This is a long post so I can explain everything about her - need help from other Dobi owners. Rescues Beck at 4 mo. form a drainage ditch so we don't know anything about breeding. Vet feels it was a professional breeder based on docking of tail and other signs he looked for. She has been a lot to handle from day 1 - extremely active, alert from a very young age. Smart as a whip - has learned most things, even leave it - but does not have a recall. High drive - bunnies run in front of her - if she wasn't on a leash she would run for days. Here is my problem. She is now 1.9 years, never has bit anyone. My grandkids (8 and 11) have been around her since she was a puppy - she is a lot around them - she just wants them to play with her all the time. We started taking her to day care around 9 months and she has done very well with the other dogs - daycare says she just doesn't have an "off" button and it order for her to rest they have to bring her in several times a day (outside daycare with swimming, etc). They say she has to go in with the big dogs (she is on the smaller side at 65 lbs.) because she wants to play continuously. Supper sweet at home, loves us, sleeps with us and is very obedient - one of the smartest dogs I've ever owned. So my daughter wanted to rehome her 2 year old Aussie and asked us to take him. We said yes thinnking it would be good for Beck to have somebody to play with. Turns out her dog and real anxiety issues both in the home and on the leash which really set Beck off - after a couple of months with both of them in the house, when the Aussie would start this low growling, pacing, etc., Beck would just go after him and shut him down - to the point we would have to separate them. When we realized this wasn't going to work, he had to go back to my daughter and we decided that Beck would be the only dog. Now during the day she has an "off " button as she sleeps and just is with us most of the afternoon - she gets walked 3 miles every morning and goes to day care 2x week. The day before we sent the other dog back, they got into it and my kids/grandkids were here - and it scarred them seeing this. It only lasted a minute but now my Son won't let the kids come over to my house anymore because he says she is a liability. What they were watching was a dog taking care of business with a very unconfident dog who was sending out signals. They don't believe me, they now think that she is a huge liability. They don't ever get to see her loving side and her devotion to my husband and and I. Is she protective - yes absolutely. If I thought she was really a liability I would have her put down but I don't see that in her at all. My questions to you guys - do I just never have my kids/grandkids over anymore, is she showing signs of something worse that I'm not seeing thus making her a liability? Need your advice. We have always had large dogs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Shepards so I'm used to the more protective mode but now I'm second guessing my self. Please any feedback or suggestions would be great.
Is my Doberman a liability:
- Thread starter Glovmom
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Cferg
Notable member
Usually the roles are reversed. It’s a herding breed trying to control a nervous Doberman, go figure. I had a heeler that would do the same thing to nervous dogs.
Your Doberman sounds like a good stable and confident dog. I’m sorry you’re having family issues over him. I don’t have any advice on that subject nor would I ever give direct advice on such a sensitive subject. Without knowing the persons involved at minimum. But in reference to your posts title all dogs are a liability some more than others.
Im going to be making a post shortly about some events with my dog. So feel free to check it out and I’m sure you’ll feel better about your beck after reading it.
I'm sorry you're going through this and I honestly think your dog is just defending herself against other unruly people/dogs. It sounds like your family is a bit over reactive and that tenseness will carry over to your dog. I think the best thing you could have done is give the Aussie back to your daughter since it sounds like she was a big part of the problem and they are high drive dogs who need to be working all the time.
Maybe you could start out meeting your grandkids and kids in a neutral area for a picnic or bbq and have just your dog along to show them she's chilled if she's left alone by other dogs.
I don't think your dog is a liability at all if she's never bit anyone or acted aggressively to anyone but the other dog, who may have been instigating it.
Maybe you could start out meeting your grandkids and kids in a neutral area for a picnic or bbq and have just your dog along to show them she's chilled if she's left alone by other dogs.
That's the think - the kids/grandkids have been around her since we got her and she was a handful her first year - they were fine - she may have knocked them down a time or two when she got too excited but never mean. But once they saw how she went after the Aussie - now they don't want their kids anywhere near her and want me to rehome my dog. So for now I just go to their house to babysit and see the kids - not the ideal situation.
Thanks, I hope it gets better and they see her for the loving dog that she is - if not, I'm not sure how we will proceed if the kids never want to come over to Grandma's house.
That's not fair of your son and they must not know dog interaction very well.
MichiH
Hot Topics Subscriber
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It seems like your Doberman was putting the Aussie in its place. It technically is in Becks home and acting out of sorts. I’m sure its nervous energy had your Doberman react and that was her way of letting the Aussie know to cut it out.
Give your family time and maybe send them some info on dog behavior? I don’t know, but you did the correct thing sending the Aussie back as that’s not your responsibility either.
I am not in your position, but I can’t foresee rehoming your dog as it’s your dog who didn’t do anything wrong. And as a pup being a wild nut is normal they’re not mean dogs and it doesn’t seem like your girl is mean at all.
Good luck and hang in there.
That's the thing - my son (who is now 36) grew up with a wolf/hybrid and GSD who were very protective but so loving with the family - great dogs. All I can say is that is scared them when they saw how aggressive she was with the Aussie - what they didn't see is the vibes the Aussie was giving off two seconds before it happened - I was getting up from the table to defuse the situation but didn't make it in time . I love my family and kids but I also love my dog and she is such a good and loving dog that I'm not willing to give her up - I made a commitment to her when we pulled her out of the ditch at 4 months. My SIL heard about this also and he used to be a K9 handler for the police department and he feels that she is the kind of dog that will kill me in my sleep - he has never even met her but because I couldn't call her off vs. grabbing her off, he feels this way - very hard to have your whole family think your dog is aggressive when they don't see the love bug silly girl that she is.
If the kids were somewhat traumatized by the brief dog fight and are now afraid or wary around you dog, I'd let it rest. Dobermans are sensitive to others feelings and if she senses that the kids are acting "different" than they use to she might be get wary of them as well. This kind of thing is not really good to advise over the internet - so many variables! But you have kids involved and a powerful dog involved and the parents have voiced that they don't trust the dog, so if ANYthing happened, a playful bump and a crying scared kid, this is recipe for family problems at the very least. If you want the kids to come over, just put the dog in another room with a closed door, or a crate if she's crate trained.
In the meantime, it would be really beneficial if you took her to some formal obedience classes where all dogs are leashed and she learns to obey you even with distractions and you get a fail-proof recall. Prove that you have total control.
In the meantime, it would be really beneficial if you took her to some formal obedience classes where all dogs are leashed and she learns to obey you even with distractions and you get a fail-proof recall. Prove that you have total control.
A K9 handler should know how much training it takes to out a dog off something it wants when its in full drive. And dog aggression is not related to human aggression. Again, you & your dog get some really good obedience under your belt, the dogs love training, it increases your bond to levels you didn't know possible. I personally don't care if someone doesn't like my dog, it's none of my business what they like or don't like, family or not.
Again, without being able to see your dogs behavior it's only my guess that you have a good relationship with your dog and you have every reason to keep her. ALL dogs are liabilities, do your part with training and management to assure that she doesn't make any mistakes!
Thanks - needed to hear that - she has gone to training and aced it - working on long line now and the recall - she was great tonight - will keep working on this. There were two dogs within 20 ft of us when she was on the long line and she still came to me when called - she really is a good girl and we have an incredible bond. She is protective yesyesyes;, but not aggressive in any way.
Best advice - we are going to leave it alone for now, revisit it in 6 months, maybe have them for dinner and crate her (she is crate trained) and have them ignore her. She won't understand it cuz she has played with these kids for the last 1 1/2 years but I have to respect their feelings. Nobody believes me when I tell them that this incident was a dog incident - meaning they were taking care of dog business the way they do in the wild. It's just nice to hear positive remarks - it was getting a little depressing hearing only very negative remarks or comments. I love my kids more than anything and if I thought she was dangerous in any way I would do something about it - but not the case.
Pic of my sweet girl
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And also remember, your kids & grandkids have their own home. If your dog stays at your home and is managed properly it really shouldn't be an issue.
I knew someone who worked at an animal shelter and someone was there to surrender a dog with a bite history and she told them they would have to euthanize the dog, that they could not adopt out a dog with a bite history. The person was crying and carrying on and it was much the same as your case: her family that didn't live with her was pressuring her to give up the dog. My friend said "you keep your dog if you love the dog. I don't care if it's Jack the Ripper, if the dog is behind closed doors or in a 6' fence and never allowed to be exposed to another human, there isn't a problem". It was different in that the dog had snapped at a kid that was in its face, but the answer is the same. Your dog can't hurt another dog or person if you manage it properly. And, your dog should be your dog for life.
She's a beautiful dog, I'm glad you got to hear some remarks to support your views. Keep us posted on your progress with training and especially the recall - it's so rewarding to have a dog running full blast to you no matter what else is going on!
Cferg
Notable member
The way I see it is your family is worried about a variable to the situation that isn’t even present. Which is human aggression. I could understand if they asked to have no other dogs around besides yours when the kids are over. That way the children are never caught in the middle of a dogfight.
Everyone that lets their kids come over to my house knows I have a Doberman. And usually have way more trust in me than I would expect. But they can also see I have two kids of my own. I usually have the dog put up when they drop off. I then keep Stassi on a leash till she sees the other kids are there with my kids and belong as guests. I then let her go and she checks them out and that’s it she goes about her business.
But the scenario that puts to bed all doubts or questions. Is if my dogs hanging out around the group of kids and the parent comes to pick them up. And Stassi leaves the group to charge the gate and not let the parent into the yard. The only complaint they could have at that point is my dog was protecting their child from their own parent haha
Jeesh…really? That is a BS stupid assumption and very surprised to hear it from a “K9 handler”.
They are not your children so you have no control over what the parents do. They are your grandkids and you want to see them- not that you have to but you can show some initiative:
1. Get a crate and put her in the crate or in a room while they are over.
2. Join obedience classes and prove to them she is under control. Nothing like working my Doberman through commands in front of naysayers and shutting up their negative rederick.
3. Train and pass the Canine Good Citizen
Good luck and sure hope this situation alleviates.
