TheManInBlack

My dog Cash, is an 8 month old Neutered male. He's calmed down some but he still gets fresh all the time. I know all the books say if you can live with a dobie the first year, you'll be smitten for life, but what are other peoples observations?

BTW, my previous dog was a Border Collie, reputed to be the smartest dog breed, but man my dobie is quick. Big difference is my BC would do anything I asked him 8 million times. The dobie is always like "What's in it for me?"

Murreydobe

I think it depends on the dog. I've had dobermans that were "civilized" by the time they were a year old. I've had others that were a handful their entire lives...give them an inch, they'd take a mile every time. For the most part, speaking very generally, I'd say the puppy craziness is a thing of the past by the time a dog is 2 years old or so.

There are a variety of ways to define intelligence. Most of the "lists" you see ranking canine intelligence are based on how many repetitions it takes to teach a dog a new behavior. That's just one aspect of intelligence, tho-things like problem solving behavior also come into it.

JavasMom

Java will be 2 years in April, and there is definitely a stubborn streak to the breed. Not saying that she isn't eager to please, but she can be very single-minded, esp if I have put a stuffed toy away (she loves the Gund Dobe pup I bought my son for Xmas the first year we got her). She will sit staring at the cupboard and whine - trying to wear me down, I think.

At 20 mos she still has a lot of puppy in her. Prefers to be in the same room with us, w/in sight if not touching. Sweetest temperament, good with children, people we'll meet on walks, good with other dogs. Will look for and come to me if other dogs start to mix it up at the dog park.

Acooper

I feel your pain, Orson is nearly 9 months, not neutered yet, and just started to go wild! He was doing extremely well for months.............and then BAM, he decides he knows better! He tears through the house, doesn't like his basic commands anymore, tore up a couch cushion just to play in the pieces!

I live with a Border mix + Orson. I can't compare them now because Phoebe is over 7 years old. She came from the humane society at around 8-9 months old with behavior problems.............digging, chewing, trash hunting, etc. I don't know what she would have been like had we raised her from the start, but I can tell you she is one of the most obedient dogs I have ever seen now. As far as learning I think they are on a pretty even playing field, as far as DOING, we won't go there!

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Angie

Kratty

I didn't see a noticeable difference with my female until she was about 18 months old. Before that she was puppy channel, all day, all night, 24 hours a day all the time. Now she still retains the puppy playfulness but its more controlled. They will teach us patience and endurance.

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TracyJo

Chi is now 19 months and although she still has more energy than any dog I've ever seen - she's starting to calm down a bit in and around the house. She's listening better, volunteering to offer great behaviors (whereas before she had to be coaxed/bribed). I remember when she was 8 months though and seriously wondering whether or not I had made the right choice by bringing her home. It's been a trying 18 months with her but so very much worth it!

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~Tracy

Doberman Talk Store

brumwolf

Yeah I think 18 months is usually make or break,all of the girls i have ever had settled round about that mark,my dog took about 21 months then he became the calmest Dobe i have ever seen,he would calmly assess any situation then decide his plan of action.

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Chaz

I got Mavis when she was 11 months.

For at least the first month, I was wondering if I could maybe give her back, or take her to Doberman Rescue, or something. She was a Wild Monster!

But before too long she turned into the Best Doberman Ever.

PeeWeesMama

My Samantha (passed at 11) was a terror her whole life, Gadget (passed almost 5) WAS THE BIGGEST TERROR, and I wouln't have changed them for anything. Grace was and still is the best behaved I have ever had, PeeWee who is 2 1/2 has her moments LOL. Hang in there!!!

Codysmom

I always thought that dobes started to grow their brains when they were around 2. at 9 months, you probably haven't even gotten to the teenage years (which thankfully with dobes is really only months) yet.

cc

doberkim

um, rah is about 18-19 months old and he's calmed down... at night. he now sleeps in bed

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tjmom

Titus just turned 2 I have noticed the last several months that he is started to "calm down", well I should say that he is starting to mature. He is certainly still full of energy and even more so now that we have Jada (14 week old dobie) but yes just hold on a little longer. There is hope.

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TracyJo

Chi and Rah are about the same age - She's well behaved enough to let her sleep in bed at night but she hogs the bed so badly, I rarely allow her up with me. I can't convince her that she doesn't have to sleep across the bed, it hurts me when she lays on top of and thus hyper-extending my knees and that is is painfully rude to try to push me out of the bed.

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~Tracy

Doberman Talk Store

DreamDoby

Harmony mellowed out when she was around 2 years. Asher was around the same age. Now with his soloxine, he is back at it at 4 yrs old. I keep threatening to take it away.

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brumwolf

Ha you wanna try it when four of the dang hounds try to invade your bed.

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Acooper

Hope you have a king size bed brum!

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Angie

Dobesanddragons

If he is anything like my male, don't expect him to calm down ANYTIME soon. Most male Dobermans don't usually "mature" mentally until 2-3, and some don't even really calm down or mature until much later, if they do at all! Some are calm in the beginning, however, in my experience that is not the norm.


The Doberman puppy stage is very challenging, but you get out what you put in to the dogs when as they become adults generally.

If you are not training, get in a training class and teach him new things and keep him challenged mentally, and if you are already in a class keep it up and train at home and the other places you take him for socialization. They need mental and physical exercise daily.

Also it might help to read the other thread on this site about another Doberman male puppy that is going thru a challenging stage right now as well.

Dobesanddragons

I know it, why can't they just curl up in a ball to go to sleep on the bed!

TheManInBlack

Thanks everyone. I've dealt with the doberman puppiness pretty well. Like I said, I had a border collie before, and a lady with a new pup asked me the same question, my answer was never.

We keep him challenged and socialized. He absolutely loves going for a ride in the truck. I swear an hour in the truck back and forth to Home Depot wears him out more than and hour walk.

I've got a backpack from my previous dog, and once he's physically mature, he'll start that and bike training. I'm reluctant to do it now because we lost our last dog to Osteosarcarmo. Some research shows that too much physical exurtion as a youngster can lead to it. So we're playing it safe.

He's trained to sleep in his own bed BTW. A Doberman and pregnant wife would be too much even in our king size bed.

Sizzledog

Ronin is 3 years old, and... *Ronin bounces off the couch and launches himself at a sleeping Ilsa, jumps over her, catapults himself off a wall, jumps back over Ilsa, gets a drink and sloshes water everywhere, then runs to the door and barks, then bonks his head on an open crate door but doesn't seem to notice...*

Yeahhh... I'd say he still acts like a puppy.

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chocolate194

I am a first time doberman owner. My girl turned 9 months on Dec 15, 2012. It sounds like it is hard to calm a dobbie down and they do not calm down until they are around 2 years old. Seems also as if doberman's to say the least extremely challengig? Is there anyone out there that have any tips in making the growing up phase less challenging.

smudgeid

Hi chocolate194. Looks like you were using forum search & an old thread popped up for you.

Exercise & training helps with active dobes. If you are doing lots of exercises, add mind games - whether working on obedience, or a new trick, or different agility things. (When you walk past a park bench or a raised wall - have her go up it so it's different from before - make her think!) You'll find that new things or just adding obedience to your walk will tire her out more than a longer walk without the training.
Kate

LindaH

You got good advice above. Plenty of exercise makes them eaiser. A tired dog is a good dog. Be positive, be fair and be consistent.

Burns

Definitely exercise! Both physical AND mental.

Physically tiring them out is important, but I also think training classes are important - both for general manners in such a strong, active breed, and for the mental stimulation it gives the dog.

Sometimes Red was more tired after a good training class or show than he was after a day of running non-stop.

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Gorrmae's Fantasy Red XIII CD RE CGC TDI
DOB 2/17/07, red/rust, male neutered Doberman