Nic Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 A friend of mine has an 11 month old Doberman, she's not been strict with him at all. He's a big strong dog and your typical out of control teenage tearaway pup, he's a good natured dog and has been socialised with other dogs but can be very boisterous with them at times. He saw a cat the other day when he was on his lead and pulled my friend over which really shook her up and she realises now that she needs to get him under control. She's got a non-pull muzzle harness now which has helped a lot, but he really needs to learn right from wrong. I've trained a lot of different dogs over the years and have a good understanding of doggy nature and what to do to get a wayward dog under control. I've said I'll help her with Dillon, the first thing I want to do is to get him to walk to heal without pulling. I've spent about an hour on and off with him so far, he'll walk for a few seconds but then pulls hard testing me, I've been very calm and firm with him and when he pulls I stop until he relaxes and stops pulling. Given more time with him I think he'll get the message who's in control and who's the alpha male His other bad habit is to run off and it is difficult to get him to come back when called. This I'll tackle next probably with a whistle and using treats as a reward. Just wondered if there were members with experience of Doberman's or if you have any tips/advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Had a Doberman bitch for 14 + years but their a differant kettle of fish compared to the Dog, they really need to be trained from day one or youve got a much harder job on your hands. The dog that sired our bitch was totally mental and most people couldnt go near it. Good luck training him but you really need the owner to be doing this or when he's back with them he'll do whatever he likes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Dobermans are VERY dominant dogs, another thing is, they will only ever listen to one person within household - a leader. If you leave them unatended, you will be be in al ot of trouble later on as they will test you and if they feel weekness, they will try to dominate you. Doberman needs a LOT of attention and training when they are young, otherwise you have a ticking bomb in your house Why she couldn't settle down for some dog with easier character? :O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I'd get a shock collar on it for a start, and a proper choke chain collar. If he's really bad a prong collar might be better. We have a dog proof (high energy electric fenced) pair of fields here if you want to let him off and see what he does. Does he chase stock? Our bull will sort that out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wile e coyote Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Sounds just like my boy max he always seems worst on a lead think he just protecting me, can walk him holding a ball in his mouth only and he fine. Best coller i found was the canny collar http://www.cannyco.com Tried him with a shock collar and he just shrugged it off Treats work all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Shrugged it off? A proper one can make their eyes light up and their ears smoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Good luck training him but you really need the owner to be doing this or when he's back with them he'll do whatever he likes Yeah agree, ideally the owner needs to be doing the training but she probably weighs less than the dog and is a LOT out of her depth to be honest. He's a very good natured dog, not aggressive but just very boisterous and doesn't listen/understand commands. She really should have trained him as a pup long before it got to this stage. He's still got his tackle and he's reaching that age where he's starting to vie for top dog, hopefully he'll be getting the snip soon, which may make some difference. My approach so far has been to completely dominate the dog, calm, assertive, not give him an inch and at times bullying him into submission. It seems to be having some positive effects as he's displaying submissive behavior towards me; cowering down when he approaches me wanting my approval and licking. I think it's just going to take time, hopefully once I've broken his wayward behaviour I can work with the owner and get him to respond to her the same. He's the first Doberman I've really known, thanks for the tips so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 I'd get a shock collar on it for a start, and a proper choke chain collar. If he's really bad a prong collar might be better. We have a dog proof (high energy electric fenced) pair of fields here if you want to let him off and see what he does. Does he chase stock? Our bull will sort that out I've always used choke chains with my Labs, didn't have one with me the other day but will try the Doberman with one, although he'll probably pass out from lack of oxygen the way he pulls Never used shock collar and not really sure if I agree with them, certainly don't agree with the barbed collars, met a dog the other week who had one on and it looked barbaric. Don't know about chasing stock, if I had to guess I'd say a big yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 They often do chase stock, my pal had one that killed 10 of his neighbour's sheep. It also tried to rip my nose open when I went to get his fags out his car for him. Personally I don't trust the buggers Shock collars work well if used properly. They are about the only method to control a stock chaser, short of never letting it off a lead. They only need zapping a few times, then the bleeper function is all that's needed. Like Jonesy in Dad's Army says about the fuzzy wuzzies, "they don't like it up `em you know" Depends how naughty he is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Our boy is a nighmare on the lead and have tried every way to make him good on one. Our bitch is the perfect dog but our boy is a very dominant dog. Ask anyone of my friend who has been his bitch Choke collars don't work with dobes. Get her to try a halti that is the same as darren linked too as is pulls the head round to the side so the more they pull the more the head will turn to the side. They are strong and dominant dogs that need strict discipline from the off and constant work. How long and what type of excercise do they get? We find they need a minimun of atleast an hour of constant running,playing and ball throwing etc. Treats have no effect with ours either and it's only the ball they they respond to, and they have a ball that is only used for when they go out and have other toys indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Get her to try a halti that is the same as darren linked too as is pulls the head round to the side so the more they pull the more the head will turn to the side. Yeah she's got a non-pull harness which seems to work which. I've been trying to get him to walk to heal with a normal collar as I think it is the best way to initially get a dog listening to you, obeying commands and realise whose the boss. I've only spent an hour or so with him so far, there are times when he will walk on a loose lead next to me, but then he'll test me by pulling. They are strong and dominant dogs that need strict discipline from the off and constant work. How long and what type of excercise do they get? We find they need a minimun of atleast an hour of constant running,playing and ball throwing etc. He gets a lot of exercise at least 2 hours a day running around like loon. Treats have no effect with ours either and it's only the ball they they respond to, and they have a ball that is only used for when they go out and have other toys indoors. Going to try treats next time to try to keep his attention when walking, we'll see how it goes, as you say it works with some dogs and not with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Personally I don't trust the buggers I know what you mean, if you look into their eyes you can almost see them plotting how best to rip your face off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I still think the owner has to be doing this as he will recognise you as the Alpha male and not her but good luck with whatever you try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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