Linn Benton Doberman Rescue's Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Doberman’s brain outgrow her skull?

No, this is a myth. Dobermans are naturally narrow skulled, but this has no affect what so ever on their brain development, intelligence, sanity, or longevity. Many Doberman owners crack jokes about their Dobe’s suffering cranial insanitosis, but this really is just a joke, not a true medical condition.

Will my Doberman turn on me?

Dobermans are like any intelligent animal. If you treat them kindly and consistently, they will give you their heart, soul, and body. If you are inconsistent, cruel, or brutal to your dog, your dog may very understandably begin to act out in aggressive or destructive behaviors.

However, Doberman’s don’t just “turn on” their owners, and any signs of aggression from your dog may be a symptom from a thyroid condition or a reaction to their surroundings. We recommend that you immediately take your dog to a licensed veterinarian for thyroid testing if a previously calm animal begins showing signs of aggression, and of course, if you adopted the dog from us, we will be available to assist you and your vet.

My Doberman growls at people of a different skin color, does that mean he’s racist?

It can be very embarrassing to have your dog growl at somebody of a different ethnicity, but rest assured, they're not prejudiced. Dobermans are dogs, not humans, and have no concept of race. If a dog is poorly socialized, or has only been around people of a certain skin tone, body weight, height, or a small group of people, it may react aggressively towards people who are unfamiliar. This can be addressed through patience, kindness, and a willingness to expand your social circle. Please feel free to contact us for training tips on helping socialize your Doberman to a wider variety of humanity.

Should I train my Doberman in German?

If you really want to, go for it. However, the dog won’t care if you train her in English, Spanish, German, or Klingon, so long as you are steady, consistent, and kind. We have even had bilingual Dobermans come through the rescue (trained in both English and Spanish). Dobes are very intelligent, and will learn nearly any verbal or non verbal command with ease and patience on your part.

Will an adult Doberman bond to me as well as a puppy would?

Not only will an adult bond to you as well as a puppy would, an adult may well bond even more strongly with you than a puppy. Child and Doberman Mix Most rescue Dobermans have been through trials you would be hard pressed to imagine, and you are their savior, angel, and best friend. There is no love like the love of a Doberman, and this is as true for the grizzled gray seniors as it is for young whippersnapper puppies.

Would a Doberman make a good family dog?

Doberman Pinschers are often characterized as “one person dogs” but this is, much like the tale of their brains outgrowing their skulls, a myth. Dobermans make fantastic family pets, and will bond to the entire family. Dobermans, like people, sometimes have a favorite friend, but they will bond to and loyally defend the entire family.

How do I go about adopting a dog from Linn Benton Doberman Rescue?

Check out the link to our Adoption Process page for a LBDR 101 course in Doberman Adoption.

Is it true that mixed breeds aren't as "good" of dogs as pure breeds?

Here at Linn Benton Doberman Rescue, we think that all dogs are equal to the amount of love you have to give them. A mixed breed Doberman will give you the exact same loyalty, love, and companionship as any blue blooded registered dog will. With that said, some mixed breed Dobes do carry behavioral characteristics of both parental sides, for example, a Doberman-Labrador mix might like to go swimming, unlike most Dobermans who think water will cause them to melt. While we try to determine what each Dobe mix "really" is, many of these dogs were rescues or strays and so sometimes we just have to give our best guess. In those cases, we list them as Doberman-American dogs, in honor of our country's melting pot ethos.

I'm a little worried that Linn Benton Doberman Rescue has invasive policies. What's up with the mandatory home visits?

Our volunteers aren't doing home inspections to make a tally of how valuable your possessions are, or how clean your house is. We're there to be sure that you have a strong, sturdy fence, a safe kennel, room for a dog, and to see if we can spot any possible dangers to your family or the dog. We do adopt to apartment dwellers, but we require that you have a plan in place for the dog to have access to fresh water, and a place to eliminate wastes at least once every 5 hours. This can be a house sitter, pet sitter, roommate, or your lunch hour, we're not picky. We do follow up visits with each adoption to ensure that the dog is happy and safe, and that your family is happy with the adoption as well. While we do love it when we're given permission to take family photos of you and your new dog for our Success Stories page, it isn't required, and we never sell your personal information. We take privacy very seriously here at Linn Benton Doberman Rescue.

I don't live in Linn or Benton Counties of Oregon, can I still adopt a dog?

If you live within an 8 hour radius of Scio, Oregon, you live within the reach of Linn Benton Doberman Rescue. We do require veterinarian references for all out of state adoptions, and we are very happy to work with rescues in your area to coordinate home visits and follow up visits. For any adoption outside of Linn or Benton counties, we require an additional transportation fee (50% of our transportation costs). We do not allow you to pick up the dog, as it is our strict policy that even for out of state adoptions, a volunteer or officer of Linn Benton Doberman Rescue must do at least one in person inspection of the adoptive home, in addition to any visits which we may coordinate with your local rescue organization.