Doberman Pinscher Forum:
Leaving your Dobe at home

Crating your Doberman is a sure way to keep him safe while you are away. Dobermans are very active dogs and spending 8 hours in the crate is a long time. I wouldn't suggest it. This isn't very fair at all but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your best friend safe. Make sure your dog has rawhide chewies to chew on and a large enough crate to be very comfortable in. I've in the past bought large wire portable fences (you can get them from Petsmart, or Petco) and I've set them up in the kitchen. I covered the entire pen with paper and put my Dobe's dog bed inside the pen. Lots of toys and chews to keep him occupied. He did really well and never jumped out. If you are going to take this route I'd put a top on the pen so that your dog wouldn't jump out. This idea works great if you are getting a puppy because they adapt to their pen and usually won't jump out by the time they are old enough to do so. Good luck!

I agree and disagree, I have owned Dobermans for over 20 years and they have always been family as far as I was concerned. Dobermans have a need to fulfill a roll within the home that goes beyond a family pet. They are also loyal protectors of their master and his or her family. While it is safe to put them away while you are out, it's not always smart, kind of defeats the purpose of owning a Doberman. Dobermans are a great theft deterant, most people won't come near a house with a dog, and they are most likely to avoid a Doberman. So my advice is; don't lock them, teach them what they can and can't do in the house while you are away. Let them know what is expected of them. They are smart and will do as you teach them. And while it may seem dangerous for your dog to engage in home protection, Dobermans are fearless for the most part and why put them in a position where they can't protect themselves in such a situation? This is just my opinion.