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E-mail received at dog fun on 31/01/01.

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Hi I saw your site and its really good. I have wanted a Dobermann for ages now and was wondering do they make good first dogs or would you need experience in dog owning before getting one? I am currently at college so i won't be getting one just yet.

Thanks for any information Caroline.

Jade's reply.

Dear Caroline, Thank you for your e-mail, I am glad that you enjoyed my site.

You asked about having a Doberman as a first dog. Taking on a dog, ANY dog, is a big commitment and a Doberman is no exception. I would not say that experience is necessary but I would definitely say that preparation and commitment are vital. You should give a great deal of thought to the aspects of your life that will change once you have a dog. Do you have time to devote to it for playing and walking every day for the next ten years, have you got enough room to accommodate a dog, can you afford to provide food, medical care, etc.

Once you have given this sort of thing due consideration then choosing a Doberman over any other breed in my opinion is not a major problem. My point is that if you prepare a loving caring home for a dog and consider all the implications of dog ownership on your life, you should make things very much easier and avoid lots of potential problems from the start.

Doberman's can be hard work as they start to grow up and test their status in the pack (your family). You should be aware that Dobermans are an intelligent, headstrong breed and you could experience some problems with dominance as it grows from a pup to young dog. This can be a testing time but soon passes. You will have to be strong and not give in to your dog, and make sure that it knows who is boss. This can apply to other breeds but is definitely my experience of Dobes.

I would strongly suggest that if you do get a dog take it to a local training class from an early age, they will be able to properly equip you with the necessary skills to cope with your dog and help to socialise it. It is also very important to get a dog from a reputable breeder as you can avoid health problems and temperament problems that can be associated with bad conditions and over breeding, etc.

I would say that owning a Doberman, or as is more the case being owned by one, is very rewarding and if entered into in a thoughtful, well prepared manor should not present any more problems that most other breeds. The key to it all is to be absolutely sure that you want, and can cope with a dog, no matter what, in your own heart. You will have to work very hard at times, but nothing good comes easily!

Good luck and all the best,

Jade the Doberman.

As with the rest of Dog Fun we are only offering advice, we have learned a lot through our own experience and would like to further that knowledge with your help. If you have any good tips or advice that would help dog owners drop us a line to jade@dogfun.co.uk and we will display your advice and give you credit for your help!