Thinking of getting either a Rottie or Dobe - comments?

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>1) extra work involved to set the ears. not necessary on the rotti.</STRONG>

If the Doberman comes from European true working lines, the ears are uncropped. So, there is no problem there ;)

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>2) his dobi's seem to like to run and run and run...lots of energy...it seems they require more yard space or extra daily walks than the rotti.</STRONG>

True. Doberman Pinschers are very athletic dogs. They can also help you to stay in good shape ;)

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>3) they seem slower to learn than most rotties i know of.</STRONG>

I would dispute that. At least, that has not been my personal experience. I know of Rotties that are slow learners too, while others are fast learners. It varies from line to line ;)

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>4) my father lives on a beachfront property yet his dogs still don't like to swim, nor any of his previous dobi's.</STRONG>

Again, I know some Rotties that don't like to swim either, while I have seen some Dobies that love to swim!

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>5) his like to bark and make excessive noise, which i have found bothersome because the bark is higher pitched than a deep rotti bark.</STRONG>

Yeah, that's so sad, the Doberman has been ruined due to wanton careless breeding. Many Dobermans are weak nerved and will bark at everything and anything becoming annonying. However, if you get a well bred Doberman Pinscher (you know, "the real McCoy"), they are know to excel as protection guard dogs. You owe to see a real Doberman standing in front of you ready to fight... it sends shivers down your spine, while you have a hard time controlling a bowel movement ;)

Originally posted by sumo:
<STRONG>6) natural walking speed seems faster than that of a rotti...his dobes are really good on the leash, but whenever i've walked them, i've had to adjust my walking speed. </STRONG>

There we go! Dobies can become an excellent work-out and a way to stay in shape! :)

[ April 28, 2001: Message edited by: German Vanegas ]

[Joanne in NJ]

This thread is going a very weird place...

The major bane of rotties seems to be bone cancer, we've all been there, sadly.

The dobies are in such deep genetic doo-doo that it's a wonder any survive. You know my little not even a year old rescue dobie is vWD?

I just found out last week that her dam has dropped dead at age 4 of cardio. Probably bred from first heat to last, I also found out that her littermates are dying during spay. When my puppies ears were done and she was splattering blood all over the walls, the vet told her owners this was normal. Anybody got a big backyard and a shovel, I know a breeder that needs to get buried....

The cardio is way more scary, though. From what I'm learning- upwards of 60% of dobermans are going to develop it. More than ALL OTHER breeds combined. With 31%, your first clue is Sudden Death.

Anybody out there with dobies, get them into the Holter monitor program. While it's an irreversable and fatal desease, once the monitors pick up signs, you can significantly extend the dogs life for that period of time.

Add that to the finding that seem to indicate only 16% of the dobies are vWD clear, (with a third being bleeders like my little girl), very sad time for this breed.

And, BTW... anybody who says my mental basket case male dobie has weak nerves is being extremely kind and generous..... sigh....

[Leader]

I came from a boxer background (20years and breeding them too...all females in my home) and decided to change to a rott. So i got a male and started training at 4 mos. old. He's now 5, and socialized socialized socialized him. he's always been around children...ones who know dogs, and ones that don't older ones and younger ones; But i ALWAYS keep an eye on my dog although i trust him completely because i want to MAKE SURE I never have a problem. he's very gentle with little children. But then as I've said i've spent a lot of time training and socializing him. A rott requires a lot of time and energy. A dobe does too of course. i've heard that they are very sensitive dogs (is that what you mean by weak nerves????) and i've seen that at my club. A very good working dobe will just be crushed if his owner raises his voice too much.

Anyway...if you go for a rott, do your homework and make sure you both go in eyes and hearts open. ;)

[German Vanegas]

Joanne in NJ,
F.Y.I., the Rottweiler breed in the United States of America is doing slightly better than the Americanized Doberman Pinscher. Things aren't that great for our beloved breed either. In fact, cardiovascular diseases are becoming increasingly common in the Rottweiler. The problem is out of control. It's owed to WANTON CARELESS BREEDING. Problems? We have plenty :(

[ April 28, 2001: Message edited by: German Vanegas ]

[Goose71]

One other thing to consider that rotts don't take to hot days too well. They're very susceptible to heat stroke due to the color of the coat as well as the short snout. I know dobies also come in black and tan, and I don't have any personal experience with them, but they may be able to take the heat a little bit better, while the rotts will do better in cooler weather. Depends on where you live and what activities you plan to do with him/her. for example, if you live in Minnesotta and prefer winter activities, go for the Rottie, if you live in Arizona you might be better off w/ a Dobie, (extreme examples but I hope the point came accross).

[Mick Trainer]

[quote]Originally posted by Beaderbaby:
[QB] i've heard that they are very sensitive dogs (is that what you mean by weak nerves????) and i've seen that at my club. A very good working dobe will just be crushed if his owner raises his voice too much.

No. Weak nerve is a definition given to a dog that will show aggression (defensive) at a low level of stimulation. Such a dog perceives threat at a very low level. When German talks above in reagrds to thin nerve (German: My aplogise if I miss quote you my friend) he is talking about a dog that barks at the slightest of noises etc due to it feeling threatened by what is making the noises, or that dobes now days are starting to cry, mone etc which is once again a nerve condition.

What you refer to is a dog that is defined as handler "Soft". A dog that takes a correction very personally. This once again is a problem that the dobermann should not suffer from. When bred correctly they are regarded to be quite handler "Hard".

Hope that this helps,

Mick.

[Karen J. Reece]

Since I have complained numerous times about my neighbor's doberman - thought I would contribute to the already long list of replies to your question. I got my rottie at 8 weeks. He has been the easiest trained, best natured and smartest BIG dog I have ever raised. He is quiet barks only when there is definitely something to bark at. Now my neighbor's doberman is just a little older than Mac (they're both a little over a year old now) and that dog barks almost constantly. He runs the length of their (thankfully) fenced in yard, jumps up on the fence and barks at everything and everyone. When his owner lets him out he does not leash him and he runs wild over the neighborhood with his owner chasing him down. My rottie does not even bark back at him. Both my dogs ignore him thank goodness.

[johnson1999]

Wow - thanks for all the great responses. I showed my fiancee your posts and she also thanks all of you.

I spoke to a few breeders who told me that a female Rott would probably be better for a first time rott owner - because they are a little less dominant/aggressive than the males. Any truth to this?

[Goose's Guardian]

I would agree that females are TYPICALLY a little easier to handle than the males. They also may be better with your children.

This having been said, you could get a female that's difficult or a male that's super easy.

[DoggGuy]

sorry for not getting in on this one lots sooner, i one of each a doberman(female) and a Rottie(male).

a well bred dobie is every bit as much dog as a rottie only you dont go broke feeding it. I had no idea how easy i had it with my dobe until i got a rott.
brianna was by FAR easier to train, she learned to almost all of her OB by the time she was 4 mo. she was sitting and staying at 10 weeks. Dobies are bred to work in close connection with people and it becomes very obvious very early that they like to be around people. so if your not going to have it in the house with you, dont get one.

I am aware that you all love rotts, as do I, but come one they are STUBBORN, and they POUT, and if you correct them too hard they SULK and will IGNORE you.

as far as training goes it comes almost naturally to Dobes. be careful not to get one of those yappy, nervous, irritating ones though. a friend of mine has a male and it is the biggest baby not at all what one would look for in a dobe.

the truth is that that they are two very different breeds and depending on your living situation, either or neither of them could work. research a lot before you buy a dog of any breed.

[LucyJ]

Originally posted by Goose's Guardian:
<STRONG>This having been said, you could get a female that's difficult or a male that's super easy.</STRONG>

Absolutely true. Every dog is so different. But since you will be going through rescue the dog's foster family will be able to give you alot of insight into his/her personality. Our girls' foster mom told us all about Mojo's many personality quirks, so we haven't had alot of surprises with her. This is one of the many great reasons why rescue is such a wonderful way to go. Good luck. :)

[Echowe]

Originally posted by DoggGuy:
<STRONG>.

I am aware that you all love rotts, as do I, but come one they are STUBBORN, and they POUT, and if you correct them too hard they SULK and will IGNORE you.

</STRONG>

LOL... I think we ALL experienced that!!!

[suzanne611]

We have owned both also, I loved my Dobie male but we are definitely pro-rottie.