Well my doberman and kids…
I don’t have kids yet, but one day sure I will have. And what is more important I want my kids to grow up with a dog (or 2,3) in the family. This is why when I got my doberman as a puppy it was very important to me to socialize the dog very well. I took the puppy with me every place possible, to meet dogs, people, other animals, life situations. He meet as a puppy other puppies of course, other dogs, pigs, horses, chickens, cats, turkey, goats, baby goats, baby rabbit. When I show him a new animal, he is curious of course, but the first reaction is friendly.
The same thing is with children. He wasn’t raised with one “in the house”, but he was in the company of the neighbors kids almost daily, just to get used with the screaming, running, always moving “small humans”. Now as a grown up dog, he is very patient with kids, the only “issue” we have is his size. He is just to big to play with small children. But children can pet him as much as they want, he is relaxed and friendly.
What is interesting with the kids, that the small children, aged 2-5 are not afraid of my dobermann, but the older they get they start getting scared of his size.
Yesterday we visited a friend, she has a 3 year old boy. At the beginning I didn’t knew what will be the kids reaction be when saws the dog, but he was simply thrilled by the “visitor”. He petted the dog, and he was not afraid at all.
I am very happy and pleased with my dogs behavior.
