Could you consider being a foster home for a doberman in rescue? This way you might be able to "try out" being an owner, see if it works in your life. An adult dog, perhaps even an older dog, might be all housebroken and trained, and not require nearly the attention and input of a pup.
Are there any other breeds that you fancy?

I have adopted an older dog,(9 months), and my other at 15 weeks, and the older was was a thousand times easier to housebreak and aclimate to my busy household. I often match families with rescue dogs, and it is my experience that older dogs, (temperament tested of course), are a better fit with very young children. Toddlers and pups...they feed off each others energy. Older dogs have many benefits, one of which being able to be crated longer. It is an option to consider.

In my home, my husbands support is crucial. He is not a dog person, but ther are times when I need his help. Also, he is very patient with me having to spend every evening exercising and working with my dogs. It would be virtually impossible for me to care for my dogs without him backing me up. I would suggest asking your wife if she is willing to help out a little with potty breaks.

I work and have a huge family. On days when no one is in the house, my husband or I will drive home to let the dogs out, or I have a neighbor I can call if we aren't able to leave. The gas kills us. you just have to make it work.

I just don't understand, maybe I am perceiving a contradiction between what you want and what you have. You say you want a working line dog, you want a puppy to bond with, but you plan on putting your puppy outside for 11+ hours a day to fend for itself. This sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

If you want a working line dog, then you have to have the time, energy, and schedule to work. Given your situation, I can understand wanting a dog, but perhaps you could let some of your own desires give way to the multiple realities that you are going to be dealing with: your wife, your child, and the dog you bring into this family.

Unless you bring in a breed that is content to be outside, alone, and self-entertaining for 22 out of 24 hours (ie night and day with some interactive time in the morning and evening), you might be setting yourself up for putting a dog in a miserable situation, that is only going to stress you and your family.

The domesticated dog is a social species that is uniquely capable, actually, needs, to bond with their human caregivers. For some, to be separated from their family or their primary human is a particular form of suffering.

I never realized how much I was going to rely on my husband joining me in this dog-venture until the reality of living with these wonderful pups hit home. It is a lot of exercise (I need to replace my light hikers they are so full of holes).

If you are going to bring a working line dog into your family, then you are going to have to make provisions for it to work, not languish, alone, waiting for someone to interact with.

JMHO

 Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Daniel Redick

Perhaps I need to rethink the breed. Thanks for all of your input. However I am not interested in a non working breed. Everyone who has responded is telling me I need to pick another breed but no one has said whether or not my plan would work. Whatever breed I choose I will need to know if that will work. Also can anyone suggest some breeds they think are more appropriate?

As a father of a 3 year old, brother of a someone with MS (can present severe chronic fatigue symptoms), and owner of a high energy dog, I think this is a very difficult situation to bring the high energy dog/puppy you want in to.

Thank you, I appreciate your response.

Thank you to everyone who has replied. You have given me much food for thought. I don't know I guess I am from Mars or a place where from your view point - where people treat dogs horribly. From your point of you very dog who doesn't have a stay at home owner or owner with a part time job or a whole village to raise him is being mistreated and miserable. I admit the scenarios you describe are ideal. I don't know of many people in your position. In fact the people I know have situations much more like mine than yours. They have Boxers, Dobes, GSD and what have you. They work as many hours as I do or more. The Dobe I am thinking of lives in an apt. I am not saying it is ideal, which is why I waited until I bought a house but now you all say that is not good enough, I have to be home all day or the dog will be miserable. Well I know these dogs and they are happy and well adjusted. In fact from what I have read on this forum and others like it your dogs have many of the same issues or worse. I just don't know if I believe dogs to be that fragile. However, that notwithstanding, I have a family member who lives close by who loves dogs and he is home most days and he would be glad to help out I'm sure. Thank you all again I do appreciate the feedback.

2-year old children are, however, fragile. Especially in a household with a high energy working dog that is kept under less than ideal conditions.

I think people were just offering to point out the potential flaws in your plan (since you asked). Could it work out? Sure. I hope it does, and maybe the warnings here will inspire you to put in the extra research and effort to make it a success.

I believe that there is a good fit between most households that want a dog, and some dog out there. The trick is finding the right fit. But that's what's so great about the world of dogs--there is such variety in the personality, activity level, reactiveness, size--there's literally something for everyone.

High need working dogs fit in a home geared for that. None of those "which breed is right for me" profiles would suggest the kind of breeds you're looking at for your situation.

 Quote:

Thank you to everyone who has replied. You have given me much food for thought. I don't know I guess I am from Mars or a place where from your view point - where people treat dogs horribly. From your point of you very dog who doesn't have a stay at home owner or owner with a part time job or a whole village to raise him is being mistreated and miserable.

Working dog especially need to be a part of your life which requires a dog orintented lifestyle.

If it was just the 11 hour job, it would be doable. Spend quality time with the dog in the morning and evening and do activities on the weekend with it.

But the combination of 11 hour job, spouse with an intensive medical condition and a young child makes it a much harder feat to pull off.

Will you have the time to give the dog quality time in the morning and evenings? Is your family willing to take part in dog friendly events during the weekend? Can you manage a young energitic dog and a young child at the same time?

I am single, go to college and work. I also have three Border Collies. The reason it works is because I'm able to include the dogs in most of what I do. They ride along to school and hang out in the car. I'll get the out after classes and work with them on campus a bit. I can take them along to work if needed. I have family members that are able to help out with them on occassion if I hit a snag. A good deal of my free time is spent doing dog related activities.

As far as what type of dog for your situation, I'd say a well bred lab. Dobes have a hig rate of health issues, Boxers are cool dogs, but the breed has very high rates of cancer - close to 50% of all boxers end up with cancer. I don't think I could get a breed with that type of odds from the get go.

 Quote:

Well I know these dogs and they are happy and well adjusted. In fact from what I have read on this forum and others like it your dogs have many of the same issues or worse. I just don't know if I believe dogs to be that fragile.

That's because people needing answers go to forums etc to find them. If you've got a dog and things are going great, you usually don't need to go get advice so often you just don't go seraching for a forum to join/ask questions on.

 Quote: Daniel Redick

Thank you to everyone who has replied. You have given me much food for thought. I don't know I guess I am from Mars or a place where from your view point - where people treat dogs horribly. From your point of you very dog who doesn't have a stay at home owner or owner with a part time job or a whole village to raise him is being mistreated and miserable. I admit the scenarios you describe are ideal. I don't know of many people in your position. In fact the people I know have situations much more like mine than yours. They have Boxers, Dobes, GSD and what have you. They work as many hours as I do or more. The Dobe I am thinking of lives in an apt. I am not saying it is ideal, which is why I waited until I bought a house but now you all say that is not good enough, I have to be home all day or the dog will be miserable. Well I know these dogs and they are happy and well adjusted. In fact from what I have read on this forum and others like it your dogs have many of the same issues or worse. I just don't know if I believe dogs to be that fragile. However, that notwithstanding, I have a family member who lives close by who loves dogs and he is home most days and he would be glad to help out I'm sure. Thank you all again I do appreciate the feedback.

There is some validity to your post even from where I am sitting. Putting myself in your shoes I can definitely see why you are feeling this way.

For myself and for so many others, we have too often seen the end product of situations that start off exactly like you describe. I don't know what I find more heartbreaking a young dog/pup at the pound being euthanized for space or a senior.

Does it always end that way? No. But it does far far more then it should.

And as always the dog pays the price.

Always the dog.

Pups do not do well outside by them self for 11 hours a a day. Your wife does not have the time, inclination, or health to spend time with him.

Working line dogs and toddlers are not always a good mix.

I call dobies velcro dogs. They are a breed designed to be with people.

So if we are a little bit jaded please look past that and look to not only what we are saying but why we are saying it.

Good point.

Daniel,
I admire your tenacity and dedication and feel you will be a great owner but not now. Since there is only an image of a dog and no actual litter or pup (unless I missed something...it happens sometimes ) I am more concerned with your family. I've been married a long time and have raised 3 kids with my current dog; I understand that combination, I also understand the stress and struggles between couples when no one feels their needs are being met.

First the math: 24 hours in a day-8 for sleep=16-11 for work=5-1 for eating dressing etc=4-3 for puppy= 1 left for daughter and wife.

I can guarantee; you will never regret the time you spend with your little girl but you will the hours spent away. They grow so fast!

You come home from work looking forward to working your pup; wife is tired and asks if you can give your daughter her bath...I have to take the dog out....Really? That damn dog is taking up all your time. Fine I'll take baby girl with me and give her bath afterward. Your daughter being a healthy toddler has the attention span of a gnat and starts crying she wants you to push her on the swing; she doesn't want to watch the dog do tricks anymore (you've worked the dog for 2 minutes). Your frustration grows and you snap at your daughter which scares or excites the dog who starts acting out.....your day now sucks but that's ok because there's more the same tomorrow.

My suggestion and I understand the patience needed; without your wife being able to partake in some of the care you will be better served if you wait until your daughter and any other children you may have are in school full time. Mom won't be so exhausted from running after a toddler and your daughter will be able to take direction and be an asset to your training; believe me the wait will be worth it. I had 3 kids and wanted a dog from the get go but waited until my youngest was in 1st grade and for the most part Thor has been a joy.

In the meantime, research, visit different breeders, practice positive reinforcement on your daughter (seriously it works ) And most of all enjoy the full life you have now. JMHO