Name special qualities of your Doberman

[Ddski5]

Not always…but one could pretty much categorize the majority of Dobermans to have these qualities:
1. Loyal
2. Velcro
3. Protective
4. Intelligent
5. Alert
6. The strong bond
7. Etc….


I was really thinking about this today. A friend asked me if I was going to get another Doberman since I recently lost Ragnar…

I immediately thought that if I did want another…what are the qualities that I would want:
1. A nose butt on my thigh to check in every 10mins (prob the #1 behavior I love)
2. Black eyes
3. Unmatched loyalty
4. Not exceptionally friendly to others
5. No fear, zero, none at all
6. Beautiful long ears with a whip at the tip

Then I thought about it and thought…damn, those are the characteristics that I loved and respected about Ragnar. It’s really not fair to hold these expectations and wants if I chose to get another male.

Anyways…
Outside of the normal great characteristics of the Doberman breed- what makes your Doberman that “special” to you?? What is it that separates him/her from the others?

 

[Ravenbird]

You listed most of them for me. I feel so lucky to have found the dog that wasn't perfect in temperament to teach me what I needed to learn: I had a dream Doberman in mind and I got a bit of a nightmare. Having had two Dream Dobies before, I didn't know that this breed could be so challenging and I feel like without Asha, I'd still not believe it. Having said that, being a challenge is what makes Asha special to me, but not sure I'd want to repeat her kind of "special" Joking aside, I do love the push she provides, reminds me constantly that I can't slack off and she makes me more responsible for training.

All the things you listed is why I can't go to another breed. They get under your skin, become what I imagine it must be like to have a twin sister or brother: They know what you're thinking before you say anything, they always know what you're feeling, they are in your head all the time. In the summer I can't take her with me to do the town errands because it's too hot and I'll be coming back to my empty truck with thoughts of seeing Asha looking for me and I'm sure I slump for a second when I recall that I left her at home. When I get home J has to let her out in the yard because she goes nuts when she hears me drive up, spinning circles on the tile floor in front of the door. Then she runs to the fence squealing and barking and does an open mouth smile/grin with her ears laid back.... So as flippant and independent and make-me attitude that she is, these 2 or 3 minutes of extreme emotional joy to see me makes my heart sing.

 

[Ddski5]

They know what you're thinking before you say anything, they always know what you're feeling, they are in your head all the time.

Wow!!
That’s it right there!! That’s exactly it!!

Then she runs to the fence squealing and barking and does an open mouth smile/grin with her ears laid back.... So as flippant and independent and make-me attitude that she is, these 2 or 3 minutes of extreme emotional joy to see me makes my heart sing.

Fricking love this!

 

[Kaiser2016]

I love Kaiser’s watchfulness. He brings the attitude that everything is his business. The way he monitors all activities around the house using whatever window or door to help him assess the situation. It is a quality that makes him seem like a person - always calculating distances so he can reach a target in the least amount of jumps, especially in the yard when he jumps off the deck. He is not going to walk down the steps of the decks, he’s going to leap right over them and pivot to head towards the back alley where the commotion is. It’s both graceful and powerful to watch him do it.

open mouth smile/grin with her ears laid back

Ya, this is a pretty special moment! My hb gets the most excited happy greetings from Kaiser. I will get the happy nub and a bit of extra pep in his step, but my hb gets the full body happiness - standing on hind legs, open mouth smile, ears down, nub going crazy, high energy. Sometimes my hb will be gone to just check the mail down the street (like two minutes maximum) and the greeting my hb gets coming back is like he’s meeting a rock star

 

[JanS]

what are the qualities that I would want:
1. A nose butt on my thigh to check in every 10mins (prob the #1 behavior I love)
2. Black eyes
3. Unmatched loyalty
4. Not exceptionally friendly to others
5. No fear, zero, none at all
6. Beautiful long ears with a whip at the tip

That has been what our males are/have been. The females are all sweet and carry the endearing Doberman traits but a lot more independent. Well Elroy is red so he doesn't have the black eyes but he is by my side or near me all the time, just like Albert was.

 

[Ddski5]

That has been what our males are/have been. The females are all sweet and carry the endearing Doberman traits but a lot more independent. Well Elroy is red so he doesn't have the black eyes but he is by my side or near me all the time, just like Albert was.

I always liked Albert’s bent ear!

 

[Ddski5]

So how many of your Dobermans did the nose butt thing? Freyja does not.

 

[Ravenbird]

So how many of your Dobermans did the nose butt thing? Freyja does not.

You mean poking you with their nose? Or the butt poke? LOL. Asha did the butt poke as a puppy, but she didn't keep it up for long. She doesn't poke me at all, but will walk up and put her head on my knee or if I'm standing she might just come to look at me, see what I'm doing. No pokes. My '90's female did the butt poke and a front crotch poke all her life.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Kaiser did the front crotch poke as a puppy too but now he just follows so close behind you that he pokes your calf or steps on the back of your flip flop and you almost fall over lol.

 

[JanS]

So how many of your Dobermans did the nose butt thing? Freyja does not.

Albert did it quite a bit; especially if you were leaving the room and Della did it some. I don't think any of our Melrae Dobermans have much, at least yet.

or steps on the back of your flip flop and you almost fall over lol.

That's something Elroy does quite a bit and he even stepped on the back of my sock yesterday and slowed me down. One of my coworkers even had the talent of walking too close behind me and stepping on the back of my shoe almost tripping me. LOL

 

[Ddski5]

Albert did it quite a bit; especially if you were leaving the room and Della did it some. I don't think any of our Melrae Dobermans have much, at least yet.

Interesting to think this is a genetic trait passed down?
I mean Rag did it often. Not a nose to the crotch or buttock- but a nose to the side of your leg or to a fist bump to just let you know he was checking in and was close by.

 

[JanS]

Not a nose to the crotch or buttock- but a nose to the side of your leg or to a fist bump to just let you know he was checking in and was close by.

Oh yes, we get those all the time. Albert used to do a classic butt poke (never crotch) but these two always let you know they're here with their nose, just not often in the butt.

 

[Kswoodssue]

I love this question, and could write an essay, but will spare you. I love the nose bumps and the way she lays her nose on my leg or stomach or chest when she wants something. I love her staring contests, as if she is willing us to read her mind and understand her thoughts. I love her whining fits at mealtime, when long downs are pure torture and she rolls on the floor in seeming agony. . I love how she wants hands, and uses her paws as such. I know she wants so badly to be able to speak too. I love how she can follow 2 step commands “pick your toy and go night night”. (Yes yes, we say night night!) I love her stubbornness, her persistence in getting her own way, and her zest for life! She has added so much love and laughter to our life.

 

[JanS]

She has added so much love and laughter to our life.

That describes in perfectly every single day of the year. I don't know what we'd do without them during down times.

 

[Kaiser2016]

I love how she can follow 2 step commands “pick your toy and go night night”.

Yes! I tell Kaiser “Take your Kong outside” when I present a Kong to him. He will reach out and take it from my hand and head straight to the back door and wait for me to open the door to let him out.

 

[Mars]

Mars would nuzzle my hand then slap it for pets. Finn will nuzzle and if that does work he gently takes my hand in his slobber filled mouth.

Mars would never sleep in my bed, he had a house to patrol. Finn, his lazy behind only got up for pets when my daughter got into it with her bf and stopped at my house at 3 am and let herself in. Didn’t even tell me she was there.

I wouldn’t change a thing about each other. After Mars passed I so wanted Mars as I considered another Dobie, but Mars can not be replaced and I wouldn’t trade Finn for Mars. I think Dobies read us as to what we need from them and each makes those adjustments to be the perfect Dobie for us at that moment.

 

[okaygreatthanks]

Remy loves a good “how do ya do!” nose bump to the butt or crotch. He also loves to weave through my legs and lean on me as an affectionate gesture…super endearing. He whistles when he yawns (and when he whines). He tilts his head when you ask him a question. He loves car rides and noses the drawer we keep our keys in if he hears those magic words. When he’s about to take a poop, he circles around backwards into a squat like a helicopter crash-landing in slow motion. He groans if you stop scratching his ears and dramatically nudges your hands back into action. He knows his routine by heart, will grab his leash when it’s time for our morning walk, and will start pacing around by the stairs when it’s time to go upstairs for a crate nap (he likes to be escorted to his crate, get a smooch, and have his collar taken off…which I imagine is probably equivalent to taking your bra off to sleep – fair enough!) He always greets my husband and I with sweet seal ears, nub wiggles, delighted squeals, a big happy smile, and zooms/play bows.

Can't wait to see what other quirks he develops as he matures!

 

[Hollyvenus78]

We've only had our rescue for about 3 weeks so we are sill learning each other!

-so far he boops my butt with his snoot
- he seems super in tune to some anxieties that I get with large crowds - he'll stand next to me lean on me and nudge my hand and then look up at me as to say I gotcha mom! (currently working on training as an OFFICIAL and legitimate Service dog).
- he has this thing about laying his head on my chest and just melting and usually just at the time I need it!

 

[Katyusharocket]

Just seeing this thread now and I really appreciate it. Things that I think make Katyusha unique beyond expected Dobie qualities:
-She flips up any and everything she can get her nose under. Shirts, pony tails, the keys you're holding in your hand, and I usually adore it unless its my elbow while I am typing. Even then it's cute. I know her to have inherited this from her father.
-She jumps towards unexpected or loud noises. Also definitely from her father.
-She knows what I want, sometimes, according to her sister's human mom, before I do.
-She is willing to learn new things, go new places, meet new people, all while being completely unconcerned
-The way she lays down on my lap The very second I sit down and how she knows I am headed to the couch to sit
-The way she follows commands is akin to a soldier in boot camp. When I ask her to sit or down, it is immediate and not very graceful even, but she is keen to give me what I want.
-she just knows me, and knows how to communicate with me.
-She knows not only when I am feeling down, but even when strangers are, and she goes to them very gently. This I know to be from her mother.
-as gentle as she is in public, she sure lets the riff-raff around my home to stay away, while welcoming known friends or well-intentioned people.
-The way she drools water after having a drink while giving me the silliest, stupidest look on her face. It makes a mess and it's totally worth it!
-the way she drapes her long giraffe neck and head over my chest/belly/hips while I sleep, and that's the first thing I know is real, every. single. morning.

I love this dog!

 

[JanS]

She flips up any and everything she can get her nose under. Shirts, pony tails, the keys you're holding in your hand, and I usually adore it unless its my elbow while I am typing.

Our GSP used to do that and it was cute until we had a house full of church ladies wearing dresses. LOL