doberman forum

[Big Dog]

Personally, I think the Doberman Pinscher breed is one of the most misunderstood dogs outside the owner/fancier community.

One of my fondest early memories as a child was a dobie dog named Hannah who lived next door. We were living at a beach house and shared the beach with everyone. I was about 4 or 5 and knew nothing of safe dog practices.

So I'm out playing in the sand and I see Hannah catching some rays. I walk right up and start petting her. Mom looks out from porch and sees me and the dobie. She nearly gave birth to a watermelon right then and there.

Well, long story short, Hannah stuck to me like a barnacle. Anywhere I went down the beach she followed and protected. We had a miniature poodle (ahmm, I had an older sister with influence) and when I went off on a walk she protected us both. Same when just hanging out on the sand. Loved that dog. Warm spot in my heart for Doberman Pinschers ever since. I briefly fostered a neutered male for a friend but it had issues with urinary incontinence. He was a big strapping dog and very sweet. This was when Ansel was in his prime - say 7 years old. Despite being bigger than Ansel he let Ansel be the alpha in the house. I've known one other big male and you'd have thought he was a Golden Retriever puppy by his demeanor - just sweet, hyper, fun, and funny.

[Dog Training]

Great story BD and not a rare one in my experience.
When i was around 6 years old we used to play with the other kids in the street (doesn't happen any more in the Uk very often!) and my friend across the street had a male Dobe. He used to sit and play with us and was always watching out for strangers. One day we were playing in his front garden and the Dobe (Tizer was his name, nice name) was sitting in the living room watching through the front window, and a man innocently wandered up the street. He pulled a brick out of a bag and threw it through the window of my friend's house. Not sure why, think he was an ex employee of my friends dad, but anyway, the Dobe disappeared and we couldn't believe it, we expected him to come crashing through the window cos he was always very protective (postman etcetera). Anyway, the man ran off up the road, and suddenly Tizer came bouncing over a 6 foot gate (he had gone out the back of the house and round - very intelligent for a dog to do that) and came out the front. It was so weird, he came out onto the path and resembled a man as he looked left long and hard, then right long and hard. Then his nose went up in the air and he suddenly sparked and bolted left again down the road even though the man wasn't visible, we knew he had gone that way. By this point my friends Dad was just making it out of the front door in his underpants. Anyway, the dog disappeared and a minute later we heard an almighty scream and lots of shouting. My friends Dad disappeared, we couldn't keep up unfortunately, but a few minutes later his dad came back with this mans arm behind his back and waited for the police who arrested the man and took the brick with them for evidence! He said the dog had cornered the man in a car park and growled at him each time he tried to move! That was after giving him a nasty bite on his rear end which was bleeding when he came back and he could barely sit down in the police car!! Ever since that day i have been hugely respectful of this breed. I had a book which i have lost, but it was called something like "Dobermann - Tales of bravery" and if anyone knows of it, please let me know as i would love to read it again. It was full of stories and accounts of Dobes fighting off attacks from strangers and burglars. This breed is so incredibly intelligent. Just like an extremely intelligent and eccentric person, they are not always the easiest dogs to live with, and are not without their faults, but when it comes to knowing the place of everything in your house, and who should and shouldn't be there, there are pretty supreme. I have to say i prefer GSDs but that is mostly because of their thicker coat and having lived in Ireland and UK this is a must for a dog to be happy at all temperatures. The other reason is that Dobes are very strong willed and not naturally designed to obey unconditionally. They think for themselves, and although i have one which is trained just about as good as any dog you will find, and certainly better than police dogs, this was only done through training from literally 6 weeks old to make sure he replaced his willful tendencies with pure obedience. I would not be without a Dobe and with two young children, it is nice to have the watchful and restless mind of a Dobe around the house, with a big GSD behind him to back up his suspicions! Mine will allow anyone in the house, has no protective tendencies at all visible to strangers. Anyone can stroke him, anyone can play with him without getting to know him first. But if someone raises a voice in an aggressive way, he simply stands and growls, then comes to me for further instruction!! Wonderful breed, TRULY wonderful. Well done Ludwig!

[K9 Obedience]

My Doberman is much the same as the last post described. He looks really soft and friendly as he mooches around on a walk. I go out walking very early in the morning and late evenings, mainly because I love the peace and quite, and being able to see wildlife as I stroll around a huge nature reserve. I have learned to pay attention to my Dobe's body language. If anyone is approaching me, he stops walking and keeps perfectly still. He raises his head and sniffs the air. As we walk on, he tends to keep close to me. Sometimes it has been up to five minutes before a person comes into view. He is never aggressive, just extremely protective. I have total confidence in him and have no fears of walking in the dark or in lonely spots. I believe that Dobe's have an uncanny instinct which tells them if a person is even thinking of causing harm. Nobody else would see these subtle changes in his body language. His ear's are uncropped and his tail is not docked, which enables me to read his body language better. I'd trust him with my life

[Dog Training]

Hi, yes i could see that last time i saw him, he dotes on you! But come on, tell the forum what he wears in the evening! Come on, own up or i will spill the beans for you!! Swea......
Dogs really do end up like their owners, in your case, a total softie and a bit nutty!!!!!! Just kidding, nutty in a nice way!!

[K9 Obedience]

OK I have to admit that on a cold winters evening, without me saying anything, my Dobe fetches his, "jumper." It is an old one of mine, which I have cut the arms to size to fit his front legs. The length of the jumper, pulls down over his body. He curls up in it with great sighs of content. I fear that any burgalar breaking in would, "die" of laughing.

[Dog Training]

Nuts?! if it is any consolation i think you chose the right breed!! I don't know many people who have owned Dobes who have not seen a slightly mad spell in their dog from time to time! You were made for each other!! Hope he is eating better and filling out a bit. Any luck with that? You said he was getting saggy skinned and a bit too lean. Is that improving?

[K9 Obedience]

Not really even though I have upped his meals to three a day. He is getting 1-2 lbs of raw tripe or beef mixed in with cooked rice and veggies. I expect it will take time before I actually notice anything. He is so healthy otherwise. He keeps climbing trees lately, and looks really funny pearched up high amongst the branches. I reckon he is just after the squirrels! Must take a photo and post it on the forum, though I am not too sure how to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dog Training]

it is probably easier if i work it out and then email you with detailed explanation, not saying you are incapable, but i think growing up in a computer free age took its toll on you a bit!! If i find out i will let you know. Give me best to Shadow, remember - exercising his mind will do more for his metabolism than walking for miles of brain dead strolling, tennis racket and ball in the local park would be far more useful to him, especially with this problem. (Don't leave his sweater on though!!)
See ya, off to have a baby, wife being induced in the morning 7 a.m. sharp. Depending on how baby's health problems are, i might not be seen for a few days so apologies in advance for that, but hopefully will be back soon.
Take care all

[K9 Obedience]

Will do. I have all the photo's on the PC but can't upload them. Good luck with the baby. Hope all goes well.

[Big Dog]

Will do. I have all the photo's on the PC but can't upload them. Good luck with the baby. Hope all goes well.

Hi, please upload the pictures - which sound great - to our funny dog picture album in the gallery. You can also post them, instead, or as well, in the breed gallery for dobies if you wish.

How to?

Right here:

http://dogexplorer.com/dog/index.php/topic,64.0.html

Thanks!

Feel free to come back here on post a link in this thread to the location of your pictures like I did to the FAQ above.

[Big Dog]

it is probably easier if i work it out and then email you with detailed explanation, not saying you are incapable, but i think growing up in a computer free age took its toll on you a bit!! If i find out i will let you know. Give me best to Shadow, remember - exercising his mind will do more for his metabolism than walking for miles of brain dead strolling, tennis racket and ball in the local park would be far more useful to him, especially with this problem. (Don't leave his sweater on though!!)
See ya, off to have a baby, wife being induced in the morning 7 a.m. sharp. Depending on how baby's health problems are, i might not be seen for a few days so apologies in advance for that, but hopefully will be back soon.
Take care all

Sending you and your growing pack the best of wishes - hope all goes very well!

Craig

[Dog Training]

Thanks Craig, just checking emails and this forum on a brief visit home. Baby boy born 7 pounds and 2 ounces. in special baby care unit probably for some weeks as blood transfusions may be needed, but fingers crossed with light treatment it will be avoided this time. Got to dash, haven't slept for don't know how long, but thanks for your kind message and i will let you know what happens. another dominant male soon to be home and well, paws crossed!
All the best for now

[K9 Obedience]

Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy. How is the mum doing? Our prayers are with you. How is the baby doing?

[K9 Obedience]

  I reckon my Dobe must hold the record for being the truly smelliest Dobe ever. Out on walks I can hear people gasping and choking as they enter a cloud of pong left by my dog. I am not joking. One minute you can be walking along breathing in the warm Spring air and the next you are left gasping for breath. The Dobe is often nowhere to be seen and boy do I recieve some funny looks!! At home, his smells are bad enough to make you vacate the room pretty quick. I must say that feeding him the dried, commercial food, made the problem worse so I have now changed to a raw diet, and I am experimenting with herbs and garlic. I know another Dobe owner who was about to taake his puppy to the vets as he thought the dog must have a serious problem. That is till we met out on a walk. We were stood chatting, when my dog trotted by letting out a quiet, "pfiff". Both of us ran backwards to escape the smell. Embarrassed, I turned to apoligise for my Dobe's rotten guts, when he said, "Thank God for that. I thought it was only mine that could make such smells."  Funny isn't it. Any books you read on owning a Doberman, sneakily forget to mention this trait......

dog lover

[Big Dog]

You might consider a chat with a Vet before you try the following, but I've had good luck with adding probiotics to the diet.

Some very high quality foods already add these, and you can purchase suppliments in the States that offer the same kind of products.

I take a human product called Primal Defense. I also gave it to Ansel when he was alive.

Here is some product info and link:

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Product Description
Primal Defense™ is a natural whole food probiotic blend of HSOs™ (Homeostatic Soil Organisms) utilizing the Poten-Zyme™ process. Each 900 mg serving contains 14 non-dairy probiotic strains including Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and many more.

Safety Information
Pregnant or nursing women should consult a physician before using this product.Store in a cool, dry place. Due to organic nature of the ingredients, color may vary from lot to lot. Do not use if safety seal under cap is broken or missing.

Ingredients
HSO PROBIOTIC BLEND: 1Bill, POTEN-ZYME SUPERFOOD BLEND: 800mg, IONIC PLANT BASED MINERALS: 100mg, Iron: 1.8mg

Directions
Adults take 1 caplet 3 times per day with 8 ounces of water or juice. For advanced use, take 6-12 caplets per day for 90 days, followed by a maintenance level of 3 per day for life. Best taken on an empty stomach. Great for pets. To avoid rapid detoxification, start with 1 caplet per day and gradually increase to desired amount. (pet emphasis added by me - but that is what the source page said.)

For what it's worth, I took the human daily normal dosage and adjusted it for weight to Ansel. Also started slow and built up. He ate them like candy - no shoving down the throat. Not cheap, but high quality organic ingredients. Also available as a powder.

Primal Defense