problems with 4 month old blue dobbie

1627 Views 21 Replies 12 Participants Last post by RedFawnRising, Oct 7, 2011

bluedobbie

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2011

I have a 4 month old male blue dobbie who Ive had since he was 7 weeks old. Hes a very smart dog who picks up on things rather quickly except he seems to have a problem with going to the bathroom inside the house. I live with 3 other people and were very adamant about getting him outside when he gets out of the kennel, before and after he eats, and multiple other times throughout the day. He goes when hes outside but for some reason he still goes multiple times throughout the day. When he goes in the house he is met with a firm no and is run outside and when he goes outside he is praised. I've been doing this since I got him and he hasn't been getting much better. I know he can hold it because he doesn't go in his crate at night so i wonder why he goes so often in the house.

I was also wondering when I should be teaching him to heel. He walks on a retractable lease now and sometimes chokes himself while pulling me. I plan on using a prong collar when hes a little older.

I've been reading up about how I should be doing other things to to train him however I've come across many that are contradictory. For example, one big thing is that I read was that I needed to make him submissive to let him know that I am the pack leader. But then I'll read something else that says making Dobermans submissive can lead to to them being shy and fearful, which in turn cause even worse problems such as aggression.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Sinister

· #2 · Oct 6, 2011

First off, never use a retractable leash. Go out & get a regular old 6 foot nylon. No tips for heeling, just suggestion for leash.

Take him out every hour. My 12 week old just upgraded to every 2 hours. Make sure you praise & give a treat! This will help a lot. Treats for peeing? All right!

Oh, welcome to the forum from Virginia!
:wavey:

Reactions: 1

Murreydobe

· #3 · Oct 6, 2011

Sinister said:
First off, never use a retractable leash. Go out & get a regular old 6 foot nylon. No tips for heeling, just suggestion for leash.

:

Actually, nylon leashes are a really bad idea-if the dog bolts and that leash "zips" through your hand, nylon will lay your hand wide open like a knife.

The gold standard for dog training is 6' leather leash-not only are they safer, they're a lot more durable. Cared for properly, they last forever, i have leather leashes that are over 20 years old.

The width is up for discussion-I prefer 1/2", as this is the width that moves through my hands/fingers the best.,

Reactions: 3

sam&macksmom

· #4 · Oct 6, 2011

I also use a 1/2" wide leather lead for daily use and training.

OP- I recommend enrolling in a basic obedience class. Here's a list of clubs in your area: Training Resources

For the peeing issue- has he been vet checked recently? I'd rule out any medical issues, like a UTI.

Reactions: 2

LindaH

· #5 · Oct 6, 2011

Anyone who takes a doberman out on a lead without the loop over their wrist or the lead, at least, wrapped around their hand a time or two is not using the brains God gave them.

Reactions: 3

o0 sHaDoWoLf 0o

· #6 · Oct 6, 2011

are you cleaning up the pee really well, you have to but some really good safe for dogs urine cleaner. I use something called Kids & Pets and smells really good to clean up the pee so that he doesn't smell his old smell and pee again.

Reactions: 2

KevinK

· #7 · Oct 6, 2011

LindaH said:
Anyone who takes a doberman out on a lead without the loop over their wrist or the lead, at least, wrapped around their hand a time or two is not using the brains God gave them.

I actually take a piece of the lead, put it back through the loop, and then wrap that on my wrist. So god forbid I for some reason dropped the leash, it is still secured to my wrist. If a dog were to pull, it would only tighten the lead to your wrist. Probably not a good idea for a little kid, or someone with a veyr strong dog that they can't control, but my lil dog is not pulling me around either.

I'll get to some of the other questions later when I get some more time.

bluedobbie

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 6, 2011

I have tile throughout the house so I use 409 after I wipe it all up. As for a UTI I got to a vet every three weeks and so far nothing has come up. He is also unable to sit by you without constantly biting you unless hes tired so its even hard to pet him.

KevinK

· #9 · Oct 6, 2011

This is all pretty normal puppy stuff. I would def. get into a training class asap, that will help give you a better idea of what to do, and how to train your pup.

Reactions: 3

o0 sHaDoWoLf 0o

· #10 · Oct 6, 2011

sometimes not all cleaning products work for urine and can still leave traces of urine behind. As for the biting when he bites hard yelp or say ouch and walk away to show him the fun and games are over. Go back to him later and if he does it again walk away, over time he will learn that if he bites you will leave. It helps to do it when there are no toys and no human or animal distractions so that you are the only entertainment.

I agree, it seems like you would do well with putting him into some obedience.

bluedobbie

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 6, 2011

What do you recommend to use for tile and what should I be doing to assert dominance? I put my hands in his food when I feed him and I sometimes hold him upside down like a baby or hold him on his back for a minute or two. I've read online to do that stuff but ive also read other places not to make a doberman submissive and not to grab his snout when he bites.

o0 sHaDoWoLf 0o

· #12 · Oct 6, 2011

bluedobbie said:
What do you recommend to use for tile and what should I be doing to assert dominance? I put my hands in his food when I feed him and I sometimes hold him upside down like a baby or hold him on his back for a minute or two. I've read online to do that stuff but ive also read other places not to make a doberman submissive and not to grab his snout when he bites.

to use on the tile I use Kids & Pets, works for urine. You can buy it online and various stores. Like me and other people have recommended take your pup to obedience because it sounds like you are not 100% sure what to do and you can be sending him mixed signals.

Dobermans are not recommended for first time dog owners because Dobermans are very smart and need a different approach to training. If you do not know how to properly teach your dog that you are in charge and you do it wrong you can create some unwanted results.

Just like someone using a prong collar or E-Collar, if you do not know how to use those tools you can hurt your dog.

So look up some classes and see if the trainers are familiar with the breed and enroll him as soon as possible.

SReed912

· #13 · Oct 6, 2011

I have a fawn dobie around the same age, and although he has grasped the concept of no peepee in the house surprisingly quickly, the constant biting and chewing sounds just like him. I cannot pet the little guy without him trying to gnaw on my hand. It doesn't really hurt, but if he is overly excited about something it definitely leaves marks! I have a 1yr old daughter and I worry he will be as rough with her....even though he does seem to acknowledge that she is much more fragile than I am it still worries me. I definitely am going to get him into obedience class. Do people think 4 months is too early for Obedience class?

Reactions: 1

o0 sHaDoWoLf 0o

· #14 · Oct 6, 2011

SReed912 said:
I have a fawn dobie around the same age, and although he has grasped the concept of no peepee in the house surprisingly quickly, the constant biting and chewing sounds just like him. I cannot pet the little guy without him trying to gnaw on my hand. It doesn't really hurt, but if he is overly excited about something it definitely leaves marks! I have a 1yr old daughter and I worry he will be as rough with her....even though he does seem to acknowledge that she is much more fragile than I am it still worries me. I definitely am going to get him into obedience class. Do people think 4 months is too early for Obedience class?

4 months is a perfect age to start

bluedobbie

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 6, 2011

Ive read multiple books, articles, and ive talked to many trainers. I dont have the hands on experience but ive read every idea there is to offer. The problem is that I found a lot of them to be contradictory. One person said do this and not that and the other said the exact opposite so that's why im asking what I should do and dont seem so sure. As for training its hard because I live in a house with 4 roommates in college and not everyone is on the same page making it take a lot longer so im working on that.

bluedobbie

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 6, 2011

Ive owned a dog before its just like you said doberman are different and that's when the things I read so far have not been clear.

TheStig

· #17 · Oct 6, 2011

My pup just turned 5 months this past Friday and has, in my best guestimation, lost about %80 of the need to constantly bite things. This includes me and my extremities. The other dogs are a different story as they are always playing and such.

I realize every dog is different, but every time I have owned a young dog, been around a puppy, etc., the best thing that has worked for me is to give it back as hard as they give it. I like to wrap my hand around the top part of their muzzle and tuck in a little of their skin, in between my hand and their teeth. That way, when they bite down, or if I choose to squeeze just a little, they (I'm assuming since i've never made a dog yelp doing this) that they feel a bit of pain and back off.

Once the pup gets used to that, the firmer lesson, you move to the soft lesson. You have to sort of know the dog, or get them when they are a bit tired but still playing. When they gently mouth your hand you have to praise it and speak in a soft tone. I get my face right up against theirs and speak softly and use the word 'nice'.

If they get to biting harder again, the hand goes back around the top muzzle and I give it back.

I also use the tone of my voice as my main weapon to train, and I use the word train loosely because I don't think what I do is really training, per say, as far as diligent repetition goes. Dogs are smart, you just have to guide them a little and be the dominant figure. For example, I thought it would be cute to get my male lab to speak for treats, etc. I would just hold out a treat and make a barking noise and say speak. After about a week or two of just randomly doing this, he started doing it on command.

The only time my little dobe (5 months) will playfully bite me now or just randomly is when he is riled up when playing with the other dogs, in which I jump in head first and play with them too, so it's probably my fault!

Oh, and also give them plenty of chew toys.

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RedFawnRising

· #18 · Oct 6, 2011

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Murreydobe

· #19 · Oct 6, 2011 (Edited)

LindaH said:
Anyone who takes a doberman out on a lead without the loop over their wrist or the lead, at least, wrapped around their hand a time or two is not using the brains God gave them.

I loop the lead over my right thumb, with the leash running through my palm. This allows you to clamp your hand shut and have good control of the leash when it's needed. This actually gives you more control than a leash looped over your wrist.

Adara

· #20 · Oct 6, 2011

LindaH said:
Anyone who takes a doberman out on a lead without the loop over their wrist or the lead, at least, wrapped around their hand a time or two is not using the brains God gave them.

Oops I thanked and meant to quote. Are you saying you DO wrap the lead around your hand or wrist? That's a really BAD idea and a good way to get injured. Never never wrap it around your body parts so you cannot release it quickly.

I hold it like Murreydobe does.

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