Rottweiler and Doberman

[erikcooper]

Does anyone on here own this combination? I would love to do this, and I want to hear some experience. I guess I will leave it at this until I get a reply :)

[Judi W]

What the heck do you mean "I'd love to do this?" If neither breed has the qualities you want, then select another breed.

[StephanieandToby]

I'm going to keep my mouth shut because I know you're gonna get it... However, the Rottweiler/Dobermann crosses I have seen have all been lovely dogs personality-wise...but not very good-looking. (in my opinion)People will either think you own a fat Dobermann or a Rottweiler with a skinny head.

[dmoniz]

He mentioned this in Chit Chat. Not a mix, but 2 dogs - one rott and one Dob - right? The only thing I noted was that you wanted to get them both as puppies, both males and both at the same time. Usually this is not recommended as they will not grow up "loving" eachother like you want. They will start out as great friends, but when they reach adulthood between 2-3 years you could have some major fights on your hands as both breeds like to dominant. It is always better to get one dog, well socialized and trained and add another dog that is about 2-3 years younger or older.

[2rotties2luv]

And it usually works best if the second dog is of the opposite sex. Two dogs of the same sex and the same age is a recipe for disaster.

[carolynnl4]

Athena's trainer has owned rottweilers and dobermans at the same time, but dogs are his livelihood. (He runs a security company with his dogs.) He also does not live with 2 males of the same age in the house.
Personally, I don't think the problem lies in the 2 breeds conflicting as the OP's post seems to question, but the problem in having 2 dominant males of the same age (as other posters pointed out).

I don't know your past with dogs and how much you're prepared to handle now. Personally, I find raising one puppy difficult enough, I can't imagine 2.

[erikcooper]

Yes, it is two different dogs that I want, not a cross. I can't even imagine why to cross them. I understand the things you have pointed out. I have had neither breed yet, that is why I asked. I know I want them both, I just assumed getting them at the same time would make them closer than getting them at different time. I understand now that it would not work so nothing else to worry with. So does anyone here have them both, at different ages? If so do they get along? I am just checking my possibilities before I get in to deep.

[carolynnl4]

Originally Posted by erikcooper

So does anyone here have them both, at different ages? If so do they get along? I am just checking my possibilities before I get in to deep.

Yup, Cupid had both, an older rottweiler female, and a young doberman male. They got along fine, the female was dominant. Can you be more specific about your concerns? Maybe that would help with the feedback.

IMHO, and definitely NONexpert opinion, the dobermans I've known have been more hyper and a tad nervier than the rottweilers I know, but it's not as if the 2 such varying personalities that they hate each other on sight.
Athena, my dog, actually seems to recognize black&tan dogs, and is much more excited to see them, and is friendlier and more playful with them. (Which is confusing, because I thought dogs were colorblind. )

[lolo]

i have them both. 2 females approxamatly the same age the dobe is a month older, they are best buds they play together groom each other and they eat sometimes from the same plate. they are wonderfull

[erikcooper]

(Which is confusing, because I thought dogs were colorblind. )

They can see shades though, that could be your answer there.

I just do not want issues with either of them being protective over the other. I want them both to know they are both accepted and if at all possible I want them to look after each other the same way that they would look after me and my family. It is the general consensus that the best way to do this is by getting them at different times? Also, even if they are neutered?

[erikcooper]

2 females approxamatly the same age

So my answer could also be in changing the sex I am looking for?

[carolynnl4]

Originally Posted by erikcooper

So my answer could also be in changing the sex I am looking for?

The general consensus is that you want to have 2 of the opposite sex. Males fight, yes, but so do bitches, and they NEVER forget. There have been terrible stories on the forums about juggling dogs.

You may also wish to do a search on protection -- with terms such as protection, instinct, guard, intruder, schutzhund.

Unless you're willing to 1. get your dog from a breeder who breeds working dogs, and 2, work extensively with your dogs, you may find that they don't have the protection instinct you're looking for.
The shorthand reason for all this, is that rottweilers and dobermans (even more so, I believe) have been so overbred that most simply don't have the nerve to protect when push comes to shove.
I highlight that part because a dog that looks scary at the door or has a rough low bark is very different from one that will attack when an intruder is presenting a true lethal threat.

Again, I'm not the expert, so I'll leave it to them to give you the details and correct me if I've been misleading.

[python73]

Originally Posted by carolynnl4

...because I thought dogs were colorblind.

Dozer (minpin) can tell the difference between his blue and yellow squeaky balls (as if an ankle biter of a dog wasn't annoying enough without toys that squeak ) from across the room. I guess it could be shades.

Anyway, the rott + dobie thing... that was me. We had our rottweiler Buddy (male, neutered) from puppy. He was around 5 years when we rescued Bravo (male dobie, neutered, 6 yrs old). Buddy had been around dogs his whole life. Doubt it with Bravo, since he tended to try to eat large dogs if he was out on a leash. Anyway, brought Bravo home, he came up the stairs to meet Buddy and they loved each other from day 1. Lived together for 4 - 5 years and never once fought. Not over food, not over people, bones, toys, nothing. They played rough sometimes, but it was always tail wagging fun.

We tried adding smaller female rott to the mix at one point. She got into it with Buddy (rott) immediately and often, to the point we had to break them up. She did like Bravo though, they did not fight. She ended up back at the shelter after she bit my wife.

Anyway, I like the combo. The two breeds are each excellent in their own way. But we didn't use any science to mix them, just dumb luck. So be aware and consider the advice already given.

S !

[erikcooper]

get your dog from a breeder who breeds working dogs

I plan to get one from Please do not post breeder information if at all possible.

I haven't been looking at Rotts long enough to have found someone like that with them yet. Anyone have a suggestion?

So male/female combo would probably work best? The only reason I was going to do male/male was because of the small increse that was possible in size. I didn't know they would still be likely to have problems if they were neutered. No big deal though.

[Judi W]

Get one pup (either breed) and raise it to an adult to be just what you like, well trained and socialized. Then you will have learned much about the raising and training and can get a second dog to concentrate on. Regardless of age, opposite sexes are the best match. Although neutering does have a certain amount of affect on same sex competition, it does not eliminate it and you don't know at all the social abilities that a dog will have as an adult when selecting a pup. Best solution is opposite sex. The opposite sexes are by nature compatible.