wyvernblade Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I am looking for a breed of dog that I can compete with in obedience, and probably agility as high as we can possible go (With dog probably being better than human!) The breeders I have contacted all sing their praises, but I'd like to hear from someone who actually owns a 'pet' one that they do obedience with? I do not want to show, any dog we get will be de-sexed as soon as it can be, but I would like to compete in the obedience areas. Thanking you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 PAX here does and is very sucessfull. I sort of do, but dont compete. Have a friend that did it "full time" and got state championships. Plus I know of several people in the Dobe world doing it, they are just not on DOL. Great breed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FHRP Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I do not personally compete with a Dobermann but have seen several regularly at local obedience and agility trials. They certainly are capable of competing well in both arenas. While at the Agility Nationals in Perth this year, I was impressed with several Dobermanns competing at the top level (Masters). Although not beating the top bc's they were more than capable of making course times and among the fastest of the large dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyvernblade Posted November 30, 2005 Author Share Posted November 30, 2005 Thanks for that, it helps when you actually know of people that have them! Any idea on what they cost? I have a figure in mind but not sure if it's close or not :-) I suppose my next question should be if people are competing in obedience, which breeds are doing well? Altho I know from personal experience it's much more fun getting a dog that's supposed to be hard to train to a good level in obedience as opposed to those guys that should breeze through it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie-i Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Get a working Kelpie....you can't beat'em for speed, agility and endurance.... :rolleyes: Signed Unbiased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 We have Dobe No.3 at the moment - have not done official obedience or agility - but........ They are fast and agile (if not overweight). They are wonderful, sensitive, intelligent dogs (generally speaking, of course) Sometimes the intelligence can be a drawback 'cause they assess risk :rolleyes: They are low maintenance. Yes - I'm biased. Our present Vet is great with Dobes - even he terms them "sooky Dobes" - says they all are. With the right handling, you could do wonders with a Dobe. However, it has been my experience that not all people, including obedience/agility Instructors are "favourably disposed" towards Dobes. The one I tried locally just didn't have the patience to help me with my re-homed Dobe and openely admitted she did not like them! The dog needed a bit of time and understanding, but in the competitive world, this just didn't seem to cut it! And I didn't even want to compete! She is great at obedience, but scared of some of the agility exercises. Took ages to get her through the tunnel - but we did get there. Compared with Dobe No. 1, this one is a bit more hyperactive/highly strung. I thought initally this may have been a result of the previous history (most unknown) but I have been told that there seems to be a tendency for breeders to be producing Dobes that are more "highly strung" than they used to. Don't know this for a fact. However, she has calmed down well with appropriate handling, although her herding instinct is alive and well I would suggest, based on the above, that 1. You check the temperament of the parents of any pups you are considering (also check for Von Willebrand's syndrome). 2. Check with the obediance, agility clubs you intend to join- assess their attitude to Dobes in general - if not positive, find out how far you would need to travel to find one that is positive - as this will be a big factor in the success of your endeavours. Like most breeds, you will pay less for a "pet" quality Dobe than a "show" quality one. If the dog does not have von Willbrands syndrome, but is a carrier, you will pay a whole lot less and maybe get a wonderful dog. As you do not intend to breed, it is not an issue if it is a carrier. Ours may be, but she is de-sexed and we had no reason, therefore, to pay for the test to be done. Saw Kelpies at Agility - brilliant, if not somewhat obsessed. We have never had a Kelpie - so can't give a comparison. :D cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Rottweiler Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 (edited) They are low maintenance. My OH has a Dobe! He wreaks anything he can get his mouth on. People told me i was mad getting a pug because they are stubbon and difficult to train. I would own 10 pugs any day versus 1 Doberman. I looked into getting a dobe about 16 years ago until i spent some time with one. Get a border collie Edited November 30, 2005 by Herr Rottweiler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Actually, HR, it's just dawned on me that your OH's dobe isn't featured in your signature!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Our Weim - an obedience champion (before we gor her) - wrecked more than our three Dobes put together. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Rottweiler Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Actually, HR, it's just dawned on me that your OH's dobe isn't featured in your signature!!!! :rolleyes: There's a reason for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbbb Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Hi wyvernblade, we got our dobe when she was 10 months old. She is very intelligent, and an extrememly fast learner. We have not done any formal obedience training with her, but we have taught her a bunch of tricks that we find come in handy. She is quite food-oriented, which makes her easy to train. I would like to do some agility training with her - I think she'd love it. When she's old enough we might give it a go. Temperament wise - she is a big sook who loves being with us. But she is also quite happy to spend hours napping under a tree or chewing on a bone if we are not home. She is not at all highly strung, infact I would call her laid-back (except when someone is approaching her territory, when her guarding instint comes to the fore and she barks at them). I have met several other dobes, and while I can't tell you what they're like to live with, I think ours is fantastic! jbbb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyvernblade Posted November 30, 2005 Author Share Posted November 30, 2005 Ok as far as the detructive chewing etc is concerned I'm guessing that they aren't really a 'mature' breed until two or three? Or HR is your Dobe older than that?! We have always had shepherds and they can be very destructive as pups and all the ones we've had have been very nervy which has made obedience very difficult! I have also been considering a Kelpie, that was the breed I wanted when I was a kid living in suburbia in a tiny yard! For some reason my parents never let me get one :rolleyes: But was also thinking about the doberman's guarding ability as I breed horses (Very expensive ones) and I'd like a big dog running around the property to deter people too.But the Kelpie is my second choice, what are either breed like with kids? We have an 8 and 12 year old. The 12 year old desperately wants a Dobe as she's always loved them (But I think it's more than she can tell her friends at school that she has one rather than that she knows anything about them or would be interested in training it )So I'm happy to hear your comments on the kelpie's as well! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily Howard Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 (edited) Our Weim - an obedience champion (before we gor her) - wrecked more than our three Dobes put together. cheers I'm with you on that my weim is a zillion times more destructive than my 2 dobes, who can be left unattended in the house all day. I wouldn't dream of leaveing the weim in if I'm not home. HR I think your OH's dobe must be an exception. Sorry can't coment on obediance though as I've never done it. Just had to stick up for the Dobes. Edited November 30, 2005 by Gigi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbbb Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Our dobe isn't destructive either (unless it's a something you've given her to play with - some fluffy toys just become fluffy carpet!). She will pick things up and walk around with them, but doens't chew them eg. if she thinks it's time for a walk, she might bring me a shoe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 My dog has only chewed what I allowed him to chew and destroy.... I guess they teach you to be tidy As to cost of a puppy dobe from a reputable breeder $800-1000. I know of a lot of people with a lot of dobes and Id say that on average a small % is destructive, only becouse they have high drives that are not satisfied by the owners. Apart form that - great dogs. Last night some GSD people asked me if I can be converted to their breed. As much as I loved their dogs, I can not. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie-i Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Hi wyvernblade You'll find that most breeds are good with kids, provided they are socialised to them from a young age. It's all about the socialisation!!! You will also find that all breeds of dogs are destructive as pups. This is due to their young, inquisitive minds and exploring their world (and boredom plays a factor as well) Kelpies (I'm talking the working variety) are an extremely intelligent dog in the sense that they have an uncanny ability to problem solve - so they'll figure things out for themselves. They require a firm but fair leader/handler who will provide loads of stimulation. Kelpies are highly trainable and in fact if you don't train them, they will train you. As well as being active workers, they can be quite the couch potatoe as well. Tired dogs are happy dogs! Kelpies are fast, highly agile (which is why they do extremely well in agility, flyball and of course herding) and hard working. Kelpies do not suffer from any congenital defects and rarely suffer from allergies etc. They are a strong, hardy dog that require very little in the way of grooming and fussing over. Of course a Kelpie is not for everyone, but for a true blue Australian dog without all the bells and whistles, the Kelpie is the one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 (edited) As for the kids, we had our first Dobe before our first child came alone - no problems. Kid & dog would go down to the fence and play with next door kid & dog. Matching set. The one we have now was a re-home at 2 years of age - our youngest kid, teenager, was really good in helping to do a bit of re-training, mainly in relation to a lead pulling issue - did really well too. Dobes do not "mature" until about 2 years, I'm told - but ous always seem to be pups to me. :rolleyes: The toy issue is really funny with this one - she took to a cheap, squeaky toy (plastic hot dog, actually) and just loved it. One day, our D-i-L got her a bit too excited and she bit the squeak-squeak - which no longer squeaked, of course. End of that, right? No way - dog got really upset and worried 'cause it no longer squeaked - and I had to bee line down to Crazy Clarks for a new one. She so loves it and is so "knowing" that this one is still going two years down the track! Even kids aren't that gentle on their toys! Whenever she is excited, she picks it up and squeaks it like mad - but never bites hard enough to wreck it. cheers Edited December 1, 2005 by noisymina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Rottweiler Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 You will also find that all breeds of dogs are destructive as pups. This is due to their young, inquisitive minds and exploring their world (and boredom plays a factor as well) True but this Dobe has been more destructive and a bigger pain in the bum than all the Rotties I have owned put together. He is perfect when I'm about but the moment i'm gone WHAMO! :rolleyes: Rotties and pugs are such great dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobbles Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 I agree that destrcuctive dobe must be a rare case- I can leave my two at home inside and they'll just sleep. I can't remember the last item I have lost. My dobe girl is very shy- I took her to training & socialisation when she was young, but I think it was always going to be part of her personality. She did terribly at the agility equipment in class, it took me ages to get her to walk on metal steps! So, I couldn't do agility with Leela...she is also quite nutty- but I can't really say what dobes are like on a whole as I think my girl's a special case Little runt But I'm sure you could do agility if that's what you are aiming for.. Also I reckon that the breed you choose will end up being the breed you love! (In most cases!) hence why the kelpie people promote kelpies etc... I never used to like cattle dogs/ blue heelers much but that changed when I fostered one- now I love em :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyvernblade Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Now everyone is just making it confusing! LOL I'm going to look at some Kelpies tomorrow arvo, but they are all WKC registered not VCA registered. Would a proper working dog be harder to live with in a fmaily situation, or require more training? The guy asked heaps of questions on the phone and said they don't like selling to people as pets, but if I'm keen on competing in obedience they can make an exception. The next week I'm going to look at some Dobe puppies, so I guess after I have seen both in the flesh (Parents included) that might make it easier to make a decision! And I don't agree with the sentiments once you've owned a particular breed you always love and promote that breed. We've had German Shepherds, Bullmastiffs and Yorkshire terriers and I wouldn't go out of my way to buy any of those breeds again! So maybe we just haven't found the right 'breed' yet. Actaully not wanting to stir up a hornet's nest, but the best dogs I've ever owned have been crosses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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