Socialising Your Doberman
Photo courtesy of www.trustdore.com
How well does your Doberman get along with strangers? With other dogs? Is he confident around new sights, sounds, and situations?
Between the ages of three and eight months, don't keep your Doberman sheltered at home. Bring him into a variety of social situations so he will grow up outgoing and unafraid.
Take him to:
Socialising with people
Whenever you see other people, smile and wave and call "Hello!" in a cheerful voice.
Walk up to strangers and ask them what time it is.
Your puppy will pick up on your friendly attitude and happy voice.
He will make good associations with meeting people.
However, when it comes to letting other people pet your Doberman, remember that most puppies and many adult dogs are small. In fact, crouch down to his eye-level to get a feel for his perspective on the world. Things look a bit towering, don't you think? So, ask people to crouch down to his level rather than bending over him. Hand them a treat to give him. Ask them to scratch his chest and under his chin. Emphasize: "Try to keep your palm facing up when you pet him...that makes him feel more confident." Palm up prevents people from dropping their hand out of the sky onto his head, which can be very intimidating.
Socialisation problems
If your dog is shy or nervous or suspicious or nasty with people there are many positive things you can do to help. Three things you don't want to do are reassuring your dog ("It's okay"), picking your dog up, or tightening your dog's leash to hold him close to you. These may seem like natural responses to your dog's anxiety, but they backfire badly by encouraging your dog to act even more timid or aggressive.
A Lifetime of Love
This article is just my opinion and these methods have worked well for me. Remember that a Doberman gives you back tenfold of what you give him. While he is here on earth he will ask nothing of you and give you everything in return. Having a Doberman in your family is well worth what you have to go through to find him even if it takes a long time. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.
Between the ages of three and eight months, don't keep your Doberman sheltered at home. Bring him into a variety of social situations so he will grow up outgoing and unafraid.
Take him to:
- Parks
- Schools
- Ball games
- Playgrounds
- Markets
- Along bike paths
- Shopping centres
- Pet supply stores
- The vet
- Stairs
- Ramps
- Foot bridges
- Railroad tracks
- Manhole covers
- Vinyl/tile floors
Socialising with people
Whenever you see other people, smile and wave and call "Hello!" in a cheerful voice.
Walk up to strangers and ask them what time it is.
Your puppy will pick up on your friendly attitude and happy voice.
He will make good associations with meeting people.
However, when it comes to letting other people pet your Doberman, remember that most puppies and many adult dogs are small. In fact, crouch down to his eye-level to get a feel for his perspective on the world. Things look a bit towering, don't you think? So, ask people to crouch down to his level rather than bending over him. Hand them a treat to give him. Ask them to scratch his chest and under his chin. Emphasize: "Try to keep your palm facing up when you pet him...that makes him feel more confident." Palm up prevents people from dropping their hand out of the sky onto his head, which can be very intimidating.
Socialisation problems
If your dog is shy or nervous or suspicious or nasty with people there are many positive things you can do to help. Three things you don't want to do are reassuring your dog ("It's okay"), picking your dog up, or tightening your dog's leash to hold him close to you. These may seem like natural responses to your dog's anxiety, but they backfire badly by encouraging your dog to act even more timid or aggressive.
A Lifetime of Love
This article is just my opinion and these methods have worked well for me. Remember that a Doberman gives you back tenfold of what you give him. While he is here on earth he will ask nothing of you and give you everything in return. Having a Doberman in your family is well worth what you have to go through to find him even if it takes a long time. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.
