Sonny came to us from a notorious kill shelter in Louisiana - he arrived seriously emaciated and anemic. We are certainly glad we were able to give this beautiful boy a second chance as he is now back to his ideal weight. Sonny is a fawn and his coat is in very good shape. Sonny is VERY sweet, crates well, is house trained, has good manners, and seems very wise for his 5 years. He has great conformation and beautifully clipped show ears. He LOVES affection and appreciates every stroke. His two favorite activities in life are cuddling and going on walks. He is a champ on the leash and is happy to go for a casual stroll or step it up for a nice run around Memorial Park. In the house Sonny follows his foster mom from room to room, just for company, either laying down next to the computer or going into the laundry room to supervise the folding of clothes. Sonny welcomes guests into his home happily and loves when people stop and pet him on walks. Sonny has also been to watch a few horse shows and enjoys being around the activity of the horses, dogs, and people. Sonny has proven himself to be a VERY smart boy! Recently when his foster mom was walking him alone in an isolated alley, a strange man approached them. Sonny's mom was very nervous about the situation, but before she had to decide how to react, Sonny went into protection mode. He growled, snarled, and barked at the man as the hair on his back went straight up. Thankfully this made the man back off. For the next 10 mins of the very brisk walk home, Sonny turned around every few steps to make sure that the man was not following. This situation highlights the intelligence of the Dobermans as they are so sweet and welcoming to “acceptable” strangers, but able to quickly sense and react when someone presents as a true threat. In regards to training, Sonny can sit, lay, and stay. Once his food is put in his bowel, he waits to eat until he is told to. He loves to chew bones, but is willing to let his family take it out of his mouth without any complaints. While Sonny is smart and loyal and praise-driven, he also requires a firm alpha leader who is a consistent leader. Sonny would love to be the only dog in the house, but would also be workable with a laid back dog. He was living with two large dogs prior to his current foster home and plays well with others when kenneled. He would do best in a non-cat home. Sonny is a wonderful dog and would be a great addition to any home, he is always happy to see his family, loves to please, is responsive to correction, and seems to truly appreciate every ounce of love he receives.