Last page

E-mail received at dog fun on 01/11/01.

Next page

Hi,
My name is Faye, I'm not sure if this is a problem page, but browsing through your excellent site I found a few emails that you have answered for people with problems.

We own Jake, a beautiful 2 yr old male Doberman, who generally is very good, but rather cheeky. We hopefully have done all the right things, took him training at the right age, socialised he very well, he goes out for 2 long walks a day in the park and to my stables. However, this morning whilst he was walking with his mates he decided to start barking around me and gently nipping my bottom (as he did when he was a puppy). Usually on his walks he doesn't take that much notice of me, only when I recall him etc. This morning we walked in the fields where I keep my horse, we meet up with a friend who has 3 dogs, usually he goes straight off rabbiting or playing but he kept coming back to me a trying to jump around me, nibble and barking non stop.

He had stopped doing this about a year ago we put it down to his puppy
stage and started to trail a lead so that when he started we could grab him, & make him do some heal work and when he had settled down let him loose again. This morning he decided to do this and when it was time to go home, do you think I could catch him, not on your life. It was as if he went into a trance and stalking mode, non stop barking and every time I put my hand out or called him he wouldn't stop and wouldn't let me catch him, he just kept running around me (although he had stopped trying to nip my bottom at this stage, thank goodness).

As I said he hasn't done this now for about 8 months, so of course we
stopped trailing the lead. Should I now put the trailing lead back on, the only problem with that, is when other people see it they think oh typical
Doberman uncontrollable and nasty!!

On the other hand I would really like to know why he does this. My husband said that last night when he took him for a walk he did the same. In our household my husband is the pack leader, Jake see's me as a little higher than him?, and also his play pal, mother who gives him lots of love and cuddles!

Is this a dominance thing? or is he just going through another growing up
stage.

Can you give me some valuable advise.

May thanks for your time in advance. Faye R

Jade's reply.

Dear Faye,
Thank you for your e-mail. Is this a dominance thing? I think so but it will stem from the fact that the situations you have described are the times when he is in charge and he wants to reinforce this. As he goes for his walk and is allowed off the lead, at this time he is free to do what ever he wants. He is enjoying it so much that he gets over exited and decides to bring you into the game. As you said normally he doesn't take much notice of you on walks so he definitely feels that he is in charge and perhaps with the other dogs in the field he decided to show off. I feel that the barking at you would have been all part of the game but you must get control established as apart from being embarrassing imagine if he ran up to a stranger to play in this way!

This is not unusual behaviour in fact I, Jade the Doberman, have the self same habit. I act like this in three situations and because my dad can be too soft with me I have never thought that I should stop. The first two are play without doubt and the third is to ask for something and I wont grow out of it because I am over four.

So when do I act like this:

First: On occasions when my dad walks to the top of the garden sometimes I decide that I am not happy for him to walk back to the house. I dip down on my front legs, bark at him and circle him whilst having a nip at his bum or occasionally his arm. Whilst this sound quite bad it is never all out aggression, just play that seems to come from over excitement and I am always very upset when my dad gets angry because he is covered in mud by the time he gets back to the house.

Second: At my dog training class. Whilst I can even walk backwards on
command when ever I do my retrieves I end up ignoring the toy and when my dad goes to fetch it for me that is the signal to play fetch with him. Woof, woof etc. The trainer said to him that because he knows that it is not a threat and thinks it is funny he sends the wrong signals to me and he should be more strict.

Third: This is a strange one but on occasions when we are all in the lounge at night whilst I am having a cuddle I will start to get wound up and this will end with me biting my dads arm (not to hurt him, only very light). Finally I get myself thrown out and sure enough I run up the garden and have a poo! I think that it would be easier to ask but I haven't learned that one yet.

At least you can see that Jake is just as daft as me and I am sure that you will be able to educate him that this is not acceptable. I have not been stopped from behaving like this as it is not a major problem at home although my dad should do something about it. You on the other hand must get to grips with things. I would suggest that you try the basic training again but in the field with him off the lead. Why not both go out with him for a couple of sessions this will make him out numbered and less likely to challenge what he is told. Take some treats or toys and make the focus to retrieve something for a reward or to sit and stay before a recall for a reward. Basically make the focus on you both interacting but in a way of your choosing, not his. Avoid encouraging him just to charge off in any direction and try to get some routine into things that allow control. If he is aggressive in this way turn your back on him or walk away, don't try to grab him or chase him as this is probably what he is training YOU to do. You could even try using a plastic water squirt gun to get the message across. I am sure that if you work on it you will soon get him out of the habit. At the very least you know that you are not on your own. I hope that this helps.

All the best, Jade the Doberman

As with the rest of Dog Fun we are only offering advice, we have learned a lot through our own experience and would like to further that knowledge with your help. If you have any good tips or advice that would help dog owners drop us a line to jade@dogfun.co.uk and we will display your advice and give you credit for your help!