Living with Dobermanns

Unfounded reputation

Dobermanns have a fierce reputation amongst those who do not know the breed. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite their hard-man image the Dobe is a softy at heart, and doesn’t appreciate harsh treatment or being screamed at (and seldom forgets it). As long as you are calm and firm, it’s important to be consistent.  Every member of the family needs to train the dog in the same way to avoid confusion.  Because of their intelligence it is extremely easy to accidentally train bad habits therefore it’s important to ensure you set you dog up for success with clear, fair boundaries. Patience, firmness and respect in the right balance are the keys to success, and not everyone has those qualities.

Exercise and training

Dobermanns love to work with their owners. Being intelligent, they need mental as well as physical exercise. This isn’t a Labrador. Your Dobe will probably need a good hour of free running, or hard walking every day to remain happy, and use up his energy! Remember bored dogs can get frustrated, and start eating furniture, so if you can’t manage this, then consider something smaller or consider rehoming an elderly Dobermann.

Dobes are quite easy to train because they have an inherent desire to please.  Dobes do well when mentally stimulated, so a dog training club is a great idea to help with exercise and keeping your dog alert and focused on you. It is also critical that you train your family! It is pointless if the main handler leaves for work and the remaining family members spoil the dog and allow him to get the wrong idea!

Socialisation

As most rescue Dobes aren’t puppies, we work hard with them wherever possible to ensure they are socialised. However, as they are rescue dogs some may never be able to socialise with other dogs.  Some Dobermanns have Same Sex Aggression and it is then best to not allow free socialising or access to dogs of the same sex.