The doberman is often outside and my children like to visit the neighbors and the dog. SHe is very friendly and knows us. She has a history of aggression towards cats but not people. Should i Not allow them to go there alone? What about their new male doberman puppy, who I bring into our house to get used to us and our cat? Do they have a history of sudden, unprovoced aggresssion?
2006-10-23 01:05:10 · 13 answers · asked by Leigh 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
There should be no issues with letting your children play/pet/interact with the dog. Since he has shown no agression to people there is a very small risk of injury. I would keep an eye on your children. Children can be rough with dogs and not know it. It is best to watch any dog with your children.
2006-10-23 01:07:51 · answer #1 · answered by Dalmatian Rescue 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a long time Doberman owner yourneighbor should be the one concerned. They are not very responsible to leave a doberman outside and not supervised at least some what.
If they do not have a problem with your kids visiting with the dog you should be fine. I would not have any ones children around my dobes without supervision.
Children can pull ears or poke or stuff and not mean to spook or hurt the dog and get bite. Also if this dog is a known cat chaser and has aggression if a cat is near what happens if a cat runs by wihen your kids are with the dog. In a prey chase situation someone can get bit easily and the dog may not mean to get the person.
Most dobes do not have unprovoked aggression but they can be hard to handle dogs and require that the ower or handler has the upper hand with them. When you start from a pup it can be a challange as they will periodically test the owner to see where they lie in the pecking order.
They can be wonderful family dogs but require some work and lots of exercise and training.
2006-10-23 02:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why are you bringing your NEIGHBORS Dobes into your home? Why is your neighbor allowing it? Before I answer further, I'd like my questions responded to first.
REVISED RESPONSE:
Thanks for writing me privately and providing the clarification I asked for.
I have had a total of 5 Dobermans who have graced my life. Of the five, not one has ever shown aggression toward any human -- adult or child -- but my current red is very protective of my husband. An individual approached my husband one afternoon and spoke to him in a very aggressive and strong tone. My girl had no problem in heeling in and giving a nice throaty growl to ensure this individual spoke to my husband in a more civil manner.
None have ever hurt another animal, but they are not afraid to ensure pack pecking order is known. As for cats, unless a dog is raised with a cat -- regardless of breed -- I would expect some level of aggression to be present.
As long as your children treat the Dobes with respect, as I would expect them to do with any breed of dog, then a Doberman represents no greater risk than a Labrador or Golden Retriever. All dogs can -- and if provoked WILL - bite. Dogs generally do not show any "sudden, unprovoked aggression" unless abused or trained to do so.
Don't make this breed specific. But if you're concerned about your children acting appropriately around these Dobermans, then I'd suggest you not allow them to visit unchaparoned.
2006-10-23 12:00:49 · answer #3 · answered by Surfer_Girl_59 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would never trust ANY dog 100% with neighbor's children. They should always be supervised. From Chihuahuas to Mastiffs. Especially a breed like the Dobie. I love the breed. I've owned a Dobie in the past & she was a wonderfully tempered dog, but people fear them. If ANYTHING bad happens the dog will be blamed and there is a chance the dog could be put to sleep over an incident. They are also capable of doing damage, so it pays to be careful & err on the side of caution. I would put up a real fence. It would be for the dogs protection from others wandering in to play with the cute doggie. As for the neighbors, I don't know what you can do about the one that fears all dogs. There are people like that and I can understand it. I keep my dog on a short lead around them. As for the others they will see what wonderful dogs Dobies really are. They may come to enjoy them as well. Good luck.
2016-05-22 00:49:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a volunteer for a doberman rescue . Dobermans are a gentle breed . You have nothing to worry about . Some dobermans have a high prey drive , hence they dont like cats ..lots of breeds are like this , it doesnt make them mean. The kids are fine going over there ... My own dobe is the neighborhood dog , everyone loves her . The kids come over to see her . I also have foster dobes comming and going and I have a 12 yo son , do you think I would put him in danger ?? No .. This is one of the kindest breeds I ever came across ..
There are so many myths on them suddley turing agressive .. Its all NOT ture .. Call a vet and ask them ..
If you have any questions email me .. Dobes are a wonderful breed !!!
2006-10-26 00:06:48 · answer #5 · answered by Robin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to be concerned about letting your child play with any dog if they aren't supervised.
The doberman happens to be our favorite breed and we have shared our lives and homes with about 7 over the past 30+ years. But, you shouldn't allow a child to play "unsupervised" with any dog, even your own. Children need to learn how to behave when they are around dogs to avoid any problems.
Our children were raised with dobermans and german shepherds and they were all loving and loyal companions. We made sure that our dogs knew their place in our "pack", everyone was dominant over the dogs.
Children and dogs can be a wonderful combination if you teach them to be gentle and loving with animals. Our dogs were all loving and friendly when we were with them however, they are very protective and you need to be aware of that. None of our dogs ever were aggressive with cats (we raised them with cats).
I think with supervision it's a good idea to teach the dog how to behave with cats and a puppy is a good age to start.
The well socialized doberman is a reliable and trustworthy companion, sadly, it's the people who cause problems with dogs (any breed), not the dog!
2006-10-23 02:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would ask the owners if the dog has any particular quirks that you are not aware of that would inadvertently upset the dog. Approach all dogs cautiously. I don't know if the breed in general has a history of unprovoked aggression. Good luck. I think it is great that you are making an effort to acquaint yourselves with the new puppy from the beginning.
2006-10-23 02:22:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was going to say that it is perfectly fine. Dobermans can be really good dogs. BUT anytime a new dog is introduced into a dogs environment, things can get weird...for any breed of dog. The new puppy adds some uncertainty. Is the older dog comfortable with the new addition yet? If there is any instability or jealousy, be careful about the kids.
2006-10-23 01:09:37 · answer #8 · answered by just browsin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a wonderful 2 year old female doberman and as with any animal, your children should be supervised around anyones dog, not just this one. Small hands can be painful, pulling ears or poking into eyes and any dog, regardless of its size or breed, will lash out when injured or provoked.
They are wonderfully protective animals and love those who they consider their "pack".
2006-10-23 01:16:48 · answer #9 · answered by kimmi_35 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You should always be very watchful no matter what type of dog it is. I have a boxer/pit bull mix who is very sweet and loves everyone, but I am always very watchful when there are children around her.
Even the traditional non-aggressive breeds can bite someone. My sister picked up a cocker spaniel-poodle mix one time and accidently pinched the skin - the dog bit her on the face and she required stiches.
If your going to allow your kids to be around dogs teach them not to pull on the animals ears or try to poke at their eyes. Also never just run up to a dog and stick your hand out. People let there kids do that to my dog all the time when we are out walking - so I take the time and tell the kids they should never run up to a stange dog and they should always ask the owner if they can approach.
2006-10-23 01:13:50 · answer #10 · answered by tac_sa 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋