Take the A Train

Most principles of dog training apply to Dobermans. For example, you should never try to train a dog when he is tired or hungry. Training sessions should be short (10 minutes or less) and simple (one trick at a time for beginners). The Doberman’s temperament and intelligence make the breed different from many others in a few ways.

Dobermans have the ability to apply one command to many different situations; however, they may need to have the command re-enforced so that they know it’s the same in each circumstance. For instance, a Doberman trained to sit only on a tile floor may not know that it’s okay to sit on a carpeted floor, too. In his mind, sitting can only happen on tile, and he must be shown that carpeting “works” also.

It’s shortsighted to assume the dog is dumb for not applying the command to each circumstance, but actually, this behavior is a testament to the dog’s perceptive abilities. He knows the difference between tile and carpeting. He knows that sitting involved tiled flooring and carpeting is not the same as tile. He has associated the movement of sitting with having tile underneath him.

To prevent these misunderstandings, Dobermans should be trained in a variety of circumstances and exposed to as many new experiences as possible. Once he has all his shots and is leash trained, take your Doberman on walks through city parks, along country lanes, and on sidewalks. In all of these places, he should heel. Bring him to dog-friendly businesses other than the vet’s office. He will learn that riding in the car doesn’t mean a visit to the bad guy, and that he should act well-mannered no matter where he is.

Imagine if your children stayed at home all the time except for trips to the doctor’s office. What a limited scope of life experience they would have! Upon the rare occasion that they went to a public place, they would assume that it’s okay to shout, run, and play as if they were at home. It’s no different for Dobermans. Widely varied experiences enhance their natural intelligence and mannerly behavior.

Dobermans tend to be one-person dogs. That is, they bond to one person specifically. Although he may like the company of other family members and friends of the family, the person who takes care of his feeding, grooming, exercise, and training is usually his favorite. Therefore, Dobermans usually listen to their main person more than others. It may be frustrating to see your Doberman standing resolutely when the neighbor says, “Sit! Sit!” over and over; however, your dog is simply following his breeding by being loyal to you.

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