Hello all,
This is my first post and I am still learning, so please be kind!
I am considering acquiring a doberman, because I've known a few and I have long been in love with the breed because of their intelligence, elegance, and loyalty. My husband and I both grew up with dogs, but this would be our first as adults. I know that dobermans can be very challenging, ESPECIALLY to first-time owners, so I am researching like crazy: reading about the breed & about dog psychology and training, sitting in on obedience classes, talking to other dog owners, talking to breeders and people at rescue organizations, etc.
Our situation is this: I work from home, so I'm here all the time. We live in a large 2-br ground-floor condo with no yard, but there's a side door to the outside (an enclosed parking area with 6 spots--it's maybe 60 x 60 ft and is enclosed by an 8-ft brick wall and a 8-foot iron gate) in the hall directly outside our apartment door, a fenced dog run 3 blocks away, and an enormous (580 acre) park with extensive off-leash hours a 10 minute walk away. I'm active and love taking long brisk walks. I have the time, the resources, and the desire to bring a dog to obedience training classes indefinitely (they would be for me as much as for the dog...I know I need to learn how best to interact with dogs). We also go upstate to go hiking on weekends fairly frequently, which would provide extra exercise and stimulation for the dog. We have no kids and don't intend to have any in the future (we're in our early 40s).
So my issue is this: I am somewhat inclined toward adopting an adult dog from a breed-specific rescue (I would use DRU), since the dog would be likely to be calmer and might be more suited to our experience level and lifestyle, but I am also worried about the fact that its behavior & history and health issues would likely be unknown. I love the idea of raising a puppy and I would be fully prepared to devote much of my life for the next year or two to the project (and I do think I truly understand how much work it really is), but I also know that it might just be too much for someone in my circumstances. I've had people tell me that as an inexperienced person I shouldn't try to raise a doberman puppy because they would cause way too much chaos, and I've also had people tell me I shouldn't get a rescue because I would not be equipped to deal with behavioral issues an abandoned adult dog might have!!
So, I am not sure what to do, and I'm hoping that you experienced people will have advice for me. Puppy from a reputable breeder? Adult rescue? Male/female? Give up the whole project and get some other breed, despite the fact that dobermans absolutely melt my heart like no other dog??
Thanks in advance for any & all advice!
Karin
This is my first post and I am still learning, so please be kind!
I am considering acquiring a doberman, because I've known a few and I have long been in love with the breed because of their intelligence, elegance, and loyalty. My husband and I both grew up with dogs, but this would be our first as adults. I know that dobermans can be very challenging, ESPECIALLY to first-time owners, so I am researching like crazy: reading about the breed & about dog psychology and training, sitting in on obedience classes, talking to other dog owners, talking to breeders and people at rescue organizations, etc.
Our situation is this: I work from home, so I'm here all the time. We live in a large 2-br ground-floor condo with no yard, but there's a side door to the outside (an enclosed parking area with 6 spots--it's maybe 60 x 60 ft and is enclosed by an 8-ft brick wall and a 8-foot iron gate) in the hall directly outside our apartment door, a fenced dog run 3 blocks away, and an enormous (580 acre) park with extensive off-leash hours a 10 minute walk away. I'm active and love taking long brisk walks. I have the time, the resources, and the desire to bring a dog to obedience training classes indefinitely (they would be for me as much as for the dog...I know I need to learn how best to interact with dogs). We also go upstate to go hiking on weekends fairly frequently, which would provide extra exercise and stimulation for the dog. We have no kids and don't intend to have any in the future (we're in our early 40s).
So my issue is this: I am somewhat inclined toward adopting an adult dog from a breed-specific rescue (I would use DRU), since the dog would be likely to be calmer and might be more suited to our experience level and lifestyle, but I am also worried about the fact that its behavior & history and health issues would likely be unknown. I love the idea of raising a puppy and I would be fully prepared to devote much of my life for the next year or two to the project (and I do think I truly understand how much work it really is), but I also know that it might just be too much for someone in my circumstances. I've had people tell me that as an inexperienced person I shouldn't try to raise a doberman puppy because they would cause way too much chaos, and I've also had people tell me I shouldn't get a rescue because I would not be equipped to deal with behavioral issues an abandoned adult dog might have!!
So, I am not sure what to do, and I'm hoping that you experienced people will have advice for me. Puppy from a reputable breeder? Adult rescue? Male/female? Give up the whole project and get some other breed, despite the fact that dobermans absolutely melt my heart like no other dog??
Thanks in advance for any & all advice!
Karin