I think it'd be awesome if you got a Dobe, Sophie! I've always wanted a working Dobe, too.

My neighbors had a Dobie girl named Inge, she was actually imported from Europe (I think Czech? But I don't remember for sure) and sold to my neighbors as a companion dog from GREAT breeders in Nevada. She was awesome at Schutzhund and earned her 1st title but she didn't enjoy it as much as being in a home setting, so they co-owned her as a 5 year-old with breeding rights. She was extremely friendly, confident, and she definitely knew who her "friends" were. After meeting her once, she was very loyal to you and always welcomed you with a wiggle-butt into her yard & home, she was awesome with kids, too. She adored both our male Rottie and our female Chi. I couldn't imagine her ever going after anyone, until when me & my sister were at home alone and both of our pups were inside, we heard her barking LOUDLY - and, like, right outside of our back door. When we went out, we saw a man running through the side gate and Inge came back to us when we called her. She had either jumped the 6 ft privacy fencing, or found a way through (and, she had never come into our yard before) to go after what must've been a burglar. That, to me, was amazing, and I'll never forget Inge (who passed away 2 years ago).

I think they are awesome dogs, especially if acquired from a good breeder with versatility and a family-friendly Dobe in mind. The well-bred Dobes that I have met definitely attain the breed's protectiveness, but not in an unpredictable way at all. They are super intelligent and they seem to be able to read people. I have met quite a few show Dobes, too... the difference are basically like day & night! Dobies that are from straight show lines are often much more snappy & temperament... not to mention they are often stick thin and unusually shy. The working Dobies that I've met have a MUCH more favorable temperament and they look like how a Doberman Pinscher is supposed to look. As far as same-sex aggression, I definitely think that is based on the individual dogs... I have 2 boys, and they love each other =P