Learn the Pluses and Minuses of Owning a Doberman Pinscher for a Pet
When considering a Doberman Pinscher as a pet, you may be concerned with the fact that this dog has a reputation of having a violent disposition. This may be especially disconcerting when you have children in your home. The fact is that you can never be sure of what type of attitude the dog will have around children or other family members unless they are trained correctly. In this article, I will address the pros and cons of owning this surprising breed of dog.
Pros:
Contrary to what people believe, the Doberman is no longer as aggressive as it once was. Today, a pet Doberman can be just as loving and friendly as your average dog. The dog can be treated as another member of the family and this can help to make the dog more affectionate and loving as well as playful. If you have the time to train the dog, that will make him or her more easily manageable.
With the proper training you pet Dobe is a puppy or dog that will be very social. They will require a high level of interaction with all humans and family members in order to stay happy in its family environment. Someone in the family should pay special attention to them every day to make sure they understand that they are part of the family.
Many reports state that Dobermans are great dogs for families where there are small children in the home so long as they are introduced and raised together. A high number of people have experienced fantastic relationships between their children and their Dobermans.
When you are training your dog, also consider that your children and other family members need to be trained on how to treat a Doberman. If everyone is knowledgeable and trained together, it is highly likely that you will have a great relationship with your dog or puppy for years to come. The most important part of training your pet is to make sure they know you are the leader of the pack and you'll find they tend to learn fairly easily.
Cons:
Doberman Pinschers are naturally playful and because they may be bigger than your child could play a little rough without realizing it when it comes to wrestling around with them. This is why it's important to raise the dog and children together while teaching them to respect each other. If you have a puppy or child that has not had any training, you may experience difficulty with teaching either child or dog about where each of them crosses the line. Keep this in mind when considering a Doberman as a pet.
Although these dogs love children there are times when they think of them as their own and can be too protective. Make a quick movement toward one their children and you may find yourself in trouble as the pet can get quite aggressive. This was the problem with my brother-in-law's Dobe and they finally had to find another home for him.
Friends who may visit your home are often worried about whether or not your pet Dobe is dangerous, which may deter friends from coming over until they understand that your pet is not a threat to their children or to themselves. This also is a catch 22 because while friends may stay away until they learn the difference, prowlers or thieves can equally be as cautious when looking for a home to break into.
One problem that can be a big one is that since a Doberman spooks easily, you may find that often times your pet going to be stressed or shy. Try not to make any quick or stimulating moves around your pet to make you do not create a stressful environment situation for them. The more they are around you the more used to you they will be and ever they will take most of your movements in stride.
All in all a Doberman is a good family dog especially if it is raised with the family. I would think a female might be better is you have small children as they probably will not be quite as aggressive when watching over the children. They are easy to train when you have established that you are the pack leader.