Love the videos man. I’ve been watching for a long time and it lead me to get my first Doberman a little over a year ago. He’s my best friend and has gotten me through a lot already❤
Oh man that's awesome! Thanks so much for this comment. On my way to train Cleopatra again today and this comment definitely gave me a boost! Thanks again.
Maybe the most important lesson you’ve shared John. These dogs are soooo smart, they are like the velociraptors in Jurassic park, always looking for a weakness in the fence. Kudos to you and to Arthur, whom I totally respect for allowing us to learn as he does. On my third Doberman and still learning but, there’s no better K9.
Thanks so much, Rick, for sharing your thoughts. Completely agree! Arthur is being very vulnerable in letting everyone learn from his life and experiences with Cleo. He is a champ!
So glad that you are addressing this extremely important aspect of Doberman ownership. There are several dog breeds that continue to display the characteristics of their ancestral wolf pack and the Doberman is one of them. When you are recognized as the alpha male, or female, your doberman will become a willing soldier that looks to your leadership, knowing that your decisions are the ultimate direction that must be followed. From my experience, establishing your leadership may be easier with a female Doberman, but all Dobermans are unique. When the alpha of the wolf pack shows weakness and a lack of leadership, another of the pack (usually a male) will challenge the alpha to assume that role.
My Doberman has just turned 3 and is starting to ignore my recall commands at the dog parks and occasionally at home. Thanks for your videos. They're great! Greg
Thank you for the positive comments about the channel! Here is a recall video that may be helpful for your situation: ruclips.net/video/83xwPlL8ldI/видео.htmlsi=vXSgT4ncmE2cKgWG
I know from raising 2 of these dogs that leadership is imperative. I can see how these dogs act when I am around vs. others. That’s part of being a good owner and enjoying your Doberman. If an obedient dog is important then we need to be the leader. We need to demonstrate this to our dogs so they can see what is expected of them. I’d like some comments adding good key point from others. That way we can learn some methods that have worked for others.
Hello John, great video! Can you please also teach Cleo's owner how to do the Molefoam ear postings ..as that would be a great simple ear posting that he can do for Ms. Cleo...
I went back to the beginning of this video, looking for answers. It made me feel really good when I saw the leader goes through the door first. Mastered the kabash on jumping up on me & everyone else. (do I get a gold star!) PJ (my Doberman) is very obedient. I thought maybe I was biased toward him. Others started marveling at how obedient he is. When my neighbor's cat had kittens, my neighbor allowed me to introduce PJ to them, on leash, of course. He did so well! At first he was very curious, the kittens weren't frightened at all. What he did next was something we didn't expect. He laid down on the floor, allowed 2 of the kittens to nuzzle up to his neck. His tail was moving like a helicopter blade.
I know it must be a bit frustrating for Art right now with Cleo testing the boundaries, but you've always got great advice and techniques John, ty 👏 Lol Cleo is proving what every Dobie lover and owner knows, they're incredibly intelligent, are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, can read people like books, and can exploit situations to try and assert dominance 😆
Thank you SO much for that, Olivia! Such encouraging words for everyone involved. Dobies are super smart and Cleo is just testing the boundaries right now, you're right!
Great video, John! I totally agree with you that Leadership is the single most important thing when owning a Doberman. You make very valid points. The only thing I disagree with is putting the hand in the food bowl to stop the dog from eating. I consider this harassing the dog, and it can hurt your relationship with your dog. This idea is based on the old view of "being the Alpha". If you want a relationship with your dog based on trust, I strongly advise against it. It can also make the dog feel uneasy and a certain type of dog may develop food aggression. My suggestion is to either let the dog eat in peace or hand-feed them. Overall, you can save yourself and your Doberman a lot of trouble if you're a fair, calm, and consistent leader and manage puppies and young Dobermans appropriately. If they can't rehearse bad behavior, it is less likely to occur later.
Great point to think about with the food! Hand-feeding them would help your bond (as long as it's not done in a teasing "keep closing the hand" manner). Completely agree with you about making sure you are training in a fair, calm, and consistent way!
Yes, but the airfare each week or driving several hours for sessions for months at a time would be too taxing, unfortunately. Thank you so much for your kind feedback, though, Jesenia!
Be calm, consistent, only as firm as you need to be, and never ever use physical corrections. Talk to them like a person. They learn how to tell your mood and will react. On my second Doberman. This one is 9 and he is a massive beast. He requires lots of love and talking to. Much much different then any other breed I ever dealt with. You need to be a calm doating gentle yet firm owner. If your the right kind of owner you will have great rewards. European Dobermans should be considered a different breed honestly. Think long and hard before you choose the most unique breed in the world. My Zeus sleeps in my bed and randomly gives big hugs. My best buddy ever.
@csakzozo A dog can't sleep in your bed? That makes him a bad dog? He was 5 years old before I invited him up on the bed. It's really fun cuddling at night. He is a perfect gentleman for being 120 pounds. Let me guess. You lock your dog in a cage at night. Maybe kick it out the door to keep it from bothering you during sports..
@tireballastserviceofflorid7771 Who said it makes him a bad dog? Makes you a weak leader. Yeah, if you had him for 5 years and wasn't allowed in the bed, I guess his set in his ways already. I very rarely lock him up, and never for the night. He's 9 months old now, but he is very well behaved for his age. Not my first dog though. But not allowed in the bed nor on the couch.
@csakzozo He was hyper when young so it was best that he slept in his bed next to our bed. But after 5 years he had claimed down and was able to sleep till 7am. Before that he was up several times a night patrolling. I assure you. If my voice get even a little loud and stern, both the Doberman and pit bull snap to attention. Doberman don't need to be controlled every second if raised properly. He is like a kid. I have to get on to him but just a single word and he is done. You clearly think dogs need to be dominated not led. Read Mike Ritlands books on MWDs. Will give you a whole new understanding. Zeus at Lowes would give kisses and wants pets from everyone. Once the gate closes no living creature is safe. I trained him well and he is a flawless protection dog. His bite work was nothing. Picked it up in no time. Do some reading and be kind to your dogs. Mutual respect will make training and behavior control a breeze. Only ass holes dominate and deprive as a training technique.
Thank you for your thoughts and feedback! So happy you're enjoying these videos and can relate to them in your own personal life as well. Allowing your dog to sleep in your bed doesn't make you a weak leader. Everyone has their own boundaries. One may allow a dog to lay on the couch, or to lay under the table at meal-times and another owner may put their dog in the crate during meals. Other families may keep their dogs on the main level of the house and not upstairs where the bedrooms are. Each family has to do what works best for them and their pups! Check out #1 on this article: www.dobermanplanet.com/how-to-bond-with-a-doberman/. No doubt you and your Doberman share a close bond!
Maybe someone can help me with this. Have had my Doberman since March 8, 2024. He had his 1-year birthday on December 17, 2024. I love this dog! He is so smart, a great companion. I know he will protect me as he has done it twice. I walk him around the neighborhood for 30 minutes 4 times every day. We go to the dog park for one hour every morning. I don't have a fenced yard. I also train with him several times throughout the day, we play & interact on our walks, at the park & during training. The problem? He demands attention no matter how much I give him he demands more. Yeah, the tea kettle whine, the all-out yodel for attention, getting in my lap when I'm trying to work (I work from home online). I know that Dobermans are velcro dogs. Have had three Dobermans, one at a time, before him. He's the most demanding dog I have ever had. He has toys. Interactive toys for mental stimulation. Soft fuzzy toys. 2 kongs & various other super chewer toys. Did I just happen to get an attention hound instead of a Doberman.....they might be the same thing. Any suggestions are welcome.
Sounds like you're doing great overall but forgot to teach him downtime. Try a "place" command (on a dog bed, elevated dog bed, or similar). If he gets up, you have to put him back every time until you release him. Keep it short at first. Don't give him too much attention if he comes off. Just calmly put him back. I personally do not care what my dogs are doing (sit or down or stand) as long as they are not leaving the space. Eventually, they will lay down anyway. It also helps to give them a filled Kong or other chewy treat. Good luck!
@@appaloosatexas3254 Thank you. I will try it. I spoke with the breeder I bought him from. He said that out of every litter, there has been one puppy that is like that. I happened to get the one who demands attention. I'll do as you suggested.
I recently adopted a two and a half year old female Doberman, that I'm hoping will become my service dog. I'm loving everything about her but i'm concerned about how she reacts with other dogs. When I say she reacts with other dogs it's in a negative way. I'll be honest with you, I have never adopted an older dog before, meaning one that's not a puppy, So I understand how to socialize puppies. I am having an issue trying to get her to socialize without their dogs. It's the only time she comes off.As being even the least bit aggressive. Can you give me some advice?
i have a 5 1/2 month blue male everything was going good, he was good with the kids about a month ago he started biting more then a puppy should i try to take him out of the issue get him to sit praise him give him a treat . no matter what i do he will start barking at us like a 60 lb attack dog he wont stop. this is my 5th male doberman i cant get him to break this. i need help
At 5 months it could still be puppy biting, but it's hard to tell without any more details. Usually, redirection is the best thing for puppies (with a toy). "Sit" is not a great choice, something dynamic works better. If that doesn't help and he has practiced this behavior for too long already, manage your dog. Don't allow him to keep doing this or it will get worse. My dogs do not get any "free roam" in the house until trustworthy. This usually happens between 1 and 2 years of age. Until then they are either in a crate, in an ex-pen, or with me on a long leash. If they do anything they're not supposed to, I can handle it right away. Good luck!
Well you know that I still haven't got my Doberman yet because they don't like to see a black man with no money because they say that racism is dead but it's not really dead as long as nobody comes from a racist family that doesn't teach them to hate So anyways,God bless you brother John and just keep up with what you're doing for the kingdom of Heaven with the encouraging words that you're giving right now 🔥✨️🩸🫗🎚🙌🏿
My fellow is 1.2 yr old now... when i give him any command i have to say it 5 times for him to obey. And every time hes obeying a command he looks at my face and barks real loud. Like as if hes grumbling at me and following orders. SIT = bow wow bow bow and the he sits......STAND = Bow bow bow wow and then stands.... same with lie down and most other commands. This has started recently over last 2 months. Is this normal dobbie behaviour ?
It sounds like your Doberman is still in the teenage stage and is testing boundaries. So far, he has been successful with pushing you, so it only will get worse. Check out John's leadership and teenage Doberman videos. There is a lot of good information. I hate to say it, but you " watered down" your commands. They don't mean anything to your dog anymore. He learned that it doesn't matter what you say because there are no consequences. Generally, you should only give a command ONE time. If you say sit and he doesn't sit, you pull up on the leash and push down his butt (with 2 fingers so there's a little discomfort). If he sits, reward him in a timely manner. Just for the record: you need to be 100% sure that your dog knows the commands you're giving. If not, you have to teach it first. I also suggest working on building a relationship with your dog. If your dogs want to work for you, everything is much easier. Good luck!
@@appaloosatexas3254 > Hi and thanks. He used to be that way. Army style response time. One command was enough. Last 3 months my wife took over his daily regime. She uses wrong command words. Wont follow discipline. She is like that by nature, extreme disorganized person, cant train a human also to change permanantly. I am unable to continue training the dog for my health reasons. So is it bec shes was lax with him and undisciplined he has turned indifferent to all my commands ?? Now he doesnt obey even me and all my old training from when he was a baby.
Love the videos man. I’ve been watching for a long time and it lead me to get my first Doberman a little over a year ago. He’s my best friend and has gotten me through a lot already❤
Oh man that's awesome! Thanks so much for this comment. On my way to train Cleopatra again today and this comment definitely gave me a boost! Thanks again.
I’m so proud of you and your team for helping Dobermans get new homes my friend you’ve got hearts of gold
Thanks Peter, I appreciate your support always!
I'm glad that rescue dogs find loving families!
Oh yeah, me too!
Maybe the most important lesson you’ve shared John. These dogs are soooo smart, they are like the velociraptors in Jurassic park, always looking for a weakness in the fence. Kudos to you and to Arthur, whom I totally respect for allowing us to learn as he does. On my third Doberman and still learning but, there’s no better K9.
Thanks so much, Rick, for sharing your thoughts. Completely agree! Arthur is being very vulnerable in letting everyone learn from his life and experiences with Cleo. He is a champ!
So glad that you are addressing this extremely important aspect of Doberman ownership. There are several dog breeds that continue to display the characteristics of their ancestral wolf pack and the Doberman is one of them. When you are recognized as the alpha male, or female, your doberman will become a willing soldier that looks to your leadership, knowing that your decisions are the ultimate direction that must be followed. From my experience, establishing your leadership may be easier with a female Doberman, but all Dobermans are unique. When the alpha of the wolf pack shows weakness and a lack of leadership, another of the pack (usually a male) will challenge the alpha to assume that role.
Agreed. I learn a lot from this series.
I feel like I’ve gotten a better grasp of raising Dobermans from this series.
Yes, Dobermans absolutely need a strong leader! Great perspective, Chris!
My Doberman has just turned 3 and is starting to ignore my recall commands at the dog parks and occasionally at home.
Thanks for your videos. They're great!
Greg
Thank you for the positive comments about the channel! Here is a recall video that may be helpful for your situation: ruclips.net/video/83xwPlL8ldI/видео.htmlsi=vXSgT4ncmE2cKgWG
Makes just SO much sense, John...Thank you!!!
Much appreciated, Constance!
I know from raising 2 of these dogs that leadership is imperative.
I can see how these dogs act when I am around vs. others. That’s part of being a good owner and enjoying your Doberman. If an obedient dog is important then we need to be the leader. We need to demonstrate this to our dogs so they can see what is expected of them.
I’d like some comments adding good key point from others. That way we can learn some methods that have worked for others.
Thank you for your feedback! It is great to read others' experiences and their viewpoints in the comments - totally agree!
Thanks that's one of my biggest fears is not being consistent
I'm so glad for your series thank you so much😊
great video ! 🐶
Thank you so much! Really means a lot, I hope you got some useful tips from it :-)
Thanks for the videos man
How awesome!! We love this series!!!!
That's great to hear!!
Hello John, great video! Can you please also teach Cleo's owner how to do the Molefoam ear postings ..as that would be a great simple ear posting that he can do for Ms. Cleo...
What's great work. Excellent video, John. Thank you
You're welcome. Thanks so much for your kind feedback, Cathy!
I went back to the beginning of this video, looking for answers.
It made me feel really good when I saw the leader goes through the door first.
Mastered the kabash on jumping up on me & everyone else. (do I get a gold star!)
PJ (my Doberman) is very obedient. I thought maybe I was biased toward him. Others started marveling at how obedient he is.
When my neighbor's cat had kittens, my neighbor allowed me to introduce PJ to them, on leash, of course. He did so well! At first he was very curious, the kittens weren't frightened at all.
What he did next was something we didn't expect. He laid down on the floor, allowed 2 of the kittens to nuzzle up to his neck. His tail was moving like a helicopter blade.
I know it must be a bit frustrating for Art right now with Cleo testing the boundaries, but you've always got great advice and techniques John, ty 👏 Lol Cleo is proving what every Dobie lover and owner knows, they're incredibly intelligent, are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, can read people like books, and can exploit situations to try and assert dominance 😆
Thank you SO much for that, Olivia! Such encouraging words for everyone involved. Dobies are super smart and Cleo is just testing the boundaries right now, you're right!
Great video, John! I totally agree with you that Leadership is the single most important thing when owning a Doberman. You make very valid points. The only thing I disagree with is putting the hand in the food bowl to stop the dog from eating. I consider this harassing the dog, and it can hurt your relationship with your dog. This idea is based on the old view of "being the Alpha". If you want a relationship with your dog based on trust, I strongly advise against it. It can also make the dog feel uneasy and a certain type of dog may develop food aggression. My suggestion is to either let the dog eat in peace or hand-feed them. Overall, you can save yourself and your Doberman a lot of trouble if you're a fair, calm, and consistent leader and manage puppies and young Dobermans appropriately. If they can't rehearse bad behavior, it is less likely to occur later.
Great point to think about with the food! Hand-feeding them would help your bond (as long as it's not done in a teasing "keep closing the hand" manner). Completely agree with you about making sure you are training in a fair, calm, and consistent way!
Great, thank you! These videos are so helpful. Have you ever thought of training sessions in other states?
Yes, but the airfare each week or driving several hours for sessions for months at a time would be too taxing, unfortunately. Thank you so much for your kind feedback, though, Jesenia!
Wich is the best muzzle for dobermans? And for puppy to acomodate?
Be calm, consistent, only as firm as you need to be, and never ever use physical corrections. Talk to them like a person. They learn how to tell your mood and will react. On my second Doberman. This one is 9 and he is a massive beast. He requires lots of love and talking to. Much much different then any other breed I ever dealt with. You need to be a calm doating gentle yet firm owner. If your the right kind of owner you will have great rewards. European Dobermans should be considered a different breed honestly. Think long and hard before you choose the most unique breed in the world. My Zeus sleeps in my bed and randomly gives big hugs. My best buddy ever.
The moment you said your dog sleeps with you you kinda voided all your credibility you tried to gather before it. Too bad you said it only at the end.
@csakzozo A dog can't sleep in your bed? That makes him a bad dog? He was 5 years old before I invited him up on the bed. It's really fun cuddling at night. He is a perfect gentleman for being 120 pounds. Let me guess. You lock your dog in a cage at night. Maybe kick it out the door to keep it from bothering you during sports..
@tireballastserviceofflorid7771 Who said it makes him a bad dog? Makes you a weak leader. Yeah, if you had him for 5 years and wasn't allowed in the bed, I guess his set in his ways already. I very rarely lock him up, and never for the night. He's 9 months old now, but he is very well behaved for his age. Not my first dog though. But not allowed in the bed nor on the couch.
@csakzozo He was hyper when young so it was best that he slept in his bed next to our bed. But after 5 years he had claimed down and was able to sleep till 7am. Before that he was up several times a night patrolling. I assure you. If my voice get even a little loud and stern, both the Doberman and pit bull snap to attention. Doberman don't need to be controlled every second if raised properly. He is like a kid. I have to get on to him but just a single word and he is done. You clearly think dogs need to be dominated not led. Read Mike Ritlands books on MWDs. Will give you a whole new understanding. Zeus at Lowes would give kisses and wants pets from everyone. Once the gate closes no living creature is safe. I trained him well and he is a flawless protection dog. His bite work was nothing. Picked it up in no time. Do some reading and be kind to your dogs. Mutual respect will make training and behavior control a breeze. Only ass holes dominate and deprive as a training technique.
Thank you for your thoughts and feedback! So happy you're enjoying these videos and can relate to them in your own personal life as well.
Allowing your dog to sleep in your bed doesn't make you a weak leader. Everyone has their own boundaries. One may allow a dog to lay on the couch, or to lay under the table at meal-times and another owner may put their dog in the crate during meals. Other families may keep their dogs on the main level of the house and not upstairs where the bedrooms are. Each family has to do what works best for them and their pups!
Check out #1 on this article: www.dobermanplanet.com/how-to-bond-with-a-doberman/. No doubt you and your Doberman share a close bond!
Maybe someone can help me with this.
Have had my Doberman since March 8, 2024. He had his 1-year birthday on December 17, 2024. I love this dog! He is so smart, a great companion. I know he will protect me as he has done it twice. I walk him around the neighborhood for 30 minutes 4 times every day. We go to the dog park for one hour every morning. I don't have a fenced yard.
I also train with him several times throughout the day, we play & interact on our walks, at the park & during training.
The problem?
He demands attention no matter how much I give him he demands more.
Yeah, the tea kettle whine, the all-out yodel for attention, getting in my lap when I'm trying to work (I work from home online).
I know that Dobermans are velcro dogs. Have had three Dobermans, one at a time, before him.
He's the most demanding dog I have ever had. He has toys. Interactive toys for mental stimulation. Soft fuzzy toys. 2 kongs & various other super chewer toys.
Did I just happen to get an attention hound instead of a Doberman.....they might be the same thing.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Sounds like you're doing great overall but forgot to teach him downtime. Try a "place" command (on a dog bed, elevated dog bed, or similar). If he gets up, you have to put him back every time until you release him. Keep it short at first. Don't give him too much attention if he comes off. Just calmly put him back. I personally do not care what my dogs are doing (sit or down or stand) as long as they are not leaving the space. Eventually, they will lay down anyway. It also helps to give them a filled Kong or other chewy treat. Good luck!
@@appaloosatexas3254 Thank you. I will try it. I spoke with the breeder I bought him from. He said that out of every litter, there has been one puppy that is like that. I happened to get the one who demands attention.
I'll do as you suggested.
I have the hardest time getting my Dobermans to eat, I’ve tried everything. What’s going on with food time?
I recently adopted a two and a half year old female Doberman, that I'm hoping will become my service dog. I'm loving everything about her but i'm concerned about how she reacts with other dogs. When I say she reacts with other dogs it's in a negative way. I'll be honest with you, I have never adopted an older dog before, meaning one that's not a puppy, So I understand how to socialize puppies. I am having an issue trying to get her to socialize without their dogs. It's the only time she comes off.As being even the least bit aggressive. Can you give me some advice?
i have a 5 1/2 month blue male everything was going good, he was good with the kids about a month ago he started biting more then a puppy should i try to take him out of the issue get him to sit praise him give him a treat . no matter what i do he will start barking at us like a 60 lb attack dog he wont stop. this is my 5th male doberman i cant get him to break this. i need help
At 5 months it could still be puppy biting, but it's hard to tell without any more details. Usually, redirection is the best thing for puppies (with a toy). "Sit" is not a great choice, something dynamic works better. If that doesn't help and he has practiced this behavior for too long already, manage your dog. Don't allow him to keep doing this or it will get worse. My dogs do not get any "free roam" in the house until trustworthy. This usually happens between 1 and 2 years of age. Until then they are either in a crate, in an ex-pen, or with me on a long leash. If they do anything they're not supposed to, I can handle it right away. Good luck!
Well you know that I still haven't got my Doberman yet because they don't like to see a black man with no money because they say that racism is dead but it's not really dead as long as nobody comes from a racist family that doesn't teach them to hate
So anyways,God bless you brother John and just keep up with what you're doing for the kingdom of Heaven with the encouraging words that you're giving right now 🔥✨️🩸🫗🎚🙌🏿
So sorry you're struggling with these dilemmas and thoughts. That is rough! God bless you and your endeavors!
My fellow is 1.2 yr old now... when i give him any command i have to say it 5 times for him to obey. And every time hes obeying a command he looks at my face and barks real loud. Like as if hes grumbling at me and following orders. SIT = bow wow bow bow and the he sits......STAND = Bow bow bow wow and then stands.... same with lie down and most other commands. This has started recently over last 2 months. Is this normal dobbie behaviour ?
It sounds like your Doberman is still in the teenage stage and is testing boundaries. So far, he has been successful with pushing you, so it only will get worse. Check out John's leadership and teenage Doberman videos. There is a lot of good information. I hate to say it, but you " watered down" your commands. They don't mean anything to your dog anymore. He learned that it doesn't matter what you say because there are no consequences. Generally, you should only give a command ONE time. If you say sit and he doesn't sit, you pull up on the leash and push down his butt (with 2 fingers so there's a little discomfort). If he sits, reward him in a timely manner. Just for the record: you need to be 100% sure that your dog knows the commands you're giving. If not, you have to teach it first. I also suggest working on building a relationship with your dog. If your dogs want to work for you, everything is much easier. Good luck!
@@appaloosatexas3254 > Hi and thanks. He used to be that way. Army style response time. One command was enough. Last 3 months my wife took over his daily regime. She uses wrong command words. Wont follow discipline. She is like that by nature, extreme disorganized person, cant train a human also to change permanantly. I am unable to continue training the dog for my health reasons. So is it bec shes was lax with him and undisciplined he has turned indifferent to all my commands ?? Now he doesnt obey even me and all my old training from when he was a baby.