[stand watie]

t-star,

We had good success, when I worked for the OAS, with Dobermans OCONUS as patrol & sentry dogs. - One of the things that I like best about the DP is that the typical criminal is scared spitless of them, just as they are "horrified at the thought of" our 12gauge pump shotguns, even when the enemy "down there" was armed with AKs..
(It must be a "cultural thing", as we STOPPED an attack on an embassy with 2 squads of MPs, who appeared from behind the embassy & simply stood quietly with shotguns at "port arms". - The heavily-armed mob took a long look & just "melted away", without a shot being fired.)
"S O C, K S"

The problem, to me, with the Doberman is that they don't "do" cold weather well but the country where I'm retiring in 2016 is seldom outside of 70-85 degrees F, so that's not a problem.
(My lady's "email-pal" is a retired USAF Major's lady & "Gloria" tells her that, "A lady may sometimes need a light sweater in the 'wintertime' to eat on the terrace after dark.")

yours, sw

 

[t-star]

we tend to use the word "PARKA" a lot, along with mukluk,

 

[stand watie]

t-star,

My old comrade-in-arms, who I mentioned above, always said when we were stationed at Ft McCoy that, "When I retire I'm going to go buy a brand-new snow shovel & start walking south. When I get to a place where everyone asks 'What the H is that thing that you're carrying??', that's where I'll stay."

I agree 100% with the CSM, as I've done my time with a snow shovel. = LEON for me/my lady & SOON!!

yours, sw

 

[csmkersh]

What I liked about McCoy was a bar in town. They sorta noticed my use of ya'll (both singular and plural) and asked where I was from, When I said Texas all my drinks were paid for the rest of the night. Another night we took turns buying rounds.

I don't trust Dobs. My cousin's girl was raised with one. Suddenly one day the dog turned on her and she wound up with over 100 stiches. Almost ruined her for all dogs.

 

[stand watie]

csmkersh,

There ARE some BAD & what I would call "dangerously unstable" lines in the world of Dobermans. - One needs to KNOW what they are buying AND you also NEED to assure that your dog is PROPERLY TRAINED.
(Fwiw, there are some REALLY BAD temperments out there in ALL dog breeds. = One of the worst "dog attacks" that I ever saw was by a truly vicious Golden Retriever. = 400+ stitches. - The Post Commander ordered, after being briefed by a Army veterinarian, that dog to be "put down".)
Particularly worrisome are some of the dogs that come out of the "puppy mills" & from "backyard breeders".

That said, some of the BEST "personal protection dogs" in the World are Dobermans as well, as I said earlier, many excellent "patrol & sentry canines" and it has been my experience that even the most docile of Dobermans are FEARED by the criminals & "night prowling thugs" in the places that I worked "way down South" & after one "take down" of an armed criminal by one of our patrol dogs (that was prominently featured in the local newspaper) we never had another prowler after dark at our facilities.
(I must admit that I was "very cooperative" with the photographer & reporter for the newspaper, who wanted photos of "that evil animal". = The best "home invasion", burglary or other crime is the one that did NOT happen.)

just my OPINION, sw

 

[t-star]

remember even Miami got a dump a few years back- and remember there's 2 sides to every dog story- a few years back, this couple went shopping and left the dog chained up outside- a BLACK LAB- well, this kid ( read small female) decides she's going to "play with the doggie" - the dog, growled, bared it's teeth, and basically said "LEAVE ME ALONE' in no uncertain terms if you speak the slightest dog- well stupid girl pressed the issue, and GOT BIT- took about 25 stitches to close the wound to her face- of course the parents( who were of the my kid can do no wrong mentality) took the owners to court , and now we have a bylaw that says you must be in control of your dog at all times- and that means in attendance- and this was a breed that's normally FRIENDLY to kids- we use them for service dogs ffs

 

[t-star]

you're going to miss all that aerobic exercise and "breakfast with bears'- I kid you not a neighbour of ours was sleeping one night, wife heard a noise, and he went downstairs to "investigate"- UNARMED- well, when he got to the kitchen, he found a 700 pound male GRIZZLY feeding on cereal- off the floor- bears have terrible table manners- he stole back upstairs got out his 7mm , and shot it 3times point blank - made the papers and everything- then we have a local resident blackie that frequents a pizza shop , wanders in, takes two pies from the serving trays and goes away- never bothers anybody, just his thing- you're going to miss all that

 

[stand watie]

t-star,

That "breakfast guest" reminds me of the morning "way down there" that my interpreter & I were "somewhat surprised" to find the hand-size pawprints of "El Tigre" between our cots & in our tent.- He had visited us sometime during the night but evidently "didn't care for " Alfredo's LOUD snoring.
(That's the only time that I was pleased that he sounded like a BUZZ-SAW.)

After that, I slept with a double-barreled 12 gauge under my cot & with a Model 10 S&W under my pillow.

yours, sw

 

[t-star]

"hand sized paw prints" depends on the man that owns the hand- a 'man' of n/a , Russian
European ancestry is, of necessity, going to have a larger paw than the man-boys of sea

 

[stand watie]

t-star,

This guy had pawprints about 6" across.

yours, sw