Fortheloveofadoberman

Hi I hope someone can shed some light on this so I can pass it along to my friend.

She has a doberman female, who had run off from home locally and found herself in our community shelter. The owners know who has her but does not want her back. My friend is now beginning to understand why.

This doberman stays outside non stop running the parameters of her yard as though she is guarding the yard. ( she has a pretty big yard ) She barks and never stops. She has become a digger and has even moved railroad ties with her teeth dragging it away from the fence. Afraid that she is going to dig under she has laid chicken wire down, nailing it to the railroad ties to keep her in. After watching her for awhile my friend thinks it's as though she is nervous or has anxiety. Her other dogs will just lay out in the yard watching her as she runs by them and this goes on endlessly. This friend of mine is not a novice with dobermans and she has even asked a mutal friend who does alot with animal behavior what is going on and no luck there either. This is a very nice doberman good temperment seems well adjusted. So just thought I would ask some of you to help so she can correct the problem.

I watched her tonight too, and she does seem to just run the yard around and around if you call her, she may or may not come to you. It's as though all she has on her mind is to run. Anyway, thanks for any input .

RottenVonSpotten

How long does she stay outside? It sounds like a very bored dog that has developed some obsessive behaviors. How much real exercise does she get a day? How much training/mental stimulation?

I wouldn't leave her outside unattended and when I let her out, he would be on a leash with me on the other end. I would work on something like the relaxation protocol with her outside.

BenVera

She may have developed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as well as just plain being bored and under-stimulated. Poor girl.

Fortheloveofadoberman

Well, let me explain a bit more sorry. She stays out because once she let's her out to go potty or get some outside time, she just will not come to her. She has to chase her down. Don't misunderstand, my friend is very good to her pets and I said the same thing, that I think she is bored possibly. I know she gets to run within her yard and like I said she has a big yard. I can tell you too that she was thinking the same thing that maybe long walks would help her, but I do know that my friend has had cancer and probably isn't always feeling up to long walks at least daily. I wonder if she would do better as a only pet but from what I am told she ran like this from her previous home and finally the owners just didn't care to get her back. Her determination to get to whatever is on the other side in the timber is just strange. When she does settle down, she is just adorable, loves attention and wants to be around people. She seems to enjoy the other dogs in the house not an issue there. Just this drive to be on the run around the fence around and around.

I am going to ask her if she has any toys for her to suck on. I know my dobe does and has since I got her. I bought her one when I first got her and if I had taken stock in that I would be rich right now lol. But it seems to calm my girl down and will hold it in her paws and just chew up and down sucking til she starts shaking it and the stuffing comes out .

THanks for your ideas ....

Jenn

I think ive read this right,
The dobiegirl is new to your friends home after running away?

Yes sounds like shes created a habit of this and it will be some good hard work to fix.
Could she get any help from a professional? To analyse her behaviour?
Hard to know exactly how to fix it when you cant see the behaviour.

I wouldnt let her outside without a lead if your friend has to run after her to get her back inside.
Is there anyway you could takethe dog out for a walk when you take your dobe out?
Just a thought if she cant exercise for a long time then maybe you could help if you obviously have the time.
Seems like shes taken on a handful, what made her take her in if shes (in no disrepect what so ever,,) weak. As i have family members with cancer, so i totally feel for your friend.
Its a stressful time that definitly takes it out of you.

Good luck,

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Patches Mom

Anytime you have a dog that will not come put a long line on them before you let them out you can always step on the line then pick it up reel them in wear gloves if needed. Sounds like OCD might talk to a vet about medication to get her to stop or a home that would give her lots of exercise,obedience training NILF dog training might help as well. Good Luck

OldDrumDobes

Some dogs just become obsessed with the idea of escaping. Sometimes if there in a bigger yard (acres) the notation will calm down sometimes not. Personally I'd put her on a flexi in the yard to potty. Interact with her after potting on lead so she has to respond, if not reel her in. Walk the yard talk to the dog keep her engaged, do some sits or downs and reward for the less OCD she behaves. Slowly graduate to off lead potty then on lead time and on down the line. It may never go away completely but that'd be how I'd approach it.


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Old Drum Dobermans

Anton-Caesar

Chasing her around wont help

id take her out for a proper few hours walk and see how she is energy wise, i was Caes up the woods a few hours at least 2 times a week and i take him out 3 seperate times a day on other days, always try to get at least 2 hours of walking in in the day

It sounds like its a habit, aunties Rottie doesnt want to go in the garden most of the time but once he is out there you cant get him back in for ages, but he just wants to be outside he does listen he just gets stubborn when you are trying to get him in

Fortheloveofadoberman

I will talk to my friend she is not novice to dogs especially dobermans. she thinks this is probably a trait this dog has and probably the reason the originals owners just didn't want to get her back. Yes she has spoken with a professional about it and that person is stumped as well. I think she just has this need to run whether it is ocd I don't know but she has informed me she is taking her in to the vet to see about medication, but she doesn't want her to be on that long term either. This is a perplexing situation and my friend just wanted to give her a good home. thank you all for your insight and I will pass it along.

Lori Z

She needs to keep her on a long line so she has control. It sounds like it is an compulsive behavior and she needs to not allow it. She needs to take the dog to an obedience class and work, work, work on recalls. If she was mine I would take her hiking on a long line, daily if possibe and work with the huge reward when she returns. I would reward for her looking at me, throwing her treats if she isn't close enough for me to touch her. If you know your dog ramps up in certain situations, for example her yard, don't let her out alone to begin these behaviors. I'm willing to bet she has a few other complusive like things she does which will become more apparent. Blocking, redirecting is something that can help. She needs to make sure the dog gets tons of more directed exercise running on a long line (flexi) and long walks with training to make her tired, not alone by herself in the backyard.

Also editing to add I don't know what "professional" she saw but she needs to find a really good qualified trainer. I am not sure why the professional was stumped?

Asmit

Like everyone else said, the dog is bored overstimulated and has formed an obsessive habit. Have you vet seen dogs that are kenneled? Same thing. They get bored and stimulated from the other dogs and people around and they take their energy out by spinning barking and appearing "aggressive". When your in an enclosed area have a bunch of drive and energy, you're going to take it out on something. The dogs habit NEEDS to be stopped.

Kbroome

Where is she located? Perhaps I can recommend a good trainer for her.

StarlightDobe

My older girl, who will be 3 next year, also has a bad habit of not coming when called. She stays on a long line whenever she is outside so we can easily control her and bring her in. She has learned that while the line is on we have total control but if she gets out without it, she knows we are powerless to make her obey the command to come in. Which is why unless she slips out the door (which we are very careful not to let happen and if it does its usually one of the kids who didnt pay attention) we have control. She is also very reactive to other animals, and only tolerates our other dobe around her. She is a nervous bundle of energy as well, and will pace the house, and yard seemingly endlessly. When calm she is a sweetheart, cuddly and loveable, though she seems to be getting a bit of an attitude when resting that at times says stay away from me. I found a link in another thread which we are going to try, to hopefully correct some of her behaviour, as well as have her tested for thyroid and anything else which could cause her anxiety. It is possible this might work in your situation as well, I can sympathize with your friend and health issues which prevent the long walks and training sessions, as I have issues of my own which prevent me from taking long daily walks also. Daily exercise is a must even if its throwing a ball and playing in the yard, and this might also help with her recall. Mine will recall when she has a ball, only long enough for you to throw it again though lol. Try the relaxation protocol and maybe it will help, we plan on beginning it very soon.

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Fortheloveofadoberman

Just wana thank you all and I don't know why the behaviorist was stumped, she too is a friend of ours and does private lessons with people and gives dog classes. So I can't answer that question, I have not talked to her about it yet.

I will suggest the thyroid issue and keeping her on a leash. I am sure my friend is aware of the energy and that she needs more of a controlled excersize plan but I will pass that along. From what I witnessed she just paces the yard the fence line watching and listening. (I know my own dog well dogs run the fence but that is only when people are around walking, or people are on bikes etc.) They soon stop though and just lay around outside.

I will get with her and try your suggestions because I know she is worried about her. She doesn't want her to get out and get hurt or her cause her other little dogs to escape. This dog is pretty new to her so she is still learning her quirks, and she is a very sweet girl, accepting of strangers loving attention, and not dog aggressive. I can see though, that maybe all the "noise" could be making her nervous and a contribution to pent up energy. I did ask her about being around other pets but she indicated she was the only dog where she ran from, so not sure that is buggin her either. Nevertheless, the only way to narrow it down is to try your suggestions and we will..

I will let you know as soon as we can get started and see how things are working. Your insights have been educational and much appreciated. I told her I was going to ask on here so she is waiting for me to get back with her