Generally not--at least dobes don’t shed light fluffy undercoat (they don’t have any). Though they do shed stiff spiky hair that can weave itself into couch cushions and carpets

But there are a lot of differences between the two breeds in so many ways.

What is it you’re looking for in a dog--what do you expect in terms of exercise needs, attention needs, trainability, personality, etc...Do you know what health problems each breed has a tendency to have?

Tell us a little more about you and your family and what you’re wanting in a dog and maybe we can give you more information to help you decide between the two breeds (or maybe even come up with another possibility you hadn’t even thought of )

 

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Hi melbrod! My parents and I are looking for a new addition to the family. We had to put down our standard poodle several months ago due to his declining health, so its now just us and our 5 yr old male dachshund. We're looking for one that's sweet/friendly, protective, and easy to train that would also get along well with a smaller dog. I'm the one that's leaning more towards a golden retriever as they're extremely friendly and gentle, whereas my parents are more interested in the doberman (my mother grew up with one). Only thing my parents aren't fond of is the golden's shedding.

We have a large fenced backyard and frequent the 2.2 mile trail nearby, so exercising shouldn't be a problem and there is always someone at home to watch the dog.

:emo6:

 

Dobermans can be very selective about other people and dogs as they mature. They also tend to same sex aggression, so since you've already got a male Dachshund, you wouldn't want a male Doberman.

One thing to take into consideration with a Golden is that show line dogs and field/performance bred dogs tend to be quite different in temperament. In a sweeping generalization, a show line dog is a "typical friendly, happy-go-lucky Golden", while a field/performance bred dog is frequently a driven "What are we going to do now?! Huh?! Huh?! Let's do something?! Anything!!! Can we do it now?!!!" type of dog. Not to say that the former can't make good performance dogs, or that the latter can't make good pets, but you do need to take innate temperament into account.

 

Honestly, If I was searching for a dog that would coexist comfortably with a mature male Dachshund, I would probably not consider a Doberman. Especially not a male. As Rosemary stated, Dobermans are prone to same sex aggression. It can pop out at any time. And, in my experience Dachshunds are fairly feisty and can be aggressive. This is potentially a bad combination. A mature (or maturing) Doberman can inflict incredible damage a on smaller dog in the blink of an eye, Even unintentionally.

If I may...I would suggest fostering a female Doberman, with the possibility of adoption. This way you could fastidiously observe the interaction between the two dogs and make a well informed decision.

I am not trying to be a downer here. Dobermans are my breed for life. Still, they are not Golden Retrievers or Standard Poodles (either of which I would own in a heartbeat if I wasn't so nuts about Dobes).

I guess, the bottom line is that a shedding problem would be way down my list of priorities when considering a new "family member' given your situation.

I hope this all works out for you and I would love to hear the eventual outcome.

John
Portland OR

 

Hi- In answer to your question about shedding. I have owned both dobermans and golden retrievers. The Golden's by far shed more. In my experience the Golden's hair is light and floats everywhere, where the Doberman's hair is heavier and settles down. The Doberman also does not lose as much hair as a Golden does. Both breeds are great but they differ greatly in personality and temperament.

 

My suggestion would be to get out to some dog shows and meet some breeds and talk to breeders to see what breeds you might like in terms of personality first, with grooming/shedding needs on the list to talk to owners/breeders about as well. Dobermans DO shed, some more than others. But the temperament of a dog (and NOT just exercise needs) should be the primary concern when figuring out whether a breed is a good fit for your family. Meeting dogs and talking to long time people in the breed is a good starting place, and dog shows are a great place to do that. You might meet some other breeds that you aren't as familiar with, too, that may be an even better fit for your needs.