.

Dobermans on the other hand are very sensitive to their family - They need calm firm confident handling to become the great dogs that they were bred to be. A Doberman would certinaly pick up on nervousness or anxiety and it can cause a problem. I would condsider this into the equation. Thanks for sharing that info.

Sue J
09-09-2009, 05:55 AM
Welcome to the hub Amanda. I echo Dobs4ever, I've never had dogs as "in tune" to their handlers and family as a dobe. They are master minds and pick up on nuances quickly. Good luck though, it sure sounds like you love critters.