These “which dog is better” threads where apples and oranges are compared are getting old. They always turn into bashing threads when one person’s favorite dog breed gets slammed….then that aggrieved person has to lash back. It’s like arguing which kind of cheese is most tasty or weather whole grain or split top wheat bread is best.

Someone who has bread and raised both GSD's and Dobes.... (hint, hint) is the best source of information for you Steve..... I'm sure at least one person on the board (hint, hint) has done this and can comment with an un-biased openness.

The problem is that the questions being asked are those that can not be narrowed down to a specific breed. I am sure a teacup poodle could be a real PIA in the house. These questions being asked are the traits of individual dogs, not a breed.

 Quote:

I was just wondering temperment wise what is the main differance between these two breeds?

Seems this question really hasn't been addressed...
Since I am a Dobermann breeder I'm admittedly (sp?) biased! However I also train dogs of all breeds so am pretty familiar with the temperament traits of many.
Individual traits vary in breeds no different than you and your siblings would differ. I have known the extremes in my Dobes, from the most laid back to hyper, from clean freak to pig! I have experienced similar in the many GSD's that have come through our door.
I think you have to look at other determining factors to decide on a specific breed. If you want a working dog, you're going to seek out a reputable working kennel. Before determining which breed works best for you, you should consider other lifestyle issues...
For instance, if you are an avid winter sport fan, your Dobe is more often than not going to prefer to stay at the lodge and watch the fire does not go out. If you live in Florida or the desert you're going to find your GSD looking for the air conditioner! Also, dog hair, do you like a little with dinner, or a lot? Currently I have three Giants and a Dobe running through my house and in a day they don't throw as much coat as a GSD in an hour!
My personal observation (and dislike) about the GSD is that they are too focussed on one person. We've had many GSD's boarding with us over the years that pined WAY longer than is healthy for their master. One dog would not pee for three days, let alone eat or have a bowel movement. He was a basket case. Another dog who was in for obedience required that the door be locked behind him or he would try to leave the wife to run for the husband! It is quite pathetic to see! Given, these examples are not well bred dogs, however we've seen 5 dogs come from a "reputable" kennel, ALL with nerve issues. Different litters even. This breeder has beautiful dogs that actually walk upright on their feet, correct size, etc. but unfortunately no backbone!
To keep the dog so glued to one person is in my opinion selfish and detrimental to the developement of the dog. I happily hand off any of my dogs to anyone who wants to work them! It's good for people to handle a multitude of dogs and good for the dogs to learn to work for anyone. If my dog is too stressed about where I am to work the exercises being taught, he's not much good at work period!
Even my search dog Raven would track for any handler. Could any handler read her correctly?? Not usually, that's a bond that takes a long time and a lot of work to learn.
Bottom line is that all of my Dobes (and Giants), and their offspring (that I see, and there are many!) will work regardless of who is on the end of the leash. They are focussed on the work. I have yet to see that in ANY GSD to date. Perhaps I've yet to see one worthy of a "working" title.
Hope this helps.
Tammy.

Tammy,
To each their own. I've never heard of a requirement for a working dog to be passed off to another handler and work for the new person that didn't do the training. I'm not seeing how that would be a useful trait for what most working dog people consider "work".

I don't even want people to be able to approach my dog 95% of the time, much less be able to take him by the leash from me. The protective instincts of a dog that could be easily passed off to another handler would likely be nil - maybe that's good in SAR, but for SchH, Personal Protection, Police Canine work - the dog wouldn't be what I wanted ( or most of my clients, for that matter )

Good Dobie's exist, but they're so rare that the odds of a novice handler getting one that didn't do a ton of research and searched high and low for it would be nil. A good GSD or Mal can be found much easier. Heck, there are far more good Rott's in this country than Dobe's, and finding a really good Rottie is hard.

Steve,
Yesterday I found an excellent website. (I will send that to you in PM) They had a review of many, many dogs with EXCELLENT descriptions of their genral temperament. It even tells you if a handler should be inexperienced or experinced when considering the breed.

Steve,

I have read, on more than one occasion, that dobies are very dominant dogs on a whole. I am not an expert on dogs or dobermans but that is what I have read. Many of the breed information sites/books I have read recommedn and experience handler or someone who is going to ensure the dog will know that he/she is leader of the pack.

When I was a little girl, the local dog club used to perform at the carnaval and other events. It was a husband and wife team and they had 3 dobies (one red and 2 black). I remember the red male, his name was dragon.

These dogs were great. Very stable and excellent around kids. Obviously this had a lot to do with their nerves and their handlers experience.

You may want to look on http://www.dpca.org for more information.

As for the German Shepherd part of it - I will leave it to the experts on this board.

Steve,


Here is a link about the dobies temperament from the DPCA web site. They talk about the dogs "sharpness" being mellowed through breeding.

http://www.dpca.org/Temperament.html

I hope the DPCA is a better friend to the breed than the GSDCA is to GSD's. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Unfortunately they're not <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Currently I have three Giants and a Dobe running through my house and in a day they don't throw as much coat as a GSD in an hour!


ok but the thing that is strange is my GSD does not shed AT ALL ? yes 18 months old and has been a super LIGHT shedder ALWAYS i mean i can hug him and i never get hairs on me but if i hug my cat white hairs all over! furthermore i hardly ever see hairs in his crate? I guess i am just DAMN LUCKY LOL cause i hear horror storyies about german shedders? OR IS It my dogs coat colour? hes bi coloured maybe that has something to do with it?