I am sure you heard 'the stories.' We could put together pages of these fantasies under the heading Fallacies and still miss a few, but one thing everyone agrees on is the Doberman is the most respected of the protection-type breeds. This alone has placed the Dobe in a unique position in the dog world. By its presence alone it defends. But there are still natural variables that makes one Dobe quicker to respond in a defensive manner than another. Some situations require a slow fuse, others want a short fuse, and still others something in between. The problem here is that we can give you one level of protectiveness, but the environment can slowly change the dog if certain primary rules are not followed, so heed our advice when given. Also understand, however, that a docile dog will not evolve into a fully aggressive dog, nor will a fully aggressive dog fall to the level of docile. We are talking about degrees of variance. So to start you off right, we use knowledge of the Line and the dog's personality to make this judgment call, but first we have to know what primary level most meets your interests.
LOW ... to best understand where this Doberman fits in today's society, we go back to the earlier introduction comments. Think about the many other breeds of dogs you have come in contact with. How many are feared on sight? Most breeds will literally have to bite before the stranger becomes apprehensive of them. The Doberman, however, by simply being present, offers the ultimate form of passive protection, for the Doberman is, without exception, the most respected of the working breeds. If all you have ever wanted was to own a beautiful Dobe with minimal protective tendencies, this is the one for you.
MEDIUM ... admittedly, this is our most sought-after natural protective level. This Dobe can welcome your invited guests in, yet if an obvious problem arises they will do their best to take charge. Add our Defense program, once mature, and you still have a Dobe who can serve cocktails and throw the drunks out. Of course with the Defense Course added, they can do it with a smile.
HIGH ... if security for your family or for you personally is as important as the companion relationship you will be entering into with your Dobe and what the neighbors think is of no importance, consider this high-end natural protective level. You must have total control of the environment, in other words control the traffic through your home and on your property, for this dog believes those not family or not treated as 'family' are GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, whereas the medium looks at the stranger as being INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
The high aggressive is constant in its thinking and presumes anyone not associated with its
family is a threat, thus all this dog needs is to see an outsider and it shifts into its
defensive mode waiting for even the welcome stranger to make a wrong move. When raised
to tolerate outsiders who are allowed around it, it puts up with them, but it is always waiting
for a problem to arise. Interestingly, even the fully aggressive can have a hundred friends
besides its family, but it takes regular introductions. Always remember we are not talking
about vicious or independent-natured Dobes, just dogs with a high level of protectiveness.
To their people they are personable, like interaction with their family, all the things one
would expect from a great dog, but this dog carries a gun.
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