erictuley

So I am walking my 2 senior dogs around the neighborhood last night as I approach one of the ladies that lives around the block. She was out (off leash) with her Yorkie. I know her husband fairly well and we chit chatted for a sec. She then asks "Are you and Cindy going to have kids any time soon..?" I smiled and told her that our little girl was coming home this weekend. She looks puzzled and says "...coming home..? From where?" I then go on to tell her that we are getting a puppy Doberman. Holy crap. You would have thought I just called her a m'thr f'ing whore or something horrible. She sternly asks me if I have even "remotely" thought about bringing that kind of vicious dog into not only our home but also the "neighborhood with so many children".

I was honestly prepared for this.. but still shocked as it was my virgin anti-dobe encounter. I then tried for 15 minutes to tell her of the research that I had done, all the breeders we visited, the trainers we had lined up.. everything. Nothing mattered. I then simply asked her.. where did you come up with your feelings about Dobermans. Her response was the classic one that I fear I will hear from everyone "Oh well that is just what I have heard and read."

So there it is. I almost feel now like I have alienated a fairly good person in the neighborhood. I'm really struggling with my approach from here on out.

Zombie

Tell her she's m'ther f'ing whore.

I don't know... people are silly sometimes. My mother thinks that when I get my puppy he's going to eat my face off within the first week of having him. *sigh*

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Zoeberry

This is why I only have a few wonderful, close dog loving friends that mean the world to me. I can't deal with that sort of ignorance.

The only thing that will change her mind is to raise your dobe pup up right...well socialized and trained, and then maybe then she will get a clue!

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Brenda and Copper

2gooddobes

I love it Zombie you rock!

Nicola

hmmm, well i won't comment on what i think of her and her opinion. All i would say is there are some people who won't change their mind about how evil dobermans are until they see for themselves.

Like you said, you have done your research and you are taking the adoption of your new pup very seriously. Just use her attitude as an incentive to prove her wrong. When she sees a beautifully behaved doberman walking down the street with you she may realise.

with some people, there is no convincing however, so be ready for that. But hopefully tthey will all see what lovely soft natured dogs they really are.

I found a load of youtube clips not long ago titled 'viscious doberman' - all of which being there to prove the opposite! here is one of them - YouTube - Vicious Doberman Bite

btw i'm not really a fan of any dog being that close to a baby but it just goes to show - maybe you could show her a few!

chin up, even though the attitude of people really winds me up sometimes, it's far outweighed by owning such a lovely breed of dog

erictuley

I tell you what.. this shit has been on my mind ALL day. My wife says don't worry about it. But to me.. and I'm sure I am not the only one that feels this way... I feel this HUGE sense of responsibility to be the guy that says "Not my dobe. My dobe is not like that.." If I would have put 1/10th the amount of effort in other things in my life as I have researching getting a Doberman I can
't imagine how well off I would be right now..!

poconogal

I think you've alienated an closed-minded idiot! People have these notions about Dobes because they actually BELIEVE what they see in movies! Tells you what kind of people they are... I wouldn't even bother justifying your decision, you've no need to explain your decisions to anyone. Good luck with your little girl!

ccm399

My mother-in-law thinks we are going to be sorry ofr getting a new Dobe pup.....even though I had a doberman when I met my wife and he was never ANYTHING but a good boy she still says "don't get too close they will just turn on you". Whatever!

Do like Zoeberry said and raise it up right and PROVE her wrong! Or you could take Zombie's advice LOL

Chris

clipclop

I'm with the you "alienated a closed minded idiot" ... what a tard.

velmadobe

Truly, you just have to be a super vigilant & responsible Dobe owner and people will come around. I live in a high end neighborhood of 61 homes, we probably have over 100 kids in here - including my two. My Dobes were all socialized as puppies at the bus stop and are all really good with kids. They are not always good with other dogs, but they are never loose outside of my fenced yard (except for Velma who likes to run out the front door and take a run in the fields behind my house). I am super vigilant with them - I NEVER allow them to hang out in the back yard and bark.

You will not get everyone to love your Dobe, but most people will come to realize that they are not the dog the media portrays either. I never down play what kind of breed they are - yes they are protective, yes they will bark when anyone walks by or rings the doorbell. I keep treats in my pockets when I walk, and give them to people in the neighborhood to feed to my dogs - nothing works faster than food to make friends.

You have to be better than the average dog owner in order for people to like your Dobe - that is just the way it is.

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Dillon's Barclay Amy CD RN WAC CGC TDInc "Velma"
CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
Fitzmar's Command A Minute "Harvard" (10 pts/both majors)
http://fitzmardobermans.freeservers.com/