Is a Doberman right for you?

Dobermans are becoming an increasingly popular dog to own as of late. Social media has a STRONG influence on the rise due to celebrities owning them. While dobermans are amazing dogs, they aren’t for everyone. Is a Doberman the right dog for you? Let’s find out!

    1.   Dobermans have an abundance of energy and intelligence. It’s extremely important to note, both needs will have to be met. If your plan to burn off all that energy is to head to the dog park (don’t get me started with how terrible dog parks are), a Doberman probably isn’t for you. Liz & I walk Kobe and Sasha at 5:30 AM & again at the conclusion of our trainings at 8:00PM. They are also trained and given time to play to fulfill all their needs. Dedicated time is key for this breed in order to thrive.

    2.    Dobermans rank among the top five smartest dog breeds in the world. With great intelligence comes great responsibility! Everyone wants to own a smart dog until the dog outsmarts them. For this reason, many first time Doberman owners struggle. With such intelligence comes stubbornness and dominance. I’ve had clients come to me who have owned other intelligent breeds but then realize how different it can be training a Doberman. Once trained they’re amazing companions! Until you break through and show them you’re the alpha however, you may find yourself thinking twice about your breed choice.

    3.    What food do you plan to feed? Diet is a huge factor when it comes to a Doberman due to how unhealthy the breed actually is. The way these dogs eat, it can get pretty expensive; even more so if you choose to feed raw. 62% of Dobermans suffer from DCM. This is a heart condition that can kill your dog at any given moment if not diagnosed and treated early on. If you don’t do your research on food, you may be feeding something that is making your Doberman more prone to developing this fatal disease. Grain free food is highly advised against when it comes to the breed. It is for this reason many owners choose to feed raw, regardless of the expense. If interested in feeding a complete raw diet, please visit our "FEED RAW" tab on our website!

    4.    To crop or not to crop? Regardless if you choose to crop a dobermans ears or not, you’ll get crap for it. If you do, everyone will have an opinion or comment. If you don’t crop them, you’ll still hear opinions on why you should have. Most people get Dobermans due to their intimidating look so they’ll go through with the ear crop but don’t realize the patience and commitment ear posting will take post surgery! If you want the ears to look perfect, expect to post through the teething phase which is about six-seven months of age at the minimum. Postings will run you about $30-$60 per post, depending on the vet you choose. Posts should never be on longer than a week meaning you will need about four postings per month which can easily equate to $600-$800 post ear cropping surgery. Your Doberman will also look pretty dorky with the postings for the first 6-7 months of their life, so something to consider.

    5.    Do you have the SPACE? With all that energy you NEED to have space. Can you get away with living in an apartment or townhome with a Doberman? Of course you can! Liz & I actually lived in a townhome and raised Kobe in one. It wasn’t easy, but it also wasn’t impossible. We had to take him out constantly and our training sessions had to be exhausting in order for him to cope with the space constraints.

    6.    Do you have the time? Time is a huge factor when owning a Doberman. I already mentioned the need for physical and mental stimulation, however time to just bond is equally as important. Dobermans are very well known to be Velcro dogs meaning they become extremely attached to their owners. If you aren’t willing to dedicate time DAILY to them, this probably isn’t the breed for you.

We’ll soon begin breeding Dobermans due to our obsession with the breed. It is for all the reasons mentioned above we will be screening all applicants who want to purchase a puppy from us. We aren’t doing this out of arrogance; we simply want our puppies to go to the best homes! We will also be co-owning a portion of our puppies with interested/selected owners to help grow Alpha Mentality Dobermans into one of the most prominent kennel names in the world.

If you feel like you’re interested in owning a Doberman but still have questions/concerns, feel free to message us with any questions you may have! We’re always here to help educate those who seek knowledge.

-Jeff