Doberman Jobs

[OliveOil]

Since the Doberman is in the working class, for those of you who don't show your babies, what kinds of "jobs" do you give them do do at home?
I need some suggestions to get the creative juices flowing :)

[Sue J]

Me too! we're in a big lull here.

[Hali'smom]

Well, the new girl is still young and adjusting to her own big feet and ears!! But my old girl (RIP) was always asked to help with stuff...take the trash out, open doors, turn on light switches...stuff like that. Is that what you guys mean by "jobs"? I have all kind of tricks on how to teach them these things the fun way. I'm new and just trying to jump in!!

[Big Dogs]

Oliveoil if olive has all of her basic obedience commands down you can move on to some advanced obedience like as you are walking with out stopping your walk put her into the down position with out you stopping and have her remain there until called to heal at your side again. Some other things you can do that will help build her confidence is take a board maybe 10-12 inches wide and suspend it on two cement blocks and teach her to walk across it these are things that will really boost her self confidence and my personal favorite is lay something in the yard on the grass like an old piece of chain link fence or a baby pool or slip and slide anything that would make her think twice about walking on and make her walk on it. These are all things that will make her calmer and develop her into a rock steady dog. Watch dogs on agility courses those dogs are very confident dogs which makes them more stable dogs with less behavioral issues and more in tune with there handlers. The whole agility course thing was developed by the military and used by the police departments to create a trusting bond between the handler and dog and to develop a dog that wasn't scarred or upset by anything they might come across. Sorry for rambling and tricks are fine to teach dogs any time spent teaching a dog anything is great!

[OliveOil]

Big Dogs-I was thinking about teaching her some agility things. I think she'd have a blast. She gets to running around in the yard and jumps clear over branches just for fun. I like the idea about the board...that'll definitely be something she'll have to work up to. She's got a very timid personality. I had to "show her" that cars, loud noises, etc. were okay when she was little.

Hali'smom- I'd love to get her to learn how to do that stuff :) I saw on youtube where
this guy taught his dobie how to get the mail and I thought that that was the neatest thing. If you've got a minute to sit and type down how you framed that out for the dog I'd apprecitate it!

[Hali'smom]

Sure! Which one? I think the easiest and a good one to start to get her geared towards "working" is the light switch. I assume your babe is tall enough to reach? I also assume she is typical Dobe and works for food!! I always picture Dobes like a poor homeless man with a sign- "Will work for food"...I mean that as a joke!
Anyway- light switch- it works best if she knows how to "give paw", and that is usually easily enough accomplished. With my old girl I would take her to the switch with a treat, and for the turn off switch, I would get her to jump up to the wall and then I would put the treat next to the switch and say "paw" whcih meant give me your paw, and she would slap and turn the switch off. It may take a few times to geet it totally correct, but it is a shapeable exercise.
To turn on, you have to first teach the "nose" command. Easy! Hold a treat in your hand and say "nose". Be patient and don't waiver when she paws, licks, etc. She will soon nose at your hand. When she does say yes! and let her have the treat. Shape this one well. then to the light switch and say "nose" and up and on goes the light. All these are shapeable. It takes time and you have to teach the first half (nose; paw) to make it work, but it worked for us! Cabinet doors also close with nose or paw and doors close with paw.
Sorry so long! Hope this helps!! Oh, one more..trash! We had a small basket and would give her a toy and hold the basket under her mouth and say "put it away". Sometimes you have to kinda knock it out of her mouth, but then praise heavy and treat. Then transfer to trash in can!

[Ahzuz]

That's amazing... thanks for sharing

[RKCM]

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/millerdobes/Siobham8mo.jpg

Here is Siobham with her owner, who plans to do free style with her. I thought the outfit was a little much but it was all in fun and the Siobham didn't mind much. LOL.:eek: I guess that's a job.

[Rhiannon]

Oh a little hula babe......she is so cute. And I think that the free style stuff is incredible.