Hi, I have 2 children aged 13 and 5.  I would really, really like a doberman, I think they are stunning looking animals.  BUT what are they really like - I have heard conflicting stories, especially with children?

I have no personal experience with Dobes; but am sure there are owners here who will be happy to tell you about them.
Hopefully some will be along soon.

liberty

I have never owned one, but have met several, many of which lived with kids, and I haven't got a bad word to say about them. I think the same rules apply as with any breed: as long as the children are respectful of the dog they should get on fine. Dobes really are lovely dogs and I've yet to meet one that isn't laid back and gentle. I think they are probably the victims of bad press, crap breeders and the wrong owners, just like other guarding breeds. IMO, in the right hands, they are fine.

Good luck, just remember to do careful research into the breeder. :-)

Claire

Kerioake owns dobermans and may pop along later :)

As with any breed, you must ensure that you purchase a pup from a reputable breeder. The breeder should place as much, if not more, importance on temperament as on appearance and health.

No dog, of any breed, should ever be left alone with a child, not even for a second.

Children should be taught to repect the dog. They need to realise that it is not a toy to be pulled and poked, and that it has to be allowed peace and quiet as well as play.

You should find a good training class where you and your children will be shown how to handle and train your dog.

There are peeps who own Dobes on here, I'm not one but i do know and train with one!
She is very good natured and has been trained and socialised very well and is often used as a demo dog at training classes, also as a stooge dog for problem dogs. She is excellent with polite dogs and well behaved people :D

However, once her owner was threatened on a walk and the dobe, who was on lead at the time. became a roaring furious animal ready to do damage! This was IMHO a very fair reaction on the dog's part because she was protecting her owner.

Lindsay
X

I've got one !! :D
They are daft , boisterous ,whingey winey,sensitive souls . My children were 8 & 11 when we got him and the children I looked after ranged from 4 yrs upwards - Other than puppy playing he's NEVER growled or nipped -Yes with the smaller children he could knock them over when he was a boisterous puppy -and I know alot of people say never leave a dog with kids -but I trust him completley with the kids ( obviously I don't leave him with visitors children ) the kids respect him and don't poke and prod him but they can all take stuff off him -have to fight for the socks tho' lol :D
He's loyal -he barks at the door but will let anyone enter without a problem -quick sniff of their bum seems to suss them out lol
He was hard work as a youngster -they are not a dog to be left alone for long periods -we did alot of training with him  and still practise bits at home .
All in all they are brill dogs -not for the feint hearted tho' very strong minded and very strong bodied too but a well bred dobe should not be a worry to you no more than any other breed of dog ;)

My parents had a wonderful dobe who was two when my brother was born and four when I was born.  She was a really lovely dog who lived to the age of nearly fifteen.  She was fun and loving but quite a 'one family dog'.  I obviously only remember her when I was a bit older and I do remember that we were taught very strongly that Debbie (yes Debbie the Dobe!) was first in the house and we were to respect her fully and also how to behave with a large guarding breed.  I think this was pretty good for us in terms of how to behave with all animals. 

If we went on holiday and left her with my gran she would literally cry real tears (mind you I can understand that!!).  My overriding memory was going on a horse drawn caravan holiday in a really hot summer  - the only one allowed to ride in the caravan was Debbie because my dad thought it was unfair on the horse for any of us to ride!!  I have a very soft spot for Dobes and really think that, if you choose a well-bred dog and teach your children how to behave with him/her, they can be lovely family dogs.  One other thing, I do remember my parents listing the things she destroyed as a youngster and she was never left alone for long!!

Ive got one and two kids aged 3and 7 she is great with them when she was younger she used to knock the younger one over only in play but I think all large puppies do this. When Bronwyn (3) was ill a while ago she used to get up in the night and get into the dogs bed with Abby.
She does chat alot and the more you talk back the more she will answer you.
Kerioak will probably be along shortly and she knows more than any book I have read on Dobermanns.
Good luck
Mary