A dog's adult temperament is a combination of genetics, early socialization and experience. What you see in a puppy can be molded, but it's also part of "who they are" already genetically. This is a very good read on genetics and temperament: https://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/its-all-in-how-theyre-raised/

Good breeders typically choose which homes get which puppies because they know their puppies so well, and they learn about the people who will be getting their pups, so they want to place the puppies in the homes that are best suited to them. People looking for a laid back pup shouldn't get the puppy who is pushy and always busy, for example, or that home is set up to be frustrated with their dog. On the other side, the person who wants to do agility and other sports doesn't want that laid back pup!

Make sure you are working with a good breeder who is doing everything right - they should be showing and titling their dogs in either the show ring or in working sports, health testing their dogs and studying pedigrees to breed for longevity and health, and carefully breeding temperamentally sound dogs. That kind of breeder will do a good job matching you to the right puppy!

 

I let the breeder pick my pup, my only preference was for a female. I said I wanted a middle of the road temperment, not the most pushy and outgoing and not the most timid/laid back. I got exactly what I was hoping for. She was a very easy, bright puppy to raise and now at 2 1/2 has great drive when asked but also an "off" switch.

 

I had a similar experience and I have a 2 yr old Dobie to blend with a 9 week old.

I went to meet the pups at 5 weeks, 2 were left, one quiet & mellow, one more forward and inquisitive. The inquisitive one and mine traded smell n sniffs - which was the most positive exchange mine had with any prospect, so we all thought it was a sign. I got the pup at 8 weeks, and she has done well, the pup is having a positive effect with the adopted one.

I wanted someone (canine) to help the adoptee get past previous abuse and get to the inner puppy.

That said - some traits and tendency's may be ingrained or so deeply scared, it can be a real challenge.

One adoptee I had, was a HUGE red male Dobie I named Clyde. Clyde liked the couch and chew toys. The only Dobie I've had that could "Get the kitty" then "Bring me the kitty" -- much to the kitty's dismay.
Large, gentle and mellow and happy.
Spring, was a perimeter patrol pooch - she couldn't relax till she went around the perimeter of the yard nose to the ground and she knew every interloper.

One test a friend told me was to put a towel over the pups eyes, - some pups assume the world went away and wait, some know the world on the other side of the towel and pull it off.

If you spend time with the pup - they learn and interact and interpret, and you learn interact and interpret. Hopefully.

That 2 year old adopted Dobie came in, housetrained, and after I earned her trust, mostly obedient (She can still bolt and start to run, and won't stay very long) . The rescue labeled her as high energy, after 3 months, she has mellowed - a mile walk or chase the puppy frequently seems quite sufficient.

Best of luck in your choices, I like dogs, I LOVE Dobies. All of em!
(unless they have teeth puncturing my arm or leg)

 

from observing just a short period in one setting the personalities can be a bit deceiving. The puppy that seems laid back may not be feeling well, it might just be tired because of how long it has been awake. Puppies sleep most of the day away and are actually only awake for small periods of time which get longer as they get older. The one that seems aggressive when they eat may not have ate much at its last setting. When the litter of pups are yours you have a better opportunity to observe the personalities as they are developing. But even that changes as time goes on. One of my Dobermans that I lost a few years back when we got him from Robert Vandiver they used to refer to him as one of the three little pigs because three pups in that litter used to be very aggressive when feeding them together. So they had to feed those three separately. It appeared when they were only 8 weeks old like he would be a very dominant dog, One that may need a firmer hand (this was Robert's assessment). Yet as he grew, and as we went about our normal training he was an excellent guy. Got along with everyone. Never had one time in his 12 years where he acted even the slightest bit aggressive. Never had any problems out of him. So just like trying to say exactly how they will be structurally is based on observations from what has happened in the past but isn't absolutes, the same is true with personalities except you have imput into the personality which you don't really have on structure.

 

Our assessment of their personalities matched the breeder's assessment as well. Since we have an 11 year old male doberman and a 6 year old great dane now, we wanted somebody in the middle of the road personality/energy/craziness wise that fits in with the 2 adults we have now.

When I adopted my greyhounds, my female was outgoing and friendly, never met a stranger and never faltered on that. My male was shy and reserved, but over time, became much more outgoing, but I guess I'd still say he remained shy and reserved. Our doberman and dane are very much now like they were when they arrived as adults as well.

Was just curious how much we could expect a puppy to change as they grow. I wouldn't expect them to swap entirely, but maybe move a bit more to the middle based on our family.

Thanks for the input

 

just like a person you can "encourage" their personality to a degree by training. A well bred intelligent Doberman should be stable anyway.