German Shepherd Vs. Doberman
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My dobe must be one of the well-bred ones, 'cause she isn't neurotic or high-strung at all!
Don't know about GSD, but dobermans are VERY attached to their families, and will be very protective of their "pack". It's funny to see my 15-month-old son crawling all over my dobe, pulling her ears & pulling the toys from her mouth and see how gentle and tolerant she is of him. But if a stanger comes to the door, she is off like a lightning bolt, usually growling a warning until we tell her it's ok. Very protective!
Dobes DO shed, but it's not as bad as the GSD. I say that because my buddy has a GSD & you should see the hair fly when you pet her!
IMHO, most people are much more intimidated by the doberman, as they ALWAY seem to have the role of "killer dogs" on TV & movies, where the GSD is sometimes the "hero" dog.
Another consideration is to check your homeowner's policy to see if they have a provision against EITHER of these breeds. Some breeds are not thought of fondly by insurance agencies!
Don't know about GSD, but dobermans are VERY attached to their families, and will be very protective of their "pack". It's funny to see my 15-month-old son crawling all over my dobe, pulling her ears & pulling the toys from her mouth and see how gentle and tolerant she is of him. But if a stanger comes to the door, she is off like a lightning bolt, usually growling a warning until we tell her it's ok. Very protective!
Dobes DO shed, but it's not as bad as the GSD. I say that because my buddy has a GSD & you should see the hair fly when you pet her!
IMHO, most people are much more intimidated by the doberman, as they ALWAY seem to have the role of "killer dogs" on TV & movies, where the GSD is sometimes the "hero" dog.
Another consideration is to check your homeowner's policy to see if they have a provision against EITHER of these breeds. Some breeds are not thought of fondly by insurance agencies!
Pros and cons
I am a Dobermann owner, though have only owned one, who is 7 1/2 yrs. He has done obedience and shows. He is also a very loving loyal friend to me and my family.
In Australia we tend to breed the dobes for temperment. To be honest, I have only come across one bad dog that I would not attempt to go near. I cannot comment on GSD because I have never owned one. I think it is true on how you bring your dog up.
I have people coming up to me all the time remarking on how lovely natured my dog is with children and adults. All the staff at the vet love him because he is very sensible and tolerant. Never has to be muzzled and he has had his share of tests and treatments over the years.
I would say thought that GSD's would be easier to train. Dobes are pretty intelligent and when they think they have had enough, thats it for the day. They need shorter training sessions. Once trained they are very obedient and never forget anything.
GSD's make more of a mess with hair shedding. My sister had one and when our 2 dogs were in the car her dog made the most mess.
Dobes are known to have a few health problems but then again GDS have theirs as well so I dont think there is any difference there.
I have to agree that most dobes are not high strung and neurotic. My dog is so placid but at the same time he is a good guard dog. He never leaves my side and I only have to tell him something once. I have raised 3 boys with this dog. He shares sleeping with each one.He doesnt know what the word bite is except when it comes to lizards.
Where dobes are concerned, if you are female, choose a dog and if male, choose a bitch. The bonding seems to be better. I dont know what it is like in America but in Australia most breeders of dobes are responsible and very particular where there dogs go. You wont see yobbos with dobes tied up on the back of their utilities. You dont see many dobe x iether.You will see at the shows, beautiful, socialised, obedient, sweet tempered examples of a lovely breed.
I get a bit upset the way dobes are portrayed sometimes on stupid movies. They are really not like that at all unless they have had specific training to be like that. They are actually ideal family dogs. Neurotic dogs of any breed are caused to be like that through improper training, exercise and environment.
I would advise against getting a rescue dobe if this is your first time dobe. Get a pup, that way you are in charge of his upbringing & there is no hidden baggage that you dont know about. You have to be gentle but firm with dobes.
I am a Dobermann owner, though have only owned one, who is 7 1/2 yrs. He has done obedience and shows. He is also a very loving loyal friend to me and my family.
In Australia we tend to breed the dobes for temperment. To be honest, I have only come across one bad dog that I would not attempt to go near. I cannot comment on GSD because I have never owned one. I think it is true on how you bring your dog up.
I have people coming up to me all the time remarking on how lovely natured my dog is with children and adults. All the staff at the vet love him because he is very sensible and tolerant. Never has to be muzzled and he has had his share of tests and treatments over the years.
I would say thought that GSD's would be easier to train. Dobes are pretty intelligent and when they think they have had enough, thats it for the day. They need shorter training sessions. Once trained they are very obedient and never forget anything.
GSD's make more of a mess with hair shedding. My sister had one and when our 2 dogs were in the car her dog made the most mess.
Dobes are known to have a few health problems but then again GDS have theirs as well so I dont think there is any difference there.
I have to agree that most dobes are not high strung and neurotic. My dog is so placid but at the same time he is a good guard dog. He never leaves my side and I only have to tell him something once. I have raised 3 boys with this dog. He shares sleeping with each one.He doesnt know what the word bite is except when it comes to lizards.
Where dobes are concerned, if you are female, choose a dog and if male, choose a bitch. The bonding seems to be better. I dont know what it is like in America but in Australia most breeders of dobes are responsible and very particular where there dogs go. You wont see yobbos with dobes tied up on the back of their utilities. You dont see many dobe x iether.You will see at the shows, beautiful, socialised, obedient, sweet tempered examples of a lovely breed.
I get a bit upset the way dobes are portrayed sometimes on stupid movies. They are really not like that at all unless they have had specific training to be like that. They are actually ideal family dogs. Neurotic dogs of any breed are caused to be like that through improper training, exercise and environment.
I would advise against getting a rescue dobe if this is your first time dobe. Get a pup, that way you are in charge of his upbringing & there is no hidden baggage that you dont know about. You have to be gentle but firm with dobes.
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Ok, is your dog from American lines, probably not as you mentioned you are from australia. You will not find many Dobes from American lines in working fields because they ARE nurotic. Yes, some are great but most are so hard to deal with. That is why working people do NOT go for American bred. Same with GSD's. Most American bred GSD's are unpredictable. I've seen ALOT of agressive puppies, no older than 15 weeks growling and lunging at people and other dogs, and to no shock was I informed that they were American line. I wont get into that argument about different lines, but if you've seen as many American bred Dobes as I have then you would see what I am talking about.
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I have never owned a GSD or Doberman...but I have had a lot of experience with both (in a vet clinic setting, so actions are swayed I am sure LOL.)
The dobermans that I have witnessed have always been more stable and loving than the GSD's that I have been in contact with. In fact, dobies are really just big lovable babies IMO. I think GSD's are just more nervous by nature.
I think GSD's would be better at protecting though. It's seems they have a keen sense of what is "theirs." I also think that they are very loving with their family, just not with strangers.
Or it could just be that all the GSD's I have come into contact with were poorly bred and all the dobermans were bred by very reputable show breeders (wife of the vet I used to work for showed dobies and brought them into the clinic all the time.)
Either way, do your research, meet with breeders and decide for yourself what's best for you.
The dobermans that I have witnessed have always been more stable and loving than the GSD's that I have been in contact with. In fact, dobies are really just big lovable babies IMO. I think GSD's are just more nervous by nature.
I think GSD's would be better at protecting though. It's seems they have a keen sense of what is "theirs." I also think that they are very loving with their family, just not with strangers.
Or it could just be that all the GSD's I have come into contact with were poorly bred and all the dobermans were bred by very reputable show breeders (wife of the vet I used to work for showed dobies and brought them into the clinic all the time.)
Either way, do your research, meet with breeders and decide for yourself what's best for you.
The only neurotic dobes I have seen in the US have been EURO working line dogs who cannot be kept in a house (per their owners), who are insanely overactive and hyper, and have no focus. "working people" don't go for american bred? well that is debatable too...
Secondly - I strongly disagree that do not get a rescue for your first dog - if you have never RAISED a doberman puppy, there is a BIG REASON why so many young dogs are turned over to rescue - dobes are NOT easy dogs to raise. Responsible rescues in the US (of which there are many) do their damndest to evaluate dogs and know what they have - many take dogs to training, provide high levels of medical care, and temperament test the dog - hell, some come with CGC's and such! FInding a good rescue can give you an adult dog that perfectly fits in with your life, and lets you know what the breed is like.
I think if MORE people got rescues first rather than puppies, less dogs would be turned over to rescue, PERIOD.
Secondly - I strongly disagree that do not get a rescue for your first dog - if you have never RAISED a doberman puppy, there is a BIG REASON why so many young dogs are turned over to rescue - dobes are NOT easy dogs to raise. Responsible rescues in the US (of which there are many) do their damndest to evaluate dogs and know what they have - many take dogs to training, provide high levels of medical care, and temperament test the dog - hell, some come with CGC's and such! FInding a good rescue can give you an adult dog that perfectly fits in with your life, and lets you know what the breed is like.
I think if MORE people got rescues first rather than puppies, less dogs would be turned over to rescue, PERIOD.
Zaidoo, in a lot of your posts you mention wanting an "intimidating" dog or a dog who is "a bit aggressive". Why do you want an "intimidating" looking dog? Do you live in an area with lots of crime? You can count on almost any dog to bark when a stranger tries to get in the yard. And barking will scare most burglars away, even if the barker is a six pound chihuahua, because it attracts attention.
The danger with a dog who is trained or encouraged to be aggressive is that if he attacks the wrong person (for example, dumb kids climbing over your fence on a dare), several negative things will happen. First, everyone will gasp, "Oh my, [breed] is so VIOLENT!" and give your dog's breed a black eye. Second, you may face a lawsuit. Third, your dog may well be put to sleep; this is especially true if he gets out of your property and attacks someone or if he attacks a hapless deliveryman. It's hard work to properly train a guard dog; given your work hours and lack of previous dog training experience, I wouldn't recommend it.
I've never had a doberman, but obviously from what people say here, they are not a "beginner's" dog. If you DO get one, I too suggest going through a rescue. Not all rescue dogs have "baggage", some were dumped for the same old reasons--"moving away from the city/into an apartment", "he sheds too much", "we are changing the furniture and he doesn't match anymore."
A good rescue will evaluate their dogs and be able to tell you about their personalities and any "issues" they have.
German shepherds are one of the most popular dogs in the US (I think number three in the AKC?) and therefore there are MANY unscrupulous breeders producing poor examples of the breed, riddled with health problems. So screen carefully if you go the breeder route. But personally I would go to a rescue or the Humane Society (plenty of shepherds / shepherd mixes there) and save a life.
You asked in a different post about how to make the dog focus on you more than the rest of his family. He will probably focus on whoever trains and walks him the most. I got my dog when I was thirteen and did all her training myself; even when I had to go away to college and was gone several years, I was still "number one" in her book.
The danger with a dog who is trained or encouraged to be aggressive is that if he attacks the wrong person (for example, dumb kids climbing over your fence on a dare), several negative things will happen. First, everyone will gasp, "Oh my, [breed] is so VIOLENT!" and give your dog's breed a black eye. Second, you may face a lawsuit. Third, your dog may well be put to sleep; this is especially true if he gets out of your property and attacks someone or if he attacks a hapless deliveryman. It's hard work to properly train a guard dog; given your work hours and lack of previous dog training experience, I wouldn't recommend it.
I've never had a doberman, but obviously from what people say here, they are not a "beginner's" dog. If you DO get one, I too suggest going through a rescue. Not all rescue dogs have "baggage", some were dumped for the same old reasons--"moving away from the city/into an apartment", "he sheds too much", "we are changing the furniture and he doesn't match anymore."
A good rescue will evaluate their dogs and be able to tell you about their personalities and any "issues" they have.German shepherds are one of the most popular dogs in the US (I think number three in the AKC?) and therefore there are MANY unscrupulous breeders producing poor examples of the breed, riddled with health problems. So screen carefully if you go the breeder route. But personally I would go to a rescue or the Humane Society (plenty of shepherds / shepherd mixes there) and save a life.
You asked in a different post about how to make the dog focus on you more than the rest of his family. He will probably focus on whoever trains and walks him the most. I got my dog when I was thirteen and did all her training myself; even when I had to go away to college and was gone several years, I was still "number one" in her book.
Ok I am not sure now, but GSD is not breed for guard dog, its actually a shepherd and "started" off as that, and then GSD apprantly seem VERY good in many other feilds.
To me, there is a different in GSD and dobby.. I might be wrong or have got the wrong side of the foot, but GSD is more.... near the family then dobby, while GSD is making sure you all are there... dobby.. well might be more interested in the nature around him.
That is what I have seen in the 2 breeds.
To me, there is a different in GSD and dobby.. I might be wrong or have got the wrong side of the foot, but GSD is more.... near the family then dobby, while GSD is making sure you all are there... dobby.. well might be more interested in the nature around him.
That is what I have seen in the 2 breeds.
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I have to agree. GSD's are VERY close to their owner/handler, they are actually known to do perimeter checks. Hondo, I've noticed have started to circle me when we are out, he walks from every side of me "checking out" the area and making sure I am secure and then he walks in front of me, then he repeats the process. He does it in a very calm manner. Shepherds RARELY leave their owners, whereas Dobes wouldnt mind wandering off for a sec. Yes, Dobes where bred for PP but you have to remember that GSD's work side by side with their human "partners". Dobes are not used as widely as GSD's or Mali's, and it is the GSD's job (in this time period) to work side by side with their handler, more so than a Dobe.
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Hmm really??? How many Euro Dobes have you seen work? No working dog is sutable for a pet home. They are not as nurotic as the ones I've seen from AMERICAN lines. The Dobes I work with every week at Schutzhund training (all from euro lines) are anything but nurotic. They are bred for confidence and dignity, not just looks. There is this one Dobe (15 months old, and ugly as hell) but that dog is UNBELIEVABLE when it comes to working. The confidence this dog has at such a young age is amazing. That is a REAL Dobe. I have to admit, when I was younger we had Dobes who didnt play (they were Euro lines, of course ) and we had two American line once I was a little older. GAWD, were they a mess. They were from American Showlines from a reputable breeder, but they were SOOOO hyper. Our other ones just sat around, but when it was on they brought it all. But those two we ended up having to tie them to a car and have them run to get out all that energy. Just insane. My aunt also had many Dobes and there was a HUGE difference between AM and EURO lines, HUGE.
Why, yes it is. Why dont you plead your case first and enlighten me on the issue.
) and we had two American line once I was a little older. GAWD, were they a mess. They were from American Showlines from a reputable breeder, but they were SOOOO hyper. Our other ones just sat around, but when it was on they brought it all. But those two we ended up having to tie them to a car and have them run to get out all that energy. Just insane. My aunt also had many Dobes and there was a HUGE difference between AM and EURO lines, HUGE. Why, yes it is. Why dont you plead your case first and enlighten me on the issue.
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A working dog can't be a pet???
Dobermans in general, yes.
Dobermans are high energy dogs. And I think there is a difference between hyper and high strung?
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: nervous
Synonyms: easily upset, edge, excitable, fidgety, hyper*, impatient, irascible, irritable, jittery, jumpy, nervy, neurotic, restless, sensitive, spooked*, stressed, taut, temperamental, tense, tight*, unrestful, uptight*, wired*, zonkers*
(look it even has a nice shiny star next to it
)Hmm, really?? Thats for letting me know
.
My dog is actually from show american bloodlines through AI on both sides. My breeder has always made a point of breeding for temperment first. Her dogs are very well known throughout the dobermann fraternity for their temperments & I have been blessed to have one of her lovely dogs.
Australian dobes are just not neurotic. I dont know why this is. Maybe its because we are breeding any tendency for this out. Maybe its because a good majority of dobe owners have properties and good sized backyards. We never crate them, only some do at shows.
To be honest, they are not as popular as GSD in Australia. They are listed right down the ladder on dog bite statistics as there arent as many of them and there just isnt any backyard breeders. You want a dobe, you go to a reputable breeder and they sus you right out and you pay a good price for one.A neurotic dog here would be more likely to be a border collie.
I would still advise getting a Dobe pup for anybody who is a first timer & has a passion for the Dobermann. This is only my first dobe and I was a complete rooky when it came to training and showing. Well, I got there and ended up winning ribbons and have had the pleasure of seeing my dog grow up with my boys. He is the dog he is because of his upbringing. If you love something or someone you don't show them the door the minute it gets a bit tough or stressful. Anybody who does this is in it for the wrong reasons.
My breeder always takes the dogs back if it doesnt work out. She strongly discourages anybody she thinks would not be suitable and wont sell them a dog. She is a responsible breeder.
Australian dobes are just not neurotic. I dont know why this is. Maybe its because we are breeding any tendency for this out. Maybe its because a good majority of dobe owners have properties and good sized backyards. We never crate them, only some do at shows.
To be honest, they are not as popular as GSD in Australia. They are listed right down the ladder on dog bite statistics as there arent as many of them and there just isnt any backyard breeders. You want a dobe, you go to a reputable breeder and they sus you right out and you pay a good price for one.A neurotic dog here would be more likely to be a border collie.
I would still advise getting a Dobe pup for anybody who is a first timer & has a passion for the Dobermann. This is only my first dobe and I was a complete rooky when it came to training and showing. Well, I got there and ended up winning ribbons and have had the pleasure of seeing my dog grow up with my boys. He is the dog he is because of his upbringing. If you love something or someone you don't show them the door the minute it gets a bit tough or stressful. Anybody who does this is in it for the wrong reasons.
My breeder always takes the dogs back if it doesnt work out. She strongly discourages anybody she thinks would not be suitable and wont sell them a dog. She is a responsible breeder.
OK I did not mean to start a flame war lol.. I am only saying what I have seen in the dobbies my self.. as we human we all have different personality.
Some GSD might be alright with the whole family, but for example, my girl is made FOR ME and no one else.. she would die to be without me.
She do not leave me with one sec.. I seen dobbys that are extremly lovely and loving in general.. but what I meant is that they dont have the "shepherd" need as GSD have.. thats all.. they are stunning, they are both a great dog if taken care of.
Some GSD might be alright with the whole family, but for example, my girl is made FOR ME and no one else.. she would die to be without me.
She do not leave me with one sec.. I seen dobbys that are extremly lovely and loving in general.. but what I meant is that they dont have the "shepherd" need as GSD have.. thats all.. they are stunning, they are both a great dog if taken care of.
this is the stupidest argument ever, GSD, and im not even going to continue it with you - you can continue to believe whatever misguided things you think, but ive had enough of arguing with people who have no intention of opening their minds or even considering someone else could be right. we will all bow down to your working dog uber-ness, you are truly more superior than the rest of us, you know much more than anyone else, and it is IMPOSSIBLE that any of us would know what we are talking about. your dog is MUCH better than my dog!