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Q:

Can Dobermans be taught to be calm and relaxed around strangers?

Hello everyone,

I am a proud owner of a Doberman and I absolutely love her. However, I have noticed that she gets really anxious and nervous when she is around strangers. She becomes very alert, barks, and sometimes even lunges at them. This behavior is really concerning for me, especially when I have guests over or we are out for walks.

I understand that Dobermans are known for their protective instincts, but is there a way to train my dog to be more calm and relaxed around strangers? I want her to be social and friendly with humans, but at the same time, I don't want to compromise on her natural guarding instincts.

If anyone has any experience with this or has successfully trained their Doberman to be calm and composed around strangers, please do share your tips and techniques. Also, please let me know if there are any risks involved in training a Doberman in this manner.

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

All Replies

pwiegand

Hi there,

I have a Doberman and I never had any problem with her being nervous around strangers. I think it depends on the personality of the dog, and how they were raised. My Dobie was socialized from a very young age, and I made sure to expose her to different people and situations. Whenever she displayed calm behavior, I would reward her with treats and praise.

However, I think it's important to mention that Dobermans are a highly intelligent breed and they need a lot of stimulation and exercise. A bored Dobie can become destructive and anxious, which can lead to unpredictable behavior around strangers. So, make sure to keep your Dobie engaged with regular exercise and training, but also plenty of playtime.

Additionally, never punish a Doberman for being nervous around strangers, it will only reinforce their fear and anxiety. Instead, take the time to teach them how to behave appropriately around strangers in a positive, controlled manner.

Overall, training a Dobie to be calm around strangers is possible, but it requires a lot of patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement training.

johanna.windler

Hello everyone,

I also have a Doberman and I have struggled with making him more calm and relaxed around strangers. Initially, he was extremely reactive and would bark and lunge at anyone who came too close. However, I found some tricks that worked really well in making him more comfortable in social situations.

One method that really worked for me is the "look at me" command. Whenever we were in public and someone approached, I would have my dog focus on me and make eye contact. I would then give him a treat and praise him for maintaining his calmness. Over time, he started associating strangers with getting rewarded for good behavior and became more relaxed when he saw new people.

Another method that worked for me was desensitization training. I would play videos with sounds and images of people, and gradually increase the volume and intensity to get him used to different situations. This helped him realize that not every person is a threat and he no longer reacted negatively around strangers.

Lastly, I found that taking him to obedience classes and working on different commands and tricks also helped make him more calm and obedient in public. It increased his confidence and made him less apprehensive around strangers.

Overall, with patience and persistence, it's definitely possible to train a Doberman to be calm and relaxed around strangers. It may be a slow process, but the end result is worth the effort.

reichel.santino

Hey everyone,

I have a Doberman and though she is usually very calm around strangers, there are times when she gets a little too worked up and anxious. When this happens, I usually try to redirect her attention to something else, like having her perform a trick or focusing on a toy.

Another technique that has helped me in the past is bringing her favorite treats along with me when we go out. By giving her something yummy to focus on, it helps to calm her nerves and keep her relaxed in social situations.

One thing that I have found can make a big difference is consistency. By making sure to expose her to different people and settings on a regular basis, I've been able to help her become more comfortable around strangers over time. Even if it's just making small changes to our daily routine, it can be a great way to help her become more confident and relaxed overall.

Lastly, I've found that it's important to stay calm and relaxed myself when we're out and about. Dogs can pick up on their owner's anxiety or stress, so by staying calm and confident, it helps to reassure my Doberman that everything is okay.

In conclusion, there are many different techniques that can help your Doberman become more relaxed and comfortable around strangers. By staying consistent, using positive reinforcement, and focusing on redirecting their attention when they become anxious, you can help your Doberman become the friendly, social dog you want them to be!

uhudson

Hello everyone,

I have a Doberman that is very calm and relaxed around strangers. While her friendly nature seems natural to me, I think a lot of her behavior can be attributed to how she was raised.

When I first brought her home as a puppy, I made sure to expose her to a wide variety of people and other pets. I also took her to puppy training classes, which helped to socialize her in a safe and controlled environment. While she was learning basic obedience, she was also exposed to other dogs and people whom she grew to trust.

Another technique that helped was using positive reinforcement. Whenever she acted calmly and friendly around new people, I would reward her with treats and praise. This helped to encourage her behavior and reinforce the idea that she was doing the right thing.

I also made sure to spend time with her each day, playing and exercising. This not only helped to keep her physically fit, but it also allowed her to bond with me and feel more comfortable and secure overall.

Overall, I believe that a lot of a Doberman's behavior around strangers comes down to early socialization and positive reinforcement. By making sure your dog is exposed to a wide variety of people and experiences, and rewarding them for calm and friendly behavior, you can help them become more relaxed and comfortable in social situations.

kmosciski

Hi there,

I have a Doberman and I had the same problem with her when she was a puppy. She used to get really nervous and frightened when strangers came around. What worked for me was socializing her with as many people as possible. I took her to public places and introduced her to different people in a controlled manner. This helped her get used to different faces and she was less nervous around strangers.

Another thing that helped me was positive reinforcement training. I gave her treats and lots of praise whenever she behaved calmly around new people. This taught her that being calm and relaxed around strangers is a good thing and she was more likely to repeat that behavior.

It's important to remember that Dobermans are known for their protective instincts and there is only so much you can do to train them to be friendly with strangers. So, it's important to always be aware of your dog's behavior and never put her in a situation where she feels threatened or uncomfortable.

Hope this helps!

lorine.sanford

Hi everyone,

I also have a Doberman and though she is generally friendly to strangers, she still has moments of anxiety around certain people. One thing that always helps is to give her plenty of exercise before taking her out in public. When she's had a good run and a chance to burn off some energy, she is usually in a better frame of mind to be able to handle being around strangers calmly.

Another technique I have tried with success is teaching her a "place" or "stay" command. This allows me to tell her to wait or stay in a designated spot when someone new approaches, giving her a sense of comfort and security in an otherwise stressful situation. With practice, she has become very reliable when it comes to staying put and feeling more at ease when strangers are around.

I also try to keep things light and fun, and I frequently engage her in games or toys during social situations. This gives her something else to focus on besides the strangers around her, and it seems to help her feel more relaxed and playful around people she doesn't know.

In conclusion, training a Doberman to be calm and adopt a relaxed attitude around strangers requires patience, practice, and a willingness to experiment with different techniques. But with the right approach, it is absolutely possible to help your Doberman feel more comfortable in social situations!

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