For me all of the above have potential for health issues. Danes and mastiffs do not live long due to size and Dobes and Boxers have multitude of health issues. Funny enough most pits tend to be very healthy. Curious why not another pit bull. Especially since you had one you loved. Have to say that they are my favorite type of dog, have a foster now that would make a lovely family dog. She never meets a stranger.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8556591]
Why neuter late?[/QUOTE]
Same goes for spaying. Large breed dogs are relatively slow growing. The growth plates of the long bones need the hormonal signals to close. Without those signals, you may end up with a large, narrow chested dog with straight leg angles, which can lead to orthopedic issues (cruciate tears, for example).
There is also growing evidence (at least in my breed, Rottweilers), that dogs that remain intact may have a longer life expectancy.
Somehow I have difficulty thinking that a protection dog could be all you wanted in a child safe dog - maybe, even probably, but maybe not.
Friends of ours breed South African Boerbuls (sp?). She has a young baby and sells a lot of puppies to families where the kids grow up with them. Myself, a life long dog lover, I always look a little sideways at them. These people sell and ship their male dog’s semen all over the world – like horses! And for as much money.
Also, after seeing what a difficult time my friend had trying to adopt a suitable dog from a shelter, I would expect a long and arduous search from that route.
Naaaa - go the Boxer - that face would put off many a stranger/danger!
[QUOTE=keysfins;8556675]
Same goes for spaying. Large breed dogs are relatively slow growing. The growth plates of the long bones need the hormonal signals to close. Without those signals, you may end up with a large, narrow chested dog with straight leg angles, which can lead to orthopedic issues (cruciate tears, for example).
There is also growing evidence (at least in my breed, Rottweilers), that dogs that remain intact may have a longer life expectancy.
My vet just said to spay my Boxer before her first heat if I did not want to bother with neighbour dogs or the mess…
When ‘should’ she be spayed - to all you vets out there - she seems so small and young right now at almost six months.
My x raised English mastiffs. I hated those dogs and I’m a dog lover. Shepherds and dobes for me. The mastiffs were not trustworthy and the slobber. Omg the slobber. They would shake their heads and big long booger looking slime globs would stick to the walls. Nasty
I have to agree with prior poster(s) about adopting an adult dog vs a puppy. with kids in the house, I would much rather get a puppy than an adult.
as to breeds, I personally don’t like boxers, I have actually known more than a couple that were unreliable around kids. dobies are great, just needy as heck, from all that I’ve seen. and the life expectancies of the bigger dogs (and the drool that goes with it!) make me think twice. I’ve ended up adopting a series of young pits (various crosses) over the years, for several reasons: availability, size, coat, temperament and activity level. I know you said you didn’t want to go that route again, but they’re my go-to breed (the same way german shepherds are for my better half)
I have a Doberman, as well. He’s my first and has sold me on the breed. He’s smart, very comical, protective of his home/family (which includes the two small dogs he lives with), full of life, incredibly loving, and so stinking handsome. They really are velcro dogs; Chase likes to be touching me in some way whenever he can. They also have a lot of energy, and it takes some commitment, especially when younger, to make sure they’re getting the physical and mental stimulation they need. As mentioned above, their health is not great. They are not inexpensive dogs to buy and maintain, but it’s worth the time and money to find a reputable breeder who has longevity in his/her lines and who religiously health tests. A reputable breeder should crop and dock - if the breeder leaves cropping up to you, that is a red flag. It was one heck of a road trip to pick up my guy when he was a baby (Chicago area - Western Arkansas), but so far, at almost six, he has been a healthy, happy, and stable boy - and he has parents who are still alive and healthy (knock on wood) as seniors. I think you would be very happy with a Dobe. Also, I fourth/fifth the recommendation to wait on spaying/neutering if you can in a large dog!
Also, many male Dobermans are not reliably safe with other male dogs, regardless of breed. Male/male aggression is a real thing in many of the working breeds, so you just have to be aware and prepared that there is that potential with a male Dobe should you end up wanting a male. Chase would never seek a conflict with another male, but he would definitely never back down. And Dobes are big, incredibly strong dogs even when they’re in the best of moods!
A friend of mine had Chesapeakes. I never liked them and they would sneak and lunge at the horses, growl at certain people and jump/lick others. When her dog finally attacked mine after being buddies for 3 years - well, that was it!
I would go for a pitbull from a reputable re-homing group. There’s tons of them around in every city/town. I’d also like to know why you mentioned no more Pitts after your good experience. Probably would have less health issues as well as breeder costs…
“A reputable breeder should crop and dock…” ???
In Europe you do not see either. In British Columbia is is illegal to crop ears.
Despite that, an uncropped ears on a Dobie - or Boxer - would not likely place at Westminster.
Many people would not like to have the choice taken away from them. I prefer uncroppped ears.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8557232]
“A reputable breeder should crop and dock…” ???
In Europe you do not see either. In British Columbia is is illegal to crop ears.
Despite that, an uncropped ears on a Dobie
I’m getting used to uncropped ears on Dobermans and although I love the look of cropped ears I’m having some difficulty with why we are doing it just like setting ASB’s tails. Now my mother has decided it is almost illegal NOT to do a Doberman ears and tails!
I’m so happy to see such Doberman love expressed!
Our family has a doberman. He is a chicken which can certainly make him seem aggressive. He will definitely bark at people he’s unsure of, and has snapped at people he doesn’t know that come at him to pet him. He’s also growled and snapped at dogs at times, however he has never ever caused an injury to anyone/dog. My brother’s kids can do anything they want to him and he just loves it. He loves attention. He chews up everything (not shoes or human items except things like loofas and such but his beds and toys). He needed a lot of exercise when he was younger (a good off leash run at least nearly everyday), now that he’s older (he’s 8 now) he needs much less.
I lost my beloved rescue Dobe to congestive heart failure 15 months ago. We got him as a mangy, ill mannered, sickly, abandoned adolescent. I fully admit that he was HORRIBLE the first year - dog aggressive (especially to males), untrained, strong, energetic, needy, and vocal. He bonded very strongly to me - he loved my husband, but never respected him the same way. He was always very needy and clingy to me, but also very obedient once I gained his trust. We were nervous when our first kid was born, but Bogart was superbly loving, tolerant, and protective of both my children, despite his unknown (and pretty crummy) background.
We are now feeling ready to get another dog, but I will probably wait until my youngest is grade school age (or older) before I take on another Dobe. What I put into him in time and training I got back tenfold…but training him initially was like a second full time job, and with small kids I don’t feel that I have enough time to devote to training and exercising a Doberman the way I feel they need/deserve. Unlike EllisLove’s Dobe, mine REQUIRED miles of walking/running daily until his heart started to fail, 2 months before he died. We think he was about 8.
The other consideration is that Bogart was incredibly smart and had an uncanny sense of people, but I never trusted him with my friends’ kids in the house, as he was very protective of my two kids and quite large…he was a freakish 90 pounds when he finally stopped growing, much to my dismay.
Everyone thought twice about approaching me or my house once they saw his grinning face, although he was generally a very amiable personality! I miss him every day.
Wanted to add that he did have a a lump on his side that was removed that the vet said could develop into cancer if it had been left, however since having it removed a year and a half ago it seems to have started to grow back already. Otherwise he is so far healthy, besides having a sensitive stomach which is common in the breed, can’t have too rich of food.
You guys are so wonderful and helpful! Yes we will get a puppy this time, which is foreign to me since we have only adopted adults in the past. my husband doesn’t want to adopt again until the kids are older.
I would so appreciate any boxer dobe or chessie breeder recommendations.
How are boxers as far as guarding?
Thanks everyone
[QUOTE=Marshfield;8556603]
I have had good experiences with all of these breeds. What are you looking for energy wise in your companion?[/QUOTE]
Well, we live on a farm so we can deal with some energy
[QUOTE=beowulf;8556290]
as far as “kid safe” i don’t think any breed is “guaranteed kid safe” - that is something that depends entirely on training and temperament.[/QUOTE]
And sometimes just upon the circumstances of the moment. Kids lack life experience and sometimes can provoke a dog without knowing it and dogs can have bad days just like people do. I never leave large dogs and small children together unsupervised. I have some great video of my 5 year old grandson playing with my pitbull by “bonking” him on the head with his fist and they obviously both are having a grand time, but I could see that going wrong if everything lined up a certain way.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8557232]
Many people would not like to have the choice taken away from them. I prefer uncroppped ears.[/QUOTE]
I think a Doberman with original ears and tail is one of the most beautiful, elegant-looking of dogs and I can’t imagine why anyone would prefer cropped/docked, but not my dog, not my choice. Pitbulls are also frequently cropped and/or docked but I preferred to leave mine OEM.
I’m going to go a bit against the prevailing current of the day and say that if you have children you should not get a rescue. Get a dog of known bloodlines from a reputable breeder. Just as with horses, you can make some reasonable predictions about behavior, health, etc. from the characteristics of his progenitors. I’ve sometimes been castigated for not getting a rescue, but I didn’t want to get a dog as strong and active as a pitbull and then wonder if he had the “people skills” I wanted. I bought a puppy from a reputable breeder with a record of human-friendly dogs and I’ve never regretted it. In fact, on the rare (two in two years) occasions that some dunce left my gate open and he got out, he got home by the simple expedient of someone opening a car door and when he jumped in to lick their face, they read his tag. He’s never met a stranger and is amazing with my grandkids (5 and 3) – but I still don’t leave them alone together.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8557232]
Many people would not like to have the choice taken away from them. I prefer uncroppped ears.[/QUOTE]
I think a Doberman with original ears and tail is one of the most beautiful, elegant-looking of dogs and I can’t imagine why anyone would prefer cropped/docked, but not my dog, not my choice. Pitbulls are also frequently cropped and/or docked but I preferred to leave mine OEM.
I’m going to go a bit against the prevailing current of the day and say that if you have children you should not get a rescue. Get a dog of known bloodlines from a reputable breeder. Just as with horses, you can make some reasonable predictions about behavior, health, etc. from the characteristics of his progenitors. I’ve sometimes been castigated for not getting a rescue, but I didn’t want to get a dog as strong and active as a pitbull and then wonder if he had the “people skills” I wanted. I bought a puppy from a reputable breeder with a record of human-friendly dogs and I’ve never regretted it. In fact, on the rare (two in two years) occasions that some dunce left my gate open and he got out, he got home by the simple expedient of someone opening a car door and when he jumped in to lick their face, they read his tag. He’s never met a stranger and is amazing with my grandkids (5 and 3) – but I still don’t leave them alone together.
