Feb 11 2008
Doberman Training Tips
Doberman photo by Lali Masriera
The doberman is another one of those dog breeds that has gotten the reputation for being aggressive or mean. Many times, these opinions are held by people who may not know enough about a certain breed. If you take the time to learn a little bit about dobermans, you’ll find that they do have some unique characteristics that people will confuse with aggression. Below, we will discuss some of these traits and how they can be controlled through training.
Doberman Personality
The dobermans were bred as war dogs that were meant to accompany soldiers in battle. For this reason, they are extremely loyal and brave. They are also very confident and assertive, which is often misunderstood. People who do not know the breed very well mistake this assertiveness for aggression. This is unfortunate, and is one of the reasons that dobermans get such a bad rap. Another characteristic that makes training somewhat challenging is the fact that they are also very active and energetic. These dogs require an abundance of physical exercise and mental stimulation.
Training
Make sure that you are familiar with your breed’s personality traits before you begin training, no matter what kind of dog you have. The first thing you need to do when training a doberman is establish yourself as the alpha male. In other words, make sure the dog knows that you are in charge. You must be very assertive and firm, due to the personality of the dog. If your dog thinks he has a chance to become the alpha male, you could be in big trouble. Always be careful that assertiveness does not turn into abuse. Never hit your dog, no matter what. You can do more emotional and mental damage than physical when you hit your dog.
Due to the high activity of dobermans, you need to find ways to work plenty of running and hard work into your dog’s training program. These dogs were bred to work, and have tons of energy to burn. Try to incorporate some playtime into your training routine. Not only will your dog be happier, he will be able to pay attention better when he doesn’t have so much excess energy. Allowing your doberman to get the proper amount of activity and exercise will make him less apt to destroy things in and around your house as well.
Training should be consistent and firm, when dealing with dobermans. A dog of this size and with this much power must be started out early. As soon as you bring your puppy home, you can begin the training process. It’s also the best time to begin socializing your dog with other animals and people. If you take the time to do this correctly, your dog will be a great family companion for years to come.
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I don’t mean to be smart, and I think it’s great to find others that are standing up for such a WONDERFUL breed, but actualy….dobermans were not originaly bred as war dogs…..The Doberman Pinscher was bred by a dog breeder by the name of Herr Louis Dobermann in the late 1800’s in the town of Apolda, Germany. He was a Tax collector and a night watchman. He developed the Doberman to train for protection while he preformed his duties.
They were not bred as war dogs. As Jessika said, they were bred to accompany Dobermann in his jobs and to assist him. Plus they are as playful as some other breeds but dobermans have to be constantly taken care of and they hate being alone. I would know I have an 8month old right know. People think dobermans are agressive because of what they are made of. They have the Rottweiler in them for the short and shiny coat, which makes it less maintenence. Also for the great courage and massive size making it more feared and more protective. They also have the greyhound in them for the speed and activeness. They possess the style and elegance of a Manchester Terrier. The doberman breed is to me the best breed of all.
In the 1940’s they began breeding these dogs for war.
Wikipedia:
“The Doberman Pinscher has been used as a protection and guard dog, due to its intelligence, loyalty, and ability to physically challenge human aggressors. Doberman Pinschers are commonly used in police work and in the military. The breed was used extensively by the United States Marine Corps in World War II, and 25 Marine War Dogs died in the Battle of Guam in 1944: there is a memorial in Guam in honor of these Doberman Pinschers. They are still the war dog of the U.S. Marines[citation needed]. In these roles, they inspire fear. A related problem is the misunderstanding of their legitimate roles; because guard dogs are trained to neutralize unwelcome intruders, many people mistakenly believe that Doberman Pinschers are vicious.”