I have the option to buy a male & female Doberman puppy together - is this a good idea or am I asking for trouble. I am definitely buying the female and considering the male.

Hi

I don't know much about Dobes, except for that they can be a bit of a nightmare in adolescence (that apparently lasts four years :D)... but I would not advise anyone gets 2 pups from the same litter unless really really committed. 2 pups from the same litter tend to bond with each other more than with the human..training takes longer as you have to separate them to do it to keep their attention, and with a male and female you need to deal with the seasons.

Personally, I would have one pup now and then look again in 2 years. Just my opinion mind :)
Chloe

Edited: Also worth saying I had the sme option when buying my Great Dane (now 7 months) and I can honestly say that, after a lot of decision making on whether to or not, I am SO glad I didn't go for two.

NO!!
Dawn.

Richard having only recently got myself a male doberman (9 weeks on Tuesday) I can honestly say I wouldnt want more than 1 at a time. He is a handful as it is without having to train 2 at the same time. I know that they would keep each other company but my understanding is that the are very headstrong and independant dogs and you must be the alpha, thus trying to train both in my opinion would be a nightmare.

He settled down after a week (no more crying at night) and we are there to keep him company during the day so I dont think he is being deprived of playmates. He will have had 3 weeks bonding with his humnan family and soon he will be starting puppy classes so he can then start relating to dogs again.

I know how hard it is to resist buying 2, I would have loved to take him home a playmate from his littermates, but I am so glad that I didnt. I am really proud of his training so far sitting laying down, standing from down etc, Im suer he wouldnt have learnt so fast If I had 2.

People here are much more experienced than me with handling puppies so Im sure that they will give you excellent advice. Take head of their messages.

All the best another Dobie lover.

Thank you for your reply . I also work from home and would have the time to dedicate . I will definitely buy the female - the main reason for the male was that my son absolutely fell in love with him and bonded immediately whereas my other son and myself immediately bonded with the female. I have owned Dobes in the past and understand what I am letting myself in for . Although the early stages of Puppyhood are hard work . The rewards of an adult Dobe far outway this.

Brgds

Thankyou.

PS - I had already made up my mind to just have the One , but it is always good to ask for a second,third,fourth,Fifth opinion.

CHLOE...
FOUR YEARS!!!! oh my gawd.. no no it cant be.. becoming a jibbering wreck in my chair, rocking and dribbling.. no no four years ahhhhhhh

:D

I know how you feel. Willis is now 7 months old, is much taller than me on his back legs, weighs about 9 stone and has paws like spades. Grown men pale and other dogs hide behind their owners lol

Good luck with your dobe, I gather they make Danes look a breeze :D (not that I'm stirring it hehehe)

Chloe

Have a read at this thread .....

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?tid=20743#147758

Hi Richard

I would avoid any breeder who offers you two pups at the same time - this is NOT a good idea and I would have thought reputable Dobe breeders would not even consider it unless you can keep the pups totally separate but still give each 24 hour attention!

1. 2 x 1 when applied to Doberpups does NOT equal 2. I always say to any of my potential owners that "Changing Rooms", "Home Front" etc etc are absolute amatures when it comes to re-arranging house and garden compared to one bored or investgative doberpup let alone two.

2. If it is your first Dobe then just get one and learn about the breed and their specific needs, attributes etc. Train one and when she a minimum of 18 months consider another one (preferably two years).

3. If you get them both do you have the facilities to keep them apart during the bitch's seasons?

4. If you are considering two because they will be company for each other as you are out a lot then don't get either (see 1 above)

Christine

Hi Richard -As the owner of an 18mth male dobe I would say NO ! with a capital N
Get the bitch and then as Kerioak says maybe at 18 mth -2 yrs get another -we are only just talking about the possiblity of a new addition but not sure what it would be yet

Chloe --4 Yrs It can't be I thought I was coming to the end of my sentence :D
Liz :)

Sorry Liz, it looks like you have been refused Parole :D :D :p

And I don't think you will be getting out early for good behaviour either :D

I've got a 7 month old Great Dane for Sale if you like... he's cheap... free even! Please, take him away!!!

@ Chloe :D

Bad girl :D I hope you covered his eyes when you wrote that!!!!! He would be mighty offended if he thought you were trying to give him away :D

Looks like isolation for you :p :D

We all know you don't mean it chloe :D Where would you be without Will to drag you about, to harrass you when you're trying to work or to give you big kisses when you're tired and fed up? ;)

Grace :D

Geeze Id settle for big kisses from Sydney all he knows to do at the moment is teeth teeth. Bite Bite.

Yeah yeah.. where would I be without Willis...getting in the bath (while i'm in it), drinking out the tap/toilet/drain, getting in the bath the other day (without me in it) and turning the tap on , jumping up me and knocking me over, then biting my ears... and squashing my poor Staffie flat with one big paw.

I wouldn't change him for the world though :rolleyes:

Hi Liz

"a new addition but not sure what it would be yet"

I would suggest a toy Dobe, cuddley, sweet, no mess, no noise, no risk of being returned to breeder/rescue etc etc.

Christine

@ christine

I have had dobes in the past many years ago and am now only getting one as I work from home . Thankyou for the advise - I knew deep down that 2 was a bad idea , but was considering it as we had a family dilema as to which dog to pick . Needless to say the female is my favourite and will make a lovely addition to the family.
Once agian thankyou for the advise.

Unless you are a very experienced dog owner, NO!!!

The majority of people find one puppy hard work (look at all the cries for help on this site!!), and two the same age are not just double trouble, they are trouble squared.

By far the best solution is to get one pup well-trained before you get a second.

Most responsible breeders won't consider selling two pups to anyone without a very good reason.
:)

Hello,

I'd say NO too the suggestion as well. Stick with one pup at a time and love her like she will love you. She deserves to be centre of attention doesn't she?

NO NO NO NO NO NO
Yes you are asking for trouble,and besides all puppy`s want and need individual attention to grow into a well adjusted trained adult.No responsible breeder will sell litter mates together (IMO)but will tell you to wait a while before getting another one.
Can`t tell you how many times I have lost puppy sales to some very nice people because I would not sell 2 pups together!
(Sorry if I have repeated what has already been said I have not had the time to read all the posts on this thread)