are there any doberman enthusiasts out there?

[dball]

Originally Posted by Cristina

If you are perfectly consistant..not long ..but we all have lives so a little longer..
Crate train will train them faster..in the crate..out every 1/2 hour when it goes potty out to play in the house for 10 min..that teaches them real fast..that the only way I get to play in the house is when I(dog) go to the bathroom outside

See we did the opposite. He was allowed in the house but if he "went" in the house he was stuck in the laundry room for a couple hours, which he hated. It worked very fast for him.

[Cristina]

Originally Posted by dball

See we did the opposite. He was allowed in the house but if he "went" in the house he was stuck in the laundry room for a couple hours, which he hated. It worked very fast for him.

first you need to show a dod what you are asking of it..ie..go outside..I dont believe in punishing puppies b/c 1st..they cant hold it longer than a couple of hrs..and 2- You want the crate to be a happy place..dogs are den animals..my rottie goes in and sleeps in her to this day w/ the door open

if you punish a dog after it went in the house its really confused b/c you didnt show it first what you wanted it to do

mostly all dog problems are human error..dogs are cut and dry..be clear, consistant..when theres problems it usually b/c you arent clear enough to the dog and its confused.

[Reptscue]

I believe that crate training is the only way to go with either choice of dog.

And how about this guys... I have a Doberman and a DOBERMAN/ROTT MIX!!!
The Dobe puppy is just that... a bouncing off the walls doberman. Chloe is the one that we worry about because she gets that look in her eye when she meets new people. Hair standing on end, barking, growling, until Mommy tells her it is ok and makes them have a formal introduction. Then, it's all about play. Until she sees you the next time. It may take a few visits for her to be totally ok with someone.
And Sweet P is a 13 yr old dog that loves all children and people. Wouldn't hurt a fly.... unless you get your face too close to hers, then she does the "Doberman smile" witht he "Rotti purr" while licking you in the face. You then might get a little flea nip on the nose.

I'd take Cloe's furr style over the Rotti style Sweet P sports. Other then dobe hairs can and will stick in your foot like a splinter.

Health issues.....
Dobes: hypothyroid, von willebrands disease, cardio myopathy(sorry heidi), allergies, wobblers disease, and bloat

Rotts: Sub-Aortic Stenosis, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothroidism, Osteosarcoma, Juvenile Cataracts, Elbow Dysplasia

[Xeikeness]

Were I you, I'd go Rottweiler, 100%.

If you want something a bit more floppy, get a mastiff. No one's going to mess with a mastiff, and they're pretty good with kids, too. English, or Neopolitan are my two faves... also great would be a Renessaince Bulldog. Imagine a rottweiler with a thicker chest, a thicker head, and half the leg. They're incredible dogs. Sweet as the dickens, and cuddleable as fuzzwads, but great watchdogs. They're the kind of dog that a burglar or murderer doesn't know is there until he hears the nails clicking on linoleum. Same with most Rotts. Dobies and German Shepherds have a tendancy to do the, "Are you crazy?! There's a huge dog in here! How dare you break in!!" Bark before doing anything. Like that old joke...

A burglar breaks into a house, and as he's climbing into the window, a scratchy voice says, "Jesus is watching you."
He shines his flashlight around, but doesn't see anyone, so he continues into the living room. He stuffs a DVD player into his bag, and again hears that scratchy voice, "Jesus is watching you..." Again, he shines the flashlight around, but... nothing.
He continues picking up valuables, and stuffing them in his bag. He was on to the buraeu of expensive china, when he hears the voice a third time. "Jesus is watching you..."
He shines the light around, and finally the beam lands on a bird cage. Inside, a parrot is eyeballing him. "Jesus is watching you." It states, matter-of-factly.
"And just who are you? "Jesus"?"
The bird hopped on it's perch. "No, I'm Moses. Jesus is the 170 pound rottweiler standing under the window."

[NicoleRussell]

Lol!

[Cristina]

lol...that so funny and true

[bcfos1]

Originally Posted by NicoleRussell

my pomeranian sleeps with us at night...do these larger breeds like sleeping with the family or do they stay downstairs (if there is more then one floor invloved)?

My dobie would do the "sneak attack" when I was asleep and sneak up in the bed with me. Don't know about rott's as I have never owned them.

As for shedding even being the neat freak I am I didn't have too much of an issue with shedding from my dobie. A rott I do believe has a thicker coat which I believe is two layers like a lab. So I would imagine they shed but the extent of the shed I don't know.

All three breeds brought up thus far are rather smart and love a mental challenge. And with a smaller breed in the house best bet is to get a puppy and properly get it socalized with it's soon to be way smaller friend.