ParNone, sorry to hear of your bad experience. Don't know that it occured because of Gretchen being a Dobe...However, dobes are wonderful dogs that DO have a protective instinct...

That being said I'll tell you a quick story:

One morning last week as I was sitting at my computer searching the web I was scared out of my chair as our cleaning lady walked into my room and said "Hi". I didn't know that she was even in the house (she comes in to clean every 2 weeks). She told me that my 2 boys were sound asleep upstairs on the couch and that they didn't even open an eye when she walked in the house...you know those Dobes are just the best watchdogs on the planet!

Tara5243, couldn't agree with you more!