Perplexed by barking behaviour ...

Khiera · 07-09-2008, 02:02 PM

I'm hoping someone who has had more experience owning dobes can help shed some light on this ...

My Dobie, Dante, is currently 14 months old. He has a lovely temparament, is very sociable and plays well with other dogs, albeit a little rough sometimes.

We visit the local dog park regularly. With some dogs, after an initial playbow, some jumping and wiggling around in play, he will begin to bark loudly and incessantly in their face, almost as if to prompt the other dog to play harder and move faster. Most other dogs don't like this, and when Dante begins his barking will either shy away or freeze or stop playing. Dante will then continue on barking until the other dog tells him off or continues playing. Usually at this point i step in and try to direct Dante away. If the other dog tries to run away Dante then pursues them and continues with the barking. It gets frustrating sometimes because he knows the "Quiet" command but will choose to ignore it in such a situation. Is this some form of aggression???? Or is it overenthusiasm?? Or something else entirely??

Another example. Another dog came up to me in the park and it was very friendly, so i said hello, let it sniff me first, and then started petting it. Dante stood by my side and started barking loudly at the other dog, and wouldn't quiet down when told to. What's he trying to say???

**dobermansrule** · 07-09-2008, 02:12 PM

maybe it's a doberman thing. Our boy plays that way too - like's he's bossing the other dogs - play with me play with me... we just let him do it, though, when he was in puppy obedience class, the instructor constantly gave us/him the stink eye and he got barky timeout in class.

Anyway, it sounds like he is a barky player.

jaxadam · 07-09-2008, 02:13 PM

I have a friend who's two dobes love to bark when someone stops to talk to them when they are out for a walk. His dobes are wonderful and completely harmless, so I don't think it's really an aggression issue. Probably just a little overenthusiasm.

I know plenty of loudmouthed humans who mean no harm.

aquaholic · 07-09-2008, 02:49 PM

Logan can be really loud mouthed at the park. He does it almost as he's speaking, to get the other dog going ....

At home, he's mouthy too, but he never lets it turn into a full bark . . he just makes annoying whining noises, like he's crying to get attention!

That's the problem with these very intelligent dogs! They're smarter than we are at times

Khiera · 07-09-2008, 02:53 PM

Ok, i feel kind of relieved to know that it's not just my boy that's acting that way!!! The only thing that i haven't figured out is that he only does the barking thing to some dogs (maybe 1 out of every 5 he comes across and plays with) but not others, and i can't figured out the common thread or factor to the exceptions yet!

The other thing is that i don't mind him doing the barking when it's evident that the dogs are playing well or that the other dog will stand up to Dante and tell him off if they've had enough. However, with more shy or less confident dogs and their owners, i get dirty glares like my dog is trying to eat their dog or hurt them with this loud, "aggressive" barking!

When i pet other dogs and Dante decides to bark at them, my trainer says that's Dante being possessive of me and should be admonished for behaving that way??? Thoughts???

robinb · 07-09-2008, 02:57 PM

I think taking any Doberman to a dog park, especially a male, neutered or not, is just asking for trouble. JMHO

Khiera · 07-09-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinb

I think taking any Doberman to a dog park, especially a male, neutered or not, is just asking for trouble. JMHO

Can you elaborate on why? And is it a breed-specific thing? Please don't misunderstand, i'm not trying to be snotty, just that i've heard that more than once and would like to learn more about the reasons behind it. I'm constantly re-evaluating the things that i'm doing with my Dobie ... the education never ends.

**2gooddobes** · 07-09-2008, 03:07 PM

I hate dog parks. Sooner or later an incident is going to happen. Remeber it's not always your dog you have to worry about. Beetle got tore up by a female GSD that the owner said was well trained and friendly. Poor guy went to fetch his ball and this GSD barged in and it wasn't pretty.

robinb · 07-09-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khiera

Can you elaborate on why? And is it a breed-specific thing? Please don't misunderstand, i'm not trying to be snotty, just that i've heard that more than once and would like to learn more about the reasons behind it. I'm constantly re-evaluating the things that i'm doing with my Dobie ... the education never ends.

First off if anything were to happen the Doberman would be blamed, furthermore like it or not many would rather just ban the breed period. I just wouldn't put my dog at that risk. Also many people just have nasty dogs and I don't want my dog picked on by one of those, and thus turn into a nasty dog around other dogs. Finally there are many male dobes that just won't tolerate another male.

Much better to find a few pals, whose dogs you know, and have play dates.

**dobermansrule** · 07-09-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinb

I think taking any Doberman to a dog park, especially a male, neutered or not, is just asking for trouble. JMHO

AMEN! Quincy has been 'jumped' twice just minding his own business. It's like jumping a doberman is right of passage for the other dogs in the punk dog club or something. I just don't get it - "oh he's never done that before" or "it must be your doberman". So, no mas!