What should be the age of the dog that can be trained???

Question

I've got a 2yr old male dog who's too playful.I wanted it be trained.Also, should a dog breed with his kind only???Mine's a dobberman.

Answer 1

You should get your dog spayed -- he'll be easier to control, and you won't have to worry about his puppies dying. UNLESS, you want to be a breeder, then yes, your dog should only breed with his own kind. Mutts are much harder to place in homes than pure-breds (sad fact of life).

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but it can be done, with lots of love and lots of treats. There are tons of websites out there -- you should find one that sounds like what *you* want. Another thing you might want to consider is that a 2-year-old is in the prime of life -- he needs lots and lots of exercise, and that may cut down on the playfulness.

Answer 2

Oh, my god, 2 years old and not fixed.

Your dog shouldn't be breeding with dogs of ANY kind, unless you're a reputable breeder (and I'm pretty sure you're not). There's too many dogs in the world that are killed every day because people won't do the right thing and get their dogs fixed.

And that will help with the training issues, somewhat. Your dog's not too old to train..big dogs like Dobies are still puppies. Find a good trainer locally and get him into classes (Call your local shelter, they can set you up. Sometimes local prisons also offer training through their inmates as well.)

And again...YOUR DOG SHOULD NOT BE BREEDING WITH ANY KIND. NONE.

The world does not need more puppies.

Answer 3

Training can begin the day someone brings home that 8 week old puppy. A dog is never too young or too old to learn.

I wouldn't breed your dog tho. There is a huge financial commitment along with the time invested to doing it properly. If the breeder didn't sell you this dog with the intensions to breed, then your dog isn't going to have the proper quality to breed. A good breeder would have taken you on to mentor you and guide you in the right direction to showing your dog and such. If not doing this, then it was a backyard breeder/puppy mill and should not be bred.

Answer 4

You can start training at any age but the longer you wait the harder it is. Since your dog is only two they still tend to have the puppy mentality but some bad habits have probably formed and they will be the hardest challenge. If you can go to your local Petsmart and sign up for a Beginner training class they aren't that expensive and their training methods work. I took that class and I plan to go on to Intermediate. I have a lab and he was one and a half before he went to that class with the limited training I gave him. Since then he is a new dog. I hope you find a solution. Good luck.

Answer 5

He's 2 yrs old? He should have been trained by now. But you can still train him. It takes consistancy, consistancy, consistancy!
Get him fixed for his future health. Don't breed him. Just rescue a dog if you want more of them.

Answer 6

Take it from a fellow Dobie-owner: Dobermans are TROUBLE.. got to love them for it!

They prefer almost exclusively the company of other Dobies (although Rottweilers, their cousins are usually tolerated)

Breeding Dobermans should be a Dober-affair, unless you see a way of making a better mix, best to leave that to professional doghandlers imo

Dobermans are very cunning animals, and excellent actors, one of those breeds that can convince you they are stupid when really they are NOT.

Rule one: be FIRM, Dobie wants you to be the master or you WILL become their slave

Rule two: be CONSISTENT, ONE slip will have the Dobie laugh at you and ignore your screams for days if not weeks

Rule three: you will NEVER catch a doberman if he don't want you to, so best to not take chances, as dead animals are a LIKELY result. (q.v.)

Rule four: dobermans are chasers, bred for centuries to kill runaway (black) slaves, they will challenge EVERYTHING at least once, be prepared, and take action when needed, and don't hesitate to get physical, dogs like these laugh at words.
Mine challenged an 18hand fullblood, and I had to grab a 5 foot stick and literally wedge myself between it and the horse (plus rider)

the best time to start training dogs is at 4 to 6 months, you having a Doberman is your luck as Dobies age slowly, and take 2 to 2½ years to fully mature (mine is 19 months now...sigh)

I strongly urge you to go to dog classes, and bring a bag of treats! Bribery is one of your better bets..

use clicker-training...>> the dog performs perfect, click and treat..
the dog does not do perfect, treat anyway..after a while the dog will be happy with the clicking noise, and you may then get away with the occasional attaboy and pat on the back..treats are preferred..

Dobermans will chase EVERYTHING, especially if it looks/moves/behaves as prey (wounded/hurt)

Dobermans will challenge everything, at least once.. THIS INCLUDES YOU!
Mine challenged an 18hand fullblood, and I had to grab a 5 foot stick and literally wedge myself between it and the horse (plus rider) also it challenged motorcycles, cyclists, joggers (especially the lamers), swans, ravens, crows, other dogs (especialy tiny noisy ones like Jack Russel terriers), cats and anything else that runs or scuttles, and I forgot a few.. getting a muzzle could prevent you tons of grief, and could save lives

I have stared into the eyes of a murderous animal if it wants the stick but won't get it right away, and that was after 6 months of training!
I got the dog at 8 months, as 3rd owner, which is NOT GOOD, but he is improving and I could not want a more adoring companion, and after 9 months of consistency he IS coming round, but you should ALWAYS be alert.

The Doberman NEEDS to RUN, at least 50 miles a week...

the only way you can keep up, is by getting a "springer" a spring lever attachable to a bicycle, and let him drag you and the bicycle you attach the springer to for 5 to 10 miles a day..train the dog to walk/run with a bicycle first, mind you.

Dobermans are jealous sometimes, and ALL those I know bond solely with their carer, whom they adore to death if you treated properly.... beware for problems with (girl)friends, as Dobermans are possessive as a rule of thumb, and very protective.

Dobermans are personal dogs, and will desire most what you covet... he will want to eat what you eat, sleep where you sleep, and be the like....mine is horribly spoilt and eats everything, from bananas and clementines to bread, pasta and rice, be careful with WHAT you give him, if it's "clean" it's usually OK, and there is no other way in which you can make the Dobie love you more than share a bit of your food with it(beware of begging!)

and OFCOURSE the doberman sleeps on my bed whenever he gets a chance...sigh

Dobermans suffer 2 main weaknesses that I know of:

-hind legs may be over-strained and the dog may end up lame
-Dobies have a feeble digestive tract and suffer "stool-problems" easily, something that can be countered by giving the doberman properly composed food (brand is not SO important).

It is fine to give the dobie scraps of meat, fruit, and even veg (my dobie eats grass sometimes, to clean out his digestive tract as he has NEVER vomited), but NEVER candy or processed foodstuffs (such as cheese-food or beloni slices)


and for all the other know-it-alls:

Neutering reduces the dog's vitality ONLY, and is a LAST resort.
Spaying females is FAR LESS dramatic, and strongly advised..

Breeding the dog is ok IF YOU HAVE a place for the puppies to go BEFORE they are conceived.

Much succes with your Dobie, if you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me..