Adult Instincts - when did your dobe's start?

charlesmdodson · 05-12-2007, 11:04 PM

Do you all remember at what age your Dobermans began acting more like adults and less like puppies? More specifically, I am referring to their protective instincts, etc. Thanks everyone...

**Jenny** · 05-12-2007, 11:11 PM

Nope - I can't remember what I did yesterday let alone when Isabelle started acting like a big girl.

I do remember her going on patrol in the backyard even when she was a pup. She is 7 now - so that was a long, long time ago...this lack of memory is why I want a puppy

**Chaz** · 05-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Mavis was about two when she clocked in as a real watch dog. Then she got real good, real fast.

So far, Mensa is about 14 months and the only watch dog tendencies she shows is when she barks at the neighbor's St Bernards.

**Luvbirds59** · 05-13-2007, 07:32 AM

Petey seems like he has started already. He is only 6.5 months but is already very aware of who is coming and going around him. There have been two times that people have made him nervous and I think he picked up my nervousness and woofed at the people. One was my drug addict brother....he went to nap on my couch and Petey followed him and laid down and stared at him the entire time he was asleep. I hadn't seen my brother in over 2 years(at my Dad's funeral), and am always a wreak when he is around. The other time, while out hiking we ran into a guy who was wearing dark sunglasses like my brother had on that day. He didn't want to be petted by that guy. Eventually he was fine and licked his face.

Carol & Petey ox

**mariposa692001** · 05-13-2007, 08:57 AM

Sabot is just now doing that....he is growling when a stranger approaches and when a new dog approaches...not sure how I feel about that.

**Lexus** · 05-13-2007, 09:45 AM

I do remember that Lexus did not actually bark once until she was 11 months old (other then play yipping when playing with my other dogs to get them going). She seemed watchful of her surroundings before that though, maybe at about 6 months, not protective persay, just seemed to watch some people more.

I would guesstimate about a year and a half before she really started watching out windows, and letting her hackles go up a bit when she saw something that didn't seem right to her.

**Kratty** · 05-13-2007, 10:19 AM

hmmm, The puppy-ness never rally went away, its just more controlled and only at certain times Nikki transgresses back to puppyhood. I hope that never stops. I would have to say somewhere between 18 months and 2 years that a noticeable change occurred in her.

tjmom · 05-13-2007, 10:39 AM

Titus seemed to be protective from an early age. I think that he was around 6 or 7 months old and he would bark at his own reflection in the fireplace. He started barking a pretty young age and would let anyone know about it if they rang the bell or knocked on the door. At the time we really did not have alot of visitors so when someone would knock on the door he did not associate it with being a guest.
Jada is only 7 months old but at times I will compare her to Titus at that age and they have two totally different personalities. She is really not so protective and really enjoys being around everyone and every dog. Titus was aloof from an early age.

**Acooper** · 05-13-2007, 11:11 AM

I think Orson was around 6-7 months (not sure, it could have been a little less) when he would do "patrol" of the house if he heard something or if I teased him saying "What is it?" He would go to every room with a window to look out of.........sometimes twice.

He is now a year old, and I can't fake him out anymore, hehehe, When I ask him "what is it?" he will perk up, listen, and then go back to his business. Unless of course there is actually a noise to check

adajane1 · 05-13-2007, 12:50 PM

Tia started barking at strangers coming to the house and outside the window at about 6 months old.