Big Softies (Doberman Pinscher)

Member Name: weege

Product:	Doberman Pinscher
Date:	28/02/04 (14932 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loving, Loyal

Disadvantages: None!

When my husband first suggested getting a Doberman a couple of years ago my first reaction was no way, they are devil dogs!! Yes, I?d seen all the movies where the Doberman was portrayed as a killing machine with teeth so to say I was weary was an understatement. The biggest dog I had been used to was a Shih-tzu that my mum and dad owned so to go to a big dog was a bit of a worry.

I trusted my better half, so we bought our very first Doberman in July 2001, the same month we moved into our first home (must have had an insane moment!!) I was actually the one who rang up about the puppies and as my hubby wanted a female, there weren?t any left. The lady selling the puppies rang me the next day to say if we were interested she had a 2 ½ year old female who they had rescued. When we went to look at her, I was introduced for the first time to a Doberman. He was a male weighing 8 stone, who was like a whirlwind around the house!! He was used to being outside all the time, so being in the house was a treat for him. He was definitely friendly and proceeded to pin my husband to the settee and licked him to death! Needless to say I was thinking oh my god, we are going to get an absolute loon for a dog! Then she brought out the female dog we were there to look at, she was very nervous and jumped at the slightest noise, but she was absolutely gorgeous, such big brown eyes. We fell in love with her instantly and took her home straight away. So that was the beginning of our love for the Doberman. She is the most loving dog and follows my husband around all the time, she has come out of her shell as well and is the protector of the house. She doesn?t like people on bicycles for some reason so when we are out walking she always wants to chase after them. She also doesn?t like cats so if we see one, she tends to take me for a walk!

Just one month later, we thought it would be a good idea to get another Doberman to keep her company and to help bring her out o
f her shell as we?d seen how different she acted with the other Dobermans at the breeders. That?s when we bought a male puppy! To say that in the first few months my husband wanted to return him to the breeder would be pretty fair! I being the big softie said he was a puppy so we couldn?t expect anything less than chewing and deposits!

During his teething stage he destroyed the kitchen carpet, pulling the lining through the carpet so we had to get rid of it. To our delight there was a lino under the carpet so we thought ideal, that will stop him chewing. No, we came back to find half the lino chewed ? he?d had a busy couple of hours. That was our fault for leaving him, not his. He always looked so innocent and the female dob would always look as if to say ?it was him?. I?m sure she helped though. Apart from that and deciding to chew his bed every now and again, he wasn?t too bad. (my husband might say different! But he loves him) but I wouldn?t change either of them for the world.

The male Doberman has got such a character, like lord of the manner. My husband says that I have totally spoilt him so now we have to fight over the settee! He will bark until I give up the cushion! Seeing that he is only 2 but weighs about 5 ½ stone it?s quite hard to prize him off the settee! Our female Doberman is still as good as ever, although I think she helped in eating a giant pack of chocolate digestive that I forgot about and left, still wrapped on the side. She is very clever at getting things off worktops that she fancies! She has a lovely regal character, just like someone else said, she is more like a snob! She looks at the younger male sometimes with a real look of disgust, but they are so funny together when they are playing. They need a bit of room when they play fight, legs flying around all over.

I would recommend anyone to get a Doberman, they are the most loving and loyal dogs I have ever met and I am so glad I trusted my hubbys judgement.
I soon got over my initial fears and fell in love with them instantly. We both say we will always have Dobermans now, and hope in the future to start a rescue home for Dobermans.

They do bark, the female more than the male, she has taken on the role of protecting everyone in the home so if someone walks too close to our front window she lets them know! They would never bite anyone, I agree with the person who said they will protect you to the death. Someone decided to have a verbal slanging match with my husband when he was walking her and she snarled at him a bit which surprised both my husband and the other guy!

They don?t cost much to feed a 15kg bag each a month or just over, plus a few treats, well a lot of treats if they have their way, is all they need. We pay £30 for a 15kg bag, but that is for a good quality one which is what they deserve. We also give them a tin of sardines once a week, the oil is good for their coat, not good for their breath !?, but they seem to enjoy it.

We haven?t had to visit the vets with either of them. A couple of times when he was a pup but that was more me over reacting! He pulled his leg whilst messing around with our other Doberman and was yelping ? you?d think he?d had his leg snapped off but it was just a reaction to take him to the vets.

They both love the water, the female is more adventurous and will go head first into any river/lake. He has turned into a sniffer dog and is more interested in trying to find mice in the local field.

They do need a fair amount of exercise, but they are just as happy to laze around the house with us and if given the choice would rather sleep all day on the settee! He also loves the sun and tends to have the top of his head bleached by the sun. We?ve even had him dressed up in dressing gowns and shorts and t-shirts. The female Doberman is too proud for that!

In short, our two Dobermans are the biggest softies and I would recommend anyone
to get one, they are fine with children and other dogs but don?t like cats! But then again that might just be our two.

Happy hunting if you do decide to get one, you?ll get a lot of love and loyalty in return.

Summary: