Even so, people should always be careful around dogs and not force things on dogs that they naturally do not tend to tolerate well. Staff were still working last night to restore the display, which is expected to reopen this morning.

Hrm, interesting topic. Rubie is the BEST snuggler but she needs to be exercised to get to that point. She's not extreme in that we need to do miles of walking on top of hours of training on top of whatever else, but she does need something. Please correct me if I am wrong, I only know what I have read and that is where I am getting the above information.So, my question here is-- can a Doberman be a teddy bear and a protective member of the family at the same time?? Does anybody have a Doberman like this? I don't think there is nearly as much that is specific to Dobermans here as there is specific to dogs compared to humans (or stuffed animals). Most dogs do not really like to be hugged. It's not natural for a canine – even our domestic dogs. Dobermans have terms of petting, snuggling and affection. It must be when they want it, not when you want it. Like people, they have personal space issues. Some are two feet personal space and others are 3 ft or more. This usually applies to non family members. As far as startling is concerned, they are so alert, I cannot imagine being able to startle them. If he would be medicated where he might be startled, I would adjust my approach.

Mr Medley had the unenviable job of phoning him to explain, as well as he could: "It was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life. I had a very brief conversation with him, and it's fair to say he was not best pleased. He sent around one of his men this morning to collect the body."I have read many a post about a well disciplined/mannered Doberman all of a sudden turning and biting their owners. Many of the owners defend the Doberman and state, "I must have startled him", or "he was having a bad day". Soooo, I have explained (BEFORE I got him) and had to explain to wife and kids AGAIN last night, that Ragnar is a Doberman, not a regular dog. All the loveable hugging and kissing they give him may not be possible when he gets at a certain age. Labs are wonderful teddy bears that you can practically do anything to and they will just sit and tolerate anything you dish out. I have had many a Lab in the past. Great dogs!!! On Tuesday night the doberman pinscher guard dog, after six years' blameless service, went berserk: within minutes Mabel, a 1909 German-made Steiff teddy bear once owned by Elvis Presley, more recently the pride and joy of an English aristocrat, lay mortally wounded.