SearchChildren or a doberman first?
Hello
I am really keen to get a doberman and have been doing lots of research. My partner is worried that in the lifespan of a dog we may have children and a dog may react badly bringing a child in after. I have contacted some breeders and they said to to have a dobie first so that they are out of the silly puppy stage when children come along. Do you agree with this?
Thanks
If you get the dog first then make sure you go out of your way to socialize it! Especially with children. You should take this dog everywhere with you and get it used to all kinds of things. I've always had Dobermans as my kids were growing up and never had a problem. You do need to be careful where you get your Doberman from especially since a child will be in your future. There are certain lines of Dobermans that do not have good temperaments.
My middle daughter moved back in with me last year and had a baby in Nov. She was really worried because of my then 12mo old male Doberman. He was and is still known as the wild child. Well we bought a doll that sounded real and made all kinds of baby noises. We carried the doll around in blankets and carseats, we even put it in the swing. I strongly believe in desensitizing dogs to things and it worked perfectly for us. The baby was born and my wild child is extremely gentle around the baby. He will come in and lay down by her wherever she is. Everytime I see him act this way around her I just beam from ear to ear. I'm very proud of him.
Congrats on the baby Calijur! I also agree pup first then baby- my sister had a 3 yr old weimer when she was pregnant- and they brought the babies blanket and cap home from hospital before baby came home- let him smell it and told him he was getting a baby sister and had to be gentle... They were best buds til Forest went...
We had two dobermans when we had our daughter and they became our daughter's guardian. Shadowe,my female,would watch over her like a mother,and my boy Jake wouldn't let anyone near her who was unfamiliar.It was a really cool sight to see.That was in 2000,my daughter is ten now and both dobies have since passed on.Looking back on it, I think I may not have had as much time to devote to the dogs as I should have.I never felt too overwhelmed but I wished I could have had more time for them.We got our next Dobie puppy in 2003 when my daughter was three.That transition was fine also but they were more like two sisters.She never really turned into her protector.
I would follow the advice from RND and Cisco as far as getting a dog used to a baby before bringing him/her home.But it really is amazing to see this dogs start WORKING around your baby.
Hello
Thank you all so much for your advise. I am going to keep researching the breed but that really has helped!
Thanks again
Poogie Uk
I think the more you expose your dog to things, the more successful they will be as a member of your family. We went puppy first simply because that was what we were ready for first. Now we're thinking of having a family and Steve is 11 months old. He is great with kids (I bring him around and let any stranger's kid that wants to pet him pet him) and he's learned "easy" and "gentle".
If you do not expose them and develop that trust first, when you bring the baby home it might have you be more nervous. That has happened with a family members doberman. They do not trust him around the baby, won't him sniff her, or let them in the same room. This is a serious problem and as time goes on it will cause more issues than you'd want to deal with. I promise if you put in the training, you will be proud of your dog. Like rnd -- any time Steve is successful with something, I am proud because I know my hard work is shining through.
Best of luck on whichever you decide.
I suggest pup first just because the pup grows faster and after training ans socialization, yuo don't have to worry about him pulling the baby's tail... lolz. It's probobly easier to deal with an adult dog and a child than it it to deal with a child and a puppy.
Im basically in the same boat... but we already got the puppy in may. i'm due in september and with my son at 4 yrs old, i take goliath with me to take my son to school/daycare so he sees lots of kids. so far kids are goliath's favourite type of human because they are his size.
ive also been walking around the yard with goliath on a leash and pushing my stroller (it would look rather weird if i were to walk around town with an empty stroller). i'm trying to desensitize him to all the baby gear we will be having out all the time and to get him used to walking with me and the stroller. i plan on walking everywhere when baby comes so i don't want him to be freaked out about the stroller beside him!
ive had a puppy before when i was pregnant with my son and it turned out very good. mind you it was a different breed but i still would recommend puppy first then kids especially less than a year apart. get the training down first, of course!
When my wife and I were dating, about 6 months before we were married, we bought us a doberman. This was Dixie #1. Around 2 years after we were married or bundle of joy Nikki came along. We had apprehensions about the dog and the baby also. The first day the baby was home we let Dixie smell see and hear her. When we put the baby in her crib, Dixie gave it a good sniff and layed next to the crib. When the baby would stir, Dixie would come where we were at and whine. If Nikki was in a stroller, Dixie would stick her head in there with the baby and nobody or anything but us could touch the baby. When the baby was at crawling age, they ate Purina High Pro from the same bowl, the dog backing away for the baby. The baby pulled, poked, prodded, yanked and would take the food right out of her mouth but Dixie would just let that baby do whatever to her and never said boo. Let a stranger (someone out side of our families) walk up to her, she would sit between the baby and the stranger and give them a low audible growl and show her teeth. If the stranger did try to touch the baby, she would have taken his face off, no dought in my mind.
Now a few years later comes our little man Travis (not so little anymore LOL). Dixie was a few years older and we no longer lived in the city and had a few dogs at the time, we brought the baby outside in a stroller and she did the same thing with him as she did with the first, stick her head in with the baby. Now our lab wanted to smell the new arrival, not the best move on his part, he was ran across the property to a corner where he had to stay or invite the rath of Dixie. She had a new charge and acted the same way with Travis as she did with Nikki. Ever alert to their safty.
So guess what I think
GREAT story Gunny.. ( as usual)
I hope this eases your mind a little 'poogie' ( POOGIE??)( okay.. tell all)
Thank you, my partner and I have decided that we will probably buy a dobie next summer. As I need to reduce my hours at work. I have been doing loads of research as I realise to get a puppy from a good breeder they have waiting lists and you must get on them in advance!
Poogie was my old dogs name. And something I can remember!
Thanks for your help
My children,grand chidren, great grand children have all been raised with Dobermanns, Great Danes and Rotties. I have owned Dobermanns since 1965 and have been involved with them since 1958. All were trained to a high degree in OB to PP and Rescue to Find, Search, & Destroy and we've never had a problem. I don't suggest bringing a Dobermann into a family when the child is atleast 8yrs. I think waiting for the child to be able to handle a bump and to understand what ownership means is a wise choice. Once a Dobermann is atleast 15 months is when training for living with a newborn is easily done. I agree with the post that used carriers, and strollers and all the tools that are used with and for an infant. Definetly bring the babies scent home before Mom and baby come home. This is the proper way to introduce them. A big part of training for a new family members is with a calm and quiet demeanor. Basic house manners for a pup should give you a great start because theres NO running in the house and theres NO exceptions. I know the Dobermann breed is an outstanding family member thats capable of loyality and gentleness. I prefer a female for the first family Dobermann when children are planned. Von
I have to say that I giggle when I read this title, because for us it's doberman. Hands down, no discussion. No kids either, but that's another story for another day. 
My husband was raised with Dobies. One was already living in the house when AJ came home from the hospital and lived with them until AJ was 5. His mom will tell you that dog treated him like he was her own baby. Guarded him in the yard, let him crawl all over her.
I agree, it's all in how they're introduced. If the baby comes home and the dog is completely ignored, then there's gonna be problems, but that would happen with any dog.
We had a Doberman before we had kids and they have been raised with several. I don't recommend a young puppy with a newborn - they are both too much work to be done at the same time. Any dog you get should be heavily socialized. If you are getting a puppy make sure you go to a very reputable breeder that truly is breeding a very stable dog.
Photo Gallery
I am Sasha FiercePet Profiles
agree with breeders. we got sasha in february 2011 and expecting a child in september 2011. in addition to normal puppy training we have been preparing sasha for the arrival of a child. sasha will be 7 months old when the child arrives. not quite the optimal age we desired but workable.