Same-sex Aggression

Dobermans tend to display "SAME SEX AGGRESSION" or "SSA". This is a genetic predisposition to INTOLERANCE dogs of the same gender. This is very common and can be very risky to dogs in the same household. A study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 79% of inter-dog household aggression involved same-sex pairs

SSA can strike dogs who "have always been fine with other dogs". It can occur from a single bad experience, genetics, or a learned behavior.

Fights can be very serious and lead to serious wounds, vet intervention, or even death.

The most common age for SSA to begin is at sexual maturity (between 12-24 months). So, pets that were once friendly as pups can turn aggressive months or years later. Many times in females heat cycles complicate SSA, however, spaying or neutering often has little effect on SSA.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that SSA will always happen, but when issues do happen, SSA is often the reason. As a result, we manage risk and optimize adoptions by often avoiding same-sex matches.

You CANNOT "train out" Same-Sex Aggression! You are looking at years of separation of your pets in the household, or worse rehoming your companion. Please be informed and avoid this situation with breeds that demonstrate this behavior, and don't assume that your dog will be the exception.

It is my responsibility as a reputable and responsible breeder to set all my puppies up for the best rate of success, and that is why I only place males in homes with other males in unique situations. It is also important to recognize when looking for a breeder that good breeders will generally not place Dobermans in a home with a same-sex animal unless the person is extremely experienced.

When SSA happens, management is the only treatment. This usually involves crating, gating, and rotating for life.