Pack_Leader

I have only had my dobie a week... i can already attest all the above is true.

HerMewMew

On a little different direction, I wish I would have known that other dogs would come running at us and try or actually attack my Doberman! Very scary

I also agree with all of the above!

I would like to add I wish I would have known how much I would love her! She's made me a much happier woman and has taught my daughter a valuable lesson on being responsiable to a living creature.

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"I have a Doberman, and I'm not afraid to use it!"

SugarLu

I too wish I had found a ETHICAL breeder. I wish I had done more research and then done some more.
I wish I would have found this forum before I was introduced to Lynn at Guradians N Angels.
I wish I would have not been so trusting.
I wish that all potential DOberman owners find this forum first........

Brandy&Melanie

Yes I just got her on Wednesday, and you are right about the WHINING!! If I go to the bathroom with the door closed, whine whine whine whine! If I leave her in her crate for ten minutes, whine whine whine whine WHINE WHINE.. little bit of silence.. WHINE WHINE WHINE! But I guess that is normal hah!

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Doberman Club of Canada:

http://www.dpcc.ca/

Read this before you get your pup:

http://www.dobermantalk.com/puppy-co...-your-pup.html

Beaumont67

My 1st dobe had a bad habit of running back & force and paws up on the package tray of my 1967 Beaumont (Canadian Chevelle).
- she broke the rear seat springs, and her antics drove us insane...riding with her
Next dog was made to curl up or lay down or sit staying put, in a vehicle.
(still allow moving from front to back, or vise-versa...but no out-of-control behavior)

First dobe was a bed hog / next dobe was not allowed to steal the sleeping space.

Learn as much training as possible, with the 1st dog.
- practice consistency & flawless timing...these new skills, you will enjoy for a life time

And finally - your 1st puppy, will confirm your suspicion...the dobe breed, is the very best !!

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------------Kelly & (Amy - RIP @ 11.7 y/o)

Ashlee

I wish I would have known all of these things...plus I wish I would have known how rancid their farts r

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Brandy&Melanie

I AGREE! Hahahaha Doberfarts!

__________________


Doberman Club of Canada:

http://www.dpcc.ca/

Read this before you get your pup:

http://www.dobermantalk.com/puppy-co...-your-pup.html

TaniaShari

I wish I would've known all the previously things mentioned plus, Never leave the dog in the same room as the recycling bag....
(I know....very dangerous...could've swallowed everything...I only did this once...he sure taught me!)

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HerMewMew

__________________
"I have a Doberman, and I'm not afraid to use it!"

sandy2233

Hee Hee Hee! They're just down right WICKED!

NAA2586

Lots of barking; sensitive skin; lots of energy (I mean lots!); more shedding than I thought; love for rough play.

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KissNme

Ah BRW how very well put. And the one about not letting them do stuff while they're little, etc. Yes, training training, starting training earlier.
I also wish I'd known how completely in LOVE I would end up being with this fur kid!

HerMewMew

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"I have a Doberman, and I'm not afraid to use it!"

Jones

Haha awesome comment

KCFilley

I wish I had known how often I have to do their nails to keep them really good and short. Like every three or four days on the red heads and maybe four to five on the blacks. Wish I had known a trim carpenter to get the wood base trim replaced when Taylor chewed it up. Wish I knew a good sheetrocker to replace the corners when the girls race over each other to get outside.

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If ya git ta thinkin' yer a person of some influence, try orderin' my dogs around. Cowgirl wisdom.

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

rise

My dobe is 4.5 months. I can't say there is much I wish I would have known - in fact I started a thread identical to this one a few months back and got lots of this good advice So I would say I was well prepared. Things I am GLAD I knew?
- I am glad I knew to crate train him, even though he was pathetic and whiny at first. Now he crates like a dream.
- I am glad I was prepared about how much attention he would need, and how much supervision he would require. He is under the hawkish watch of either me or my spouse at all times.
- I am glad I knew about quality dog foods, and the price of feeding him well.
- I am glad I have such a flexible work schedule and have been able to spend so much quality time with him.
- I am glad I read up on positive training - it is so different than previous methods used when I had my last pup 15 years ago.
- I am glad this board made me aware of safe chews and toys vs unsafe ones - saved me from expensive mistakes. When I got my lab 15 years ago rawhides and nylabones were thought to be safe. Now I know what a choking and obstruction hazard they can be. Instead I stocked up on bully sticks, kongs, deer antlers and stuffing free animals that he gets when supervised.
- of course I am glad this board and other sites taught me about good vs bad breeders before I got my guy

Ok Ok, so maybe there are a few things I wish I had known -
- I wish I had been prepared for house breaking him. He peed and drank water ALL THE TIME for the first month. I thought something might be wrong with him. It was so frustrating to take him outside, he would pee, then we would come back inside and 3 minutes later he would pee again. I underestimated how small his bladder was. At about 3.5 months that stopped and almost over night he was house broken. If I had known some dogs were just this way I would have made sure to replace my carpet with tile BEFORE getting him.
- I wish I had realized how old my lab was. I knew she was old but felt the pup would help liven her back up. Watching her with him, though, and I realize she is just really really old. We have to keep them separated most of the time because he is just too rough with her. Xpens are our friend, and we have a couple of them that we use to gate off various spots in the house to keep him from pestering her too much.

Sylvs

Despite the formal obedience training from 9 weeks and everything else more/ less by 'the book':
- I wish I spent more time on leash walking training
- I wish I focus more on 'bum on the floor when greeting ppl'
- I with I heard about crate games by Susan Garrett - create breaking would be so much easier!!!
- I wish I knew that natural ears can go 'bonkers' after teething and would start taping them down early
- I wish I knew how fast they grow - would have taken tones more pics and cuddled her even harder!!

DonutDobie

/\ this /\

DonutDobie

I wish I had known how ornery he would be. If I had known I would've let my 9year old lab mix have her way with him from day one. I protected the boy for some reason, he seemed so sweet and vulnerable.. whatever, the boy is now 6 months old and running the poor girl ragged!! He just doesn't stop!!!

Oh, I'm glad I knew nothing because it might've scared me from getting the sweet kid..

tjj

Can anyone recommend a quality and ethical breeder?

RottenVonSpotten

Check this out:
DPCA | The Doberman | Breeder Referral

And use this to narrow down your choices:
Reputable breeders - for new folks

MeadowCat

tjj, you'll get a better response on this by starting a new thread in the "Breeding and Breeders" section with your general location and that you are looking for a breeder.

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Kekly

I know I am late to this post, but I wish I would have known how jealous of attention they can be, that at 80+ lbs, they think they are lap dogs, that you are not allowed to have covers or a pillow at night (its theirs) and how much wet nose goo you will have to wear daily!

kpal4978

My boy is almost 5 months, and all of the above is TRUE TRUE TRUE.

I wish I had really taken the term dobergoat seriously... I have had puppies who like to chew on things, but NOTHING like the way my Mariano does. Any and everything that fits (or almost kind of fits) gets chewed.

I also wish I had known how smart and stubborn he is. Posting his ears has been an nightmare, but unluckily for him, mama is just as stubborn.

The final thing I wish I would have done is made the cat more of a no no... he knows he is not supposed to chase her, but he still does...

dobermama

I wish I had known how common it is to lose our Dobermans far too soon. I KNEW about the health issues common to the breed of course, but I guess I just didn't really get how many die before age 9 (I lost my boy at 8.5). It didn't stop me from getting another Dobe, but it could have helped me prepare a bit better for the sudden loss...

I was used to large breeds (Rott, German Shepherd) who have major health problems too, but quite commonly live into their teens...