If you will note, the Doberman motion is almost identical to a horse, rather than other breeds, especially the smaller breeds. Although I could swear some of the mop dogs (small dogs with more hair than body) do the same, but you don't see the legs, just the hair wiggling. It's the long legs of the Dobe coupled with the relatively short body (for the length of the legs).

Also, don't get real comfortable with leaving a Dobe in a fenced yard with a 6' fence. A healthy, athletic full grown Doberman can clear a 6' fence if they ever get the idea they can and have enough running room. I have seen it happen. Fortunately, most of them never get that idea. Only my first ever had that idea, but most of the time she found the 4' side fence easier.

I once had a Fawn female name Heidi. My late father used to call her Leaping Lena. She would stand flat footed, hunch down on all four legs to gather the force and jump straight up on all four legs. When she did this, her body would be above the 4' fence by about 18", with just her paws below the top rail. Then when she came down on all four she would do it again, and again. It was almost as if she had springs in her legs. She was the only dog I ever saw that would stalk a cat by slinking along the ground, and get it. She came home at least three times when I lived in Lynchburg with a neighbors dead cat.

Okay.. here's a new one.. Sofia will side trot.. just like the thoroughbred race horses as they parade around the track before they enter the starting gate. When it was cold and she had on her blanket.. I promise you she stopped traffic in the street!! Someone yelled " Hey Biscuit!"

Judy, you might consider a "catch fence" by fencing in a small area containing the door. This way if she needs to do something outside in a hurry and you are not ready to walk her, you can let her out.

Although a have 4 acres, with a little more than half in woods, I have about 70' x 50' in back fenced in behind the house so I can put them outside when the weather is good and let them play. They don't like going out back when it is raining so we go out front. I can stand on the front porch and watch them to make sure that they go. Red is pretty good, but Princess will run around a few minutes, get her nose wet in the rain and then come back up on the porch. Then she remembers she needs to go, so she goes out again, and again and again. Finally she does her business and I let her back in the house. I watch them because the front has no fencing. I do now have a hedge between the front and the road except for the two drive entrances, so they tend to stay in the main part of the yard. Red is very good about this, so Princess is picking it up.

One advantage of getting a younger Dobe when you have a settled older one, is the younger one learns from the older one.