Am I fit to be a Doberman mom ?
Hi y'all ! I've spent this entire month researching the breed, and I guess I just need some validation on whether I'm a good fit.
My situation :
I am 24F and about to move out to live on my own.
I have never owned a dog before - but I don't believe this disqualifies me from being a good dog owner as I have done a ton of research.
I work from home, and my workload is basically inexistent. My job is to take calls, but I only get about one call every two hours.
The total time I spend working every day would probably equal to an hour.
I do have a kid around me, which is my little brother (he's 8), but he won't be living with me. He'll only visit here and there.
Why am I interested in a Doberman ?
- I'm bored ! I am at home all day doing nothing. I need something to keep me occupied and give me purpose. I'm intentionally looking for a breed that is considered high maintenance for this reason.
- For company: I'll be living alone for the first time.
- For safety : I will not train my dog to be a guard dog, and I won't rely solely on him to keep me safe. As a young woman living alone, I would just feel safer having a "scary-looking" dog with me (as a deterrent).
Plus, I genuinely prefer the look of big dogs over small ones.
I had a hesitation between a doberman or a cane corso, but ultimately I think a doberman fits my needs more, as they are typically more cuddly and loving than cane corsos.
What can I do for the Doberman ?
- At home, I'm available to train him and play with him all day.
- Outside, I can walk him 1h in the morning, 1h at lunch, and 1h mid afternoon.
- I found an excellent trainer in my area that I could afford to see 4 to 5 times a month.
Might sound silly, but I have big walking pad / treadmill that I never use, and I've been thinking that it could be useful for the Dobie ? 😅
Ultimately, I feel that I am in a good position to become a great owner, but reading through this subreddit has made me a bit nervous. I would be happy to hear your experienced opinions :)
UPDATE :
I am grateful for all your advice and insights. I was unable to reply to everyone, but I did read every single comment.
To clarify, I am French, which is why I would be getting a European Doberman. It's extremely hard to find American dobermans here. I emailed the official French Doberman club to see if they knew of any breeders, but I am still waiting for their reply.
Also, don't worry, I had fully given up on the idea of the cane corso a long time ago. I only mentioned cane corsos because I wanted you to be aware that I have considered other breeds. I have considered cane corso, GSD, and great danes, but my favorite dog is the doberman.
A lot of the comments advised me to try fostering, and I think that's an excellent idea !!
I've decided to foster for 10 months to gain some experience with puppies. I've emailed a few organizations to ask if they specifically have doberman puppies, but I don't have much hope.
In any case, I'll foster and then make a decision based on my experience !!