Dobermans

[ElwoodBlues1]

That is always a difficult decision Woody but you know your dog better than anyone else does. 

It's two years since the second of our pair of Staffies had to be put down (she was 14) and we're just starting to think about replacements.  Not that you can really replace one dog with another; it's a whole new experience.

While Mav and I seem to have a difference of opinion on the relevance of wild canid and domestic dog behaviour, we're actually on the same page when it comes to dog training; there's no place for pain and/or stressing dogs by acting out a parody of imagined dog behaviour.  The social organisation of dog packs actually serves to minimise aggressive behaviour and physical attacks.

My daughter's Ridgeback wanted to protect the family and acted aggressively to other dogs (she was a rescue dog who came to them at about 12 months of age).  She learnt that wasn't her role in the pack/family through being encouraged to relax when other dogs approached.  My daughter's family (and the dog) is fortunate to have kilometres of off lead dog beach and the Ridgeback now shows no aggression towards other dogs.  If the dog feels threatened (usually by little yappy dogs), she retreats to her adults/pack leaders for protection.

We have always had German Shepherds and all have displayed the same behaviour and all have been  trained, if challenged by another dominant breed they will react and they are picky and choosy about who they accept as human friends, under command they withdraw but their first instinct is to react in a defensive manner if they dont like what they see or smell...small yappy dogs just get ignored unless they persist.
There is ignorance in understanding the breed, they are not aggressive they are protective and only react when provoked...when walked they are on guard because that is their nature especially the females, they dont sniff trees, eat rubbish, they concentrate as they are on duty.
Our Dog responds well to command but she also has her own mind as she comes from a clever breed, she has saved my wife twice from attacks initiated by a Malamute and a Pit Bull Staffie cross and this after my wife crossed the road to avoid these other breeds...I'm not about over training her and taking away her ability to think for herself...if you want a clever dog that does tricks then get a poodle, but if you want a clever dog that is smart enough to know when to react at the right time then I recommend a GS....
We had a Ridgeback as a Neighbour and you would think there would be trouble but they got along fine...no barking, no squabbling at the fence, both Dogs minded there own business and led a peaceful existance...was very impressed with the Ridgeback's peaceful manner after initially thinking the worst..