Do Dobermans really become aggressive or crazy when older?

Hello . Do Dobermans get mad and crazy when they get older? I hear this sentence a lot and I don't know what's the reason? They believe their brain get smaller when they grow up

Personally I have not heard that. I have treated many senior and geriatric Dobermans over my 30+ years as a veterinarian and I have not seen this behavior. Doberman are smart dogs, very devoted to their owners. They can get cervical instability or Wobblers disease which can cause neurological dysfunction including being clumsy or not being able to walk normally and it sometimes can be painful, but it doesn’t affect their brain. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Do larger dog breeds brains, like the pit bull’s or Doberman’s, never stop growing creating pressure on their skulls and eventually causing them to die?

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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Why are Doberman Pinschers agressive with there same sex companion?. If its a female/female or male/male doberman they will be very aggressive to each other. But if they are both different sex and together they will not be as agressive to each other

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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Training & Behavior

Do dogs get more aggressive as they get older? Earlier my dog dropped his bone under the couch so I tried to help him get it but he growled and barked at me.

Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco 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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I think a good rule of thumb (i've one white lab, 2 goldens and 1 chocolate lab, all super healthy - actively execised - 1 golden was a seeing eye, is assume 10-20%/ dog's cost MINIMUM. EG - 1,000 USD DOG = ROUGHLY 20K OVER 12 years). Time for a n

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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Can doberman be a good family dog?

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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Training & Behavior

I want to ask that if we crop doberman ears so there is any changes in doberman behaviour and health and height??

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 Boop by Petco.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

Do small dog breeds really have a Napoleon complex, or is that a myth?

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.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog is older, he's almost 12. Lately he has been showing signs of confusion and aggression. Not towards the family, but our other pets. He growls anytime he is touched. Our vet had done a "senior panel" and assured us he's healthy, but these psych

Large breed dogs rarely live to be 12 years or older. Even if his blood testing (senior panel) is normal that doesn't mean everything is OK with him. Blood testing is not the only diagnostic tool we have to tell if an animal is healthy. It's a good place to start but it is not the end all, be all. I suggest you have some x-rays done of his chest and his abdomen. He may arthritis in his spine or other joints that is making him crabby. He may be showing signs of congnitive dysfunction (dementia). There are medications that may help him depending on what is going on. The first thing is ruling out medical issues (like arthritis, a tumor in the abdomen, an enlarged heart, etc). If nothing obvious is found then it is likely dementia and again, medications are available that may help him.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My dog's behavior has been changing over the last year. Now attacking my other dog. Both are rescues about 9 and 11years old. Is it possible he has had some sort of stroke?

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem! It's unusual for behavior issues like this to develop out of nowhere this late in life, so yes - it's certainly possible that he may have had a stroke, or some other neurologic problem such as a brain tumor. Certain systemic illnesses like hypothryoidism, Cushing's disease, or pain from arthritis or other problems can also cause behavior changes and increased aggression in older dogs. I would recommend taking Rio to the vet for an exam to discuss this problem when you are able to. Your veterinarian may suggest blood work, x-rays, or other testing to help check for these problems. Many of them are very treatable once a diagnosis is made, so there's a good chance that your vet may be able to help.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

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

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

Most Helpful Answer

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Related Questions

Hello . Do Dobermans get mad and crazy when they get older? I hear this sentence a lot and I don't know what's the reason? They believe their brain get smaller when they grow up

Do larger dog breeds brains, like the pit bull’s or Doberman’s, never stop growing creating pressure on their skulls and eventually causing them to die?

Why are Doberman Pinschers agressive with there same sex companion?. If its a female/female or male/male doberman they will be very aggressive to each other. But if they are both different sex and together they will not be as agressive to each other

Do dogs get more aggressive as they get older? Earlier my dog dropped his bone under the couch so I tried to help him get it but he growled and barked at me.

I think a good rule of thumb (i've one white lab, 2 goldens and 1 chocolate lab, all super healthy - actively execised - 1 golden was a seeing eye, is assume 10-20%/ dog's cost MINIMUM. EG - 1,000 USD DOG = ROUGHLY 20K OVER 12 years). Time for a n

Can doberman be a good family dog?

I want to ask that if we crop doberman ears so there is any changes in doberman behaviour and health and height??

Do small dog breeds really have a Napoleon complex, or is that a myth?

My dog is older, he's almost 12. Lately he has been showing signs of confusion and aggression. Not towards the family, but our other pets. He growls anytime he is touched. Our vet had done a "senior panel" and assured us he's healthy, but these psych

My dog's behavior has been changing over the last year. Now attacking my other dog. Both are rescues about 9 and 11years old. Is it possible he has had some sort of stroke?

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