SearchPossibly adopting a dobie
I never ever considered owning a Doberman. Truth be told, I'm a little afraid of them. When I was a kid, the neighbors had one and it would sneak up and attack through the fence, sounding like it was going to tear through right after us.
But then we were adopted by one. He hangs around, sleeps on the porch, plays with our dogs, loves our kids, melts into a floppy puppy every time I pay him the least attention and totally ignores our chickens.
He belongs to the neighbors (a mile away), but his daddy works long hours and is rarely home. His mommy works, and is frustrated with him. Any time they let him out, he runs here and won't go home. Even though we don't feed him, he hangs here until they come and pick him up.
They just asked if we want to keep him since he seems to want to be here. I feel bad taking him, but it sounds like they're thinking of getting rid of him anyway.
Everything I read about dobies says to be cautious regarding the breeder, but that isn't really an option with an adult dog.
We're out in the country and don't have a fence, though we do have a kennel where the dogs stay when we're gone. I stay home, however, so mostly the dogs are in with me or out running around when the kids or I are outside. Our nearest neighbors are almost a mile away.
I can't believe how submissive this dog is. He laid down and let my wimp of a lab mix mount him. The lab mix that is owned by our German Shorthair Pointer mix. He even rolls around with the Beagle. Watching them has definitely shown me that the dog I knew as a kid was just a "bad dog" not a bad breed!
Anyway, what do you look for in making a decision like this? He's been hanging around for weeks so I'm guessing we'd have seen any problems if they were going to develop?
I think thats really cool. Some souls match with others better, and hopefully this is why he chose you guys. I think it'z cool that their cool with it. Best of luck and I hope you keep us updated. Gosh I love these Dobies, they are so personable.
Gottsegnet - welcome to the forum. You have discovered over time several very important things to know about Dobermans. First, they are territorial and protective. When you were a kid living next door to one, there was a fence that marked the Dobies boundary and you were up against it. There was something you were doing that annoyed him, we'll obviously never know what. It may just have been the fact that you came close but were never allowed in my his Alpha, so therefore you were warned to stay away.
The second thing is that when you get to really know them, they are loving and loyal dogs. We use the term "velcro dogs" because they are with you all of the time. I have a problem now in the evening when I want to get up and get a snack or a drink of water, because I have a 100 lb red male (Red) on one foot and a 70 pound red female (Princess) on the other. Even if I get my feet out from under them, I then have to step over them. Of course, once I start to the kitchen, it is a parade with my red shadow (Red) and his red shadow (Princess).
I would not hesitate. He has already made the decision that he wants to be there and has already acclimated to your dogs, demonstrating that he knows he is the bottom of the pecking order. Now that may change over time. The wisdom is to be cautious about the breeder when picking out a puppy, but you are not picking out a puppy. When getting a new dog there are a lot of unknowns, but in your case, most everything is already known.
When adding a new dog, there is always a question about how the new dog will get along with the current dogs - he already does. There is always a question about how the new dog will get along with the kids (if any) - he already does. It sounds like the only reason he is not your dog in your mind is that you haven't accepted him and don't yet feed him. From what you describe of him - he is definitely, in my mind, a keeper.
As for melting into a floppy puppy when you pay attention to him does not sound at all strange to those of us who are familiar with the breed. That is the normal Doberman when with his family. When a stranger comes over, he will be very stand offish at first to read your reaction. If you welcome them with open arms, then he will welcome them. If you are apprehensive, then he may make his presence known, not to intimidate, just to give a light warning.
A story I have told before, I have a friend in Virginia and when I was living there he was given a red female Doberman named Mandy. One day while I was over there, an acquaintance came over. He was not welcome as he was a "hugger" and had once attempted to corner my friends teenage daughter at a gathering when she was coming through a doorway. He put his arm out, but she just ducked under and kept going. When he came through the door of my friends house, his daughter of course quietly reacted, and Mandy read that. Suddenly Mandy was standing in the middle of the living room issuing a low rumbling growl with her ears half back. He sensed he was not welcome, made an excuse and left. When the door closed, Mady laid back down at the daughters feet.
My friend commented, she's just earned her keep for the rest of her life. That was the only person that ever entered my friends house while Mandy was there to whom she ever reacted like that.
They are unique animals. To be owned by a Dobeman is indeed a pleasure.
gottsegnet; sounds like good karma to me. He travels a mile regularly to visit, plays well with others, and his owners are understanding in the way of karma.
Keep us posted.
pssst, KEEP HIM!
sometimes.... I think it's that the dog finds you.
Amen. At times even when picking out a puppy, it's the puppy that picks out you. My first male - Hans - did just that. I drove over to the breeder's location and got meet Sire and Dam. The breeder let all the puppies out to run around while we were out with them. There was one who was more curious about things than many of the others who seem to just want to tussle with each other. This one red male wandered further than any of the others and sniffed my leg and then reached up on my leg. I picked him up and the look in his eyes told me, he was the one.
That was in the summer of 1984 and he was my loyal companion until Nov. 1995 when I lost him to kidney failure at the age of 11 1/2.
Even my latest, Princess, even though there were only two left and I had made a tentive selection via e-mail from photos, when I actually got to meet the two girls, the other did not seem interested and Princess just wanted to be around me. She got her name that night at the motel when she was so good about letting me know she wanted to go, and held herself so well. I commented to her that she was just a little Princess. She still has a regal air about her, crossing her front legs when on her pad and holding her head up proud - like an aristocrat.
Thanks everyone! Sorry to sort of drop out. I couldn't log in and then forgot what forum I was even on. Finally got around to searching through my email to figure it out.
He is a sweetie. We may be keeping him, but we'll see. His owners are working with him, trying to keep him, but it isn't going too well. Yesterday when his "daddy" came to pick him up, he wouldn't even go to him. I called him over and he came right away and I had to grab his collar to give him back.
Sort of sad. They really like him and they've obviously treated him well. I like having him around. Especially at night. He's at a permanent heel when I'm outside and that's sort of reassuring at two in the morning when you live in the middle of nowhere!
My lab mix is sort of like that, but he scouts ahead of me, barking like mad and he's hard to get back in the house. But he'll also take off after coyotes which makes me nervous. The dobie doesn't. He barks his warning and doesn't seem to let anything come up in the yard, but he doesn't leave the yard to chase.
Oh, and a story from shortly after he decided to adopt us.
I was walking down to the hen house to feed the chickens and the dobie was playing and romping with Hunter. I fell down the hill and he was immediately there. I had hip surgery last year so falling is no fun and getting back up isn't always the easiest thing.
He just stood over me, not romping or licking or asking for affection. Just making sure I was OK and nothing was going to bother me, I guess. I put my hand on his shoulder and he braced himself and let me use him to get back up. Then he ran back off to play.
It was nice. My dogs are are sort of hyper and tend to be oblivious. I have to watch out when they're playing because they'll plow right into me and if I fall, they're all over wanting to play. He never has, though.
Just a gentleman.
Wow Gottsegnet::
What a treasure you have! As SoldierRN pointed out, there is definitely some kind of karma going on and I would encourage you to do everything in your power to keep this incredible boy. He obviously has decided to keep you!
What is his name?
His name is Zane. I may take some pictures of him this weekend if he's still here. He's been hanging out for a couple days and sleeping on our porch.
Last night, he ran off some coyotes who were down by the kennel/hen house. Quite nice. I was a little nervous to go down just in case they didn't run off (this pack has been incredibly bold, even looking at us through the window), but I didn't want to leave the beagle to himself because I know they can jump a six foot fence if they want to.
He came up behind me, standing all alert and when he saw me grab a rake he took off like a vicious attack dog. He stopped right at our property line and paced, growling into the darkness. I caught the eye shine of the coyotes watching him, but he didn't leave our property, and they kept their distance.
I would have a heart to heart discussion with his "owner" and ask them to release him to you. It might help to tell them the story of how he stood by you when you fell, and that you feel far more secure when he is around. Point out that you know they have treated him well, and also love him, but for some reason he seems guided to you by an unseen hand. For truly he has been.
As for the coyotes, if I lived in an area where they were that plentiful and bold, I think I would go armed when they are around. Normally a wild animal will give humans a wide berth, but on occasion they do not and that is when problems arise.
Wow, Zane knows where is true home is located. This better have a happy ending with all parties involved accepting Zane's already made decision.
Just a note, my 110lbs male Harley has some playmates that he runs and plays with regularly. They are 2 female jack russels, who probably weigh a combined 30lbs, and a mini schnauzer who is maybe 20lbs? It is the funniest thing to watch the littlest Jack Russel lunge at Harley's face until he chases her. She antagonizes him to play!!
All I can say is we had a dog that loved our neighbors. Our children played with Barklee and he was well feed. We never knew why he prefered them, but he did. So we gave him to them and got another dog for the kids.
It worked out well for Barklee, he later had to have a leg removed and at that time we were making it by a thread. So we could not have afored the surgery. LOL
Take a chance on him, you may never know who's life will be saved!! Could be one of your own!