double post–my delete isn’t deleting. Sorry.
I’m a dobe person, too. Right now I have dobes 7, 8 and 9. My first dobe was actually a doberman/ pointer cross (to the best I could figure). And though I also have a GSD, a standard poodle (great, GREAT dog, I’m just over the coat care) and a giant schnauzer mix as well as my dobes, the dobes are really the dogs of my heart. My dobes have tended to live to be 12-13, except for the dog I lost to bone cancer.
My vet said when he was in vet school in the 70’s, if a doberman came in, all the vet students went around the exam table to get away. But he said he hasn’t seen a bad doberman in the last 20 years.
StG
I really like standard poodles, but I could never deal with the coat. Maybe once I’m retired.
Im a dobie person too, and a farm near us has had a series of them so the right dog in the right home… is a thing of joy. Ive had several as personal protection dogs, house dogs and search dogs. THe barn I board at had THE best boxer as a house/yard dog. She does everything, goes everywhere, uses good discretion, for lack of a better word. Gentle with the right people “woofy” with the others…Totally different temperaments though- Cancer is very prevalent in boxers, cardiomyopathy and temperament issues in some Doberman lines. Research carefully if you choose these breeds and good luck!
Absolutely 100% in love with my boxer.
My neighbors have four extremely well-bred well-trained titled (conformation, obedience, and agility) hunting line weims. I love them as neighbors, but they are HIGH energy and HIGH prey drive.
I have a friend with a dobe. She is NEEDY.
I say my boxer is more “WANTY”…loves to be sitting half on me, go anywhere I go, but also can go chill on the couch while I’m gone for work.
The most adorable thing is the way he tilts his head to and fro and furrows his brow as I talk to him. You can see him pick out the words he knows and try to string them together into meaning.
He loves “his” kids and “his” cats and all of our friends. But he quietly let the tile contractor know he was keeping an eye on him.
I have had 4 rescue Dobies in my life and doubt I will ever actively seek out another breed. They are needy and are aptly nicknames velcro dogs. They are loyal, highly trainable, and protective of their people. Some can be standoffish to strangers and others love everyone. But they all have a great bark and are not afraid to use it to let you know that someone new is here. Most people will back off just by seeing them because of the breeds reputation which I find to be very misplaced. My fed ex guy now loves it when I’m home so he can play with my dog when he comes to deliver.
Currently own an English Mastiff and grew up with Dobermans. I’d say, go with Dobermans.
Wanted to come back and update this one since we’re now at week 2/3 of owning our first Dobbie.
As a devout GSD girl I never though another breed could steal my heart quite like a Shepherd but da*m it if this little Dobbie didn’t prove that wrong.
First, they’re smart. At 8-9 weeks this little guy responds to several commands and he’s so obedient that he even resounds when I don’t expect him to. For example, we taught him to sit and wait for his food. And he does. However, if the little guy doesn’t finish his food we leave it for him to go back to (all of our pets free feed).
I’ll find him later in the day patiently waiting by his food, sitting at the spot he’s been taught to sit, until we tell him it’s ok to feed!!! That takes a LOT of discipline and smarts from such a young dog.
Secondly, he’s the most affectionate dog I’ve ever known. Velcro dog indeed! Maybe it’s not for everyone but where we are, he is.
And third, he’s already started ‘patrolling’ his territory
. Lol.
At seven weeks you can usually have a fair idea how a dog will turn out. Could not be happier with this little man!!
My vote has to go with the Dobbie!
I’ve had Dobies and Boxers. I just lost my male Dobie to bone cancer, at the age of 13, in January. He was my first dog ever and I was heartbroken (still am). I didn’t think I would ever be able to have another one… Fast forward two weeks to when a female Dobe puppy is dumped over the shelter fence (I’m on the BOD of the non-profit that manages it) and here we are. My male was a big clown and friendly to everyone. My new girl is likely going to be the same.
When I met DH, he had an adult female Boxer. She was a very good dog, great with kids and highly trainable. She was way more protective than my Dobie ever thought about being. We lost her at about 12 or 13. I have a Boxer mix right now, she is also very smart and the most protective of my current bunch (we also have a Bluetick and Bloodhound).
I may be biased because I’m so active in rescue, but I would prefer an older dog to a puppy for a home with kids. Any reputable rescue fosters their dogs for a significant period of time and figures out if a dog is kid appropriate. My 3 month Dobe puppy would shred a child with her puppy teeth, which she is still learning to use appropriately. I would go with a 2-4 year old, but that’s just me.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8564283]
I really like standard poodles, but I could never deal with the coat. Maybe once I’m retired.[/QUOTE]
All you have to do, is use a groomer :). I’d far rather drop them off every 4-8 weeks and write a check. And now - my groomer is mobile, so she comes to me. The standard is I think $65-70. I only have to brush her ears, tails & legs in between. And except the ears, I keep her fairly short - so it’s easy.
[QUOTE=CindyB59;8578526]
All you have to do, is use a groomer :). I’d far rather drop them off every 4-8 weeks and write a check. And now - my groomer is mobile, so she comes to me. The standard is I think $65-70. I only have to brush her ears, tails & legs in between. And except the ears, I keep her fairly short - so it’s easy.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. I ended up buying my own horse clippers to save money for my two small/medium poodle mixes. I clip them probably 4x per year, honestly. They look shaggy by the time I do them again but I think it’s cute. I may clip bangs and bum in the meantime. They get a couple of baths between groomings as well (my girl just came up to me looking like she rolled in pig poop, so her in between bath is about to happen! Far from frou frou, she is…)
An hour or so of grooming every few months is SO much nicer than finding dog hair on everything. Plus I can change up how they look just with a different style 
I prefer the teddy bear face. Mine are actually quite stoutly built and very sturdy in looks and attitude. Love them. My two standard poodles from childhood were also FANTASTIC family dogs. They did everything- spend weekends on the boat, coming to the barn, sitting patiently for dress up, politely obliging me as I taught them tricks, fetching the paper every morning, and guarding the house (sounding like hell beasts, but awesome with my friends and family guests). Poodles are awesome.
We have 2 toys too. I can’t do it myself, I have rheumatoid arthritis and it would kill my hands. But more than that, they’d look like Edwina Scissorhands got a hold of them
