What age to start training your puppy

[dfdub]

Hi all,

I am a proud new owner of a red male dobie. He is a little over 8 weeks old and we have had him 4 days now. The first few nights in the crate were pretty easy. He would whine for 15 minutes, give up, and fall asleep. Now he doesn't whine at all.

The only other dog I have raised is a min-pin / chihuahua mix (my girlfriends). She was an absolute delight to train. Very smart and huge attention span. I could sit in the living room for hours and she would focus on me and the task at hand. That was four years ago and I can hardly remember how old she was when we started training her in basic obedience.

So my question to this forum is: at what age should a doberman pinscher be ready for some basic obedience commands like 'SIT' and 'STAY'? When did you start training your doberman puppy with good results?

Right now he is just a baby and only focused on food/play/sleep so I know I need to be patient. But for how long?

Thanks and I look forward to being an active member in the forum! Here is a pic for your viewing pleasure!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w139/dfdub84/DSC01751.jpg

[FL_dobes]

With any dog, basics should begin as soon as they come home. Rules & boundries! I haven't had the opportunity to raise a Doberman from that young, but any other breed we've had in the family, sit, stay, come...were always started right away.

If he has a high food drive......USE IT! Boil some chicken (boil it to death). I wouldn't use hotdog with such a young pup, never know if it might cause tummy upset, but boiled chicken is as bland (and tasty to them) as it gets.

Good luck with you new addition. He looks so sweet...........(note to d/h must get puppy)

[modocdobbielover]

What a sweet baby! Start early but make training fun and short. Here's a hint for housebreaking, we put bells on all our doors and everytime I took Sabrina outside I would ring the bell and say lets go potty. She picked this up in a day and a half and started ringing the bell with her nose when she wanted out. She was 3 months old when I started this. Enjoy you beautiful dobbie, they are great. MDL

[Sue J]

dfdub: Start now on basics. I highly recommend Dobs4ever's "Training Made Simple" book, just send her a pm her about it. I wish I had known about it when we got our pup. Had I done some of the things she recommends at an earlier age, we'd be a whole lot further in our training now. It's chock full of simple training things for puppies as well as good sound puppy care info. You'll laugh out loud at some of the humor too.
Your pup is a cutie for sure. What's his name?

[Dobs4ever]

I start working with babies at 3 days, but at 5 weeks start actualy formal basic commands. To them everything is a game so the younger you start the better off you are and better for the puppy because at this age they have a very strong desire to please.

[Big Dogs]

Start now at 8 weeks he has the ability to learn simple commands that you can turn into games like sitting and coming to you and go poop and pee just remember his attention span is really short and just about anything will distract him. I can't stress this enough take him to as many different places and environments as you can except when he gets to the 16 -20 week range as this is when puppies can sometimes go through a shy scarred phase. I advise clients to just keep them on familiar surroundings through this period just as a precaution to help prevent potential issues. Then it's back to different places and people. The only other thing I would caution you on is be absolutely sure of the dogs that he comes in contact with at that age that he is safe around them.

[dfdub]

I cant believe I forgot to introduce the pup. His name is Dozer!

It fits him well because he is quite the sleepy little puppy. Not to mention his bulldozing ablities in my mom's garden! :eek:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w139/dfdub84/FunWeekend004.jpg

Anyways, I will definitely get in touch with dobs4ever about the book. And dobs4ever, I appreciate your comments in this thread. 3 days, wow thats amazing. I hope one day I will have the opportunity to raise a few babies from such a young age. Just need the land, the time off, and a little more experience... which brings me back to my point...

My only real experience so far has been with a little min-pin named kiwi.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w139/dfdub84/Galveston002.jpg

Whenever people meet her for the first time, they can't stop showering us with compliments on how well mannered she is. She was so easy to train it almost prevented me from ever buying another dog out of fear that I would never find one as smart as her. After a little researching, I discovered that the min-pin breed is generally very hard headed and independent and the Doberman (being a totally separate breed) is extremely intelligent and loyal. That was 4 years ago.

So about a week ago I finally decided to find my dream dog and now I can't stop worrying that he wont be the little genius that kiwi was. We are making progress with SIT and COME, but nothing concrete yet. I think its just the extremely different personalities that confuse me. Kiwi is small, perky, and focused. Dozer is big, clumsy, and fearless. He isn't really motivated by treats, toys, or affection. All he wants to do is follow kiwi around. I may simply need to get him into a quieter environment with less distractions. I am afraid he is bonding with kiwi and paying less attention to me.

Any thoughts?

[Sue J]

Kiwi is socializing Dozer as at 8 wks. he still has some important lessons to learn. Our 2yr. old beagle mommied Jett and they still try to do everything together too. Don't know if it will work with your pup but I used Jaz for a while when working with Jett i.e., Jaz is absolutely solid on come, sit, down, etc. and she role modeled. Now I separate them when I work Jett because I need to totally focus on Jett and having another dog distracts her too much at this point. Once she's further along then I'll work on distractions. I think using another dog can be a double edge sword as the pup could also pick up on bad habits too. Kiwi needs a break from puppy too so training time may give her some of that. I make sure each dog gets some time alone just to rest without the other one pestering and they each get individual time with me several times throughout the day. You'll find really great people here willing to help in any way they can, keep us posted on Dozer's progress. Don't worry Dozer is already a genius and he'll show it in that amazing Doberman way.

[tidibole]

How lucky you are! There is NOTHING like a RED boy puppy...Best of luck!!!!

[jelly8bean]

Sue is exactly right... Dozer is a real cutie, and for a while you will have to separate them to get any training done. I have been working on that with my two as well (though they are much older). Both are very bonded to each other, but to me as well. I don't know how it happened quite that way, but mine were older to start with. Puppies are like kids, mucho energy and always playing. Likely more than you or Kiwi will want to tolerate in a short time (say 3 more months?). Training will help with the energy that will emerge dispite the current dozing capacity. :)

[Dobs4ever]

Dogs will be dogs - If the most fun they have is with another dog then that is where they are going to bond. 1. You did good with Kiwi so relax and enjoy this precious puppy. 2. DO NOT compare him to Kiwi. The are two different dogs. 3. PLUS when you got Kiwi he was the only dog. This is the biggest problem people have when they try to intergrate 2 dogs. Had you had trouble with your first dog I would have told you to wait to get another dog as you were not ready. That would be setting yourself up for failure. If you are having problems with one dog the worse thing you could do is get another dog until you have success with the first.

The most important thing for the puppy is for you to accept him for who he is. He will be different but it does not mean he can't be just as great but different. Do not compare. Take a deep breath - and your training time needs to be 100% when you work your puppy. If he gets less than 100% then even though he might be better than Kiwi you will not know it. When you have two dogs then you have to remember to give the second dogs tons of time alone with you - going places, meeting people, taking training etc. If you do not make the time to take them separately then they will bond so strongly with each other which makes them co-dependent IMO. Then you can't go anywhere without one or the other can't function. Not a good idea. Good luck. REMEMBER to BREATH!!!

[dfdub]

Thanks for the responses. They have been very helpful. Dobs4ever, when you get a chance, please check your PMs.

Right now we have little dozer at my parents house on a few acres where he will be both safe from disease and happy to have room to run around. The vet recommends we keep him here until his second set of shots. After his 2nd shots we will be taking him back to our home where he will get the majority of his exercise in runs, walks, and at the park.

The problem with his current location is that we have 3 other dogs. With all the dogs around I am finding it very hard to keep his attention for even a minute. Ive tried separating him from the other dogs but he just sniffs around for his buddies or whines. If I show him a treat and ask him to sit, he lunges at the treat and if unsuccessful, he wanders off. If I try to walk him he whines and tugs to go back towards the house. The only moment of CLARITY is when we get about a quarter mile away from the pack and the house; at that point he focuses on the walk and on me. When we are away from the house, he is very good on the leash. But as soon as we start to approach the backyard again, he tugs and pulls forward and will not walk any other direction but home.

I really think that I need to get him out of this pack of dogs where it is only him and I. Only then will there be some sanity in his training.

[dobeberfrau]

Who is the "Training Made Simple" book by. I am the proud owner of a black and tan girl named Phoebe. One issue I have with her is grabbing hold of my pant leg and pulling...any ideas on why she does this and how to stop it?

[Sue J]

doberfrau: Welcome to the hub and congrats on getting Phoebe! "Training Made Simple" is by Dobs4ever. You can pm her.

[Sue J]

dfdub: 3 other dogs besides Dozer? You've got your hands full. Just wanted to comment ..if the walks with him is 1/4 mile from the house, that means he's walking 1/2 mile. IMO that's a long walk for a 8 week baby. He's probably worn out and definately wanting to go home on the way back. One thing that the wonderful DH members and books I've read stress is, during puppyhood "keep training SHORT and FUN". Infinite patience is also required (which is one of my challenges LOL). You seem like a concerned doberparent, enjoy Dozer and keep us posted.