Molari

Obedience Training

• Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?
I train myself. I train for a good companion and not so much a finished obedience dog. GKar knows all of the standard sit, come, down, stay, heel but for us heel is just a walking command. I do not care about the sitting when I stop or having him sit next to me prior to starting. He does all of these on or off leash by voice and is about 90% on hand signals. I tend to concentrate on manners and house commands.

• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?
I think it is important for any breed.

• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)
We train everywhere. In the house and backyard, in the truck, during walks and in public places.

• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?
Typically no more than 5 or ten minutes at a time but in a day we could have 10 or 20 sessions depending on what we are working on. I like male Dobermans more than females. I think they are easier to read. I have not had any real issues as far as training Dobermans go but I think that they tend to think more than some breeds do and that makes training them more entertaining.

• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?
Praise during the actual training but toy is the ultimate reward. I use a 6 ft leash and a large choke collar. The larger collar does not hurt him like a small link would. I do not use the collar to correct him, it is an insurance policy. I guess praise and preemptive instructions are my training method. I try to catch problems before they happen and deal with the issue before it becomes a bad habit.

• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?
A good friend to live with is the best reward but it is nice to have it noticed. GKar and I were in PetCo or PetSmart last week, it was a mad house with kids and dogs all over the place, the cashier said he was such a gentleman for ignoring everything going on around him and patiently waiting.

Jedski

•Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?
Jeddah & I take a private obedience class, with one-on-one instruction lasting for around an hour to an hour and a half. We met with the trainer weekly for the first three weeks, and have now gone to a fortnightly lesson. We try and train daily, depending on the weather. Most of my daily interaction with Jeddah does involve some sort of training anyway. Usually reinforcing commands and hand signals to keep her "thinking".

• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?
In my view extremely important. Owning a fear agressive dobe to me has been a test of stamina and strength. I want the public to look at my dog and appreciate a beautiful breed. I feel that I would be letting down the breed by not training Jeddah. I think she is also a much happier dobe, by reading her body language. Another benefit is the physcial control aspect, so much easier to control a trained dog.


• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)
Everywhere - backyard, every walk we take involves training and then she gets some free time.

• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds? Time spent, can be as little as ten minutes or up to a hour. Just depends on Jeddah's attitude and how much free time we have. I have found Jeddah to be the most intelligent dog that I've ever owned. Very easy to train - when it suits her! I've never owned a male, so cannot make comparisons.

• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?
Rewards - lots and lots of praise. We also use food and toys from time to time, but the praise is the winner in my eyes.
Special Training Aids - My only success has been with a prong collar. Have tried every other product on the market, until I got to the prong. I combine this with a 6 foot sturdy leather leash, one that I can trust!

• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?
Jeddah does not have any formal accomplishments, as we left her very first obedience club at week 6 and didn't return! Rewards have been vast..... Firstly, to learn to come to her own name, every time. Then to be able to be in the same room as a cat or two, without treating them as prey. Learning to trust another dog and just to play. But most of all, the look on her face when she's achieved something new and you tell her "good dog".

LapDog

• Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?
We do both...we took Duchess to her puppy class then she started obedience and she also moved on to agility...she is a year and 9 months now and we continue to take her once a week to a class just for her enjoyment and keep things fresh in her mind.

• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?
This breed LOVES to train! and they look awesome doing it! Which is the reason we take her once a week still to a public class...(she likes to show off lol) I think taking them when they are puppies is also very important...they introduce them to other puppies...and they also introduce them to some "scary" agility equiptment like tunnels and very small jumps to build their confidence.

• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)
We train Duchess's at her dog class...also a lot in the living room. We need to start strictly doing training outside in the backyard...we should have done this at an early age! so that she would listen to us and not think the backyard is a "PLAY ZONE ONLY"

• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?
Training sessions in class are 45 minutes...when they are puppies...the attention span is short..and they are easily distracted as time goes on. When we train in the living room ...it is just short spurts of 10 minutes probably. Dobermans are easy to train...the only thing is that sometimes they can be so smart that they are stubborn...In agility...I noticed a lot of the Dobermans like to atleast one time take off on the owner and just start trotting around the building lol...once they got this out of their system...they would come back and work real hard lol. Dobermans catch on quick! at 6 months Duchess looked smarter than all the older dogs there! Now she can be completely off the leash for healing...sit, stay come...etc...Sometimes when Duchess was younger the smells were wonderful to her and seemed to be the only thing that mattered! lol

• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?
we use a combination of treats and praise...we don't need to use a prong collar when we are specifically training...but if we are out and about...and don't have the time to be training her while we are doing whatever were doing we will need to use it. Like I said at class she no longer needs a leash...but when she was a puppy we were always sure to have our 6ft leash.

• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?
No awards...but with Dobes you will always get a lot of compliments! How gorgeous she is...How smart...How attentive...people have told us Duchess would make a great Therapy dog...We still need to get her canine good citizen test.

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TwoDobieGirls

Obedience Training

• Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?
Both. My 2 1/2 year old, Storm, was my very first dog. I'd wanted her my whole lofe, but she was my first, and I learned a lot! It helps that I've been into horses my entire life - there is a lot about training any type of animal that carries over to another kind. I belong to an obedience club and also train at another kennel periodically. The obedience club we belong to has formal obedience classes for the public, and then goes into show ready, open, utility, agility and tracking for members. The intermediate and advanced classes that are open to the public often include Rally as a way to get more people involved in taking their dogs' training further.

• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?
Extremely important. You all should see how they railroad my husband, because I am the one who does all the training. It's funny how they take advantage of him. When it comes down to it, they listen to him, but you can practically see them snickering!
• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)
Backyard, farmers markets, pet stores, playgrounds.
• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?
However long it takes to end positively on what I want to work on. You have to go into training sessions with a plan, and know when to stop! A bored, over-drilled Dobe is no fun. I don't have any experience with males - both of my girls are females. As far as other breeds? I think Dobes are so much smarter, but you have to train differently. You can't drill them like you can Goldens, for example. Storm and Ava both would get so bored, and I learned to recognize when I needed to stop. In classes, just because everyone else is drilling a "front" 100 times, doesn't mean you have to! Do it three times corretly and break it off, play, relax and give them a belly rub. I think Dobes are so smart that they are insulted when you drill them.
• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use? I use their prong collars on an as-needed "reminder" basis. Other wise they both go in flat leather collars and leads. Being Therapy Dogs, they have to be reliable on a flat collar at all times. They are mostly rewarded with food, although Ava appreciates a toy at the end, and with Storm I need to jump around and get her excited because she's so serious!
• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?
The amazing amount of knowledge they accumulate. They know so many words and phrases, and so many gestures and expressions that half the time I don't need to say a word. Storm passed the CGC and TDI testing at 8 months of age - it was only afterwards when the club figured out that a dog had to be 1 year old to be TDI certified! Anyhow, she and Ava both have their CGC and TDI certifications and are active Therapy Dogs. We are going to our first show the first weekend of February, and also have another the second weekend, so by then end of those two shows I hope to be able to say that Storm has her CD and Ava has her RN. Storm has begun some training for tracking and Ava has begun agility, and I'm sure they will both at least try a little of it all!

Prettydobie

Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself?formal obedience training
How many classes did you take?2
Do you still continue to train when not in class?Yes i think it is important to do that so they dog doesnt forget
How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?Very important we must prove that we can control the dogs
Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)Walks and public places i dont do it in the backyard cause i have made that her free zone
How much time do you spend in a training session?2 hours minium
Do you find it easy to train a male or a female?I found personal my mother red heeler trained better but i also think you have to put the breed into account when anwsering this question
Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds? Personal no i think there are some breeds that are easier to train
What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Food and Toy
Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) Leash I pefer her to always be on a leash when not in the backyard simple because if soemthing does happen i know i have control of her
What methods of training do you use? At first i started with voice commands once she had that i did it without saying anythign and only using hand gestures
What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?More people seem to want to pet her and ask me questions about dobermans when they see shes trained before i got her trained very few people would talk to me about her they would just stand and stare

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lyngr

• Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?

We went to basic puppy K (7 weeks) and now we are on the next level.
Yes we try to train her outside of classes.




• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?

We shall see. lol.



• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)

I take Nike to the bus stop every morning, and visit Pet friendly stores.
It's difficult to take her for walks with my 3 yr old, so that doesn't happen as often as I would like.




• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?

Short sessions throughout the day.

I've never owned a male, so I can't compare.

My retriever mix, Luna, is far more obedient and eager to please. Matter of fact, she never had a lick of formal/obedience training and is as close to a perfect dog as you can get. Of course, Nike is just a puppy, so time will tell.
I hope some of Luna's manners will rub off on Nike.



• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?

TREATS! This girl loves treats.



• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?

When I first started taking Nike to the bus stop in the morning, she would flip out and bark. Now she sits nice and calm. She is gentle and friendly to the parents and kids, which makes me proud.

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I'll take this piece of you and hope for all eternity..

Christi

Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?

I think Senta was about 3 when i started the formal training and also here at home.. probably about 20 min a day with the basic obedience. We trained for a yr before I put her in compitition.. I always continued to train at sperotic times during the day.. or maybe just before our walks.

How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?

I believe training is 'very important or beneficial with this breed. Any dog can try to get bossy or rule the roost... I am ALPHA!! it not only makes your dog have good manners, but I think all in all it shows us the Doberman is very smart.
• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)

I trained just about everywhere I could think of a good distraction place.. public places, park and the cemetery ( pretty quiet there) had a nice big field for me to work her in..


• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?

about 20 min a day... I have never owned male dog so i cant say there..

• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?
Nuked pieces of hot dogs or somekind of dog treats....

What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?

A more confident dobergirl, well mannered and a CGC..CD and CDX

saesms

i watched many videos from www.expertvillage.com and also read some books, videos were much helpful, i use a mixed treat like apples, carrots, liver, cheese, so that they do not get used to one thing

Julie W

• Did you take formal obedience classes or train yourself. How many classes did you take? Do you still continue to train when not in class?

I took obedience classes back in the early-mid 80's from Sandy Pepper (now Sandy Overgaard) of Pepperhaus Rottweilers. She's the one who got me into showing in the first place in obedience. More recently this past summer I started working with the Willamette Valley Schutzhund club and have attended two schutzhund seminars there, with Les Flores and Dean Calderon.


• How important/beneficial is obedience training to you for this breed?

Honestly out of all of dobermans over the past 34 years I've seriously trained one for obedience, and an now in the process of starting Cher. Others I have done the breed ring with, but no obedience.


• Where do you train outside of classes? (backyard, walks, public places)

When not working with the schutzhund club....in the summer I train in my backyard, in Petsmart (on my own, not in a class), or at the park. In the winter I train with the sch. club or inside Petsmart.

• How much time do you spend in a training session? Do you find it easy to train a male or a female? Do you think a doberman is easy to train compared to other breeds?

If it's the schutzhund clubs Saturday practices, I'm there half a day, but it's all the dogs and working on all different stuff. If I'm on my own I normally spend about an hour to an hour and a half if I'm not at home, but it's not solid obedience, a lot of it is just walking and playing in between training. If it's at home generally just 10-15 minutes at a time.


• What type of rewards do you use, if any? (food, toy, praise) Do you use any special training aids? (leashes, clickers, etc) What methods of training do you use?

Food, toys, praise. I don't train any particular "method", I just do whatever works the best for me and my dog to keep them happy, motivated and enjoying themselves during work.

• What have the rewards/accomplishments been since you started training your doberman?

The first doberman I showed in obedience was a child prodigy. He earned his CD in one weekend at a 3 day show at 6 months old and his first two legs towards his CDX by 9 months old before he was stolen from me.

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Burns

We enrolled Red in a beginner class at Petco when he was 14 weeks old. He by far the best behaved and most well-trained dog there (we had already mastered sit, down, sit/stay, down/stay). He loved the class because he got to play with all the other puppies, but other than the socialization with the other dogs, I got pretty much nothing out of it. I won't go back for the intermediate class there. There is another obedience program that I'm thinking about doing with him, but it's MUCH more expensive... still have to try to con hubby into it...

Very important. You HAVE to be able to control such a large, strong dog.

Mostly the backyard, but also on walks, in the pet store, vet office, or any other place he goes with us. I try to do it in a variety of environments with varying levels of distractions.

About 5 minutes at a time, a couple times a day. Red is our first dog (that we are training ourselves from puppyhood), so I don't really have anything to compare, but I personally think Red is very easily trained. He would train even faster if I knew what I was doing half the time!

Food rewards - hard treats, soft treats, and cheese. I haven't tried hotdogs yet, but Red is extremely food driven and would eat dirt if you offered it to him.

Also lots of verbal praise. I use "good boy" a lot which he is getting to recognize as a release command (along with "ok"), so I have to be careful not to say "good boy" until the right time anymore!

I just bought an Easy Walk harness for practicing walking without pulling, which has worked well so far. I have no need to use choke or pinch collars.

I just bought a clicker today and am just working on the association of clicker = cookie, so we'll see how that goes...

No titles yet - though my goal is to do CGC with him.

I guess my biggest reward/accomplishment is that everyone tells us that Red is the most well-mannered and well-behaved puppy they have ever met!

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