ATLAS... OR DOBY? PART-TIME GOOBER, FULL-TIME DOBERMAN SECURITY DETAIL

We have a bit of a naming crisis on our hands. We are torn between calling him Atlas, because apparently his compass is full and he's trying to figure out which direction his life is supposed to go... Or Doby, because "Doby" sounds suspiciously like the name you give a dog who has entered the Witness Protection Program and is not at liberty to discuss his previous life. ️‍♂️And honestly, we're starting to think Doby has been instructed by his attorney to say nothing without his human present.

Because here's what we know: This 1-year-old Doberman arrived with very little information and approximately 17,000 unanswered questions. He was dropped off at a foster's boarding facility without official approval, with almost no history. We were told he had lived with children, another dog, and that his name was Doby.

That's it. Apparently, the rest of his biography was classified.

When he first arrived, he was scared, confused and understandably unsure about what was happening. But once he started settling in, we discovered something important:

THIS BOY IS A TOTAL DOG NUT.

Doby LOVES other dogs.

Playing? YES.

Romping? YES.

Wrestling? ABSOLUTELY.

Running around like someone just announced free pizza? EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He has been having a blast at daycare and absolutely LOVES hanging out with his canine friends.

Give him another dog and suddenly the worried, uncertain boy disappears and the Doberman version of a professional WWE wrestler comes out.

But then there's the other side of this handsome guy.

He's a Doberman.

And apparently his internal software came with the "Protect My People at All Costs" package pre-installed.

Once he bonds with his humans, he is going to love them HARD. He will want to be with his people, know where his people are and keep tabs on his people.

Strangers?

Well...Strangers may apply for access. He will probably want to personally review their credentials, references, employment history and possibly their intentions regarding the snack cabinet.

This is why Atlas/Doby is NOT a first-time Doberman.

He needs someone who already understands this breed and knows that a Doberman can be loving, goofy, affectionate, intelligent, loyal and protective......sometimes all before breakfast.

He is young and still needs refinement. He needs continued training, structure, consistency and someone who will help him learn that he doesn't have to worry about everything going on around him.

And let's be clear:

He WANTS to learn.

He's young. He's smart. He's curious. He's playful. He's figuring things out.

He's not looking for someone who expects a perfectly finished product.

He's looking for someone who looks at him and says:

"Yep. I know Dobermans. I got this."

Because when he decides you're his person, you're probably going to know about it.

❤️ You will be loved.

️ You will be protected.

You will be monitored.

You will probably be followed into the bathroom. And heaven help the suspicious-looking Amazon delivery driver.

Because of his fear and uncertainty, a secure physical fence is non-negotiable. We require a tall privacy fence or very tall chain-link fence. No invisible fences, tie-outs or unfenced properties.

He has previously lived with children ages 1 through 9 and two other dogs, a little Yorkie and a large Lab. We're told those dogs apparently had him thoroughly trained in the art of knowing his place. Now he's discovering that life can actually be pretty fantastic.

He gets to play with dogs. He gets to wrestle. He gets to romp. He gets to make friends.

And slowly, he's learning that people can be trusted too.

What Atlas/Doby needs now is his person. Not just anybody.

Not someone who thinks, "I've never owned a Doberman, but how hard could it be?"

Nope. We're looking for an experienced Doberman owner who understands the breed, understands protective behavior, enjoys training and is willing to help this young guy grow into the confident, well-mannered Doberman he's capable of becoming.

He isn't perfect. He's not supposed to be. He's one year old.

He's a work in progress with a giant heart, a goofy personality, a serious dog-playing addiction and a security system that apparently cannot be turned off.

Underneath the uncertainty is a very special dog waiting for someone who will take the time to earn his trust.

He may steal your heart. He may steal your couch. He may steal your personal space.

And there is a very good chance he will steal your other dog's dignity during a wrestling match. ❤️

He just needs someone willing to help him figure out where he belongs.

Which brings us right back to the name...Atlas? Because his compass is full.

Doby? Because apparently he's in Witness Protection. ️‍♂️We're taking votes.

Whatever we eventually call him, this boy is ready for a new chapter, preferably one involving good people, good dogs, plenty of wrestling and absolutely no more mysterious plot twists.

❤️ United Doberman Rescue www.uniteddobermanrescue.org