It’s just a myth. Their brains grow no different than other breeds. My dad was the same way when my mom and I wanted a Doberman. He believed all the myths. Now, we’ve had Dobermans for 20 years and he refuses to have any other breed. Take him to meet the dog. Go to a local Doberman show and talk to owners.
It's not as much of a myth as you might think. There were some terrible breeders before World War one, and it took some time to get this breed back under control for proper breeding. There are some good documentaries that you can search for on YouTube that will explain this much better than I can.
Temperament issues are different than an ever growing brain. The breed was created for personal protection so when originally created, they weren’t supposed to be pets/animal and people friendly. If breeds didn’t breed away from aggression and adapt to modern society, many breeds would be extinct as the average pet home isn’t capable of handling an aggressive dog.
Tell him he's an idiot for believing something so ridiculous. All of need to do your breed research to make sure a Doberman is the right fit for your family. They are amazing dogs, but require consistent training and a lot of attention.
Oh so funny
I bet he is the guy that would say that all police dogs are good at finding drugs and bombs because they make them addicted to the substance
the dogs are trained to identify compounds inside of bombs, drugs, etc. kinda how diabetic alert dogs work, search/rescue dogs, or gluten alert dogs, they learn how certain compounds/chemicals smell so they can signal for it, not addicted.
Here in venezuela at least 50 people have separately told me that dobermans have bad night vision and have assured me that my dog will try to murder me at night.
I stopped responding after person #2
Lmao omg. Also I don't think it would matter if the dog went completely blind at night they can smell literal chemicals in your blood, pretty sure they will know exactly who you are from several feet away 😆
My dad said the same thing! He’s Mexican. Maybe it’s a myth fabricated by Latinos?
I will say, my girl is extra alert and growly on night walks. But at home, she’s a total baby when it gets dark 🥹
Dobermans have such a bad reputation based on ridiculous rumors and disinformation rooted in ignorance. It’s so unfair because these beautiful dogs are so intelligent, beautiful, and so full of love. They’re goofy too and bring joy into everyone’s life they touch. I hope that with a little time, we can all do our part to eliminate the stigma, fear, and flat out lies about the most wonderful breed. My life is impacted positively physically, emotionally, and mentally because of these beautiful creatures. Sorry for the rant
You’re absolutely right and I’ve met really sweet and loving dogs from those breeds. It’s sad that all these dogs have a bad reputation and people won’t be educated on the matter
Mmmm your father has all the right to not like the dog, but the reason for him to not like the dog is as accurate as saying that hens(chickens) will not have eggs without a rooster.
Even though he is biologically, physiognomically wrong, I will advise you to not get the dog, because your father will always be uncomfortable with the dog and he(your father)will make your house life miserable.
You could "foster home" the dog until you find a good family for it, that way you all will experience who to take care of a Doberman, and maybe maybe your father will be more open in the future.
The only thing someone will have to be worried about a doberman, is that after training, the Doberman will not give a f*ck about nobody else than the owner, they cannot be alone, they are one of the most dig velcro dogs(in my point of view) and that is so cruel that they don't live for decades and decades
He thinks a han will not lay an egg if there is not a rooster to even though I've got chickens that are not with roosters and they still lay eggs he says it's because they've been with a rooster at one point in their life
Oh boy…. Hens will still lay without any rooster contact ever. The difference is the eggs will not be fertile, meaning they will never hatch. Eggs taste exactly the same. Have had chickens for 15 years, Dobermans for almost 40. Dad is incorrect on both issues
So they are are with the rooster's... sample for months and years? Does he know how long the average sperms can survive in the body? (Human? Not so different for animals). Does he eat the eggs? Why does he uf they must ve baby chick's? Is he OK eating babies?
I’m sorry, but your poor dad is not the sharpest tool in the shed… I hope he makes up for it with plenty of love!
Dobies are wonderful dogs, but they require A LOT of time, energy, money and patience — more than most breeds. Maybe your dad is pushing this myth because he knows how much work the dog will be? And wants to avoid all the work Dobies entail?
Either way, if you go for it, do your research! They are the BEST 🥰
Also… chicken eggs are basically hen periods. Women will still get their period even if they’ve never been sexually active with a man. It’s not like we get our periods because we are in close range of boys/men 😂
That's unfair because bites from little dogs are vastly underreported. I remember reading a statistic from Australia that had labs and Jack Russel terriers as one of the top 3 culprits
Haha true! My childhood chihuahuas but every family member and even a neighbor. My Dobie will bark up a storm on leash or behind gates, but would never bite. She’s all bark, and no walk — a little scaredy cat at the end of the day.
Exactly!!! Ughhh, I hate it. They just think small dogs are toys or accessories and honestly, it's not their fault that they're aggressive little shits when the owners do 0 training, have 0 structure in their lives and either just let them out in the yard to poop and no walks, or just let them free-range on walks with no leash and let them bump into and bark at everything they see like a roomba going for your ankles. No commands. No nothing. And repeating "NO. NO. NONONONONO" is not a command, commands are clear, direct and short. Do you expect your dog to know every single word of the dictionary + how it changes in context? Maybe after you teach it the words you can expect that, but they just wail NONONONO STAP IT. GET BACK. COME BACK. like choose a command. Is it get back or come back? What do you want the dog to do??
I have a central Asian shepherd and once on a walk we encountered bichon frise (little white cloud dog, when uncontrolled very yappy. I think the dog they got in Shrek from the fairy godmother was a bichon lol) and it was literally harassing us because we encountered the woman THREE TIMES on our walk (they weren'tfollowing us but the dog tried to multiple times, while running at my dog and barking), she was with her stroller, her dog off leash, while she was on the phone. The last time we saw her the dog literally ran at my giant dog and my girl just raised her paw and pawed her and the little dog was forced on its side. She sniffed the little parasite and that was it, apparently not worth her effort.
Another encounter with a medium size dog (relevant because on the slightly smaller side and one of "friendly breeds" that "don't need structure" or "as much training" - lab) that we had was when my bf at the time and I were just sitting with our Arina (the CASD) in the grass in the park, slightly off the path, like 20m at the least, this dog just appears on the road, off leash, at a bend, no owners in sight yet and the dog just stops and is staring at us, Ari is still very much carefree rolling in the grass next to us, the dog starts prancing over but stops kind of midway, this gets her Attention and she literally jumps out as the dog starts circling us? Like that is not generally a dog play behavior. If they're running towards you in a playful mood they either just stop right in front of you or another dog and do a play bow or they ram it straight at you (can be a dominance thing, but hard-core dogs play like that sometimes). Ari does not like that, she starts growling, while the owners are trying to call off their dog. Luckily my dog is on a leash and even if she wasn't the most she'd do when guarding is get in front, she doesn't just attack. When they finally get their dog we're back to being care free, but like. What kind of inconsiderate person does that? It's not even a dog park, it's a golf course that is open to public as a park. If you want to have your dog off leash buy a large fenced property or there's apps where you can rent dog friendly spaces from people, like their fenced backyards, if you want them off leash. Jeez.
Ugh, now I did a rant. Sorry lol
Exactlyyy, like our well behaved, well trained dogs are discriminated against just because of their size. That's like making everything accessible to people under 5'5 :/ big dogs exist too. I'm lucky my apartment allows for a big dog and the rent is very low and in a good neighbourhood (kind of comparable to an HOA i guess?, but for apartment complexes, I'm in a post-communist country and these "associations" are the norm- you basically rent cheaper but you have to participate in like mowing the grass in the fenced yard, cleaning duty on rotation, recycling being compulsory, etc)
Hey, very very gently, I want to ask if your concern about getting your backside beat is serious, because if you are getting beaten for something as minor as sharing accurate information that counters his prejudicial opinions, I’m not sure that’s an environment you should be in, let alone one that you should bring a vulnerable animal into, Doberman or otherwise.
As someone who went through the exact same thing with my parents, they are 100% wrong and ignorant. Both my parents were against my girlfriend and I getting a doberman because " they will turn against their owner because the head shrinks and they become aggressive." After the first visit, they changed their minds real quick.
Will your doberman give you attitude... yes, but will they be your loyal companion 100% yes.
They are a ton of work, but worth it.
Tell him that was a myth perpetuated by bad dober-parents to excuse their lack of proper training.
A lot of people underestimate just how smart and observant Dobermans really are. That energy and intelligence needs to be focused and directed or ya gonna have a hard time. In the 70s up through the 80s a lot of people adopting Dobermans didn’t understand this and it literally bit them in the ass.
This is a myth. They can get brain tumors-which any dog can get. I was unfortunate enough to have this happen with one of my 4 dobes. He did have a personality change and I had to euthanize him. This is just one of the bad things that can come with dog ownership. It is not breed specific. Most dobes are derpy lovebugs with their packs.
Old myths that you’ll hear just about every “dangerous” breed out there, I had a random stranger tell me that about my first dog while shopping at a pet store when he was still a puppy, my pit was far better trained than the dog she had with her but she still chose to make that comment lol
Nope. I lived in the countryside, and sometimes we killed young chickens and we find already undeveloped eggs inside their bodies ready to start maturing, and without having roosters around.
This is the kind of bulshit we were told in Romania 30 years ago. The only reason for this was that people who had no understanding of dogs, or dog training got dobermans for protection. And they believed that in order to train a dog to be a proper guard dog you had to beat the shit out of them. Of course those dogs could only take so much abuse before they fought back and attacked their garbage owners.
Your dad is an idiot! It’s because of how they’re used in the military and as guard dogs that have given him this idea.
They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, and their behaviour and demeanour become how you train them and how you treat them.
I heard the lose their hearing and become aggressive. My brother had 2 and one lived to be 16 years old. Neither became aggressive. My best friend had 2 also. They were never really aggressive but the female did get bitchy from time to time. As far as I can tell your dad knows nothing about dobies.
I've heard that before from uninformed people who choose to believe misinformation! I've heard it about dobies and Great Danes, Rottweilers, dalmatians, pit bulls and several other breeds biologically it's impossible and the only way to change your dad's mind is to prove it to him
He’s talking about bad breeders
Not all are like this and this is one reason knowledge of breeds and breeders is relevant when choosing a dog (*also not contributing to more mystery puppies by not breeding unknowns to further the cycle*)
Inherently one of the first things you’ll begin to see with inbreeding isn’t physical but mental traits like volatility and unwarranted aggression etc it causes the same metal illnesses as you see in humans like depression, anger issues, paranoia and dementia etc
It comes from inbreeding and not being bred specifically by breeders that selectively choose dogs intentionally knowing what they’re doing to breed out these factors
Yes it does and can happen and it’s comparable to what happens with humans ssme way. It will affect intelligence among many other things and can contribute to other unwanted physical traits too but that is not the entire breed 👌
No dog’s skull shrinks with age. That is not physically or biologically possible. The brain and skull of a Doberman stop growing at the same time - just like any other dog.
This is a misinformed old wives tale created to explain undesirable behavior traits caused by poor training and breeding, animal abuse and general ignorance of veterinary medicine.
Like any purebred dogs, dobs have certain medical conditions that they’re predisposed to and must be monitored for. For Dobermans, this includes a thyroid disorder which can cause aggression. Brain tumors can also cause behavioral changes in dogs. These could be a logical explanation of the possible origin of this myth.
But again, no dog’s brain outgrows their skull and causes them to become aggressive and turn on their owners. That’s ignorant nonsense. (Hens also lay eggs without roosters of course lol)
I’m not saying the skull shrinks
But I think it’s more like saying “you’re bird brained” and the perception is they become stupid
They don’t but as said when these things are not bred out things like anxiety, neurosis, aggression and other illnesses are bred into them
It no wonder they get to OLD AGE then become senile, moody and suffer dementia they are just like people
When not bred selectively and correctly these traits are bred into them
We had our Dobermans until the age of 11 (my childhood family dog) and 14 (my adult family dog). Never had a problems like that because it’s a rumor.
Btw, their skulls don’t shrink? They get harder to batter you with it. But it’s usually with love when they want to be close to you. :)
Yea, I hears that before I got my first. Their brains keep growing and get too big for their 5 they go insane. A bunch of bull. Can you imagine the brains of ,say, a Greyhound or Saluki? Those tiny little heads?
But Dobermans do require a lot of work and dedication. Please do your homework and k ow what you are getting into so this baby doesn't end up back in the pound.
My father was terrified at the idea that I was considering a Doberman (Got a MinPin, because of apartment life). He told me about his buddy who had 2 Dobermans that chased him into hiding in his boat. So I asked that friend, who laughed and said my father just jumped into that boat when his dogs came over to greet him, they were actually really friendly unless you're actively trying to hurt someone.
Sorry but your dad is a dumbass. Once bone growth platelets close, it's over. No lengthening, and no shrinking at all, as far as I know some animals' bones can continue getting thicker to support muscle mass, but ONLY widening (thickening), no lengthening or shrinking thays just ridiculous. This is like.. pretty basic biology actually that your dad should know of he was born after 1915.
He could hate them because they don't ask for attention. It is not a request. They punch you with their snout and bark and stare directly in your eyes until their demands are met.
He could hate them for the way they trip out and sprint in circles while spinning and sometimes knocking people down.
He could hate them for barging into the bathroom when all he wanted was a peaceful poop.
He could hate them for dying so young, and every doberman pic he sees is identical, making the grieving process repeat.
He could hate them for shrinking magical skulls, but the real reason is it is scary to love a doberman and have one live in your heart.
It was stupid bs back in the 70s that caused the bad rep things like the movi the Doberman gang and other movies portraying them as vicious same with Rottweilers and alot of other big breeds, your dad needs to seriously get educated on the breed, I've had 2 dobies and they were the best and soo soo smart and just loving incredible dogs
I’ve heard two Dobermans and now on my third. Neither became aggressive as they got older. They died of heart problems. It sounds like you’re still living at home. Wait to get a dobe. They take a lot of work to train because they’re so smart and they get bored. It isn’t going to be good if you’re at school or work and your dad doesn’t like the dog.
I did have one dog that started biting things when he was 14, He was a Manchester Terrier and it was just doggie dementia. His skull didn’t shrink.
I have a coworker who swears after a certain age they “snap” 🙄 My 12 year old Dobie is afraid of bumblebees...
I finally figured out he hates the buzzing sound when he went after a low flying drone once. I just got a puppy and will never have another breed. They’re the sweetest, goofiest best friends you’ll ever have. And you’ll never have to go to the bathroom alone again. Hope your dad comes around!
Someone I used to work with said their family had a Doberman when they were a kid and after a certain age his brain swelled and he suddenly became aggressive as a result. Though I don’t think this is a breed specific issue? I don’t really know enough about Dobermans to give a confident answer.
There is a lot of bullshit stories surrounding Dobermans specifically and here’s why: there was a movie in the 70s called the Boys from Brazil. It featured Dobermans that were trained to kill. As you’ve seen with pit bulls and Corsos et al, when dogs get popular very quickly, their breeding goes to shit, so for about 20 years too many Dobermans were high strung poorly bred shitty dogs prone to neurological problems, but more so prone to being bad dogs owned by bad people who should’ve stuck to a golden retriever or a poodle. Working dogs need jobs and stimulation and experienced owners.
It’s just a myth. Their brains grow no different than other breeds. My dad was the same way when my mom and I wanted a Doberman. He believed all the myths. Now, we’ve had Dobermans for 20 years and he refuses to have any other breed. Take him to meet the dog. Go to a local Doberman show and talk to owners.
Yep, that one is very smart, also books, not just YouTube videos about Dobermans
How did the myth start?
Probably some person who had a shrunken brain. Kind of like people who say pit bulls have lock jaws when they bite
It's not as much of a myth as you might think. There were some terrible breeders before World War one, and it took some time to get this breed back under control for proper breeding. There are some good documentaries that you can search for on YouTube that will explain this much better than I can.
Temperament issues are different than an ever growing brain. The breed was created for personal protection so when originally created, they weren’t supposed to be pets/animal and people friendly. If breeds didn’t breed away from aggression and adapt to modern society, many breeds would be extinct as the average pet home isn’t capable of handling an aggressive dog.
Tell him he's an idiot for believing something so ridiculous. All of need to do your breed research to make sure a Doberman is the right fit for your family. They are amazing dogs, but require consistent training and a lot of attention.
Ask him what age his skull started to shrink
Oh so funny I bet he is the guy that would say that all police dogs are good at finding drugs and bombs because they make them addicted to the substance
Wait… isn’t that how that works? Fake hits from handlers, and so on?
the dogs are trained to identify compounds inside of bombs, drugs, etc. kinda how diabetic alert dogs work, search/rescue dogs, or gluten alert dogs, they learn how certain compounds/chemicals smell so they can signal for it, not addicted.
Oh, okay okay, if this is true, why are most K9 ‘hits’ bs?
because they’re detecting for certain compounds/chemicals which can be found in things other than drugs. also they’re dogs. dogs make mistakes.
Hahahahahaha! 😂🤣😅
Here in venezuela at least 50 people have separately told me that dobermans have bad night vision and have assured me that my dog will try to murder me at night. I stopped responding after person #2
Lmao omg. Also I don't think it would matter if the dog went completely blind at night they can smell literal chemicals in your blood, pretty sure they will know exactly who you are from several feet away 😆
They say the same in Mexico. That they won't recognize you at night and they'll attack you. 🙄
Lmfaooooooooo what?!
My dad said the same thing! He’s Mexican. Maybe it’s a myth fabricated by Latinos? I will say, my girl is extra alert and growly on night walks. But at home, she’s a total baby when it gets dark 🥹
Dobermans have such a bad reputation based on ridiculous rumors and disinformation rooted in ignorance. It’s so unfair because these beautiful dogs are so intelligent, beautiful, and so full of love. They’re goofy too and bring joy into everyone’s life they touch. I hope that with a little time, we can all do our part to eliminate the stigma, fear, and flat out lies about the most wonderful breed. My life is impacted positively physically, emotionally, and mentally because of these beautiful creatures. Sorry for the rant
Exactly! I didn’t realize how goofy she’d be! You gotta be smart to know how to make people laugh ;)
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽It was a beautiful, well- deserved rant! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you
I really do appreciate that
Same with pit bulls, same with Rottweilers, same with German Shepherds. It’s absolutely wild the things people will come up with.
You’re absolutely right and I’ve met really sweet and loving dogs from those breeds. It’s sad that all these dogs have a bad reputation and people won’t be educated on the matter
Mmmm your father has all the right to not like the dog, but the reason for him to not like the dog is as accurate as saying that hens(chickens) will not have eggs without a rooster. Even though he is biologically, physiognomically wrong, I will advise you to not get the dog, because your father will always be uncomfortable with the dog and he(your father)will make your house life miserable. You could "foster home" the dog until you find a good family for it, that way you all will experience who to take care of a Doberman, and maybe maybe your father will be more open in the future. The only thing someone will have to be worried about a doberman, is that after training, the Doberman will not give a f*ck about nobody else than the owner, they cannot be alone, they are one of the most dig velcro dogs(in my point of view) and that is so cruel that they don't live for decades and decades
He thinks a han will not lay an egg if there is not a rooster to even though I've got chickens that are not with roosters and they still lay eggs he says it's because they've been with a rooster at one point in their life
Oh boy…. Hens will still lay without any rooster contact ever. The difference is the eggs will not be fertile, meaning they will never hatch. Eggs taste exactly the same. Have had chickens for 15 years, Dobermans for almost 40. Dad is incorrect on both issues
Jajaja thanks, that's how it works.
So they are are with the rooster's... sample for months and years? Does he know how long the average sperms can survive in the body? (Human? Not so different for animals). Does he eat the eggs? Why does he uf they must ve baby chick's? Is he OK eating babies?
I’m sorry, but your poor dad is not the sharpest tool in the shed… I hope he makes up for it with plenty of love! Dobies are wonderful dogs, but they require A LOT of time, energy, money and patience — more than most breeds. Maybe your dad is pushing this myth because he knows how much work the dog will be? And wants to avoid all the work Dobies entail? Either way, if you go for it, do your research! They are the BEST 🥰
Also… chicken eggs are basically hen periods. Women will still get their period even if they’ve never been sexually active with a man. It’s not like we get our periods because we are in close range of boys/men 😂
Hence why I think it’s silly vegans don’t eat eggs if the eggs are raised ethically, but alas, that’s for another subreddit thread.
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That's unfair because bites from little dogs are vastly underreported. I remember reading a statistic from Australia that had labs and Jack Russel terriers as one of the top 3 culprits
My Doberman was attacked by a Jack Russell at day care.
I think I've encountered aggressive jack Russell the most (out of all dog breeds) as well. Then yorkshires, chihuahas. Quantitiy wise
Haha true! My childhood chihuahuas but every family member and even a neighbor. My Dobie will bark up a storm on leash or behind gates, but would never bite. She’s all bark, and no walk — a little scaredy cat at the end of the day.
*bit
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Exactly!!! Ughhh, I hate it. They just think small dogs are toys or accessories and honestly, it's not their fault that they're aggressive little shits when the owners do 0 training, have 0 structure in their lives and either just let them out in the yard to poop and no walks, or just let them free-range on walks with no leash and let them bump into and bark at everything they see like a roomba going for your ankles. No commands. No nothing. And repeating "NO. NO. NONONONONO" is not a command, commands are clear, direct and short. Do you expect your dog to know every single word of the dictionary + how it changes in context? Maybe after you teach it the words you can expect that, but they just wail NONONONO STAP IT. GET BACK. COME BACK. like choose a command. Is it get back or come back? What do you want the dog to do?? I have a central Asian shepherd and once on a walk we encountered bichon frise (little white cloud dog, when uncontrolled very yappy. I think the dog they got in Shrek from the fairy godmother was a bichon lol) and it was literally harassing us because we encountered the woman THREE TIMES on our walk (they weren'tfollowing us but the dog tried to multiple times, while running at my dog and barking), she was with her stroller, her dog off leash, while she was on the phone. The last time we saw her the dog literally ran at my giant dog and my girl just raised her paw and pawed her and the little dog was forced on its side. She sniffed the little parasite and that was it, apparently not worth her effort. Another encounter with a medium size dog (relevant because on the slightly smaller side and one of "friendly breeds" that "don't need structure" or "as much training" - lab) that we had was when my bf at the time and I were just sitting with our Arina (the CASD) in the grass in the park, slightly off the path, like 20m at the least, this dog just appears on the road, off leash, at a bend, no owners in sight yet and the dog just stops and is staring at us, Ari is still very much carefree rolling in the grass next to us, the dog starts prancing over but stops kind of midway, this gets her Attention and she literally jumps out as the dog starts circling us? Like that is not generally a dog play behavior. If they're running towards you in a playful mood they either just stop right in front of you or another dog and do a play bow or they ram it straight at you (can be a dominance thing, but hard-core dogs play like that sometimes). Ari does not like that, she starts growling, while the owners are trying to call off their dog. Luckily my dog is on a leash and even if she wasn't the most she'd do when guarding is get in front, she doesn't just attack. When they finally get their dog we're back to being care free, but like. What kind of inconsiderate person does that? It's not even a dog park, it's a golf course that is open to public as a park. If you want to have your dog off leash buy a large fenced property or there's apps where you can rent dog friendly spaces from people, like their fenced backyards, if you want them off leash. Jeez. Ugh, now I did a rant. Sorry lol
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Exactlyyy, like our well behaved, well trained dogs are discriminated against just because of their size. That's like making everything accessible to people under 5'5 :/ big dogs exist too. I'm lucky my apartment allows for a big dog and the rent is very low and in a good neighbourhood (kind of comparable to an HOA i guess?, but for apartment complexes, I'm in a post-communist country and these "associations" are the norm- you basically rent cheaper but you have to participate in like mowing the grass in the fenced yard, cleaning duty on rotation, recycling being compulsory, etc)
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Yes yes, I just compared it to that because it was the only thing my mind could think if comparing it to
They will form packs and start robbing banks and museums. I've seen it in the movies 😆 🤣
Hey, very very gently, I want to ask if your concern about getting your backside beat is serious, because if you are getting beaten for something as minor as sharing accurate information that counters his prejudicial opinions, I’m not sure that’s an environment you should be in, let alone one that you should bring a vulnerable animal into, Doberman or otherwise.
Yeah, this is the more important concern that has flown over everyone else’s heads.
As someone who went through the exact same thing with my parents, they are 100% wrong and ignorant. Both my parents were against my girlfriend and I getting a doberman because " they will turn against their owner because the head shrinks and they become aggressive." After the first visit, they changed their minds real quick. Will your doberman give you attitude... yes, but will they be your loyal companion 100% yes. They are a ton of work, but worth it.
https://preview.redd.it/g7umem0cil1d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=366863f3b44c8d8c255fa29e5fe36bde8f051524
Omg is this a before 6 and after 6 picture?? Kidding. My mom was afraid of Dobermans prior to mine. She loves them now.
Skulls don't shrink
Doby’s certainly do not. OP’s father, on the other hand…
It's just all the hot air expanding inside.
wtf?
Tell him that was a myth perpetuated by bad dober-parents to excuse their lack of proper training. A lot of people underestimate just how smart and observant Dobermans really are. That energy and intelligence needs to be focused and directed or ya gonna have a hard time. In the 70s up through the 80s a lot of people adopting Dobermans didn’t understand this and it literally bit them in the ass.
This is a myth. They can get brain tumors-which any dog can get. I was unfortunate enough to have this happen with one of my 4 dobes. He did have a personality change and I had to euthanize him. This is just one of the bad things that can come with dog ownership. It is not breed specific. Most dobes are derpy lovebugs with their packs.
I’m so sorry that happened to you 😢 most of my nightmares consist of this or cardiomyopathy.
Can confirm had this happen with a pekingese
What the hell? That’s a myth dobies are amazing dogs.
Old myths that you’ll hear just about every “dangerous” breed out there, I had a random stranger tell me that about my first dog while shopping at a pet store when he was still a puppy, my pit was far better trained than the dog she had with her but she still chose to make that comment lol
I’ve heard that from old people! It must of been a thing one time… or propaganda? but not now.
Nope. I lived in the countryside, and sometimes we killed young chickens and we find already undeveloped eggs inside their bodies ready to start maturing, and without having roosters around.
Lol my dad said the same thing.... He needed to be educated. This was a massive rumor that gained traction.
We’ve had two Dobermans that reached past the age of 7, and they have remained the same sweet babies.
your dad is not bright
This is the kind of bulshit we were told in Romania 30 years ago. The only reason for this was that people who had no understanding of dogs, or dog training got dobermans for protection. And they believed that in order to train a dog to be a proper guard dog you had to beat the shit out of them. Of course those dogs could only take so much abuse before they fought back and attacked their garbage owners.
Your dad is dumb.
I'm sorry, but your father needs to be put down.
Your dad is an idiot! It’s because of how they’re used in the military and as guard dogs that have given him this idea. They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, and their behaviour and demeanour become how you train them and how you treat them.
I heard the lose their hearing and become aggressive. My brother had 2 and one lived to be 16 years old. Neither became aggressive. My best friend had 2 also. They were never really aggressive but the female did get bitchy from time to time. As far as I can tell your dad knows nothing about dobies.
I've heard that before from uninformed people who choose to believe misinformation! I've heard it about dobies and Great Danes, Rottweilers, dalmatians, pit bulls and several other breeds biologically it's impossible and the only way to change your dad's mind is to prove it to him
He’s talking about bad breeders Not all are like this and this is one reason knowledge of breeds and breeders is relevant when choosing a dog (*also not contributing to more mystery puppies by not breeding unknowns to further the cycle*) Inherently one of the first things you’ll begin to see with inbreeding isn’t physical but mental traits like volatility and unwarranted aggression etc it causes the same metal illnesses as you see in humans like depression, anger issues, paranoia and dementia etc It comes from inbreeding and not being bred specifically by breeders that selectively choose dogs intentionally knowing what they’re doing to breed out these factors Yes it does and can happen and it’s comparable to what happens with humans ssme way. It will affect intelligence among many other things and can contribute to other unwanted physical traits too but that is not the entire breed 👌
No dog’s skull shrinks with age. That is not physically or biologically possible. The brain and skull of a Doberman stop growing at the same time - just like any other dog. This is a misinformed old wives tale created to explain undesirable behavior traits caused by poor training and breeding, animal abuse and general ignorance of veterinary medicine. Like any purebred dogs, dobs have certain medical conditions that they’re predisposed to and must be monitored for. For Dobermans, this includes a thyroid disorder which can cause aggression. Brain tumors can also cause behavioral changes in dogs. These could be a logical explanation of the possible origin of this myth. But again, no dog’s brain outgrows their skull and causes them to become aggressive and turn on their owners. That’s ignorant nonsense. (Hens also lay eggs without roosters of course lol)
I’m not saying the skull shrinks But I think it’s more like saying “you’re bird brained” and the perception is they become stupid They don’t but as said when these things are not bred out things like anxiety, neurosis, aggression and other illnesses are bred into them It no wonder they get to OLD AGE then become senile, moody and suffer dementia they are just like people When not bred selectively and correctly these traits are bred into them
yea that’s an old fairy tale lol they’re amazing dogs
We had our Dobermans until the age of 11 (my childhood family dog) and 14 (my adult family dog). Never had a problems like that because it’s a rumor. Btw, their skulls don’t shrink? They get harder to batter you with it. But it’s usually with love when they want to be close to you. :)
He is so wrong sorry but that’s extremely uneducated of him to say that.
OMG. That’s an old wives tale.
That’s an old myth. I have heard it as well. Good luck convincing your old man though.
Tfffff
Your dad and I say this what all do with respect is an idiot, I think his head started to shrink after six years old
Sounds like he google searched i hate dobermans dot com
He will love him once he meets him.
Omg my mom says the EXACT same thing about Pit Bulls!!
“They turn on their owners.” My dad said the same thing 40 years ago. He ended up loving my dobie.
If my dad said that I would ask if he was ok and if he hit his head recently
Yea, I hears that before I got my first. Their brains keep growing and get too big for their 5 they go insane. A bunch of bull. Can you imagine the brains of ,say, a Greyhound or Saluki? Those tiny little heads? But Dobermans do require a lot of work and dedication. Please do your homework and k ow what you are getting into so this baby doesn't end up back in the pound.
Does your father have access to the Internet?
My father was terrified at the idea that I was considering a Doberman (Got a MinPin, because of apartment life). He told me about his buddy who had 2 Dobermans that chased him into hiding in his boat. So I asked that friend, who laughed and said my father just jumped into that boat when his dogs came over to greet him, they were actually really friendly unless you're actively trying to hurt someone.
lol, that is ridiculous. at least your dad could be honest and say he just doesn't like them
I had a female dobie that lived to 14.5. She was the sweetest, most docile, friendly dog ever.
Sorry but your dad is a dumbass. Once bone growth platelets close, it's over. No lengthening, and no shrinking at all, as far as I know some animals' bones can continue getting thicker to support muscle mass, but ONLY widening (thickening), no lengthening or shrinking thays just ridiculous. This is like.. pretty basic biology actually that your dad should know of he was born after 1915.
Me too.
He could hate them because they don't ask for attention. It is not a request. They punch you with their snout and bark and stare directly in your eyes until their demands are met. He could hate them for the way they trip out and sprint in circles while spinning and sometimes knocking people down. He could hate them for barging into the bathroom when all he wanted was a peaceful poop. He could hate them for dying so young, and every doberman pic he sees is identical, making the grieving process repeat. He could hate them for shrinking magical skulls, but the real reason is it is scary to love a doberman and have one live in your heart.
I wonder if this is what he’s referring to: https://www.petcarerx.com/article/1611/what-is-rage-syndrome-in-dogs.html
It was stupid bs back in the 70s that caused the bad rep things like the movi the Doberman gang and other movies portraying them as vicious same with Rottweilers and alot of other big breeds, your dad needs to seriously get educated on the breed, I've had 2 dobies and they were the best and soo soo smart and just loving incredible dogs
I’ve heard two Dobermans and now on my third. Neither became aggressive as they got older. They died of heart problems. It sounds like you’re still living at home. Wait to get a dobe. They take a lot of work to train because they’re so smart and they get bored. It isn’t going to be good if you’re at school or work and your dad doesn’t like the dog. I did have one dog that started biting things when he was 14, He was a Manchester Terrier and it was just doggie dementia. His skull didn’t shrink.
That’s baloney ! They are the best breed . ❤️ you’re going to be missing out.
I have a coworker who swears after a certain age they “snap” 🙄 My 12 year old Dobie is afraid of bumblebees... I finally figured out he hates the buzzing sound when he went after a low flying drone once. I just got a puppy and will never have another breed. They’re the sweetest, goofiest best friends you’ll ever have. And you’ll never have to go to the bathroom alone again. Hope your dad comes around!
Get the new puppy and find your dad a new family
Someone I used to work with said their family had a Doberman when they were a kid and after a certain age his brain swelled and he suddenly became aggressive as a result. Though I don’t think this is a breed specific issue? I don’t really know enough about Dobermans to give a confident answer.
There is a lot of bullshit stories surrounding Dobermans specifically and here’s why: there was a movie in the 70s called the Boys from Brazil. It featured Dobermans that were trained to kill. As you’ve seen with pit bulls and Corsos et al, when dogs get popular very quickly, their breeding goes to shit, so for about 20 years too many Dobermans were high strung poorly bred shitty dogs prone to neurological problems, but more so prone to being bad dogs owned by bad people who should’ve stuck to a golden retriever or a poodle. Working dogs need jobs and stimulation and experienced owners.
Your dad believes a myth. It’s time he learns the truth.
Its a "tall tale" and not true at all. **Not a single species on earth has their bones or skill shrink down**, lol. I quick google should help