keii

Hi everyone
I'm considering getting a doberman, but I have a few questions first.
My main concern is I live in a 1100 square foot apartment with my 5 year old daughter and cat. Is this enough room? I only work part time, and would be able to walk and jog the dobie for an hour or so in the mornings while my daughter's in school. Is she a little too young yet to be around such a large dog in a small apartment? I would like to get a puppy so I can train him properly to make sure he'll grow up with great manners.

clipclop

It all depends- what are you looking for in a dobe? I think there are more than a few apt. dobes on here.... basically my dobe and I live on the 1st floor of my house... which is about 1400 sq (the bottom) I have 3 empty Br's upstairs and a game room and i think i go up there once a month!! so yeah.. we're pretty happy downstairs in our 1400 sq ft!

thea2003

yeah i think my lace is about 700sqft and we do fine, it just means more walks...not a bad thing really, she can do zoomies in the hallway, my apt is basicallt the upstairs of an old brick century home, 3 bedrooms...one a kitchen one a living room one a bedroom, and a bathroom and a hall, thats it.

faber

my first dobe (Faber)was raised in a small duplex...you MUST be serious about getting him daily exercise, other then that the aprt. should be fine....he'll be stuck to you in the house anyway.
-our daughter came after Faber was about 1...he loved her but got a little to excited sometimes, she's now 2.5 and is doing fine with supervision around our 3.5 month old (Shiloh) pup....with supervision as always. They are a loving, gentle breed...but still strong and most problems are likely to arrive just from being to excited, jumping up, lack of training/supervision.
-with dedication and having the time by working part time, and your daughter in school at thru some of the time...really you should do wonderfull.

keii

I keep reading about how dobies are very energetic. What does that mean exactly? Are they a nevous jumpy energetic like a dalmation where they never settle down? I'm concerned about my daughter accidently getting hurt.

robinb

They are a pretty high energy and high drive breed. The drives vary so I'd be very honest with your breeder and not get a high drive pup if you decide to go with a dobe pup. You are not going to be able to jog with a young pup, in fact I would not be doing that until the growth plates are closed at 18 months. Most dobe pups are going to need free running and play daily or they are going to be difficult to live with. If you go with a puppy, I'd get a female.

You might be better off looking into a older rescue.

__________________


CH OTCH Royalwood Extravert V Legend UDX2 RN ROM - CH Tijac's Victoria's Secret NAP NJP NAJ ROM

dobermansrule

doberman puppies are go go go... and very inquisitive which can be worse than the go go go. As robinb mentioned, you won't be able to jog the puppy really until at least 18 months old to let the growth plates close. That leave limited option living in an apartment for energy burning exercise. Not to mention not being able to take the puppy to dog parks until all shots are finished (and its not recommended to take the puppy to a dog park anyway). The puppy will get the zoomies inside - guaranteed. These are those mad fits of running around like a blown up balloon that you just let go of. You would want your young child out of the way of a zoomy puppy. But, it can be done!

__________________
Please, pardon my obsession with doberbutts - they are cute you have to admit

faber

no...they'll settle down..as a matter of fact as long as they can touch you they'll lay around and cuddle. BUT they have to burn their energy or they get destructive...walks, dog parks (after shots...or whenever is appropriate..ask your vet), play time. If you don't like to be active...then you need to have space so they can safely be active...they enjoy running, etc.
Basically to have 1 in a apartment means that YOU are going to have to be active...get him out and burn energy....where as someone with a nice fenced in yard can go out and play or watch them play with another dog or their child or etc. and not require as much work from the owner. -Apartment life can be done and done comfortably but it requires that the owner be an active person more than any other thing.
they are a working breed and very inteligent and it shows...just like if you were caged up with no mind stimulation and no exercise ....you would break down...so will a dobe.
They MUST have regular excercise, interaction with their owner, socialization, mind stimulation and love. Right now my 3.5 mo. old is just content laying here on the couch under a cover because my wife and I are in here right next to him....but he got exercise today.
They will follow you around, always have to touch you, learn quick, need exercise, and be your shadow and best friend, they're sweet, goofy, energetic yet can just lay around and cuddle, fun loving, and smart. I'll quit now so others can give opionions. Sorry...just been there and know how it went. -Sometimes they do "zoomies" where they'll sprint around the house....so accidently knocking her over or something is a possibility...but I suppose thats with any dog that isn't a carpet.

keii

I'm a very active person. Thats one of the reasons I want a dobie. My husbands a truck driver so I want a protective jogging companion.

robinb

I'm not a breeder but have owned the breed for over 35 years. Without suger-coating, most good breeder's will be hesitant in selling a first time owner a pup without a fenced yard. If you go below the radar to a not so great breeder they either won't care or won't have a clue re what a suitable puppy would be for your situation. I really think you need someplace with a good fence to take the puppy at least daily to play and burn the energy off. By play I mean you taking toys and playing with the puppy. Also all dobe puppies need obedience classes.

__________________


CH OTCH Royalwood Extravert V Legend UDX2 RN ROM - CH Tijac's Victoria's Secret NAP NJP NAJ ROM