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Originally Posted by waiting  There are people who can handle more dogs under the age of two, because of their lifestyle etc. and mainly due to there knowledge and expertise that allows it, and it works. For the most part from what I have seen three years if you have a male and two if it is a female. |
We all know raising a Doberman puppy is a lot of work to do the right way, puppy classes, daily socialization, potty training, manners, and all the other things that go with teaching puppy about their world. I have had one Doberman puppy that was very demanding, another that was a piece of cake, easiest puppy hood ever. Each dog is different too at the rate they mature. Some dogs take way more time than others.
As rescues have seen, many people cannot even handle a single young teenage male Doberman, rescues are full of young Doberman males. Doberman rescues are full period of people that got only one Doberman and then decided he or she was too much work and was overwhelming for them. That is another reason why most people never suggest getting too puppies close together, esp. for novices, it is double or triple the work, they can get too doggy, and etc.
Many people suggest the older dog be older and well trained because the new arrival will mock and follow their elders. A really monkey see, monkey do type situation. It is kind of funny honestly. So they can pick up that dogs bad habits and you can have double trouble or they can mirror the better ones. It helps tremendously to already have a good bond and obedience with the older dogs before brining in a puppy, just makes the puppy growing into a canine good citizen easier.
Also, it isn't always about handling and being fair to each dog as an individual and letting the current dog(s) mature out and enjoy its people before adding another. It is also about knowing how hard a death is, how if you have young dogs then you get old dogs about the same age that die at the same time. That is very hard on a person.
Knowledge and expertise is very subjective. Most people feel they are experts (even BYB’s, the guy down the street that insists Dobermans will turn on you, information is back up by his vet, and so on, take opinions with a grain of salt).
Some feel their knowledge and expertise leads them to have dogs spaced apart 2 years or more for many valid reasons to them, others feel less time is more appropriate for many valid reasons to them, others feel more time is better for valid reasons to them personally. Not everyone processes information and life experiences the same way. Also, some breeders grow their puppies out at their home for certain reasons. There are many different reasons for people's decisions and what works best for them.
I know one Doberman person that only has one Doberman at a time. This person is VERY experienced with Dobermans, has the knowledge and expertise. And his knowledge and expertise tells him he is doing right by the Doberman by having only one at a time so he can pour his all into that Doberman, and that he does. Personally, that would never work for me for my personal reasons, but for him it is a must.
With multiple dogs it is a balance of your one on one time between them all and you want to be fair to everyone and share that special bond and time with each one and appreciate them as individuals. Everyone is different in what they feel is best for them and their dogs. That is why I say rule of thumb.
Carol, what will it be like having a GIRL in the house? VBG.
I can't wait for the stories. How old is Petey now? I forget...
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