I'll try to dispel some of the myths that people seem to have about the Doberman breed and answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have any favourites that are not listed here, email me and I will add them to the list.

Are Dobermans safe to have around children?
Like all dogs, it is always wise to supervise your children and your dog. Most dogs will not deliberately hurt a child, however, it is not advisable to allow any child to pull on ears, step on tails, pinch the dog, poke fingers in eyes, kick the dog or step on the dog. Remember, the dog can't talk and tell the child that what they are doing hurts. Sometimes, the dogs' only defense is to bite to let the child know that what they did hurts and they don't like it. It doesn't mean that the dog is vicious, only that the dog is trying to tell the child it doesn't like being hurt.
     By supervising your child with your dog, you can teach the child how to be gentle and loving with the dog, how to pet the dog and how to cuddle with the dog. As a parent you have the responsibility to teach your children how to be kind to animals and likewise to teach the dog how to be gentle with children, although many dogs are automatically gentle with children. Dobermans are no exception. Your Doberman should not be your babysitter.

I want a Doberman to protect my property and to roll over onto its back when someone comes into the house.
Dobermans will by nature protect you and your property should they feel it is necessary to do so, however, I don't know of any Doberman that will roll over onto its back when a stranger comes into the house. That is not what they were bred to do. A Doberman is a working and protection dog which does not indicate it will become submissive when someone comes into your home. Perhaps you should be looking for another breed—certainly a Doberman is not the dog for you.

I heard that cropping the ears makes the Doberman mean.
Have you ever had cosmetic surgery? Did it make you a mean or vicious person? Ear cropping is major cosmetic surgery done under anaesthetic to make the Doberman appear more alert. It has nothing to do with temperament. Temperament is partly inherited and some of it is conditioned.

I'm looking to buy a "King" or "Superior" Doberman. Do you have any?
There is no such thing as a King or Superior Doberman. As far as I can figure out, these terms refer to Dobermans that are bred to be oversized. A Doberman is supposed to be a medium-sized, agile dog; one that can do the job they were bred to do. An oversized Doberman that is 32" tall and weighs in at 95-130 pounds is not capable of doing the job it was meant to do. If you are looking for a dog that size, perhaps you should be looking at a larger breed. A Doberman of this size and weight does not fit the Canadian Kennel Club breed standard or the AKC breed standard.

I was told that if I bred my female it will settle her down.
Absolutely not. Why does she need to be settled down? What behaviours is she displaying that warrants settling her down? Having a litter of puppies is no substitute for properly training your dog to be well-mannered or spending a little more time with her to reduce the unwanted behaviours. We already have more than enough backyard breeders who know nothing about the breed and don't care either. They have absolutely no concern for temperament or health. If your daughter were out-of-control, would you send her out to become pregnant in the hopes of settling her down? I have my doubts. Consider taking the dog to obedience classes or having some private lessons with a dog behaviourist to help you work through the problems you're having. If you email me with your name and phone number, I'd be happy to recommend an animal behaviourist that will come to your home to do an evaluation of your dog.

I've heard that Dobermans are hard to train or have "hard heads."
The very opposite is true. Dobermans are very intelligent dogs and learn very quickly. Because they are intelligent, they can sometimes be a challenge for an inexperienced trainer. More times than not, your Doberman has trained you without you even being aware of it. I always call the Doberman the dog with the human mind. Training begins with the breeder and should continue as soon as you bring the puppy or dog into your home. Dobermans respond best to correction-free classes and your puppy can start classes once it has had two vaccinations. Correction-free positive reinforcement training techniques are the most effective way to train any dog—not just Dobermans. Dobermans do not respond well to outdated force training commonly associated with the use of choke chains.