Why does my rescue doberman want to be petted but growls when we get close to her face with ours or kiss her?

Hey everyone,

While I don't have a rescue Doberman, I do have a dog who is generally particular about having her face touched. From my personal experience, dogs can be sensitive and may feel uncomfortable when people get too close while trying to pet or kiss their face.

One thing that worked for me was training my dog to positively associate face-touching with positive experiences. I used clicker training to help her understand that allowing me to touch her face would lead to treats and praise. I also made sure to pet her in a way that she preferred and was comfortable with.

It's also important to distinguish between a growl as a form of communication versus a sign of aggression. Dogs use growling as a warning that they are uncomfortable with a situation or that their boundaries have been crossed. It's important to acknowledge their communication and not force them into anything they're not comfortable with.

In conclusion, positive reinforcement training can go a long way in helping dogs become more comfortable with close contact, including having their face touched. Paying attention to their preferred petting style and understanding their boundaries can also help you build a stronger bond with your furry friend.

Hey!

I had a similar experience with my rescue Doberman. He would also growl if anyone got too close to his face or kissed him. At first, I was worried about his aggressive behavior, but I soon found out that it was just his way of communicating his boundaries. It is crucial to respect their boundaries, and one should never attempt to force them to do something they are not comfortable with.

It took some time for him to warm up to me, and I had to let him come to me instead of overwhelming him with affection. With patience and time, I learned that different dogs have different comfort levels, and it's okay to allow them to set their own boundaries.

Building trust with your dog is essential, and treats can be a great way to help a shy dog learn to be more comfortable with close contact. I found that slowly reaching for his face with a treat in my hand helped him become more comfortable with the action.

In conclusion, my advice would be to give your Doberman some time to settle in, and respect her boundaries. With patience and persistence, you can build a strong bond with your furry friend.

Hello,

I have also had similar experiences with my rescue Doberman. Our dog also growled and pulled away when we tried to get too close to her face. Over time, we learned that dogs are more comfortable with touch around certain areas of their body and less comfortable in others.

We started by petting our dog in less sensitive areas, and then gradually worked our way up to more sensitive areas like the face. We also found that our dog was more comfortable with indirect petting, such as using our feet to pet her instead of our hands.

We tried to respect our dog's boundaries and not force her into situations where she felt uncomfortable. With patience and time, she eventually warmed up to us and became more comfortable with close contact, including kisses on her face.

It's important to remember that every dog is unique and might have different comfort levels. It's up to us as owners to respect our dog's boundaries and work with them to make them feel safe and comfortable. With time, love, and patience, your Doberman will become more comfortable with close contact.

Hi there,

I also have a rescue Doberman who went through a similar phase. Instead of growling, she would snap and back away when I tried to kiss her or get too close to her face.

After talking to a professional dog trainer, I learned that this behavior might be due to anxiety or fear. I found that working on desensitization training helped my dog get more comfortable with face-to-face contact. This involved gradually introducing her to the presence of my face without any physical contact, and then moving onto light touches and kisses.

I also made sure to use positive reinforcement when she engaged in good behavior. Every time my dog allowed me to kiss her face or get close to her, I rewarded her with treats and praised her.

It's important to work at your dog's pace and understand that each dog has their own unique set of boundaries. By gradually building up trust and slowly introducing close contact, your Doberman will become more comfortable over time.

In summary, desensitization training and positive reinforcement techniques can go a long way in helping your dog overcome any fear or anxiety they may have with their face being touched. Remember to be patient and consistent, and always respect your dog's boundaries.

Hello everyone,

I've had experience with a similar issue with my dog, who was also a rescue. She would growl and get uncomfortable when anyone tried to kiss her or get too close to her face.

After consulting with a dog behaviorist, I found out that forceful kissing or petting of the face can be seen as a threat to some dogs. Instead, the behaviorist suggested that I make an effort to approach her slowly and respectfully.

I also discovered that introducing other forms of touch, like slow neck rubs, behind the ears or chest rubs, could help her slowly become comfortable with face-to-face affection.

It's important to understand that every dog is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Take your time, be patient, and respect your furry friend's boundaries. If they show any signs of discomfort or anxiety, stop immediately and try again later.

In conclusion, slow and respectful approaches, positive reinforcement training, and introducing new forms of touch could help ease your dog into feeling more comfortable with close contact. Note that it may take some time, but with persistence and understanding, you can strengthen your bond with your Doberman.

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Hi,

I had a similar experience with my rescue dog who would growl whenever we kissed or tried to pet his face. We found out that this behavior was due to his previous negative experience.

To help him overcome this fear, we tried to provide a calm and relaxed environment, let him get used to us, and slowly introduced him to close contact routines. During the process, patience and understanding were crucial, and we made sure not to push him too far too fast.

Positive reinforcement and using treats and praise to reward good behavior have also been very helpful, and it's important to make sure he feels safe and comfortable throughout the training process.

Don't give up if progress seems slow or difficult. Consistency and patience are key to building trust, and with time, your Doberman will come around.

In summary, it's important to be understanding of your dog's boundaries, provide a safe environment, use positive reinforcement techniques, and be patient to help your dog overcome their fear and anxiety of face-touching. In the end, this will pave the way for a closer and stronger bond between you both.

Hey there,

I also have a rescue Doberman who used to growl when I got too close to her face. I realized that this was likely due to her being uncomfortable or scared, rather than aggressive.

One thing that helped was providing a safe and comfortable space for my dog. We gave her a cozy dog bed in a quiet area of the house where she could relax and feel secure. We also made sure to avoid loud noises and overwhelming situations that might have made her anxious.

Another thing that helped was training her with positive reinforcement techniques. We used treats and praise to reward her for good behavior, and this helped her associate close contact with positive experiences.

It's important to be patient and let your dog set their own boundaries. Forcing them into situations that make them uncomfortable can lead to more anxiety and stress, and even worse behavior.

In conclusion, I'd suggest giving your Doberman some space and time to feel comfortable, providing a safe and relaxing environment, and using positive reinforcement techniques to build trust and reduce anxiety. With patience and consistency, you'll be able to build a strong and loving relationship with your furry friend.

Hi there,

I had a rescue Doberman who behaved similarly. As I got to know her better, I realized that she was probably uncomfortable with direct face-to-face contact because it made her feel trapped or threatened. It may be that your Doberman has had previous negative experiences related to having her face approached or kissed, which makes her react defensively.

One thing that helped my dog was slowly building up trust and positive associations with close contact. For instance, I would start by petting her neck and gradually moving my hand closer to her face as she seemed comfortable. Over time, she became more used to having me close to her face and started enjoying affectionate gestures like kisses.

It's important to be patient and let your dog dictate her own comfort level, rather than pushing her beyond her limits. If she growls or pulls away, stop and try again later. With consistency and positive reinforcement, your Doberman may eventually become more comfortable with face-to-face contact.

Hope this helps!

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