I think ive made a really bad mistake getting a puppy?

Question

I feel really terrible about this as i didnt just get a puppy without thinking, i thought about nothing else for the last 6 months, we read all the books, found a good breeder, and puppy proofed the house.
We spent ages finding a breeder we liked, visited mia from 3 weeks till 7 weeks when we picked her up, and i was so excited about getting her. The thing is even though i love her to bits, i have this feeling that we have made a terrible mistake, she seems very dominant and im not sure we are going to be able to cope with her as she gets bigger( she is a doberman 8weeks now).
She bites alot, when she is calm she isnt so bad, but she has a couple of mad hours, and runs round and round biting/snapping at everyone. We tell her no, and try to ignore her but its hard.
I cant take her out as she hasnt had her injections yet.
Please could anyone with experience of dobermans give me some advice, will she calm down, how can i let her know that i am the boss?

I am doing some training with her, come sit etc. when she is calm she is lovely, but when she is hyper she is abit scary

The kennel club say that puppys can leave the mother at 7 weeks, so i dont think she left to early.
Also doberman dont all bite!

Thanks everyone i really appreciate all your advice, i have never had a puppy before, so i have nothing to compare mia to.I was just feeling so overwhelmed by her, i feel so much better knowing this is normal puppy behaviour, and that other people have also thought "what have i done!" I did underestimate the work involved, even though people told me, i still didnt realise!
I love mia, and today i am going to start afresh, lots more exersize in the garden, and the trainer idea is great,i will look into that, thanks again, you have put everything into perspective :-)

Answer 1

My first advice is to take a deep breath, relax a bit and don't panic! If this is your first puppy, you're not the first person to feel this way - it's sort of like having a new baby, you suddenly think "Oh my gosh, what on earth have I done?", even if you planned it all down to the last detail.

Your puppy is behaving like a normal puppy, it's nothing that you won't be able to handle, honestly. Although 7 weeks is a bit young for her to leave her mom and siblings, it doesn't condemn her to being a 'social misfit' or such like. She just needs to be taught what is acceptable behavior in her new home.

I breed and own Rottweilers, owned a German Shepherd for 12 years, and although I haven't owned a Doberman I'm familiar with the breed characteristics. Although these dogs are very active and fearless, they're also extremely intelligent and very trainable. They have to be in order to be good, discerning guard dogs. Although you may have ended up with a dominant puppy, as a new owner with no previous experience to compare to you just may be confusing dominance with a certain amount of normal puppy energy, enthusiasm, stubborness and excitablility. The 'mad hours' are what we call the 'crazy puppy' and running in circles, snapping etc. in typical - it's a way of burning off her excess energy - emotional and physical - often at the end of the day.

You generally start the vaccinations at around 6 weeks of age, so she should have had at least one set by now. If not, do that right away. Once she's had at least two sets of shots you may be able to start her at a puppy class. Some obedience schools will take a pup that is current on shots, even if not finished the entire course. Getting her in a puppy class will do wonders for both of you. It will help her learn what is acceptable, how to listen and obey your commands and be a valuabel socialization experience. For you, it will give you a chance to have someone more experienced show you how to communicate with your pup, and the best way to deal with any problems that arise. This will help the 'dominance' issue, as once she starts paying attention to you and learns to follow commands, she will naturally follow your lead.

I would also suggest that you increase the amount of exercise that she's getting. Dobermans are active, energetic dogs and need to burn up that energy. If you can't walk her outside yet, at least play several games of 'fetch', 'frisbee' or similar. Try getting her used to wearing a leash and walk her around your yard etc. Even the 'practice lessons' you give her are exercise in a way as they make her mind work and that is tiring for a puppy. Don't be tempted to play tug-of-war games with her though, it's not a good thing to do with a dog that will be big and strong and is self-confident.

Make sure she has lots of really sturdy toys. Kongs filled with peanut butter or treats are great, so are PRESSED rawhide bones (not the knotted kind), at 8 weeks she won't be able to destroy every toy she gets her teeth into (yet!) so take advantage of soft or canvas toys too, most pups adore those. There are some great interactive toys that dispense treats when pushed around or played with, even balls that talk or make animal sounds etc. These will help to keep her busy and amused, again using up that energy.

Be reassured that this puppy phase does pass, and she'll grow out of a lot of the bad behaviors you're seeing right now, as long as you show her what is and isn't acceptable, and channel her energies in a positive way.

There's so much to learn when you have a new puppy, that there's not enough room here... but if you go to the website below you can find tons of free help, advice and info. on all aspects of raising and training puppies. You can even submit any questions you have and get one-on-one advice and help.

Best of luck with your Dobie!

Answer 2

Ok, I'm not going to go on about her when you got her.

Let's talk about what you are feeling. I think you did everything right but you may have underestimated a couple of things.

1. A puppy and the work. Pups are a HUGE amount of work. They really are. If you are feeling overwhelmed by her at this age, it's going to get worse. At this point, they are much easier to control because they are small.

b. possibly the breed. Dobies are smart pups. They learn fast and will test you. If you let this pup intimidate you, which it sounds like may be happening, you may be in for trouble as this pup grows.

My advice now is to think long and hard about this. You are questioning your decision and I think rightly so. If you are doing it now, I think it's time to contact your breeder and talk about returning the pup.

It's not a bad thing. It doesn't mean you don't love her and you are a bad person. What it means is you aren't a PUPPY person! That's ok!

Call your breeder and see if you can return her as soon as possible. Perhaps your breeder has an older dog - a dam that has been retired from breeding that is ready for a nice loving family. This dog will be ready for a family and isn't going to test you so much.

If that's not the case, you can start looking at other breeds that aren't as intimidating as a dobie. Someone a little lower key and a little older.

I honestly think that if you are having 2nd thoughts now, you have to trust your instincts for your own good and most importantly the good of the pup. If you can't commit, fully, with enthusiasm and be 100% in charge of that pup -no holds barred, you are in for trouble. This is certainly the case with a dobie pup, but is also the case with any pup.

Please contact your breeder.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you find a nice, calmer, dog at about a year or 2 that would be better suited for you and your home. There are tons out there - a good rescue can help too!

Good luck!

Answer 3

She is a baby still and wants to play. The biting and snapping is just what puppies do. Give her more exercise and wear her out a bit. That will curb some of the unwanted activity. Also, call and talk to the breeder. If you are really serious about giving her up, most good breeders would rather take the dog back and find them another home than have you take the dog to a shelter or pound. The breeder may also have advice on how to handle your pup.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Her behavior sounds typical of most puppies. Dobermans are especially fun-loving and zestful, so they may be a bit more intense when wound up. If her biting is just puppy play, you should be able to get that under control with general training and time outs. If you are concerned that it might not be play, or if you just don't know if you are handling it correctly, contact a private trainer for an evaluation. The sooner the better, as any behavior that isn't "normal" for a pup and goes untreated can become a major issue in a couple of months.

Answer 5

How experienced were you with dogs when you decided to get one? You may be seeing normal puppy behavior but, with inexperience, mistaking it for dominance. She's teething. EVERYTHING goes in her mouth. She does the loopy's thing - relax, it's a blast to watch. She's just using up pent up energy. She's trying to involve people in her play.
Of course, she could indeed be a dominant dog - and if you are inexperienced the best thing you can do is to continue to study, and if possible, it would be great if you can consult a trainer - one that believes in positive reinforcement.

It's one thing to "know" puppies are hard work. It's another thing altogether to discover they have far more energy than you do, and inventive minds and you get so exhausted... It takes things out of perspective for you and you feel so overwhelmed.

There is a stage in bonding that I call the "Oh my gosh, what have I done!" stage. It's perfectly natural, happens with most dog/owner bondings and you CAN live through it.

I think you just need a little help here. Do you have someone who raised puppies into wonderful dogs that you know? Ask them for advice. Go back to the breeder and ask them too. Get on www.petfinder.com and access the ASPCA's library of advice.

She will calm down - but not as fast as you wish. I remember my 1st dog as an adult. I had read somewhere that it takes about 1 1/2 years for a dog to calm down. I remember the night I sat on the floor, with Megan running wild puppy circles around me and occassionally coming in for the nip as she went by. I sat there praying "Please God, make her a year and a half NOW." Megan went on to live to be 17, did calm down, and though she's been gone for many years there is still a missing hole in my heart from losing her so "soon".

Answer 6

Well, lesson learned. Yeah, when you get a dog you probably won't sleep all the way through the night for at least the first week, sometimes more. It will take some time, but if you kennel train your dog (put it in it's kennel each night) in another room, you will eventually see it start to chill out at night. I promise if you give the dog a chance (more than just a day or two) it is so very worth it. Dogs are not an easy pet. They can be very high maintenance & need lots of attention & they don't choose convenient times for it. If you truly don't want this dog, take it to the Humane society or the local ASPCA where they can adopt it out through pet stores & find it a good home.

Answer 7

I wouldn't panic yet, but you have some work to do. Puppies tend to have a lot of energy, it is up to you to channel it into non offensive behaviour- at 8 weeks she should have already had 2 sets of shots with one to go, in the mean time, take her outside and give her lots of good exercise- chasing balls, running around the yard, etc. This will help wear her out, find a puppy class in your area and get registered for it, some start as young as 3 months, get yourself a basic dog training book (Personally I recommend "Dog Training for Dummies") get her some acceptable things to chew on. Get in touch with the breeder and let her know you need guidance. Luckily, this is a very popular breed, so you can probably find a breed club in your area- a great source of information from people who know and love the breed. They do calm down as they get older, but building the proper foundation now will make your life a lot easier....Good luck, and congratulations.

Answer 8

when she gets into teh hyper puppy stage ( this is normal just like children)
Put her on the leash and do some of the training.
when seh bites don't just say no but give her what she is allowed to bite or chew on.
I would also suggest dog obedience classes at 3 months after she gets her full boosters.
They can be trained and are wonderful dogs it's just a time of patience and consitency.
Something else is when you feed her make her sit as you put the food down if she goes to get up don't put the food down but corect her this will let her know you are boss. the alpha is the one that eats first before teh rest.

Answer 9

She should have spent more time w/ mom... She shouldn't be in your home til she is at least 9 weeks of age. Mom and littermates would have done most of this work for you.

She is a Doberman puppy, she is high energy, fun loving and you need to teach her what she needs to know now. The very best thing you can do at this point is to start teaching her little things. PRAISE everytime you see her doing exactly what you want her to do. Even if you didn't tell her to do something.. You see her sitting there quietly you tell her Good Girl.

When you aren't teaching her something, you are spending your time getting her tired. :) You should have her in a crate at night, and when you can't watch her thru the day, and when you leave the house.
But you aren't giving her enough to do, she needs more interaction so that she gets tired out. Burns off that energy that is causing her to race thru the house chasing everyone down.

Give her lots to chew and play with. Play little games with her, Dobermans are SMART, and catch on easily. They'll come up with their own games if you give them the chance.

She should have already had one vaccination before she left the breeder?!? If she has none you should get to the vet today and get her started on her vaccinations. Dobermans and Rottweilers are more prone to Parvo than some breeds and you need to get her vaccinated so you can get her out and wear her down...

When she bites you, take back your hand and Tell her NO. Give her something appropriate to play with. If she continues and she will... When she bites, tell her NO and get up and leave. You want to teach her that you will not interact with her if she is going to be biting you.

You should be feeding her a good quality food. Candidae All Life Stages is what we feed our dogs. You don't want her eating a food high in protein, as it will make her grow too fast, and it will make her wild and out of control.. The protein in puppy foods are too high and it'll make her hyper.

Don't suck her up! You can be sweet with her when she is sleeping and when she is calm.. But if you find something that makes her nervous don't coddle her at all.. Introduce her to everything and anything, people, other dogs, cats, loud noises etc.

You should start now looking for a good training class in your area, so that you are ready to start as soon as you get on those vaccinations. If the breeder didn't vaccinate her, she likely didn't worm her either. So you should take a stool sample w/ you to the vet and have them test for worms and parasites.

Remember, she will be big, so don't let her get away with anything now, you won't be willing to allow her to do when she weighs 75 lbs.

Answer 10

More exercise, spaying, shots and school. Puppies are learning from the time they open their eyes BTW. You need to contact the breeder and explain what is going on, they can help you more than we can. A Doberman needs tons of exercise, more walks, more play may mellow her down a ton. Do NOT let her walk you. You control speed, direction and where she walks. This is the easy period in a puppies life. Wait until she's a little older and you'll have a living terror. I agree, do it right starting NOW or re-home her.