I don’t remember when I saw my first Doberman. Growing up on a farm in coastal Maine, we had an assortment of mixed breeds, collies, and German Shepherds over the years, and they were all good dogs. But I remember the feeling I had, seeing and observing a Doberman. It was unlike any reaction I’d ever had to another dog. I thrilled whenever I chanced to see one, and when, during my freshman year in college, I would visit at the home of friends who lived nearby and had two outstanding representatives of the breed, a blue and an black - when I watched their graceful, dancing play on the large lawn, as I studied their form, quiet alertness, and stance, I knew that was the breed I wanted for all my life.
And so it has been. I married during the summer after my sophomore year, and my wife and I have had Dobermans ever since. With the various purchased and rescued dogs over the decades, we’re currently on number ten, I believe. Our lives have been immeasurably enriched as a result, and our Dobermans have drawn admiring looks and comments all the years and everywhere we’ve gone.
Last Sunday we stopped at a rest area along the interstate to let our current Dober water a tree. Across the parking lot was a couple with an outstanding pair of German Shorthaired Pointers - really top-notch dogs.
Returning to my vehicle, my Dober obediently sat and waited for me to remove his leash and release him to jump up into the vehicle. He was totally focused on me and perfectly obedient as he awaited my release command.
One he was back in the truck, I turned to walk to the restroom, and the man with the Pointers hailed me. He had observed the behavior of my Dober and the interaction between us, and he wanted to know all about him and his background. Mind you, this was a fellow of means, an avid bird hunter, and the owner of two very expensive and well-trained bird dogs, on his way to a week of hunting with them. But he recognized excellence in my Dober from across the parking lot, and he couldn’t resist talking dogs with me for the next fifteen minutes. They’re a wonderful breed, and I’ll continue to keep at least one for as long as I’m able.
Brovary (Ukraine city name) represents the best of the breed, to me. I love all Dobers, but one such as this tops my list of dogs that make me swoon! He came to us from folks who didn’t have enough time for him. They have three children, full work schedules, no fence, and no time to see to his proper care and training. To be sure, he‘s a teenager and needs polishing, but he is responsive and wants to please. He’s also very big and very strong.
His former owners‘ comments from the turn-in form confirm his lack of guidance at this point: “FORMAL OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLASSES: No; LEASH MANNERS: No; JUMPING: Yes.” Yet even with the overall lack of training, he knows to eat, sit, up, jump, slow, wait, no, and go when directed. This is an outstanding teenage Doberman who is eager for proper training and has not had it yet. Everything about him shouts “Perfection awaiting finishing!”
Volunteer comments:
“Brovary is a dog that would have gone home with me were I ten years younger. At almost 70, I don’t think I could be the partner he deserves. I took him for a long walk today, and he was fine. He kept the leash taught but never pulled so hard that I didn’t feel in control. He was very alert to what was going on around us and on occasion struck a pose when something in the distance caught his attention. After we’d gone about 3/4ths of the way around the field at DRT, I sat down on a bench to get some close and personal time with him. He warmed up quickly to my petting him and rubbing his ears. As I was stroking his side, he turned to grab my hand in a play bite. No pressure, just letting me know he wanted to play. So I started playing back just a little. The next thing I knew he turned and started kissing my face. You could tell he was happy, and I was having a good time too!”
“Brovary is simply a big, strong, powerful male Dober. When I say strong, I mean STRONG. As I was walking him this weekend, one of the other volunteers said, "Now that‘s a Doberman!.” That says it all, as he is big enough to capture and keep your attention. In the three-plus years I have been volunteering at DRT, I have noticed that many of these big boys tend to have the absolute best personalities. Brovary is no exception. He seems like a true gentle giant. He has a very sweet demeanor and seems to be a pleaser. He is a sniffer when walking on a leash. If he wants to smell something you are going to go where he wants to go. He isn‘t a constant puller on the leash, but if something gets his attention, he is going to pull to check it out. He has some manners and tries to resist jumping up when you enter his space. I noticed he actually jumps up in front of instead on ON you! It is very cute as he wants to get close to your face but I think he has been disciplined for jumping on people, so he just jumps back and forth across the front of you. Overall, he has good energy and certainly is not out of control.”
If you didn’t submit your application/make an appointment to meet him before finishing reading the profile, you may be too late! He’ll be with us very briefly, much to our disappointment and to the many-years-to-come benefit of the family fortunate enough to have gotten here first! |
