There's a few gundog breeds I admire and Munsters are really an amalgam of them all in one package.  I wouldn't swap breeds now, there's a few others I like but Munsters seem to suit me down to the ground.

I love seeing a dog use it's natural ability on a walk - and they do this! - they are friendly, intelligent (Too intelligent in Mia's case!), loving and real characters.  They can be a bit vocal and when they shed, they shed that black hair everywhere!  Not for the houseproud as they love water, clean or not.

I'm glad that they still are very workmanlike and there's no divergence in type as in the "traditional" gundog breeds.

Christine

There usually called chocolate here as well Carrie, although the UK breed standard uses both terms. Judging by the breed supplements (KC list of all registered pups bred in the quarter year) a small minority of breeders still register them as liver.

The only purebred dogs I've ever had are my GSD's. What do I love about them? Beauty, brains, loyalty, how they gaze into your eyes and tilt their heads as if trying to understand what you say. Their grace, the fact they never seem to grow up and are just huge pups inside - and their talking!

My other 'breed' is the 4 mongrels i've owned. All unique and all a joy. My internal debate at this moment is that when my present old mongrel leaves us (she has kidney failure) what shall I do, another shepherd to keep my youngster (17months) happy, or another mongrel. I'm trying to consider this now because when anything happens to my lovely old girl I won't be able to think straight. I still haven't come up with an answer though, and am fighting to keep my old girl stable, so hope to have her a while.

Kat

Hi Carrie - always good to meet another dobe person!

Cam is a brown and rust male, and is just over a year old. In a sense he's a champdogs pup - I found the site when I was researching the breed, so a number of the regulars here have 'known' Cam since he was born <Jo gets all mushy>. Even though he's a year old he is still very much a pup in alot of ways. Apparently dobes can be quite late maturing (12 years in some cases :D ).

He has an amazing memory - he remembers people he met as a pup, who played with him. He's a big licker - I guess this is just him though, rather than a breed trait but never having had another dobe before I don't know.

You're absolutely right about the dorky expressions. He is also the messiest drinker I've ever met - water just pools out of his mouth. Eww.

To be honest, I can't think of any reason why anyone would dislike dobes, other than that fact that they have been misrepresented in the media.  They're not for everyone as they are big strong boys and girls that have a mind of their own and need a great deal of attention - but only because they are intelligent and want a job to do. I do sometimes envy people with breeds like German Shepherds which stick like glue to their owners. But only because I'm the resident park crazy who dances around dementedly throwing toys in the air and talking in a high-pitched voiced in order to keep Cam's attention from something he's noticed 20 miles away. But hey - it makes it more gratifying when you get it right. :) :D

I was interested to see you keep chihuahuas with your dobe (I love chihuahuas!). How do they get on? Is your dobe gentle around them?

Jo :) :)

"Jo gets all mushy" LOL  LOL

Messy with water: Yup. On this dobe board I go on, everyone says the same thing....and how you never want to walk around with just socks on...it's all over the place. It's like they keep drinking while they're walking away.

My Dobe licks quite a lot too, but can't measure up to the tongues on those Chihuahuas. He likes them fine. They aren't too crazy about him though. He can be a pest, wanting to play and in the beginning it was a real challenge to teach him to back off, stop standing over them trying to dominate them and stop being rough. Now things have settled down. It is still a worry, having two male dogs, the Chi mix who's 15LB and Doberboy. It's always a risk so I always advise people to not get two male dogs, especially if ones a Doberman. Big mistake. They have a love/hate relationship. They play and go investigate the woods together like partners in crime, but when it comes to a toy, sometimes there is some competition going on so I have to remind them to cool it sometimes. Jose can get pretty feisty and he has to be told also to settle. Lyric, so far hasn't shown a mean bone in his body, but he's young. The girl Chi doesn't really want anything to do with Lyric and Lyric doesn't pester her too much. She doesn't even come up to the first joint on his leg. But he is definitely careful and gentle with them now. He kind of bugs my old Lab also, wanting to play. She is just not into that anymore. But she's pretty tolerant. I just like so many different breeds and enjoy having little lap dogs too.

Dobermans are often referred to as velcro dogs. They normally do stick like glue. My Dobe is pretty much that way, but like you say, when there's something that catches their prey drive....off they go. But all and all, Lyric does stick around close.

Yes, they're feared and there is a legitimate reason for it as they're guard dogs. But some of the reputation they get is unrealistic....that they're some kind of evil, unpredictable, violent dog....no. Not if they're bred for temperament, raised and trained properly. They should be gentlemen and ladies. LOL. And they're about as loyal as you can get and affectionate beyond belief. I love their intelligence, strong personality and their expressions just speak volumes don't they.

Mine is black and rust. I think the (we say red and rusts here) brown/red are beautiful too, especially that deep, rich color. I'd like one of each. I don't care for the diluted colors. I just wanted my first to be the old, traditional, original basic black. They're all gorgeous dogs!

I'm glad you're enjoying yours too. Mine will be 9 months on the 6th of May. He is about 78-80 LB right now. He's got lots of bone, but should be within the standard.

That's interesting how you got him through Champdogs. I got mine in Montana. You can even see his grandsire and sire if you want. His grandsire is Repo Man and his sire is Little Big Man. His dam is on another website called Crestline Dobermans and her name is Indian Princess.

http://www.marienburg-dobermans.com/section2.htm

I think it's fun looking at different pedigrees. What lines are in your dog's background? Maybe they're related!!! Small gene pool.

Carrie

Hi Carrie

I didn't actually get Cam through Champdogs, but I was recommended to his breeder by someone on the site. During my research I've spoken to a number of breeders connected to CD and they've all been very helpful. More than, in fact!

Perhaps it is the nose/lip conformation that causes the sloppy drinking. Whatever, it's always fun to watch. :D

Do you plan to compete with your boy?

I love the black and tans - if we get a second dog we'd like a black one. But I've always been very taken with Chihs ever since meeting one at a puppy party I went to. It was tiny, but so aloof and dignified.

Oh well, off to the pub so will catch up with you later!

Jo

Jo,

You lucky...off to the pub. I'm just fixin' to go out and mow lawn and do some garden work. Hee hee...the time difference is so weird.

No, I knew what you meant about getting your dog through champ dogs. It was just kind of a lead for you.

I may compete in agility at some point. And after a while, I thought I'd try another dog sport like free style dancing. It looks like a whole lot of fun. I don't need a "real" working dog. I dont need a hunting dog as I go to the grocery store for my food. (My Lab brings me rabbits too...LOL) And I don't need a herding dog as I have no livestock. A guard dog? Well....one never knows but I do live in one of the safest places I can think of as far as crime. I don't even lock my door when I leave. (especially don't need to though with Doberboy) But he is sure going to be good at doggie sports!!!

How about you? Do you have any competitive streak in you or any plans with your dog for competition of any kind?

Carrie

I've always intended to show Cam, but put aside the idea until recently because he went through a very gangly phase between about 6 - 10 months.  He began to grow into himself a while ago and I'm really pleased with the way he looks now, so I need to get him entered. He's not a bad dog conformation-wise but there are a number of areas that aren't perfect. However, he's the perfect dober-dog for me so it matters not. :D

I was interested to note on another post that you're involved with horses. I used to compete and work with horses, until I gave it all up and became a suit a number of years ago. :rolleyes:  I love Arabs - only ever had contact with a few as I mainly worked with thoroughbreds and warmbloods, but they're in a class of their own. So sensitive and such luvvies! :D  If I ever have a moment to spare in my life again I'd like to have a horse, and if I could find an oversized Arab he'd be top of the list (I'm quite tall so 16.2 and upwards suits me the best).

Never really been keen on warmbloods (takes them half a day to react to anything and they're all bonkers) though one or two have stolen my heart. The only time I've ever rushed a red traffic light was on a Hanoverian. :D

Have a good weekend!

Jo

For me it was the agreableness of them, their live and let live attitude to humans and dogs alike, their looks, size and the fact that they are energetic when out, and chill at home.

I also like the inteligence combined with independance.  I don't go a bundle on needy emotionally in my canine companion, as this is what my first dog was.  They fit in well with my busy family life.

Hi Folks,
I'm new to all of this (my first post.)
I already knew a little bit about Malamutes, because as a teenager I had pleaded with my parents to buy one after seeing The Lost Boys.  I was told (quite rightly) "when you have your own house and money, you can have as many as you want."  A few years later I was climbing in Switzerland. On one of our 'chill out' days, I was on the Jungfraujoch and there was a guy up there with a team of sled dogs.  Seeing them was amazing! It just brought back all of the Jack London stories that I loved so much as a kid.  After that I reseached all of the sled dog breeds before deciding on Malamutes.

Welcome to Champdogs, Packman! :)

Thanks!  I'm going to have to sus' out how to get these smiley faces.  They look a bit like pacman!!!

There's a help page or FAQ bit somewhere on the site which tells you how ... put 'emoticons' into search and there's some info there.

How many Mals do you have? Sounds like you may have quite a family!

Jo :)

Hi Packman,

It's great to have another Mal owner of the board!

I have a Samoyed and a Malamute.  The are brilliant together.  Mal's are such easy going dogs....unlike Sams!  My Sam is the most hyperactive dog (ever!) whereas my Mal is sooooooo laid back.  He couldn't care less aout anything!

I remember walking in Switzerland (Kleine Scheidegg) and coming across a pen full of Sibes and wanting one sooooo desperately.  I settled on a Mal because I preferred to look compared to a Sibe.  He's a big guy, weighs in at about 70-75 pounds and he's just a baby at 8 months.  He's a long haired wolf grey. 

Anyway, enough of me going on......welcome again!

Charlene

I had a black and white English Springer Spaniel (1st hubbies choice) but she just wasn't quite big enough for me. The Munsterlander was about the right size (I didn't have to bend down to stroke them :D ) so when I had the chance to get one I did. (2nd hubby by this time - well nearly ;) ) I've now got 3 and am waiting to get another one next year.

I just love watching them work, even though I don't actually work them :D

I couldn't go back to any other breed now. They've stolen my heart.

Hi Nanuk,

Yeah, Mals can be laid back characters, but also very devious and sneaky when it comes to stealing food. I have not come across one yet that has been trained out of that trait.

Do you work your dogs?

Sorry I have not replied sooner, have been working.  Thank's for that I'll check it out.
All of our Mals are family pets, so we have never had more than 3 at any one time.  However my wife is wanting to build an extension, so you never know!