| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 3:52:32 AM | Ok our Dobermann was listed on the internet to a free home. The people who owned him prior to us said they couldnt look after him no more due to having 3 kids under the age of 5. He is alleged to have all the official paperwork etc.
We applied for him and they dropped him off to us. When he arrived he was practically skin & bone & they promised to send us the paperwork. We waited and contacted them again. I went to the police as I hadnt ehard from the previous owners. Now im not bothered about the paperwork hes a lovely dog BUT............
He wont do as he is told. He is the right shape & weight for his breed. He was around 13 months old when we got him, he is now around 18 months old. My problem is he runs around like a puppy he refuses to do the actions we trained him to do. He runs around the house well bounds butt in the air & slips everywhere (we have laminate floors). The only thing he doesnt do is go upstairs which is a bonus.
Breakfast & teatime. I go out to feed him put his bowl down and try to get him to do his tricks ie: Sit down, paw, other paw, lay down, play dead. Sometimes he will do it. But when I feed him he shakes and shivers (I put this down to excitement). When my daughter feeds him he doesnt shake etc, he does all the actions without any disobedience. So does he consider himself of a higher rank than me or what. Does he think hes dominant over me.
When we have people visit he jumps up & down like a looney. Hes got a very good temperament friendly etc. But I would like him to be more obedient. IE: stop jumping up & down on people. He does this to people he doesnt know as well. This worries me as if a burglar comes in, will our Dobermann make the burglar a cup of tea and let the burglar get on with it.
Help and advice needed. Not a pity thread, but advice would be nice.
Thanks to all who can assist. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 4:11:22 AM | | Doberman are hyper dogs and need lots of exercise. Give him the needed exercise and he will be a better house companion. | |
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K-lo
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Joined: 7/31/2006
Msg: 3 | |
| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 6:13:43 AM |
Give him the needed exercise and he will be a better house companion. So true. That's the best advice. And, by "exercise" - that doesn't mean just letting him run around in the yard. That means, take him on walks . . . and get into a daily routine of it. Not only will that help him to exert his energy, but it will help put you in a position of being the alpha male. Walking the dog is a great opportunity to train. Use a short leash (not one of those extendable types) and start using commands from the get-go. He will pick up on what he "has" to do to get going on that walk before you know it, if you consistently use the commands. Tell him to sit when it is time to put his leash on. (No matter HOW excited my dog becomes when he knows we're going on a walk - he WILL sit still for that leash). Get whatever collar works so he cannot pull you on the walk. Stay on your path. Tell him to sit at the crosswalks. I used treats for a little while to get mine to sit at the crosswalks and then heel as we crossed. But, now, he could care less about the treats. If I do give him one, he usually lets it drop out of his mouth and looks straight ahead, as if to say, "No time for treats - let's cross!!" Walking him will also expose him to other people and animals. And, because he is on a leash - he won't be able to jump up on strangers. If you need to start out using treats to get him to comply, then do it. But, the best treat my dog would ever want, is the walk itself.
It's all about consistency and repetition. But, it's so true that getting him exercise, in the form of walks, is the best way to mellow him out. If my dog misses a walk, he gets noticably agitated and naughty. He loves his walks, and we both rely on them. It's a good time to bond too. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 6:31:00 AM | K-lo
I agree with everything you say as my last dog was a Dalmatian and I did the same things as you wrote. Before all of that, we went to to obedience classes as it is very helpfull in trainning the dog and the owner.
I would recommend obedience courses to anyone having problems with a dog. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 6:33:45 AM | | Thank you very much everyone, he does have long walks, but still acts like a puppy. LOL my fate I suppose. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 7:13:50 AM | It's never too late for obedience training or for crate training.
Restrict the area of the home that the dog has access to, be diligent in training, loving, and playing that you give him. As far as the people from whom you got the dog -- I'm glad you inadvertently rescued him. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 10:17:05 AM |
he does have long walks, but still acts like a puppy.
And even after you have him trained, he'll still act like a puppy every now and then--even when he's six or seven years old. Obedience training never ends with a high energy dog. They may need less and less of it as they get older, but you have a fun-loving, good-tempered dog--and that means that what makes him so wonderful also makes him a pain in the butt!
You've only had him five months. Things will get much better over the next couple of years. In two years you probably won't be able to believe that he's the same dog you have now. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 11:50:31 AM | Thanks to everyone who has replied. I shall now try & calm him down.
And even after you have him trained, he'll still act like a puppy every now and then--even when he's six or seven years old.
OMG I have my work cut out for me.
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Genrae
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Joined: 11/10/2006
Msg: 9 | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 4:25:04 PM | Marie many large breed dogs dont even begin to mature until 2 years old. We had a Dobe that we took in as an adult dog (4 yrs old )and they are very intelligent animals, yes you have to be the Alpha dog and you most likely need to take him to obedience classes so YOU can learn how to deal with him. Its usually not the dog that is causing the issue of obedience. Dobe's are fantastic dogs and are exceptionally protective of their family members so I doubt that he would invite a burglar in to tea! The jumping up issue needs to be dealt with right away as he is big enough to harm/scare a child or older person by accident and then you may have a legal issue. Bottom line you need to deal with this right away and then he will be a happier dog even though that is probably hard to believe as he seems very happy right now. Dogs are pack animals and need to know where they "rate" in the pack in order to be really happy. Good Luck, he seems to have found a great home!
And to Woobums, great point on the crate/kennel. All dogs need a place to call home and with children I think it is even more important for the animal to have a place to go where the children are not allowed to bother them. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 6/10/2007 5:28:24 PM | People have given you great advise:
1) exercise - a key to curb energy
2) AGE - 18 months is still a young dog
3) crate - a comforting home (den) for your dog
4) training - critical
Consider this: Use the NILF approach: Nothing in life is free.
Time to eat: Dog must sit, stand or lie down until you say so before going to bowl.
Time to walk: Dog is pulling, stop, don't move. Dog comes back to you, kind words, move forward.
Company: No one talks or pets or treats until there are 4 on the floor. Jumping does not get attention.
You want something, earn it - AKA - nothing in life is free.
OK - now the reality of all of that. Your walks are a pain in the butt until doggie gets the no pull rule. (You will need run and play time somehow in there).
The "be polite" for food. Won't take long. Remember, don't get mad, just be consistant and firm.
Company: Well, you need friends and family willing to ignore doggie (turn their backs to doggie) until the behavior you want is there.
Core skills needed: As posts have said, basic obedience training! Sit, stay, down are musts.
Treats: We humans work for paychecks. There is nothing wrong with little food treats for behavior you want to reinforce. Dog sits for company. Give treat. Dog waits for breakfast bowl to be placed on floor, give the ok to go and eat.
Good luck! you can do it. | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 9/3/2007 7:11:02 AM | You have yourself a high energy dog. They need consistency in training and firmness (no yelling, screaming, hitting, etc.). Enroll him in obedience classes and stick to it! He will never be a good, well trained dog without this (unless you know how to train, which if that was the case, you wouldn't be asking for help, right?).
Dobies are high energy and very intelligent. Why do you think many times you see them as police dogs?
So, get the proper training NOW, before it's too late. And if you think he believes he is top dog, you need to change that. You are alpha. Period. Show him that. Research online Doberman training and don't give up! Also, if he is not neutered, do so immediately! | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 9/3/2007 9:47:08 AM | Long walks aren't going to cut it, you need to kind of run him ragged, meaning get him tired.
Which will probably mean you'll be pretty tired, too.....
A high energy dog needs high energy exercise, and lots of it.Plan on jogging/sprinting several miles a day, take along some tennis balls or whatever he likes to chew on and go after and play until he'll lay down panting.
Take him to doggie school and consistently train him to do stuff like sit, stay, come, etc.
If possible, confine him in the home, at least until he's learned at least basic 'manners'.
The dog will definitely become a big part of your daily exercise routine....... | |
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| Our Dobermann need advice.
Posted: 9/7/2007 12:06:39 PM | | I agree with the previous posters. Dobies are extremely high strung, overly energetic AND pretty smart animals as well. They get bored and pent up (in fact, a lot of dogs do - dog parks are ok for socialization, but for GOOD exercise, they need to go long distance) and act out from frustration. If one of you in the house jogs, runs or bikes a few miles in the morning, by all means get him out there with you and have him run with you. He'll love it. | |
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To me, that's the sign of a healthy happy dog. My baby turned 4 yesterday and he still loves to run, jump, and play. I do a lot of outdoor activities and almost always have him with me. He is high energy and loves it. When I'm hiking, he runs almost the entire time, and we have a 22 acre dog park here that I take him to a few times per week. I love to see his ears flying in the wind when he's running. He looks like the flying nun ready to take off, and you can just see him smiling when he's running. Dogs that are high energy need that exercise and activity for their health and well-being. Give that baby of yours lots of love and exercise, and he'llgive you years of love in return. 
