What to do about an over protective Doberman?

Question

My year and a half old dobie is a giant sweetheart. He's friendly, well-behaved and an all around sweetie pie... the only thing is he is VERY VERY VERY over protective of me. If we're walking down the street and someone approaches, he shoves me behind him and bares his teeth. If a friend or aquaintance moves too quickly towards me, they're shoved away with a growl... he has even very occaisonally done this with regards to my husband. He's not agressive, he has never bitten anyone or threatened them. He doesn't act like this with my husband and I'm wondering if there is some way I can get him to chill. He's great with other dogs and kids and people he knows... but I with strangers or people he doesn't know this behavior comes up. Is there anything I can do?

My year and a half old dobie is a giant sweetheart. He's friendly, well-behaved and an all around sweetie pie... the only thing is he is VERY VERY VERY over protective of me. If we're walking down the street and someone approaches, he shoves me behind him and bares his teeth. If a friend or aquaintance moves too quickly towards me, they're shoved away with a growl... he has even very occaisonally done this with regards to my husband. He's not agressive, he has never bitten anyone or threatened them. He doesn't act like this with my husband and I'm wondering if there is some way I can get him to chill. He's great with other dogs and kids and people he knows... but I with strangers or people he doesn't know this behavior comes up. Is there anything I can do?

To clarify... he has occaisonally shoved my husband away if we're having a disagreement or even playing... but he doesn't go all overprotective with David... it's like he assumes the alpha dog can take care of himself.

Answer 1

If your dog is sometimes protecting you from your husband - the DOG is the alpha in the relationship. Dobermans in particular tend to be very possessive of their female owners. And you may not perceive it as aggression because he hasn't bitten anyone (yet), but ANY snarling or growling is threatening, aggressive behavior. It is very likely that you are subtly rewarding his actions by touching him or speaking soothingly to him, "no, no, there's a good boy, take it easy." That is praise, NOT correction. Most people secretly like to own a tough dog - it's kind of cool to think your dog would protect you like that, but it's a twisted relationship where the dog is in control.

You need to be the alpha over the dog, so that he doesn't feel the need to behave like this. The dog thinks HE' S your boyfriend and he's jealous. You are not providing clear, firm leadership if he thinks he can tell you what to do and who you may see. Do some obedience training for at least 15 minutes every day - HEEL, SIT, STAY, DOWN, COME. Dobermans are athletes - make sure he's getting plenty of strenuous exercise, at least a thirty minute strenuous run twice a day.

If the dog's in bed or on the couch with you, you're giving him the impression that he is your equal - you need to be the boss. Get his butt on the floor and keep it there. Don't do anything for him before he does something for you. If he wants to go out or get a treat, he has to sit and stay first. If he nudges you and demands to be petted, make him lie down before you do it. Absolutely no playing tug-of-war; it teaches him to challenge your authority.

When you're walking him, use a chain choke collar high up behind his ears. Make him sit everytime you stop. If someone approaches, make him lie down and stay. Correct him with a sharp tug on the leash for every growl or lifted lip. (Don't worry - he'll still protect you from any REAL danger.) Ask your friends to meet you outside for long walks while you train the dog. First, walk along together until he relaxes, then have them walk past you and toward you, each time moving closer. Make the dog lie down and have them stop in front of you and have a conversation. If he even starts to glare at them, correct him - tap him on the head to distract him if you see him tense up. Do this at least twenty times a day. When he's doing well after a month, then start inviting people to your home. Keep him on the leash and practice the same way. They shouldn't try to pet him - he doesn't have to like them, just tolerate them because YOU say so.

Also, you should practice frequently in the house with your husband. Make the dog lie down and stay on his bed while you and your husband kiss and hug. When he stays while you do that, start having a mild, fake argument - YOU should correct the dog and make him lie down if he shoves between you or growls. Don't forget to reward him when he's being GOOD! Go over to his bed and pet him and praise him for staying - then go back to hugging or arguing.

You should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

Answer 2

We also have a doberman, (our 2nd), and they all seem to be big sweethearts. They are by nature, very protective and this is mostly a good thing. But if he's being protective of you with your husband, you might want to nip this in the bud very quickly. It will be much easier to do now than later on, and the problem could get worse. Our dog is older, and usually just a big baby. He is protective, and in his old age, not always cooperative. If you try to make him do something he doesn't want to do, he will bite (not dangerously, but not pleasantly, either). He's too old to train, so we're just trying to do the best we can in the situation, and he's usually just a big baby. But looking back, a little training would have been a great thing. Contact a local trainer, or if you have a PetSmart nearby, they offer various kinds of classes, many on a weekly basis. In a few years, you'll be very glad you did. In my experience, they tend to get more protective as they get older, and yours sounds borderline already. Training will give you the control of deciding who is a danger to you, instead of the dog.

Answer 3

Please do not say your Dobe will never chunk any individual. Aggression is shown by raising the hair on his back and growling. Dobes are naturally protective dogs and i've spoken to many breeders and trainers before who say there is not any such thing as an overprotective Dobe. Overprotective manner VERY ALERT and ON safeguard, however overprotective DOES no longer mean growling and dangerous to chew and raising neck hair. In case you believe your canine has an problem with aggression (growling, raising hair on again, threatening to chew) you then should be consulting a official canine trainer before you've blood to your palms. I am not preaching to you, i'm a victim. I had 5 stitches put in my left hand to shut a bone-exposing, tendon tearing canine chunk. It might have been worse. The owner was once sued in courtroom and the dog was once destroyed when you consider that the choose deemed the dog 'unsuitable' for a dwelling atmosphere due to his 'overprotective' demeanor. The one prior problems the owner of that canine had was that the canine had growled at a couple of humans and 'threatened to chunk' someone. Within the house owners phrases, "he's particularly a tender canine, under no circumstances bit any one before" Please take your canine's indicators severely and consult a official. This fashion, that you can appear ahead to a trustworthy dog AND a household who's relaxed around your Dobe. First-class desires

Answer 4

Just a thought. If you seem to be nervous the dog will pick up on this and not let people near you when you walk. It could be that you are nervous when you walk this dog. You have to be the boss and let the dog know when it is not the time to get defencive. Try taking a walk and arrange to pass a friend or two that have some of his treats with them. Rough house with David and let the dog know that you are fine and don't need his help. It sounds like your dog is top dog and you need to move him down a bit in the family chain. Glad that you are on it now. Hope that you can calm him down a bit.

Answer 5

Well shoving someone aside with a growl IS threatening. And in one sentence you say he does it sometimes in regards to your husband, then at the bottom you say he doesn't act like this with your husband. Which is it??????? I think you have a serious problem that at some point will get out of hand. Either you accept that and seek professional training help, or you continue to deny it. It's not just a river in Egypt and YOU are in it!!!!

What he is doing with your husband IS dominant behavior!!!!!!!!
YOU AE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM IF YOU DO NOT GET HELP!!!!! At the very least, you are not going to have friends that want to come over due to your dog!!!!! He is becoming the pack leader!!! If he felt that your husband was totally the dominant one, he would not be doing what he is doing!!!!!!!!!!

DENIAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

That is unusual for a male usually females are the overly protective ones. I have never been able to change this behavior in a female. It must also provide you a good feeling that he is eager to keep you safe. I'm not sure I would change it if he doesn't hurt anyone.

Do not buy a Beware of Dog sign if you get sued the prosecutor will use it against you. saying you knew you had a dangerous animal and did nothing about it. A sign NEVER releases anyone of liability it just proves you were aware of the problem but were unwilling to correct it.

Answer 7

Please do not say your Dobe will by no means chew anybody. Aggression is proven by means of elevating the hair on his again and growling. Dobes are evidently protecting puppies and I've spoken to many breeders and running shoes earlier than who say there is not any such factor as an overprotective Dobe. Overprotective manner VERY ALERT and ON GUARD, however overprotective DOES NOT MEAN growling and perilous to chew and elevating neck hair. If you believe your puppy has an hindrance with aggression (growling, elevating hair on again, threatening to chew) then you definately must be consulting a respectable puppy teacher earlier than you will have blood to your palms. I am now not preaching to you, I'm a sufferer. I had five stitches installed my left hand to near a bone-exposing, tendon tearing puppy chew. It would had been worse. The proprietor used to be sued in courtroom and the puppy used to be destroyed due to the fact that the pass judgement on deemed the puppy 'mistaken' for a house atmosphere because of his 'overprotective' demeanor. The handiest earlier issues the landlord of that puppy had used to be that the puppy had growled at a couple of persons and 'threatened to chew' any individual. In the house owners phrases, "he is particularly a smooth puppy, by no means bit anybody earlier than" Please take your puppy's indications significantly and seek advice a respectable. This method, you'll be able to appear ahead to a nontoxic puppy AND a household who's relaxed round your Dobe. Best Wishes

Answer 8

Look for a dog training class or a dog trainer in your area. Sometimes this behavior can be modified, particularly at your dog's age. We have some very overprotective pomeranians, which are much easier to control, but their overprotectiveness remains in spite of intensive training. We just protect them and people around them by keeping them at a distance.

Answer 9

Your sweetheart needs to learn that your friends and your husband present no danger. In order to for him to learn this, you should consider contacting a professional dog trainer. I know that this is the last thing that you wanted to read, but they can help. There are trainers that are employed by PetsMart. In order to get in touch with them simply phone the PetsMart in your area and ask to speak to a trainer and then tell them of your dog's behavior. If there is not a PetsMart in your area, do you know anyone who is good with training dogs such as maybe a neighbor or maybe a police officer. I say "police officer" because the police have K-9 units and the officers who work with these dogs are really knowledgeable. They can tell you what to do. You need to work with your dog to slowly---very slowly--teach him that your friends and your husband pose no threat to you. In order to do this, you and your friends will have to know what to do. Here goes. When you are walking down the street and one of your friends approaches, ask them to speak to the dog first and not to move toward you at first. After they do this for awhile then when you meet, the friend speaks to the dog and then to you remaining at a distance from you. Then you return your friend's greeting. Keep this up until your dog no longer acts overprotective with this. Then it is time to move on to the next step. In this step, you and your dog are walking along and one of your friends approaches and speaks to the dog and then to you. You return the friend's greeting. Then your friend SLOWLY takes ONE step toward you and your dog. If the dog behaves in an overprotective manner, ask that your friend go back to her original position on the sidewalk and ask that she talk to the dog in a soothing manner assuring him that everything is all right, she won't hurt him or you, etc. Things like that. When she stops this you also tell your dog things like "this lady is our friend" and so on. At the point when your friend can come walking toward you and speak to you and the dog and make one step toward you without the dog's becoming overprotective try two steps. (This is a long process but it will be worth it.) You mentioned that sometimes your friends or acquaintances move quickly toward you and are shoved away with a growl. When they do this, the dog believes that they are threatning you because they are moving too rapidly toward you. He perceives this as a threat. This is why your friends should move VERY, VERY, SLOWLY at first. Also, one of the reasons that your dog reacts in this way is that a stranger (to him) has invaded "his space". This is the area around the two of you that he considers his territory. All dogs protect their terrirory and "their people" (you).

To sum this up, you and your friends and your husband should move very slowly in trying this. Do not scold the dog unduly. Simply say something like "No" or "She's our friend--remember" and things along that line.

Also, has your dog met your friends? He may perceive them as strangers despite the fact that you know them as friends. He should meet them a few at a time. Have a few friends over and try introducing him to them in an informal setting. Maybe he simply doesn't know that these people are your friends. I have friends that my doggie hasn't met, and she barks at them. I am working with her, however.

Also, if you need more help there is the Internet. Purina has a site and Pedigrees has a site. On both these sites are "Ask the vet a question". You might receive some hints here. The Internet addresses of the sites are:

www.purina.com
www.pedigrees.com

If you can't find either of them using these links, simply type in the words "Purina.com" without the quotes or "Pedigrees.com" without the quotes. You can also try something like "What can I do for an overprotective dog?" without the quotes.

Good luck and I hope that some of this will be of help.

Answer 10

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/05juU

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.