When I think of first being attracted to Dobermans as a teenager and what I have loved about the breed over 50-plus years of owning and working with them, I think of a dog that looks and interacts like Cullen. What a handsome, excellent example of the breed he is.
He came to us from a loving family where the small child, with whom he was good friends, came to the age where plaguing him became the focus of her life, so to speak. It made him cranky, and he even became testy with his female Dober companion in the home. Here’s how his former mom describes it:
“We love Cullen and adopted him as a puppy. He had a very good temperament especially around our kids. He‘s been showing a little bit of aggression lately, over the course of a year with our female Doberman, as though he was trying to put her in her place. Then our daughter is at the age where she acts out and unknowingly provokes our dog because she thinks it‘s funny. (She taps his behind, grabs at his legs, puts her foot right on front of his face, tries to climb on top of him, etc.) We have spoken to her time and time again to not do those things and to give him his space. The short of it is, we realize he needs a good family that will love him as we do but don‘t have young children that will want to be his space all the time. He is very loving and naturally protective. He knows to sit, down, shake, and come on command. He has a high energy drive but will also just lie down to relax. We play in the backyard a lot. His favorite game is fetch, and he loves any kind of ball, anything with a squeaker, but we try not to give him that because he will destroy it and eat the stuffing! We just want the best for him.”
As family and household dynamics change over time, it can stress a dog, and it becomes important for something to change. In this instance, a home that is better suited seems to be in order, so he is with us as he awaits a better match.
Observations from our volunteers:
“Cullen should be called ‘Lightning’ because he is super fast (and wants you to know it!). He loves to run and play chase, although you will never catch him. Instead, he will taunt you as he runs by at 100 mph. He’s clearly a strikingly handsome boy with the classic Doberman look to him. He will retrieve the ball, sit, and even shake on command. He is very well mannered. For people who love Dobermans, it is impossible not to love this guy!”
“What a big beautiful boy he is! On top of his good looks, he has one of the best personalities. He’s energetic without being overbearing, he seems to be unfazed when he’s around other dogs, and he loves to be around people. When I took him for a walk and as strong as he is, he never pulled me. He’s pretty much the total package!”
And Carol adds this interesting, additional observation:
“Two of our volunteers had him out in the middle field and said he was better than Satchel (my Doberguy) at chasing, catching and returning that big Jolly Ball. They said he could even turn and catch it in the air while running - quite the athlete!” Satchel is the best I‘ve ever seen at chasing and catching balls, so that‘s quite a thing!
You see from the observations by our volunteers that a simple change of circumstances has relieved his stress and allowed his very best, natural qualities to be in the forefront. It’s too bad for his former family that there wasn’t a way to have worked it out with him, but it does make him available for a new, fortunate family that is a match for him.
If you think yours is the one: the sequence never changes: apply, approval, appointment, arrive, acquaint, away. And a fortunate family you will be. |
