Are Dobermans Good with Kids? A Dog Lover‘s Perspective

As a lifelong dog lover and veterinary expert, I‘m often asked my opinion on which breeds make the best family pets. One breed that consistently comes up is the Doberman Pinscher. Dobermans have a reputation for being intimidating guard dogs, but they can also make wonderfully devoted and affectionate family companions. In this article, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the Doberman temperament and what it takes to integrate one of these majestic dogs into a family with kids.

From Guard Dogs to Family Pets: The Doberman‘s Journey

Doberman Pinschers were first bred in Germany in the late 19th century by a tax collector named Louis Dobermann. Dobermann wanted a medium-sized dog that was loyal enough to be a companion but intimidating enough to protect him during his rounds. He crossed several breeds, including the Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier, and German Pinscher, to create the athletic, intelligent, and alert Doberman we know today.

In the early 20th century, Dobermans were widely used as police and military dogs. They served in both World Wars and gained a reputation for being fearless and ferocious. However, as the breed spread to other parts of the world, people began to appreciate Dobermans for their loyalty, trainability, and affectionate nature. After World War II, Dobermans increasingly became popular as family pets.

Today, Dobermans rank 17th out of 195 breeds in popularity according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). While they maintain their reputation as excellent guard dogs, Dobermans are also prized for their devotion to their families and their reliable temperament. With proper training and socialization, a Doberman can be a loving and trustworthy companion.

The Doberman Temperament: Separating Fact from Fiction

One of the biggest misconceptions about Dobermans is that they are inherently aggressive. While it‘s true that Dobermans were originally bred to be guard dogs, aggression is not a breed trait. Like any dog, a Doberman‘s temperament is largely a product of breeding, training, and socialization.

The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) conducts temperament testing of different dog breeds to assess traits like stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness. According to the ATTS, Dobermans have a passing rate of 79.5%, meaning nearly 4 out of every 5 Dobermans exhibit a stable and friendly temperament. This is on par with Golden Retrievers (85.2% passing rate) and actually higher than Chihuahuas (69.6%), Dalmatians (82.4%), and even Cocker Spaniels (81.5%) – all breeds which have a reputation for being great with kids.

When properly bred, socialized, and trained, Dobermans are more likely to be:

• Loyal and devoted to their family
• Gentle and affectionate with children
• Protective and alert
• Highly trainable and obedient
• Playful and energetic
• Even-tempered and stable

Of course, every dog is an individual and genetics play a role. This is why it‘s so important to work with a responsible Doberman breeder who health tests their breeding dogs, breeds for temperament, and socializes their puppies before sending them to their new homes. A good breeder will be happy to have you meet the puppy‘s parents and discuss their socialization practices.

Training and Socializing a Doberman for Family Life

Proper training and socialization is essential for any dog, but especially important for a Doberman. These intelligent dogs need plenty of mental and physical stimulation to thrive. A well-trained, well-socialized Doberman is a joy to live with, while an untrained, under-stimulated Doberman can become destructive or even aggressive.

From the moment you bring your Doberman puppy home, socialization should be a top priority. Enroll your puppy in a positive puppy kindergarten class so they can start learning basic obedience and manners while exploring new sights, sounds, people and other dogs. Here are some other ways to socialize your Doberman puppy:

• Take them on lots of outings to dog-friendly stores, parks, and events
• Invite friends and family over to meet your puppy
• Expose them to different surfaces like grass, sand, tile, and asphalt
• Get them used to handling and grooming with plenty of praise and treats
• Practice leaving them alone for short periods to avoid separation anxiety

The key is to make all of these new experiences positive with praise, play, and high value treats. Socialization isn‘t something you only do with a puppy – it should be a lifelong process for a Doberman. The more well-rounded and worldly your Doberman is, the better they will handle a busy family life.

In addition to socialization, obedience training is essential for a Doberman. Start training your puppy as soon as you bring them home and be consistent. Use positive reinforcement techniques like clicker training and high value treats to encourage your Doberman to offer behaviors you like. Some important skills all Dobermans should learn include:

• Basic cues like sit, down, stay, come, and leave it
• Loose leash walking
• Place or bed (sending them to a designated bed or mat)
• Crate training
• Impulse control and frustration tolerance

If you are a first-time Doberman owner, I highly recommend working with a professional dog trainer that has experience with the breed. They can help you troubleshoot any issues that pop up and teach your Doberman core life skills. Group classes are ideal for socialization and basic manners, but you may need private sessions if behavior problems arise.

Dobermans and Kids: Setting Everyone Up for Success

Dobermans have many qualities that make them wonderful companions for kids. They are playful and energetic, which means they can keep up with active kids. They also form incredibly strong bonds with their families and have a natural instinct to protect the "pack." This is why you‘ll often find a Doberman shadowing the youngest members of the family or sleeping outside the nursery door – they want to keep a watchful eye on their little humans.

However, no matter how trusted and well-trained your Doberman is, you should never leave kids and dogs together unsupervised. Teach your children from a young age how to gently interact with the dog. No pulling tails, grabbing ears, or climbing on the dog. Make sure your Doberman has a quiet place they can retreat to when they‘ve had enough kid time.

With Dobermans and all dogs, it‘s also important to teach children about canine body language and respect the dog‘s boundaries. If the dog walks away, the child needs to let them go. If the dog is showing signs of discomfort like yawning, lip licking, or averting their gaze, it‘s time to give them space. Never punish a dog for growling – it‘s an important warning sign that they are feeling anxious or threatened.

Here are some other safety tips for successful interactions between your Doberman and kids:

• Supervise all interactions between dogs and children, especially with visiting children who may not know the rules
• Don‘t allow children to hug or kiss the dog – this can be threatening body language for dogs
• Always make sure your Doberman has a "safe zone" they can retreat to when they need a break
• Feed your Doberman in a separate room away from kids to prevent resource guarding
• Involve older children in the dog‘s training so the whole family is on the same page with rules and cues
• Keep the dog‘s toys and the kids‘ toys separate to prevent guarding
• Work on desensitizing your Doberman to touch all over – this will help prevent them from being startled by a child‘s touch

Real Dobermans, Real Families

When raised with kids and properly trained and socialized, Dobermans can be some of the most devoted and tolerant family dogs around. Here are a few examples of real Doberman Pinschers that are excelling as family pets:

• Duchess, a 3-year-old Doberman who belongs to a family with four children under age 10. Duchess is endlessly patient with the kids, even when they decide to paint her nails or decorate her with stickers. She always keeps a watchful eye on the youngest and will alert the parents if the toddler tries to scoot out the front door. Duchess and the kids are all best friends and have even competed in junior rally obedience together.

• Apollo, a 6-year-old Doberman who was raised with a little girl with special needs. Apollo seems to sense that his human sister is different and is always very gentle with her. When the girl has a meltdown, Apollo will lean against her and lick her face until she calms down. The girl‘s occupational therapist even incorporated Apollo into their sessions and taught the girl how to brush him and give him treats.

• Thor, an 8-year-old Doberman who belongs to a family with twin toddlers. Thor has endless patience for the twins‘ antics and loves to go on adventures and hikes with his family. One time on a camping trip, Thor sensed a bear outside the family‘s tent and alerted them with a low growl, allowing the family to get to safety. For his family, Thor is both a devoted playmate and a fierce protector.

These are just a few examples, but they showcase how well Dobermans can fit into a family with kids. With structure, training, and lots of love, a Doberman will do anything for their humans.

Is a Doberman Right for Your Family?

Doberman Pinschers have many wonderful qualities that make them excellent family dogs. They are loyal, loving, protective, and great with kids. However, they are also a lot of dog and are not the right fit for every family. Dobermans require plenty of exercise, training, and socialization to be happy and healthy.

According to the AKC, here‘s how a Doberman‘s characteristics stack up to other popular family dog breeds:

As you can see, Dobermans are highly trainable and have moderate to high energy levels and exercise needs. They shed less than some breeds, especially if you keep them brushed. However, they still require plenty of daily physical and mental exercise, as well as lifelong training and socialization.

Dobermans also have some common health issues that potential owners need to be aware of. According to the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, nearly 50% of Dobermans will develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart condition, at some point in their life. Dobermans are also prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand‘s disease (a blood clotting disorder), and certain types of cancer. This is why health testing breeding dogs and choosing a responsible breeder is so important.

If you can meet a Doberman‘s physical, mental, and social needs and provide them with lifelong training and healthcare, you will have a fiercely devoted best friend for life. Dobermans are known for being "velcro dogs" and thrive when they are with their people. They will play with the kids, go on jogs with mom, and patrol the house at night to keep the whole family safe. In the words of one Doberman owner I know: "It‘s like having a nanny, personal trainer, and security guard all rolled into one!"

Key Takeaways

• Doberman Pinschers can make excellent family dogs when properly bred, trained, and socialized. They are loving, loyal, and protective of their people.
• Dobermans do best with consistent positive reinforcement training starting from puppyhood. All family members should be involved in training.
• When raised with kids, Dobermans can be gentle, patient playmates and natural guardians. However, interactions between dogs and kids should always be supervised.
• Dobermans require plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation. They also tend to attach strongly to their families and don‘t like to be left alone for long periods.
• Potential owners should be aware of common Doberman health issues and work with a responsible breeder who does health testing on their dogs. Regular vet check-ups, a quality diet, and an active lifestyle can help Dobermans live long, healthy lives.

While they may not be the right fit for a first-time dog owner or a low-key family, Dobermans have the potential to be the ultimate family companion for the right household. If you have the time, energy, and commitment to devote to a Doberman, you will never find a more devoted or loving canine pal. As the saying goes, "Velcro is my favorite breed. Oh wait, that‘s a Doberman!"