Cindy,

Are you going to start breeding Dobermann's again?

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To even put Mals and Dobes in the same sentence may be a criminal offense in 48 states. I'll have to do some checking. Comparing the two as sport cars is like comparing a Ferrari (Mal) with an MG midget (Dobe).

DFrost

Obviously Mr. Frost,
you haven't kept company with any "real" Dobermanns... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

They aren't easy to find anymore, hence the reason I no longer own one..

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Cindy,

Are you going to start breeding Dobermann's again?

No, too hard to find the type of dog I like anymore and the health problems in the breed are many. I bred my last Doberman litter in 1998.

David, if the 32 years I have been around the sport of Schutzhund I have only seen two people who had dobermans that I felt were good working dogs. They were Nancy Little for Florida in the early 1980's and Cindy. The fact is the best GSD I ever owned was Natan - the dog I have a littler from right now and Cindy's female doberman beat him in a Sch 3 event in the early 1990's.

So while I agree that there are no dobermans that I am aware of that still have power - that has not always been thecase. Its kind of sad.

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Obviously Mr. Frost,
you haven't kept company with any "real" Dobermanns...

They aren't easy to find anymore, hence the reason I no longer own one..

How about from a purely "pet" point of view? Are there some decent ones out there or, as you said, do their health problems hamper/preclude ownership? In your opinion.

Best working breed? Heck, I don't know, I've never owned a dog that most on this forum would consider a great working dog. I've owned 5 dobies in my life, and to know each of them was to love them. All had so much personality and intelligence that it continues to take me back to the breed and I wind up with another. All were fantastic companions, high energy but would wind down at the end of the day and were happy just to be with family relaxing. Three of the 5 had occasion to feel that there was a threat to a family member. All responded the same by backing the threat against the wall and looking to me or my wife (one time, I wasnt't present) for direction. No formal training (protection) just natural protective instinct that took over based on a threat. Don't know if the other two (including the rescue I have now) would do the same but I suspect she would.

The answer to which breed is best is know to everyone and is easily answered. It's the one you want, nothing else really matters.

For me Dobies are special and the love affair with the breed started with the first one and will continue until I can no longer care for a dog.

Dang, I went to bed too early last night!!! In all honesty comparing breeds is a moot point. We all seem to have our favorite. Mine happens to be the Mal. I like the fact that they keep you one your toes. Mine truly is like driving a very fast car. As Cindy said they are thinking all the time. I love this!!!!

Didn't mean to throw a kink in the thread Tom, but, know from discussing the three breeds with people in the know that there are common temperament comparisons between the old timey Dobes and Mals. Do know that for most people with Mals you better get your thinking cap out and running shoes on...... golly, they're fun in a masocistic(think that's a word) sort of way!!!!

Debbie

Hayley, you say this:
>>>Quote>>>This guy said it best, and is how I define gameness too:
Quote:
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Gameness is a willingness to succeed or overcome, no matter what hardship must be endured. A game dog is determined to beat its opponent, no matter what odds are stacked against it, even unto death. The quality of gameness should not be confused with prey drive or aggression, in a nutshell gameness is simply the will to win. This trait cannot be taught to a dog or a man. It is an innate quality extremely difficult to reproduce in dogs, yet one of the easiest to lose. As we breed for conformation in the Bull and Terrier breeds, we should not sacrifice gameness for the sake of conformation. This invisible inherited trait makes our breeds unique. It also passes on the steadfast rock-steady temperament that has made our dogs such wonderful companions.

Gameness remains one of the most admired characteristics<<<EndQuote

Didn't that quote come from a Pit Bull website, maybe BanDog? To describe the willingness of Pits to fight and keep on fighting no matter what? It sure does sound familiar to me.
If so, it sure doesn't strike me as a pertaining to this thread. (or as appropriate to this forum) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

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Terriers are bred to be independent hunters; shepherds are bred to take precise directions. There's just no comparison.

Yeah, that's it. I guess I like best the Giant/Riesenschnauzers because they're good at being independent but also can take precise directions, and ask you if you could please hurry up already. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />