are doberman pinchers mean?why or why not?

Question

i want one and my mom says they're mean and un predictable.

Answer 1

Doberman Pinschers are mean as people make them. Yes, they can be very vicious since they are very strong,intelligent and powerful. They are also very head strong so if the owner of these dogs don't let them know they are not the boss they will try to do as they please,when they want. The Doberman is not for the novice owner since they have tremendous strenght and they are very fearless.On the other hand they are very loyal , devoted and so affectionate to their owner and family. to me, all of my Dobies that I have had most of my life have been my big babies. Predictable...... I always know what is on their minds and if they begin to act up between two of them I put them in check!!! Has any ever turned on me..... MOST DEFINITELY NOT!!!!! If I were you I'd wait till I became an adult and then get you one,but do a lot of research between now and then.. Maybe if you know someone that has one or two you can learn more about the breed from them. You did choose a magnificent breed and at the right time and right age I'm sure you will be very happy with your choice.

Answer 2

The answer to this question is one that brings up a lot of arguements from both sides. It depends on a variety of things. Dogs have three ways to describe themselves. They have the obvious Physical or the appearance. Then they have the two which people confuse very often which are the Character of a dog and the Temperament of a Dog. The character of a dog is how the dog acts by itself or in a pack and in NEW environments. The Temperament of the dog is the result of putting the dog in a new environment.

To understand the Doberman (by the way, it no longer called Doberman Pincher.. the Pincher was dropped from the name a few years ago) you have to know what it was designed and created for. The Doberman is the only breed in history to be mixed and blended from a various breeds to create the "perfect guard/sentry dog". And, if you look at the breed, it is the best Sentry dog available. It is sleek, muscular, mean, aggressive, and brave.
Now, this does not mean that all dogs of this breed come out the same way. No, very rarely can you have a good sentry dog become a good house dog. That is were selective breedign comes into play. Selective breeding is when you take a dog with a specific temperament/character and mate them with a dog of similar or totally different temperament/character. The pups that result are usually a perfect combination of both mother/father... Usually. Dobermans, are one of the breeds that have gone through this selective breeding. Some stocks are very docile and loving and somewhat protective while others are very aggressive and vigil and very protective. What you get depedns on what you want.... do you want a family dog or a guard/sentry dog?

Now, the reason Dobermans have a bad reputation is because of their Character. Remember, the Doberman was created to be a SENTRY dog which means the dog needed to be mean and demanding from the get-go. This is still the case in some dogs. The doberman is a dog that demands respect but also gives respect when it is earned. The owner is supposed to be seen as the Alpha Male/Female in the pack. ALL dogs will notice if you the owner/leader is strong or not. If they feel the owner/leader is not strong enough to lead the pack, they will try and take command. This is were people go wrong.... at the first sign of aggression they cower and back away. This is WRONG. At times like these you yell out "NO!" and correct the dog. If not, they will see the backing away as a victory for them. Dobermans DEMAND RESPECT BUT GIVE DESERVED RESPECT. If you are a good leader and you take care of them, they will NEVER turn on you. If you are weak and cannot assert yourself as the leader then they WILL turn on you.

I can go on and on and on about one of my favorite breeds... i've owned Dobermans, German Shepherd Dogs, and Rottweilers my whole life. If you want some more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to give you information, advice, or opinions.

Answer 3

All dogs can be mean if they are raised that way, but Dobermans are extremely loyal to their "pack" (i.e., family) and take any perceived threat very seriously. In addition, they tend to be "one person" dogs - they often bond with one family member to a much greater extent than they do with any of the others, which means if there is a perceived attack within the pack (like, let's say your mom yells at you or you give a light, teasing punch to your brother's arm, or something), a Doberman will often take sides and defend the one it is bonded to, including attacking the pack member it perceives as a threat. In that way, they can be difficult to manage and it takes a strong, experienced dog owner/handler to be able to train an animal, whose instinct is to behave this way, to behave differently.

All of these characteristics can make for a great dog, but you have to recognize that there is also some liability on the part of the dog owner that goes along with it, and since you are still a minor, your mom would have to assume these responsibilities/liability on your behalf. Maybe she's just not ready or willing to do that, and if that's the case, it wouldn't be fair to bring a dog into a household where it wasn't 100% welcome. They are very sensitive, and would know there was a problem, and you would get problem behaviors in return. It's probably going to be best to go with a different breed if you want to be a dog owner, or if your heart is set on the Doberman breed, try to find a breeder or trainer that works with Dobermans that will let you work with them, too, so that you can develop the skills necessary to raise and train a "safe" Doberman prior to you making the ownership commitment.

Good luck - hope this helps.

Answer 4

Dobermans like all other breeds if raised properly are not "unpredictable and/or mean" although they can be mean if they are in protective mode and they feel that their pack is in danger also they are very intelligent ranking 5th smartest of all breeds. The reason people probably think they are is because there are some owners who abuse and mistreat them and in return they become mean and aggressive. They are intimidating with their look and their size (I doubt you could outrun a Doberman they're built for speed). Dobermans if raised and trained properly are wonderful loyal loving dogs who would do anything for their owner. I'm an owner of a female Doberman and a male Rottweiler and they are big babies but don't try breaking into my house or backyard I'm sure you'd regret it lol

Answer 5

Mean Doberman Pinscher

Answer 6

Are Dobermans Mean

Answer 7

i have a "miniature" doberman pincher and they are not mean, really sweet dogs, and every dog is unpredictable...they are dogs! I have also had several pitbulls. People sterotype them too. As I'm sure you have heard, it is how a dog is raised. Research them first before you set your mind on getting one.

Answer 8

lol, theres no way someone that doesnt know this answer already should own a doberman. they are nuts. i dont mean that in a bad way. my dobie, http://secuono.tripod.com/kohaku-hatsun_kendall_arikun/
, is way too hyper and happy, cant handle being alone for long. if you get one, do a TON of research first. get one from a good breeder that knows what she/he is doing. they chew on everything!!! mine used to eat my socks and 2 days later at 4am hed puke em bak out...lol, everytime i was sooo happy they came out. with propper breedin, the dog will be sound and an angel. they are velcro dogs and want nothing more than to be with you ALL THE TIME, lol, annoying. anywho, hope this helps!!

Answer 9

Doberman's can be mean, if they are raised to be.

Doberman's can also be a great family pet. I knew one that loved to sit on your lap.

It all depends on how the dog is raised as to its temperment.

You may have a hard time convincing your mom though, so maybe suggest a doberman crossed with something else, so it will not be inbred. Crossed breeds tend to have less health problems anyways.

Answer 10

I've always had a fear of doberman pincher's. It's the only breed of dog that I really am scared of. I'm sure it stems from being bitten by one when I was little. I was playing chase with a neighbor and his dog came out of no where and bit me right on the rear end. I guess the dog was just protecting the boy, but we were only playing.

Several years later, I had an aunt that had 2 dobermans and I was petting one and out of no where, it turned around and snapped at me.

Also, growing up, we had a neighbor that had a couple of them in their fenced in yard and they always barked furiously and tried to get out. I had to walk by there every day to get to school and I swore one day one of them was going to get me.

Every experience I've had with them has been negative. I've been scared of them since then and won't go near one.