Hi! I own a 15 week old doberman boy. I've recently enrolled him in obedience classes, and even though he is obviously the most hyper dog in the class, he is easily the smartest ;]. However, his disobedience that has caused me to enroll him in school in the first place! Biting, barking, ignoring commands, the works! I've brought this to the attention of our trainer, who continues to press the method of "cruelty-free" dog training. This basically means that when the dog bites us, we DON'T HIT HIM, but show him that we are hurt and walk away. Dog training along the lines of "Culture Clash" (for all you trainers out there), if you will. My question is: is this the best method? My pup still seems to be agressive, and my trainer has basically said NO to any sort of doberman training that I've read about in Dobie books (she says "dogs needing alpha leaders" is false"). Please, knowledgable dog owners/trainers, for an independant breed like the Dobie, what should I do? How should I train him?
4 Tips To Successful Obedience Dog Training
Recommended Answer:Believe it or not, I think you are on the right track. Using punishment with this dog might give you an immediate response, but in the long run it can backfire on you. As the dog gets older and wiser, the punishments may have to increase and at some point in time the dog will get tired of it and possibly bite.
Emma Parsons (Click to Calm) is a great author on positive ways to deal with aggression. I've heard her speak on this topic and it really makes sense.
Yes, you puppy should never be allowed to bite, be bossy etc. If the biting does not stop when you say "ouch" and turn away, you may have to remove yourself or the puppy immediately from the situation. Put him in the crate - he does have a crate doesn't he?? When he calms down, he comes out.
There should be NO rough play for now. No tug of war, no pulling etc. Feed him supper ( kibble) from your hand - one piece at a time with no "shark" teeth allowed. He gets the food only when he takes it nicely - begin by using an open hand.
The "nothing in life is free" gives him the idea that he has to do something in order to get what he wants. You are the only one who can give him what he wants, thus you become the leader. He can't eat, play, go outside etc. unless you let him. You cannot allow him to get what he wants when he wants it. He only gets a "positive" reward when he does what you ask.
He is fast approaching the "teenage" stage and will need to continue with his training. You HAVE to work on this every day. You must be consistent every day and every member of the family has to be part of the team.
It may take longer to do this and definitely requires more patience, but the result will be a dog that responds to you when asked and is less likely to be agressive in the long run.
One last thought - neutering will help eliminate the hormone rage and allow him to pay better attention to you rather than worrying about his territory or other dogs.
Are Dog Training Collars Humane
- I agree with not hitting, but what else is she having you do? Have you heard about "NILIF"? I'll add a link. Also, is/will he be neutered...that helps.
Nothing in Life is Free:
http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pe…
Edit: Do not hit or flick him, like someone mentioned. That's a good way for a dominant dog to up the aggression. You want to show him you are the leader without directly challenging him. Plus, you don't want it to turn into fear aggression...that's more dangerous. Please look into dog behavior and dog aggression.
- I like that cruelty free training, wish I knew about it
My dog sparky (rott/lab mix), was potty trained by me. when he was pup, I would show him where the "mess" was (he liked to pee on carpets and poop in the kitchen..i cant explain it either) and then gently hit him on the collar. He learned never to potty in the house and would bark when he wanted to use the bathroom. So I let him outside.
- I am not a professional but I have trained quite a few puppies. I disagree with your trainer dogs do need an "alpha dog" I wouldn't say to hit the dog but a quick flick on the nose with your finger will teach him quickly that biting is not allowed. Also try holding his muzzle shut, gently but firmly when he bites. This has seemed to work for my puppies. Hope it helps
- If you are at a pet store, leave the class and ask for yrou money back. Your dog is showing signs if extreme dominance and he needs to learn otherwise. Every time he bites you and gets away with it, it gives him more confidence. You need a personal trainer that willcome to your home. Look online for trainers in your area or call your vet for refferrals. You need someone experienced with your breed. You need to get him trained before he gets too big to handle. I personally never ever hit a dog! I think its wrong and it only teaches them that you are hurting them and leads to mistrust. You need one on one training with someone that knows their stuff.
- I highly reccomend reading this book. 'The Loved Dog' By Tamar Geller. I think it is a brilliant way of training a dog.
- I would look into positive reinforcement. I have trained every dog I've ever had successfully with positive reinforcement. What ever you do, NEVER strike your dog. Also, dogs have very short attention spans so you can't really punish them for certain things unless you catch them in the act. If you punish him even just 2 minutes after he has done something wrong, he won't understand why you are punishing him.
Oh and your dog DOES need alpha leaders. He needs to understand his place in the pack. If he does not respect you, he will not obey you. But be careful, you don't want him to fear you.
Try this website:
http://www.puplife.com/dogcaretips/positivedogtraining.html
Good luck!
- The trainer is an idiot. The best training method I have found is that one that works on that particular dog. Some dogs tend to need no more then a slight correction on a prong collar. Some dogs need 3 Electric collars. I am all for rewarding a dog with a toy or food when he earns it, but, I will also give a really hard correction when he earns it too. If you need a training method named, I guess you could call me a Bill Koehler man.
- I would find another trainer whose opinion you have confidence in...if you don't believe in the method you are using you will not be training/practising training methods, with confidence and dominance. Training an aggressive dog needs to be handled differently than your everyday sit, stay fun stuff. Ask your vet or call the humane society to suggest a good trainer for aggressive dogs...don't wait as these things need to be dealt with as early as possible. Sometimes individual training classes are more productive to hyper dogs, then practise the lessons at the park to provide the needed socializing and distractions.
- I agree with not hitting the dog but ever dog does need an alpha or a leader of a pack. This puppy needs to know that you are boss. What are the two of you doing when he bits you is he really bearing into you or does he have puppy teeth. sometimes they bit when your playing tell him no in a firm alpha voice and take the toy away. when he stops the action reward him and let him know he is a good Boy.Puppy training is long and hard with a lot of dedication but worth it. I you don't like this persons method change puppy schools, or I you like her make sure everything you are learning in class is being carried out at home don't slack on the discipline.
- Positive reinforcement with praise and treats works every time! I also have a very smart, very independent, and once, very disobedient puppy who was the most incorrigible dog in his class too. But, the training with positive reinforcement worked with him and though he is just a year old now, he has become calmer, and learns things very quickly. Why? Because he looks forward to training. He gets treats for learning and he want to please me. The trainer we used was schooled and trained in the Ian Dunbar techniques and Sirius Puppy School of dog obedience. I also use and am a fan of Tamar Geller, and her book "The Loved Dog" is a great training how-to book which I highly recommend. There is also clicker training, which is an invaluable tool. It too is based on the treat/rewards/praise and positive reinforcement techniques. Check out www.clickertraining.com by Karen Pryor. The trainer you are working with has the right idea, you don't treat aggression with aggression! I do agree with a cruelty free type of training...it has worked for every one of my dogs. Puppies want to please us and it makes them happy to learn, especially when they are treated well, praised and given rewards for their good work. Good luck and have fun with your puppy!
- This is a fantastic method! Add a good dose of "Nothing In Life Is Free," as others have pointed out, and make sure you are enforcing time-outs. At 15 weeks, he is still a baby... he can't be expected to "know" commands until you teach him (which should be one purpose of the class).
As for whether your puppy is aggressive, physical punishment or attempts to "dominate" him will only make the aggression worse -- or ruin a good dog, if he's simply undisciplined. A qualified animal behavior consultant (see www.iaabc.org) or veterinary behaviorist can help you determine whether you're witnessing normal puppy behavior, or something more sinister.
