Contrary to popular belief, Dobermans can be loyal, loving and kind dogs. They are working animals, very suitable for training. While this breed is often considered aggressive and short-tempered (because poorly trained specimens display those traits), with the right attention a Doberman can truly become man's best friend. Here's how to turn your dog into a polite and caring companion.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic Principles of Training
Step 1. Find a suitable collar for your dog
This accessory will be enough for a young Doberman. Over time, however, you will notice that its strength will continue to grow. Traditional collars are fine for almost all female dogs, but if you have a male with a large chest, you may need to purchase a halter collar, which is more suitable because it allows you to establish your dominance over the animal. With this accessory, which you can use as a horse halter, you will walk next to the Doberman's head. Instead of always having to pull and be dragged, a quick and firm tug will suffice to control the dog.
- Most dogs take some time to get used to the halter collar, but they won't feel pain if you use this accessory right. Make sure you follow all the instructions given to you at the time of purchase. You can find this product in pet stores.
- Choke collars are also effective, but they establish a bond based on fear.
Step 2. Use rewards and not punishments
Reward your dog when he does something right. This will give him an incentive to follow your orders, far stronger than punishments.
- Dobermans are highly motivated by food, but overfeeding them can lead to health and behavioral problems. Try using toys, as food-related aggression is common for this breed.
- When your dog misbehaves, like all animals do, try to get to the root of the problem. If you understand why the Doberman is wrong, you can fix the problem and prevent the unwanted behavior from happening again. If you are not successful, remove the temptation. Eliminate items he eats or destroys so he doesn't have a chance to make mistakes.
Step 3. Be a strong leader
Dobermans need to be guided with determination. Many interpret this as an excuse to be mean to their dog. Strong management only means that animals of this breed are quite dominant, so they have to learn what is right and what is wrong from an early age. Teach your puppy that you are the boss, because having to obey the orders of a big dog is no fun.
- Dogs are able to identify and reflect the emotions of those around them. So if yours behaves well, don't give it too many rewards, because it already feels your happiness. When he misbehaves, don't punish him too much. He knows you are unhappy.
- Don't neglect discipline. Dobermans should respond well to a firm "No". You have to scold them directly, so look your specimen in the eye and point at it. Do not resort to physical punishment, however, as they do not produce any benefit to the dog and are just abuses.
Step 4. Train your dog consistently
The key to training success is repetition. Tell your four-legged friend what to do and never give him confused signals. It can be difficult to always be consistent, so you will need to be as careful about your actions as those of the animal.
Method 2 of 3: Train Your Doberman to Needs Outside the Home and Socialize
Step 1. Teach your Doberman to respond to his name
This is an important first step in continuing your training. Start calling him by name as soon as you adopt him. Even if he won't immediately understand what you are saying, with time and repetition you will help him understand what his name is.
Choose a name that is easy to pronounce - this will make it easier for the dog to learn it
Step 2. Train your Doberman to go to the toilet outside the house
It is an important part of training, critical to maintaining a healthy and happy relationship with the pet, but quite different from teaching a command. Dogs, by natural instinct, do not want to dirty the places where they eat and sleep. For this reason, in order to teach them where to go to the toilet, they must understand what the boundaries of the house and the bathroom are rather than understanding where they have to go when they have to free themselves.
- For successful training, you need to take the dog out regularly. In the early stages, accidents will likely happen, because the animal is not yet used to the routine. Over time, however, he will get used to the regular intervals between outdoor visits.
- If your dog gets dirty in the house, take him outside right away so that he ends up outside. It is important to let him out immediately, because if I did not let him out at the exact moment he evacuated in the house, he would not be able to associate the two actions.
Step 3. Socialize your Doberman as soon as possible
All dogs need to learn to socialize from an early age. This means you should take your puppy to the park, pet-friendly stores, and other places where he can meet new people. Young Dobermans should always meet people they don't know, so that they understand that this is a normal and enjoyable part of their life.
If your puppy didn't learn to socialize, he wouldn't be friendly to other dogs in the future. This can become a major problem
Step 4. Socialize adult dogs who are afraid of strangers
If you have adopted an adult specimen that has never socialized before, you should start remedial training. Start with the basics to help your Doberman get used to people and animals.
- Start building a bond of trust with the animal. It will have to follow your orders blindly to get used to strangers and other animals.
- When you have bonded with your adult dog, take him on short hikes in public. You should avoid contact with strangers and animals in the beginning, but only make the Doberman understand that other living things are not a danger to him.
- Gradually introduce your dog to people he doesn't know. Get help from a friend at this stage of the training; ask him to stay close to the animal without threatening it, but not to the point where you can touch it. The helper should use a gentle tone and hold some food in his hand so that the Doberman decides on his own to approach.
- Introduce your Doberman to other dogs as well. This is a delicate process that you should go through gradually, in which the animal will have to see and smell other dogs before it can come into contact with them; it can take a long time if your specimen is aggressive. Over the days (and perhaps weeks) you gradually expose your dog to the sight and smell of other members of its species.
Method 3 of 3: Teach Your Doberman the Easiest Commands
Step 1. Teach your Doberman to sit
When the dog is standing, enter his field of vision. Focus his attention on the food you are holding. Lift the treat in front of the pet's nose for him to smell it, then raise it above his head. Often, with the food in this position, the Doberman will sit by instinct, to be able to see him better.
- Give the dog the food right away and praise him. Follow the rewards and praise routine, then say "Sit" the exact moment it hits the ground. It may be slow at first, but thanks to the rewards it will speed up its reaction.
- Make sure you don't praise the dog until he's seated. If you do it halfway, the animal will think that this is the action it needs to take. Also, make sure you don't praise him when he gets up or you will push him to repeat that behavior.
- If your dog does not sit thanks to this technique, you can use a collar and leash. Stand next to him, facing the same direction as him. Pull the collar back slightly to encourage him to sit. You might even push its hind legs forward. As soon as he sits down, give him a treat right away and praise him.
- Praise the dog when he sits naturally. During the day, pay attention to the occasions when he sits alone. Praise that behavior, and in a short time he will learn to sit down to get your attention, instead of jumping on you or barking.
Step 2. Train the Doberman to come to you when you call him
The order can save the dog's life, because it can prevent him from escaping if you lose him. Start by getting his attention. You will have to convince him to run towards you. Use praise and a cheerful tone of voice to encourage him to move. When it comes to you, reward it immediately.
- Have the dog associate his behavior with a verbal command. When he realizes that he will receive a reward if he catches up with you, start using the "Come" command. When he learns to respond to the command, reinforce it with praise, such as "Bravo, come on!".
- Continue your training in a public place. Since the command "Come" could save the dog's life, he will have to learn to follow him even when he is distracted. Move training sessions to the park, where there are more sounds, smells, and sights that attract the pet's attention.
- Give the dog exaggerated rewards. This command is fundamental, so the reward that the animal will receive must be special. Make training the best part of his day.
Step 3. Teach your Doberman to slow down
Take the dog for a walk on a leash. It is important not only for training, but also for his physical and mental health.
- Encourage the pet to stop pulling. Most dogs pull on the leash when learning to walk with their owner. When yours starts doing this, stop right away. Don't carry on until he comes back to your side and gives you his attention.
- Change direction. An even more effective corrective method is to walk in the opposite direction and encourage the dog to come with you. When he has reached you, praise him and give him a food reward.
- Keep your dog entertained when he is by your side. His natural impulse will be to follow his own path and investigate the surrounding environment. To convince him to stay next to you, you will need to do something special: use an enthusiastic tone of voice when you change direction and praise the animal without sparing you when it comes back to you.
- Have the dog associate his behavior with a verbal command. Once he has learned to walk beside you, you can use the "Piano" or "Let's Go" commands to make him recognize the right action to take.
Advice
- Puppies chew on everything, because their teeth are still growing. Don't let them do it, it's a bad habit that's hard to correct.
- Your new Doberman puppy is very sensitive to punishment, so a firm "No" is ideal.
Warnings
- Make sure your dog knows the boundaries of "his" territory. Many Dobermans become territorial and may even start hunting cats that get too close to your yard.
- Don't let your puppy attack a larger dog. It can be a fun sight at this age, but it won't be when your 30kg Doberman attacks the neighbor's Labrador. Puppy fighting leads to many problems including biting, growling, aggression, etc. Make sure you can sense the difference between play and combat. If your puppy is playing with another, scold him if he gets too aggressive.
