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I tried to search DT for a similar thread (just guessing there is one) but no luck.
So, how aloof is your Dobe? A side discussion in the Westminster GSD thread got me to thinking about temperament and personality characteristics of the Doberman breed as well as my dogs individually.
Tali's not really what I would consider aloof. She's *very* aware; she observes and takes in Every. Little. Detail. She doesn't want someone trying to force interaction while she's still sizing them up but she's not aloof in the sense meaning "conspicuously uninvolved", which is how I typically interpret 'aloof'. Although she is distant and reserved with strangers, it's just in a highly critical and very involved manner (she's clearly 'engaged' in her surroundings). And she's friendly but reserved when she does like someone, only being super affectionate with a select few that she adores and loves. If that makes sense.
It's odd because Fiona is more likely to love people near instantaneously but only if she decides to pay attention to them. Fiona is what I consider far more aloof than Tali, yet super gregarious when she does pay attention to someone (and they're normal and give no reason for alarm). She's just in her own head 99% of the time - conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested. As far as she's concerned, everything we do and everywhere we go is all about her and nothing else, so she pays attention to herself and her desires. Whereas Tali gets very wrapped up in her surroundings and others, to the point of stressing out at times.
So that's how I kind of read my dogs. Fiona is aloof but ridiculously friendly when you can engage her, and Tali is very connected/engaged but reserved in her interactions.
So, how aloof is your Dobe? A side discussion in the Westminster GSD thread got me to thinking about temperament and personality characteristics of the Doberman breed as well as my dogs individually.
Tali's not really what I would consider aloof. She's *very* aware; she observes and takes in Every. Little. Detail. She doesn't want someone trying to force interaction while she's still sizing them up but she's not aloof in the sense meaning "conspicuously uninvolved", which is how I typically interpret 'aloof'. Although she is distant and reserved with strangers, it's just in a highly critical and very involved manner (she's clearly 'engaged' in her surroundings). And she's friendly but reserved when she does like someone, only being super affectionate with a select few that she adores and loves. If that makes sense.
It's odd because Fiona is more likely to love people near instantaneously but only if she decides to pay attention to them. Fiona is what I consider far more aloof than Tali, yet super gregarious when she does pay attention to someone (and they're normal and give no reason for alarm). She's just in her own head 99% of the time - conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested. As far as she's concerned, everything we do and everywhere we go is all about her and nothing else, so she pays attention to herself and her desires. Whereas Tali gets very wrapped up in her surroundings and others, to the point of stressing out at times.
So that's how I kind of read my dogs. Fiona is aloof but ridiculously friendly when you can engage her, and Tali is very connected/engaged but reserved in her interactions.