Do Dobermans really become aggressive or "crazy" as they get older?

No, that is not true at all. Central nervous tissue like brain and spinal cord cannot grow more after birth, even though plasticity and regeneration of nerves is possible. Plasticity means the formation of new connections between neurons. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Aggression among Dobies of the same sex is well-documented and believed to be a breed specific trait with a genetic component. However, there has not been any research that has proven any one theory over another beyond a reasonable doubt. The reason they do not fight with the opposite sex is simple survival of the fittest. Obviously the breed could not continue to live on if the males and females were not able to coexist with one another. Hope this helps.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The development of aggression as a dog gets older is not something I would consider to be normal. This behavioral change could be due to canine cognitive dysfunction (think of this as doggy dementia) or potentially something more neurological (brain tumor or degenerative change to the brain). I would recommend having Buddy examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. There may be something systemic going on so having his blood tested would be a good idea. There are drugs that you can use for doggy dementia such as Selegiline. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I think that’s a great rule of thumb! Good on you for budgeting for your dogs, it’s extremely smart. Dobermans live an average of 10-14 years. They can have some serious genetic problems like Wobbler's syndrome, cervical vertebral instability (CVI), and cardiomyopathy. Minor diseases seen in this breed of dog include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), osteosarcoma, von Willebrand's disease (vWD), demodicosis, and gastric torsion. Make sure any Doberman puppy you get has had both its dam and sire tested for these issues. I hope this helps.

Yes absolutely with appropriate training they can be very nice family dogs. I think Dobermanns as many other breeds have just a bad reputation. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello, if the surgery is done well, with proper pain management, then there will be no noticeable changes to his behavior, height or health. Make sure the surgeon that does the ears has a good track record & has lots of referrals. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, it's not a myth, small dog breeds can suffer from a Napoleon complex or small dog syndrome. But it isn't due to genetics, it's due to the way owners treat and raise these small dogs. Oftentimes, their aggressive behaviors are laughed at, ignored, or excused, and the owner thinks it's cute. The dog therefore isn't corrected for their inappropriate behavior, which reinforces the behavior. The owner will use the rational that because the dog is little, they are scared, that he thinks he a big dog, or he's all bark and no bite. This continues their pattern of inappropriate behavior, and without training, they become this yappy and ill-behaved dog. Owners of small dogs need to realize they are dogs who need training just as much as a bigger dog, and should treat them as such. If they did that, there wouldn't be a problem with a Napoleon complex.