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Q:

How can I get my two year old male Doberman Pincher to heel properly?

Hi everyone,

I recently adopted a two year old male Doberman Pincher and am struggling to get him to heel properly. He pulls on the leash and often tries to take off in different directions, making walks a bit of a challenge.

I've tried using treats and positive reinforcement, but it doesn't seem to be making a significant difference. Are there any training techniques or methods that have worked for anyone else with a similar breed? I want to make sure he gets the exercise he needs, but also want to establish good walking habits.

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips!

All Replies

mylene.heller

Hey there,

I would like to share a technique that helped me train my Doberman to heel properly. It's called the "red light, green light" technique.

The idea behind this technique is that your dog must follow your lead as you walk. Start by walking with your dog on a leash in a quiet area with no distractions. Begin walking normally and give the "green light" command to start moving. If your dog starts to pull, stop suddenly and give the "red light" command to stop. Wait until your dog returns to the proper position and then give the "green light" command again to continue walking.

This technique teaches your dog to walk with you rather than dragging you along on the leash. I found it to be very effective and it helped teach the dog to focus on me, which is crucial when trying to get them to heel properly.

It's important to keep the sessions short at first and gradually increase them as your dog progresses. Always praise your dog when they do well and reward them with a high-value treat like chicken or cheese occasionally.

In conclusion, the "red light, green light" technique is a great way to teach your Doberman to follow your lead and walk by your side. With patience, consistency, and praise, your furry friend will soon be walking like a pro!

guadalupe.nitzsche

Hi there,

I understand your struggle with getting your Doberman to heel properly. I had a similar issue with my male Doberman when I first adopted him. I found that consistency and patience are key when it comes to training a Doberman.

One technique that worked for me was using a front-clip harness to help redirect my dog's attention and discourage pulling. I also made sure to establish clear communication and boundaries with my dog during walks. For example, I would stop walking and make him sit when he tried to pull or wander off in a different direction.

Additionally, incorporating training sessions into daily walks helped reinforce the behavior I wanted to see from my dog. This could be as simple as stopping and asking him to sit or stay before continuing on the walk.

Overall, it takes time and effort to train a Doberman to heel properly, but with consistency and patience, it is definitely achievable. Good luck with your training journey!

orville.corwin

Hello fellow Doberman owner,

I can totally relate to your struggle with getting your Doberman to heel properly. I also went through a similar experience when my Doberman was a pup. But with much patience and positive reinforcement, my pup learned to walk beside me during walks.

One thing that helped me was starting our training sessions in a quiet area with little to no distractions. I would have a small pocket of treats or his favorite toy and I would walk with him beside me with the leash quite loose, rewarding him every time he was in the right position. It's important to start small and build up over time.

Another technique that works well is using verbal cues or physical cues to get your dog to walk alongside you. I personally used a combination of both- a light leash correction and a gentle nudge with my foot everytime he started to pull or wander off, while saying "heel" in a firm tone. Eventually, he understood the command, and that the reward was walking in the proper position beside me.

It is important to note that every Doberman is different and some may take longer to grasp certain training techniques than others. Consistency and patience will make all the difference in training your dog to heel properly.

In conclusion, I hope these tips were helpful to you. Remember that every session should end in a positive, rewarding experience for your furry friend, even if it means taking small steps and celebrating every step of the way. Good luck with your Doberman training!

ypfeffer

Hey there,

I would like to suggest using a different approach that worked wonders for my Doberman. I found that implementing a "stop-start" routine while walking helped in getting my dog to heel properly. Essentially, I would walk at a normal pace, and when the dog began to pull or walk away, I would abruptly stop and stand still. This would catch his attention and redirect his focus, and then I have him sit while I give a reward.

I agree with other users in this thread who mention the importance of using rewards along with verbal commands. I found that clicker training worked well for me. Every time my dog heeled properly, I used the clicker to signal the good behavior, giving him a reward soon after.

Another way to reinforce good behavior is to control when your dog accesses his food by teaching the "sit and wait" command. Having the dog sit and wait until he hears the release cue to eat teaches discipline and patience, which can also carry over into training behavior during walks.

In conclusion, there may be a few different approaches to get your Doberman to heel properly on walks. Don't get discouraged if one method doesn't work at first, keep trying until you find what works best for your furry friend. With patience and consistency, you should be able to train your Doberman to heel better in no time.

rodriguez.ole

Hi there,

I can relate to the challenges you're facing with training your Doberman to heel. When I first got my Doberman, he was a bundle of energy and loved to pull on the leash during our walks.

One technique that worked for me was using a clicker to mark when my dog was walking by my side or in the proper heel position. I would then reward him with a treat and praise for the behavior. Over time, he learned that walking in the proper position came with rewards.

It's important to be patient with your Doberman during the training process as they are a highly intelligent breed, but can also be stubborn at times. Consistency and persistence will pay off in the long run.

I also found it helpful to mix up our training sessions with walking in different environments such as on trails or in crowded areas. This helped my dog learn to focus on me and stay in the proper position no matter the surroundings.

Overall, training a Doberman to heel properly can take time and effort, but it is worth it in the end. It's important to remember to always stay positive and reward good behavior during the training process. Best of luck to you and your furry friend!

paucek.braulio

Hi all,

I would like to share an exercise that worked well for me in getting my Doberman to heel properly. It's called the "circle walking" technique, and it's great for teaching your dog to stay close, build attention, and walk on a loose leash.

To practice this, start by finding a quiet, spacious area to walk in, such as an empty parking lot or field. Begin to walk in a circle with your dog on the inside, so that they are forced to stay close to you. Remember to use command words like "heel" or "close" while walking in a circle.

Make sure you always reward your dog for the desired behavior. I found that using a high value treat like chicken, cheese, or hotdog made training sessions more productive. Also, start with shorter sessions and gradually work up to a longer circle walk.

Another important thing is to pay attention to your body and hand movement because your dog takes cues from your body language as well. Keep your hand down to your side instead of near your dog's face, and walk with an erect posture to keep your dog's focus on you.

I hope this technique is helpful to you as it was for me. Remember, patience and consistency is key in training your Doberman, and making it fun and rewarding for them will make the training process enjoyable for both of you. Good luck!

vicente45

Hi everyone,

I also had a bit of a challenge getting my Doberman to heel properly, but with some effort and persistence, we were able to get there.

One thing that worked for me was taking my dog on a short walk before our exercise session. This helps to burn off some of their extra energy and also provides a chance to establish the proper walk routine before proceeding with the more vigorous training session.

Another technique that helped me was to maintain a good pace while walking while slowly increasing the dogs ability to keep up with that pace. Gradually adding some distance while walking can also help with the dog's endurance and control.

One crucial thing to keep in mind when training your dog is the tone of voice and body language, this is a crucial way of communicating with them. Make sure to use a firm and assertive tone when giving commands, and use positive and encouraging words when they are doing well.

In summary, it can take time and effort to get a Doberman to heel properly, but with some training techniques, patience, and consistency, it is achievable. It's important to make sure that you set aside enough time and effort to work with your dog continuously, and it will eventually come naturally to them.

jacey96

Hello,

I also faced a similar issue when I first got my Doberman. I must say that Dobermans are highly intelligent and energetic breed and it takes time for them to get the hang of obedience training.

I used a technique called positive reinforcement, wherein I rewarded him with treats, words of praises and hugs whenever he would heel properly during our walks. This technique works best for Dobermans as they get highly motivated by positive reinforcement.

I started by walking my dog around the house and ensuring he followed my lead by using a leash. Once he was following my lead properly inside the house, I started taking him for walks outside. Initially, he would pull, but after practice, patience, and consistency, he learned to heel better.

Another technique I used is to carry treats in my pocket and every time he would walk properly, I would reward him with a treat, eventually he learned that he gets rewarded for being a good boy.

It is crucial to remember that as a Doberman owner, it is essential to understand their physical, mental, and emotional needs. They are highly intelligent and require plenty of exercise, socializing, and playtime.

It takes time and patience to train a Doberman, but with consistency and positive reinforcement, you can teach them to heel and to be an obedient companion on your walks.

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