Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. A little over a month ago, my 14 year old Pomeranian died. I loved him very much, he was a very critical part of our family, and when he died, I couldn't even BEGIN to think of getting another pet, let alone another dog. We had gotten him when he was just a tiny little puppy, and it was so dificult to accept the fact that he was gone. As the days went by, I realized that his death had left an empty space in my life, and it just wasn't the same not coming home to his wagging tail every day after work. So I have recently started thinking about getting another dog. I still have so much love to give, so I started doing careful research to decide on the breed I would want. Now, I had always wanted a big dog, but since my mother is afraid of them, that's how we ended up with a Pomeranian. Now that I'm moving out on my own, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to get the kind of dog I've always wanted. I've looked at countless websites for information on Dobes, and now my last step is to ask people who actually own the dogs for some person experiences/advice.

First of all, here is what I'm looking for...

1) I'm looking for a dog that will be just as active as I am. I want a running partner, a dog that will love to play frisbee and fetch, and a dog that will enjoy swimming/being on a lake.

2) I'm looking for an intelligent dog that can be easily trained. I don't want a big dog that I wont be able to control. I'm more than willing to put the necessary time into learning the correct way to train this type of dog, and also into the actual training.

3) I'm looking for a good watch dog. Being a single female living alone in a not so great neighborhood is not exactly the safest position to be in. I'm looking not only for a great companion, but for a dog that will make me feel a bit more secure at home. Now, there's also an extreme I'm NOT looking for...I don't want a dog that will be agressive with my friends/new people I invite over. I've read that Dobes can be a bit over-protective of their owners, which is something that worries me since I enjoy meeting new people and having friends over.

4) Although I do have the neccessary time to devote to being a puppy parent, I am also a college student whose schedule sometimes refuses to cooperate. On regular days time will not be a problem at all, but factoring in evening exams, occasional study groups, and office hours...there is bound to be a day or two each week where I'll have to leave the puppy to his own devices for a few hours more than I'd like. My concern is, I've read many articles online that stress that Dobermans do NOT do well being left alone. Is this really as extreme as it seems, or would this be ok?

Now for some general questions...

1) What age?- I'm wondering what age puppy you would recommend. I want a dog that is young enough so that I can bond with him at an early age, but I do not want a puppy that is too young and not quite "established" yet. The puppies I was looking at are 8-9 weeks old...is this a good age?

2) Training the new puppy- I'm confused on when a good time will be to start training the puppy. I've read articles that both advocate starting the training right when you bring the puppy home, and also articles that suggest waiting until the puppy is a bit older as pressure at an early age isn't good. Also, what's good to start with...your basic "sit", "stay"?

Any other advice/tips on anything whatsoever would be greatly appreciated. I always like to think things through completely before making a decision and I'd appreciate as much help as possible. Thanks in advance!!

Dobes are great for the right people First i think the best time to bring them home is twelve weeks. There is then no question if they have ben with the parents/litter long enough. Anything over ten is good though. They need socialized a lot. HTe guard part of a dobe should just be its looks. If you haven't owned a breed like this before i would set myself up with a trainer before getting one just to make sure you have what it takes. I know people who have gotten more dominent dogs and they walk all over them. This is a great forum to ask these questions too.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/11341
I would write more but I need to go study. My boy does fine while I'm off doing the college thing a couple hours a day and is actually a huge couch potato so sitting around all day while I'm at class is no problem. In a regular semester where I am gone almost all day I just make a point to walk him in the morning or night if he seems like he wants too. And go to a good breeder or it'll be like playing catch up the whole time. this is not a breed you want from a byb.

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Thanks for the link! Your dog is simply adorable! They're such beautiful dogs. Hopefully we'll be the right match for each other.

I really think a black Lab would be perfect for you. If you train with your dog there is NO problem with bonding after puppyhood. I don't get my dogs as puppies. The selection of young adult dogs is huge. You can get the size, temperament, and health checks you need, and the dog can be housetrained and settled. If you want to be past the destructive chewing, age two years is good, especially in females. Females are often a touch more obedient, too.

If you want lots of company and a dog who can go running with you and have the best chance of getting along with people easily, a Lab would be great. A puppy of any breed won't be ready for running until 18 months to 2 years of age. A puppy won't be protective-looking until several months of age--minimum--either. A black Lab looks formidable and if you train the dog to obey you (which you really must do with any dog if you want to take the dog out in public and have the dog mix with guests in your home), people will not want to test to see if the dog will protect you or not. If really pushed by someone who tries to hurt you, chances are a black Lab WILL chase the person away. And it goes without saying that Labs love to play fetch.

I have tons of training articles and dog-selection articles and behavior-problem articles all free to read at the link below my signature. There are thousands and thousands of Labs in this country in need of homes, and the black ones are less popular than the yellows and chocolates--yet the black color is exactly right for what you need. Whether you want a dog from a breeder (one that for some reason isn't going to be bred or has lost its home and needs another) or a rescue dog, the perfect Lab is out there for you. If you get an adult, you can really fine-tune the dog to your needs in terms of size and energy level, too.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks a lot for all your advice and for the link! I've actually also been considering other breeds and dogs of different ages because I'm trying to find the dog that will best fit me, and I understand that it may not be a puppy. Thanks again!

I agree with KDiamondDavis about looking into an older dog. We found our current dobe at the local shelter and he was guestimated to be about five years old when we adopted him last year. He was completely trained when we got him and very literate, so he obviously had a home with some attention at some point. He was found as a stray. This is a purebred Dobe, who loves everybody. He'll bark when someone shows up, but he is not a threat in any way, he loves everyone from adults, to children to cats. My previous dobe, a female, was more aggressive, so they can go either way. The nice thing about adopting an older dog is you can see their mature personaliy and see if it matches what you are looking for. There are so many purebred homeless dogs in shelters and rescues that really need a loving home. Petfinder.com has many rescue and shelter dogs listed, some purebred and some mixed breeds.

Please offer more details in your posts. You obviously seem to have a lot of knowledge but you rarely post any meaningful information.

Why would a Lab be better than a Doberman in this case? What characteristics are you considering?

I don't think you can expect people to blindly follow your advice when you offer no information. Remember, there are other people that will be reading these posts looking for information also.

>>Please offer more details in your posts. You obviously seem to have a lot of knowledge but you rarely post any meaningful information.
>>
>>Why would a Lab be better than a Doberman in this case? What characteristics are you considering?
>>
>>I don't think you can expect people to blindly follow your advice when you offer no information. Remember, there are other people that will be reading these posts looking for information also.

>>>>>>>>>>>

What I can realistically do in this forum is try to answer the question the person is asking for the problem they are trying to solve. For more complete, global information, the Canine Behavior Series link is in my signature, free to read any time you like. For someone who wants a dog who will be steady and friendly with the public and at home, a Lab has advantages over a Dobe. I don't expect anyone to "follow my advice." All I'm doing is answering people's questions. They will make their own decisions.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I'm sorry but saying "get a black Lab" has absolutely nothing to do with the original question (read it again if you don't remember). In fact it opens up more questions than it answers.