When I was a little girl my mom bred Dobermans. I grew up with a male doby named Red. He was very friendly but if anybody tryed anything he was there to stop it. We live on the beach and he wouldn't let me near the water he would grab my sleeve. And one time I got too close to a mother Swan and she charged me and Red got in between me and her and jump in the water to scare her away but the thing was that he didn't know how to swim but he didn't care he would do anything to protect me.
I know they have a bad rep. but if you get one from a good breeder and you give tons of love it will be your gardian for life.