However, bringing a dog into the family is not always a smart thing to do. You need to make sure that both the children and the adult members of the family are ready for a furry friend, otherwise someone is likely to get disappointed over time. You also need to make sure that you are selecting the right breed and you are treating your dog in a way that guarantees your children’s safety.

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The coat of the Doberman is short, coarse and thick; they are average shedders, so at least weekly brushing is advised. Dental hygiene is very important for the breed, as they tend to lose teeth in case of improper care. Dobermans are slightly prone to health issues like hip dysplasia, heart disorders or bloat.

Training of this breed is easy, but they can be dominant, so a heavy-handed, yet consistent, calm and rewarding trainer is the best for them. Obedience training is a must to prevent the dog from being aggressive later. They can be also very good in tracking, police work or therapy dogs.

All in all I would advise this breed to people who will have enough time to care for this intelligent dog and will be able to provide them daily exercise – like walking and playing – as well as a small yard for activities.

I hope that this short introduction about the Doberman will be helpful for you to decide whether this is the right breed for you.

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Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Doberman. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Doberman for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Doberman hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Doberman used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Doberman will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Doberman feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Doberman as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

Poor breeders always:

• Seem to focus on getting the dog out of their responsibility
• Cannot provide any documented proof or certification of its clear and sound health
• Do not have knowledge of cropping the ears or docking the tail which is a breed standard
• Fail to inform you about the health concerns such as bloat or heart concerns

Quality breeders always:

• Adhere to the breed standard hence keeping their physical attributes and protective and alert attitude
• Be part of a governing Doberman group or club
• Will take time to show their kennel and its cleanliness
• Will provide certificates of good health and through orientation on how to groom and care for it

Maybe finding a quality breeder may be difficult with one disproving the other and hyping up their own. With not much experience, it can lead to a pitfall leaving you with a poorly bred dog that may cost more to take care of medically or because you would need to either buy new furniture or forcing them to play fetch and all they do is lay down. When in doubt even after you’ve done all your homework, try giving Euro Puppy a visit. With Euro Puppy you are assured that each puppy is breed to meet each standard making it genuine and pure! You also can’t go wrong with a vast pool of dog lovers and experts who share inspiration and information on breeds that would help be part of a global community. Along with a lifetime guarantee and helpful start-up benefits, it’s no wonder families in 80 countries are happily built with Euro Puppy!