Weird. They are the most sympathetic of all breeds and surely the most gentle as well.
Dobermans "show" only when they sense a genuine threat. And, they are able to discern a genuine threat from kids playing etc.
IF a genuine threat is identified, you don't want to be on the other end of that. A Doberman can easily kill a full grown man. Easily.
Speed, power, smarts. There's not another dog that even comes close.
Back in the 90's myself and 3 friends went to a Rolling Stones concert in Seattle. We decided after the show to grab a pizza and some beer and go back to my house to drink into the wee hours.
Buster had met two of my buddies, but not the third.
I had totally forgotten about that.
I entered the door first and was followed, one by one, by each of the 3. The last was Terry...who had not been introduced to Buster.
Now Buster was 109lbs with a square head. A substantial dog...a great physical specimen. Gentle...almost felt sorry for himself because everyone feared him.
We got to the kitchen and no Terry, no Buster and no noise. I hollered for Terry, no response. Hollered for Buster and heard the very, very low guttural rumble of a growl.
I look around the corner and there was Terry frozen in the doorway. Unable to move or speak.
Buster's nose planted firmly between his legs, deep into his crotch with that low rumbling growl.
As soon as I told Buster it was OK, he backed up and starting wagging. Happy to see all of us.
I still remember Terry later that night with Buster in his lap trying to pour a drink of beer into his mouth.
109lb lap dog.
We went to the biker crab & chicken feed and I took him along to get him a bit chilled out about ‘strange men’ getting near “mommy”.
The bikers were the perfect foils/guinea pigs because most of them wouldn't freak out and run if he got gnarly with them.
He settled in and was doing very well until a huge biker dragged a small woman onto the dance floor and proceeded to “hoe down” to the bluegrass music.
Odin went Cujo about it.
I made him stop.
This was repeated every time the guy dragged her out to dance again.
As we were leaving, I went to her to apologize for Odin's “bad behavior”.
It wasn't until I was inches away from her that I recognized the very subtle but definitely there “thousand yard stare” of a mentally impaired person.
She seemed very distraught by all the noise, motion and confusion of a full out biker party
All I can figure is Odin sensed/smelled/whatever her fear/anxiety and was trying to get to the guy to "take his $ss out" so he wouldn't be "hurting" the woman/child.
He was trying to 'body block' her and lick her hand whilst simultaneously watching the man's every move and rumbling in his chest.
He has an obsession with children and I honestly have to wonder if he didn't perceive all of that as a "child" being hurt by an adult man.