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Do I have to ask my dad to get a female dog?

1K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  RMcIntyre 
#1 · (Edited)
I know I came on here to get information about dobermans but with my expected date being pushed back a bit, an intervening dog event has come up: my dad wants to get a dog. We're thinking of something in the Brittany/Lab mold (I want him to get a beagle) and we'll probably adopt to get a 1-4 year old dog to skip the puppy phase. It's still my intention to get a Doberman boy within the next year but my dad will be rescuing a young dog within a month or so.

I think he'd prefer a boy but he's not as unreasonable as I am and would love anything. Also, the rescues and shelters are filled with boy dogs so it would make it easier to find one that suits us. Whereas with girls, we'd probably just have to take the single girl available. [btw, what's that say about people who prefer boy dogs! :p]

I don't live with my dad but I do expect to see him about once a week or once every 2 weeks at most. But when I do see him, it's for an extended period of time. Also, in my preparation to get a doberman, I had always assumed I would be able to leave the dobie with him for a few days at a time if something came up. I'm a little afraid that if I get my dad a male, I won't be able to take advantage of free boarding and daycare when I'm busy. And FWIW, my plan right now would be to not neuter my dog but my dad's dog will be altered since he will be adopted.

Do you think this is enough that I should try to only consider females for my dad's dog? I guess I'm asking how serious SSA can generally get among dobermans. And just out of curiosity, do your dobes do better with small dogs of the same sex or big dogs of the same sex?
 
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#3 ·
Hi Scooby....

Yeah a girl for your father, assuming he is amenable, is the way to go.

So... your question: "I guess I'm asking how serious SSA can generally get among dobermans."

In a nutshell: Serious....

Around '81, I broke up a fight between two of my boy's, who at the time, had been life long friends. It took dozen's of stitches to reattach my thumb and sew up my mutilated forearm. It also took about a year to regain practical function of my right hand.

The dogs had to be totally separated until the older boy eventually passed.

That being said, I have successfully maintained a 2 male home several times. It pretty much depends on the dogs and how fastidious you are. However, it is something that I would NEVER recommend. Especially to a novice Doberman owner.

BTW, SSA knows no size barrier. Keep in mind that even a relatively young Doberman can easily kill a smaller dog before you can intervene. It does not even have to be intentional.

Bottom line, a spayed, middle aged docile female for your father. Then go crazy with a Doberman male pup.

John
Portland OR
 
#4 · (Edited)
That's great information for me but I'm not sure I can trust your judgment if you had your thumb ripped off and you still kept a 2 male household additional other times.. :confused:

I'm kidding but it was good to hear. I was figuring that since every time I go to my dad's we go for a walk around the park, the dobie would learn to associate being around another male with positive thoughts. I thought maybe I would be able to condition it out of him but I'll put that thought out of my mind.
 
#5 ·
@ Scooby

"That's great information for me but I'm not sure I can trust your judgment if you had your thumb ripped off and you still kept a 2 male household additional other times.."

You don't have be kidding. Your point is very appropriate. It was a hard lesson and I was quite young and naive. What it did was make me aware of the dangers and kept me on top of my game. It also educated me as to what was in store for us should we be involved again in a similar situation.

Trust me... Having 2 dogs that want to kill each other turns a household topsy-turvy. Crate and rotate living is a bitch. Even in the best of circumstances, I would never leave my boys alone and unsupervised. Vigilance in a 2 male household where a male Doberman is involved is the key and paramount. Honestly, most folks don't have the where with all to deal with it.

JMO

John
Portland OR
 
#7 ·
As someone who has just had their stitches removed last month due to breaking up a fight due to SSA I can honestly state it is so much easier to do everything you can to avoid it. [Note I would NEVER advise anyone else to attempt to break up a dog fight] If you are not dead set on a male or female, just get the opposite sex. For myself, I have seen it in so many different breeds that I do not assume on breed is more prone than others, I am cautious about all equally.

Another thing, once it start...it does NOT end. It will only escalate unless properly dealt with, this means constant supervision, crate/living quarter rotating, removal of one dog from the household, or death of a dog. It is very serious and you have to always be on top of things or else an accident such as the one my roommate and I found ourselves in will occur. A friend of ours came over and thought one of the rescue dogs was "sad and lonely" being in her crate while a get together was happening. Mind you, my roommate and I have explained in great detail to everyone they are not to be in the same area together ever, but you get those people who think they "know everything about dogs" and are cesar milan.... :| Heat seeking missile, she was out of her crate for less than 15 seconds before they collided and we were running at break neck speed across the backyard to contain the situation an idiot guest had caused between the two females. (Hospital visit and fees ensued by the way, do you know how hard it is to convince a hospital to NOT call animal control when it comes to non-stray dog bites?)

Now were they able to eventually be in the same household and area later? Sure, but it was a lot of work. A lot. And ultimately, until one of the females got her permanent home the house was always on edge. 100% just not worth it to tempt fate if you do not have to. Now, do all dogs have SSA? Of course not, but still no reason to risk it. Good luck!
 
#8 ·
If you don't want to listen to John because he has been bit. Then listen to me, I haven't been bit and have had Dobermans for somewhere between 35 years. Almost my entire adult life. I will tell you the same thing he did. I was warned about it and because most of that time it has been show dogs I couldn't take the chance of them getting into it. (a scared up show dog in the ring doesn't work to well) But sometimes things happen and they get together. I had one that I rescued and he knew how to climb fences. I didn't know that till on day coming home from walking one of my other males he came around the corner and they immediately went at it. I'm trying to separate them while the three of us are rolling around on the ground. It was dark out and I was covered with both males and rolled up under a picnic table. I figured I was bit but just didn't feel it because of the adrenalin. Neither dog had puncture marks and I was only covered in mud and slobber. So I never got bit, but that was pure luck. so may you shouldn't listen to me either. lol
 
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