The WORST Mistakes I Made Raising My First Doberman

[@evascholl5552]

Been doing and train ing for over 30 yrs. This video is to the point. Great for new and old ow ers. Good job

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thank you Eva!

[@Davremdali]

Great Music, I can relate as I' am Cuban. Anyway, I subscribe to your channel and have been doing extensive research on the Doberman as Ia m planning to obtain my own. To the point, I am torn between size/Mass and Protection qualities of the Euro Breeds. vs. the sleek pretty boy look of the American Debbie. . I saw your video on USA VS EURO Dobbie. Any words of wisdom?

[@antoinettenovella1630]

There is always something new to learn. Dobermans are awesome for adults and children if properly trained.

[@91sonomast1]

@@Davremdali I am with you on the Euro vs. American Doberman. I didn't even know there was a euro until about 6 months ago when I saw someone walking a dog that looked like a doberman, just MUCH bigger! Now I'm torn as well.

[@Powerful9315]

@@DobermanPlanet awesome video man! What dog breeders with great pedigrees do you recommend? I want to get a European Red!

[@lonhnguyen9815]

The Guide elaborates on the techniques used on the show. kzbin.infoUgkx5AVCD46OLnYCyGwOxmyhhvJJSZVuz6nN The examples given in the are helpful and some of the techniques suggested very useful. One such technique/tool suggested was the lure stick to encourage a small dog to keep up with the heel command. I have a small dog who lags behind smelling any and everything and find it hard to keep bending over while walking to his level. The lure stick is great also for another dogs focus and sprinting at anything that catches her eye. The stories about different dogs, their different temperaments, have been helpful, especially Lulu's: After reading about Lulu's challenges I felt relief concerning one of my rescues that I have had for 10 years. Over many years I have checked out many training books from the library, watched different shows, DVDS, bought training books, taken lessons and this book is the best by far! Kindness, patience and perseverance works.

[@Lindseymowery3302]

My mistakes: Not a ton of socializing with other dogs. Not enough leash training. She barks like crazy too at anyone. Super protective. She’s a chihuahua

[@poughkeepsie8516]

I had to laugh out loud...! Weren’t Chihuahuas the dogs who thought of themselves being Dobermans? 🤣🤣🤣

[@antoniogomes5899]

Lindsey Crabtree chihuahuas are not dog my wife have one and keep telling her we need a dog not a chihuahua lol 😂

[@WadeSafechuckAndTheWNB]

Sounds like a good Chihuahua

[@Mapdotnowhere]

They were bred to protect a tax collector while he collected. It sounds your dog is doing exactly what’s in his blood to do.

[@ghiawafa3353]

Haha mine too! Very alert! But i kinda like it. I feel safe when he is around

[@Diana-dt3zn]

My BIGGEST mistake with Raven, was teaching her to bring me my shoes. It took me 2 minutes to teach her and now I have to deal with a lifetime of her bringing me my shoes every 5 minutes. Now I have to hide them or she will bring them to me mon stop.

[@kenhammscousin4716]

I’m sorry but that is hilarious. I feel the same way about giving paw, she’s always trying to give me five

[@laurenvictoriajohnson6302]

A blessing and a curse

[@ckswat77zz51]

🤣🤣

[@Fenton4582]

😂

[@beachbunnystan9625]

@@kenhammscousin4716 YES I taught my cat To give high fives and now evrey time he wants something he continously Paws at people Lmao not the same as a dog but yea

[@amandahibbs3690]

This is great advice for not just Dobermans.... but for all dogs 🐕 of all sizes

[@DobermanPlanet]

Yeah I could see these mistakes being made for a lot of different breeds.... good point! Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!

[@jeffk464]

Basically some dog breeds are more forgiving but yes what works works for all of them.

[@donnybrasco6321]

Made the same leash-training mistake with my lab - for her entire life she thought she was a husky and I was a sled🙄 Great reminder for any puppy!

[@Anna-tc6rz]

Lmao. I'm disabled so I learned very quickly how to make my dogs behave. Tried walking someone elses dog for them once and they dislocated my shoulder.

[@sunleo6161]

You can train adult & senior dogs

[@sunleo6161]

Anna G Omg thats awful! Ive had my arm & chest muscles torn

[@martytrout6252]

I hired someone to help me with my Pitbull pulling me. They came out and it was only $100. (6 years ago) Well worth it.

[@annanimity5606]

...hahahahahahahahaha....

[@antoniogomes5899]

We are planning getting a Doberman and this video is a eye opening very important detail!!

[@DobermanPlanet]

So glad! So glad you found something useful in it! Don't be a stranger in the comments of my videos! :-) Good luck with your new pup when you get him (or her)!

[@antoniogomes5899]

Doberman Planet thank you for sharing this important informations ! we have a chihuahuas and it was a disaster from the start hahah luckily she’s small hahah!!😂 Keep up with the good work 🙏🏽

[@ewertonaraujo1551]

Well done, John. We all make mistakes when raising kids or with our dogs, and sharing those mistakes with others is a good thing, so everybody can benefit from learning. Thanks for doing this.

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thank you Ewerton! That's my feelings exactly. If we all share our mistakes I think it'll help a lot of new owners out there. Very glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ewertonaraujo1551]

@@DobermanPlanet I really hope that we all can strengthen this breed's reputation again, growing as a strong community of owners, breeders and admirers. It's not easy to see people with Dobermans these days. I'm the only one walking a doberman in my community.

[@johndechiara262]

The things you did right far out weigh your mistakes.. socilizing and teaching him non aggression is critical at a young age. The other mistakes are correctable or not a big deal as compaired having an aggressive socially ill adaped dog

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thanks Jax! Yeah I feel I could have easily made worse mistakes back then for sure.

[@mlackey9812]

I so enjoy your videos as my twin brother and myself grew up with these noble and wonderful friends. The first (Swartz un Shun) was effectively 'our nanny' and the others (Gretchen followed by Hulda Von Heise) kept us company and 'entertained' from 1957 to 1985. Wonderful, wonderful memories and smiles. And to be morose.....tears of loss very close to the surface, even these so many years later. Wonderful, wonderful friends and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you for your fine Videos! So much appreciated.

[@suzannethepatriot8049]

All mistakes happen mostly because of mistake one. A good breeder will make sure you understand the breed and give you really good advise and will help you along the way. With our first Doberman, our biggest mistake was not starting the training immediately. We thought the cute little puppy just wants to play. Begin training immediately. They get big and strong fast. You don’t want them walking you and pulling your arm out of its socket.

[@DobermanPlanet]

Very good advice and very true. A good breeder would have definitely made sure I was steered in the right general direction!

[@tahliatalks8902]

Actually it’s your job to research the breed if you haven’t researched the breed then you probably haven’t researched your breeder

[@bobsummers3195]

Had dobermans my entire life and you are spot on with all you are saying

[@DobieDad]

I'm on my 3rd Doberman and still discovering things that I could have done better on. I enjoy your videos, it helps promote the best dogs, the Doberman Breed.

[@CatValles]

Like what? I have my first one he just turned 5 months, 20 weeks

[@kentcommodore9221]

@@CatValles Looking into getting one also. Did you go with a reputable breeder or a "backyard"?

[@kailahubbs9612]

Thank you for the honesty! We have a 13/14 week old and I keep feeling like I'm doing things wrong, and worried we're going to miss the window of opportunity for teaching good behaviors. This gave some good things to focus on (we haven't done much socializing, yikes!) and also showed where we've been doing okay.

[@jamesthomas4577]

Support Doberman rescue. 👍🇺🇸

[@DobermanPlanet]

Yeah, I totally agree with that. Rescuing a Doberman is such a great thing to do.

[@donnakeeley7924]

I would love to rescue a Doberman but there are no Dobie rescues close enough to contact to pick a good dog for me. I am frustrated!

[@jamesthomas4577]

@@donnakeeley7924 support means adopt or donate or volunteer or anything helpful. Where approx do you live?

[@MeadowDay]

Best post!

[@brendanjames7122]

I've been looking for a Dobie at the Doberman Rescues. Unfortunately most of them have serious behavior issues stemming from their past owners. Almost every one of them are listed as aggressive towards other dogs :(

[@Yaardy316]

Don’t know why there are so many dislikes...? All your videos are forthright- you really put yourself out there and I’m grateful to you for your videos. I’m still super apprehensive about getting a Doberman. Everything I read makes it seem like if you mess up with their training that they’ll become vicious.

[@lukebuckley6550]

Because he's pro ear cropping

[@butterbean3892]

Love it when people are honest and say they've made mistakes, well done!

[@vickiehadd4324]

My female Doberman was a total lap dog. She LOVED being held carried and cuddled. She leashed trained really well. I used to ride my bike with her running next to me. Not once did she pull me off. She was always aware of the front tire in case I was turning. 😢. I miss her so much. She lived to be 13.

[@rds479]

Most definitely the nail trimming thing I should’ve gotten all of my dogs super custom to having their nails trimmed and having them selves groomed monthly

[@lynnwebber6395]

Even when using a rotary tool weekly, I rarely had a dog who was good about having his nails done. The best system I ever had was when my husband and I sat on the floor with the dog on his back between us. One of us would do the nails on one end, then we'd turn the dog around and do the remaining nails.

[@DobermanPlanet]

Yeah I'm right there with you on that one... it seems like it would have been so easy to get him used to it if I had though about it when he was young!

[@NoBite2]

A couple of thoughts that might help here. First, there is an exceptional private Facebook Group, Nail Maintenance for Dogs, that has amazing advice in the form of teaching modules. Quite a good resource! Second, I have found that playing with my dog’s feet often really helps. I touch his feet all the time, every time we come indoors from being outside (along with the “foot” command to get him to lift each foot for cleaning), when we are just sitting next to each other, even when he is snoozing. I use a dremmel (not the under-powered pet models) and spend time desensitizing my dog. The process is spelled out in great detail in the learning modules in the FB group. And since all my Dobermans have been rescue dogs, I’ve never had the advantage of training a pup! So, it is NOT too late to start! Good luck!

[@chrisgraham2904]

We made the same mistake with our first doberman regarding nail trimming. When we realized that the nails were growing faster than our maintenance schedule, the quick within the nail had extended internally within the nail. Clipping a quarter inch would cause the nail to bleed and cause the dog discomfort. The only solution was a regiment of constant nail grooming, using a Dremel to remove only about one-thirty second of an inch from the nail about every three to five days. Doing this, the quick very slowly and naturally retracted inside the nail. The process of removing about three quarters of an inch from all nails took about three months. We learned, we adjusted our grooming schedule and prevented it from getting out of hand again.

[@Flexb123]

@@lynnwebber6395 See i've heard alot of people say that, how its even sometimes a nightmare doing their nails. I've never had a problem (and i saw first hand how bad my dads lab was doing her nails) But if you get at them regularly as a pup, its nothing when they're older. Even as a pup, its just getting them to sit still but can also try it when they're more they're tired and lying down even (its tough getting at the one side that way but not impossible if you adjust your position, just gotta be careful). Anyway, My dobes would take maybe 45 seconds to trim her nails back when she was alive. And my Boston terrier takes about 30 seconds. My in laws are amazed the odd time they've seen me doing it, just how calm the the dog is. They used to have to headlock their min pins to do them apparently lol But I do know if you nick their quicks, they may not forget that so will hate when trim time comes. (what happened to my dads lab the one time that made her fear trim time)

[@cdnluna1]

The nails and teeth are 2 things I did wrong as well. Don't let the nails get too long as you won't be able to cut them back enough. The dremel works great. Also stay on the teeth. Especially those back teeth. The shape of the doberman mouth makes them prone to rotting teeth. Same with greyhounds.

[@jessicapruett4417]

We did the same thing! Backyard breeders, our dobie has DCM, thyroid problem, and allergies. :( But now we know. So thankful we have our dobie, but we won’t make the same mistake ever again.

[@dlalva16]

My boyfriend and I got our dobie once he was over a year old (he will be two next month), his former owners had acres of land and ponds so he never needed to go on walks, he only knows how to walk in stores properly. We are working on it but if he sees a squirrel.. He huge and we weigh almost the same so I cant walk him alone. But he is honestly the most loving dog ive ever met. We lay together snuggle, sometimes I use him as a pillow and he just loves it. Im so excited for the time kids come in the picture! I just started watching your videos a few days ago and learned so much, thank you! Cant wait til we are able to get another dobie!!

[@DobermanPlanet]

So glad you have a good one Deanna! Even if he has issues with the leash thing, it sounds like he's a wonderful and loving dog. That's most important! Everything else can be worked on later. Thanks so much, I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos! It really means a lot! :-)

[@iceplayzyt1373]

Teaching the dog to use a bell is amazing! My husband taught our last Dobie. What you are teaching them is to use the bell when they want to go outside so it's not just for going potty.

[@bethanykelly9685]

THANK YOU so much!!! My husband and I have watched several of your videos and just subscribed!!! After much research we just put down a deposit on our FIRST dobie and couldn’t be more excited!!! We have had other dogs but with a Doberman being such a large commitment, investment, and companion we do not want a lot of room for error. We are beyond excited and this is a dream come true! Thank you for all the amazing tips!!!

[@efraincortez9043]

Great info! I'm a new doberman puppy owner. In fact, I will be bringing him home next week. Thank you for all the great information, I'm glad I found your content.

[@merna5589]

hi John, first of all I want to thank you, I have a 6 weeks old Dobermann puppy and this my first experience with dogs !! I am learning a lot from your excellent experience and the way you speak. keep posting and God bless you and your family.

[@mikmil2020]

Very honest video admitting to your mistakes. I will get my German Pinscher puppy in about a week or six and I am thinking back to when I had my first (labrador retriever) puppy 20 years ago and the things I did wrong with training and raising him. By doing lots of research now I am confident I will do a better job this time and the dog will also grow up happier

[@alisonsmith5445]

As a potential future Doberman owner I appreciate this! Thanks for the great advice!

[@shunnielgill6136]

I had similar mistakes. I got my doberman from a backyard breader too, but he is perfectly fine in health. However I did not socialize him enough as a puppy, so now I can't have him around other dogs for fears that he may hurt them physically. I also didn't do much leash training in the first few weeks which was big mistake, cause now he pulls like crazy and jolts towards bikes and cars. I still love him but god he can be a pain sometimes 😅

[@lindawachter5149]

Great videos. I got my second Doberman because she was a rescue Doberman kicked for 2 years. She is the best loving and loyal dog I ever had. My 1st was a male and loved to play where Lillei loves to bring toys to me but will not do tug of war. I'd recommend dobs to anyone that's willing to give them the love and attention they give us.

[@starlakelsey2782]

My first dobe was a rescue. He came over trained. He lived to be 13....so we all know how unusual that was. But I'm in love with the breed and now on m 3rd.boy. Have my last boys sister. He passed last year.Thank God we found another great breeder.

[@christinahogue4259]

Thank you for this advice! I've had two. It's been 14 years since I lost my last one. I'm over the moon to be getting our third one in a few weeks. I definitely made some of the mistakes with my first two you spoke of. I will be taking all of your advice this time around! Thank you!!!

[@maracuja320]

I love how honestly you talk about the faults you made in the past and now try to help other dog owners to not do the same things! ♥️

[@lanak6547]

Love your videos. We are thinking of getting another Doberman after our beloved Doberman died in January 2021.. As a child, I grew up with dobermans in my house, but as an adult - had only one in 2012 and he was already about a year old, not in a good health and with behavioral issues when we rescued him, and he was neutered through the rescue center were we got him. We healed him and gave him lots of love and our attention. But our experience with him was pretty much like your experience with Cooper (leash, nails, peeing self) and we did only 1 thing right - he was socialized and went on all vacations with us… I’m still grieving for him - really loved our Skippy a lot, he was my buddy… And surprisingly, he lived a long overall healthy life (10.5 years?) right up until he got ill and died about 12 days later - his heart failed… he was a large black and rust gorgeous Doberman with ears and tail untouched and slick coat… 🌸Thank you so much for your videos- they help us to prepare for our next Doberman..

[@lolitah8560]

That melted me when you touch his nose and he opened up his eye so sweet 😍😍 what a blessing your doggie is

[@phuketlife9904]

Just found your channel, im an owner of Dobes, had 2 females first was 7 years old and unfortunately got DCM, my 2nd girl is about to hit the ripe ol age of 11 years old in August, shes getting a little stiff in the mornings and her bag leg sticks on occasion but both have been absolute wonderful companions to my family. You VLOG really resonates with me, the nails (tick made same issue) leash training (tick same issue) however like you I had always given bones or food and randomly then go and take them away/move them a little bit/ touch them /while my dog is chewing etc and this I believe is very important. I love the breed and both of my dogs unrelated but shared so many of the same traits, smiling in the morning as we come down, love to be close and cuddle, yeah! any would be Dobe owners close the lavatory door properly or you end up with a 4 legged visitor... great channel I will watch more.

[@MarzenaDenning]

Your videos are brilliant and funny ,carry on, as a 3 dobbies owner I can't agree more what you say , I love the breed so much ,best dogs to have ,challenging, difficult at times, but this is what I love about them. How they look at you ,how they are trying to be more clever than you and then they just come over you and are sweet as they know you were the clever one. Marzena

[@stevevater8598]

Dear sir , you have done a great service to future owners and the dogs themselves. I had to look after my sons Doberman , they wernt suitable owners and the poor dog had to be re homed . I truly loved that dog but couldn't keep her , I still think how she's getting on and pray shes in a happy home.

[@MarzenaDenning]

dear John Ive started watching your videos , Looove them, had 3 dobermans and as you ,love them and can't think of having anything else but a dobby What you say I just can't agree more about their behaviour , intelligence ,how they are. Cliff was the love of my life, difficult, super intelligent he trained me, always did what he wanted to do , not the best training ,I didn't know you at that time. but even today , so many years he s not been with me I can talk about him for hours ,and I always have a smile on my face when I think of him And this is why ,we dobermans owners understand what we are talking about carry on , your videos are brilliant and funny Best Marzena Denning

[@noemorales84624]

I'm getting my first Doberman and I'm very excited and so I started watching your videos again.

[@frantzp]

My dobie is coming straight from Europe in 3 weeks I'm so excited.

[@Dokumentarfilme]

arrived?

[@jpap967]

My mistakes with my first and current dobie: 1. Not leash training earlier (he is managable today just tugs a bit sometimes) 2. Not enough nail grooming 3. I didn't get him used to water or swimming so he hates it lol 4. Not enough vet check ups - he got bladder stons and almost died, couldn't tell he was sick til he could not urinate at all abruptly. 2 surgeries saved him and 3 years later he is still with us and turning 7 in June. I did train him well regarding potty, not to be possessive or aggresive with food or toys, obeys commands, etc. Despite all this he is a 100% loveable goof, obedient, calm, socialized with dogs and humans alike, gentle, doesn't bark or get aggressive for no reason yet full of energy, curiosity, and playfulness- just the best damn dog there is. Everyone that meets him adores him. I wouldn't change a thing about his temperament. I learned a lot and for sure I will be a better dog owner for the rest of my life because of my experiences with this amazing companion of mine

[@bjfox6146]

Great advice John! I say "Amen" to the leash training mistake. I got a 4 month old female in November who had very little exposure to leash training. My backyard is fenced and I focused on commands like sit, stay, down, etc instead of walking calmly on leash. She is a high energy 6 month old now and calmly walking on leash is NOT one of her favorite things! It's a struggle, but I'm NOT GIVING UP on this training! Thinking often of super dog Cooper.

[@theroller5673]

I have a now two year old female. When she was around 4-5 months walks became VERY difficult. On a regular collar she would almost choke herself out pulling so hard. A prong (pinch) collar made ALL of the difference, like night and day! They might look medieval, but if used correctly they are an excellent training tool, and FAR safer than a choke chain. I watched MANY videos on it's proper use and it's proper fit, it worked wonders! Buy a good one (Herm Sprenger). I hardly use the prong collar anymore at two years old. Regular collar is just fine. Just remember they are a training tool, not a punishing tool. Good luck, best breed ever!

[@DobermanPlanet]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who made that mistake! Haha. Sounds like you did a lot right though. Yeah don't give up on that leash training. Consistency is the hardest part but so necessary. I wrote an article on this not long ago, maybe it'll help: www.dobermanplanet.com/how-to-train-your-doberman-to-walk-on-a-leash/

[@peggyhodge9581]

I'm going thur. Puppy time. This is my second Dobie. He's quite a bit different than the first one. I did in. Roll him in puppy class. He's doing pretty darn good. I can really understand about the time and importance of training. So far at 5 months. He's pretty much stopped biting randomly. Thanks for your information. It make this dog a little easier to control.

[@nosherpuri3016]

My mistake was not finding your channel earlier, thank you for all this super helpful information!

[@tiffanyziegler4833]

New Doggy parent of a Doberman. Family of 4 with a 4 & 8 year old. This will really help us. Thank you.

[@ElenaCarvajal]

Thanks, I like your videos. I've had dogs all my life, even did my own dog grooming and walking as a kid. I went into the Air Force to be a cop, and I made K9. A trainer/handler, but I have never delt with a Doberman. Recently my daughter's dog had puppies, and I got close to one pup, due to having to bottle feed them due to the mother not having enough milk. I decided to adopt the runt :) so right now they are 2 weeks old. I'm trying to get as much information as I can to get him started right!

[@philliptaylor5890]

Great video. Socialization is the key to a good dog. If you watch closely a lot of dobermans will show you their cue to want to go out and use restroom. Mine would tap the door with the back of his paw. Just a light tap which did not cause any scratching. I also discovered early that a small section of my concrete patio was rougher then the other areas. I ended up putting two dog houses on the patio so they could have a place to lay down when desired. Both stayed in the house at night but loved it outdoors. To shorten it a little i put a lead to the houses so they could stay out in case I had to leave. I noticed that when they saw me coming home and got excited jumping around it worked wonders on the nails in seconds. Anytime after discovering this i could shorten their nails instantly. You just have to be careful and not let them overdo it. I never had trouble cutting their nails before using this way. Using a leech early i never had any trouble there either. The long ear cut does need started early as possible. Requires a lot of work and patience but is well worth it. I havent owned a dog since my male passed but still love to talk about them. I've owned several breeds through the years. Raised and trained Tenn Walking Horses. Honestly believe a doberman has the highest intelligence of any animal I have come across. Also agree with your food assessment. make certain they don't get protective of their food. Another thing I learned about them is how easy they can become protective of your home when you or someone they trust is not at home. I'm not even sure I was responsible for them allowing someone the opportunity to back off without getting bit. I always hoped it was the training but not sure. I had a lot of friends and people who worked for me who would have to stop by and pick things up from my home. People who they had not had any contact with. Nobody was ever bit thank goodness. Had it to do over again think I would enclose a small foyer to limit any contact. Back then I didnt even know what a foyer was. Once again a great video that should help a lot of people.

[@rondakaycock]

Not enough exercise! I feel completely responsible for losing my girl to a linear obstruction. That mistake will never be repeated. Thank you so much for your time and effort putting these videos together!

[@lukepowers9472]

Thanks man I found your channel yesterday and plan on getting my Doberman in a year or 2. You are a great resource for getting ready. I appreciate you

[@DobermanPlanet]

I'm so excited to hear that Luke!!! Awesome! I can't wait for you to get your Dobie. Thanks for the kind words. I'll be here making content so hopefully, you'll keep getting useful nuggets that'll help you along the way!

[@damidami2226]

@@DobermanPlanet same thing! Thanks a lot for your videos. Hi from Russia :)

[@erikal5218]

Really glad to hear this tip about wishing you’d started leash training earlier... our guy is 15 weeks and it’s been winter time, so I’ve been waiting til it warms up, and dried up (spring mud season)... Now that you’ve said this, I will start inside the house, right away!

[@dcxbaobao]

I am so grateful and thankful that you post these videos because we are getting a Doberman Pinscher puppy. 🙏🙏🙏I'm looking forward to it but I'm definitely going to need to be careful so that I don't hurt my pup. 💕💕💕 Thanks, @Doberman Planet !!!

[@vksdub7185]

We bought a Doberman when we owned a home but eventually moved to a townhouse with a small yard. And I eventually went back to work so our Dobie was not getting enough exercise or the attention he deserved. So our mistake was not taking into account long term care of such a lrg energetic dog. Being in a military family theres always the possibility of moving and not having the same accommodations or situations where having this kind of dog is plausible. We eventually found a great home for him. We do miss him alot and watching your videos makes me miss him even more.

[@dreaming1239]

It’s like adopting a kid and returning him don’t ever do that to a dog they have feelings !

[@patrickkem689]

I don’t own a Doberman ,but I do own a Shepherd. And your advice is spot on to what I would do for mine. Enjoyed your video. Your advice is good and sound. And your Dobermans look to be of the finest of stock and seem very well adjusted. I may have to get one for my female ,,not for breeding but for a protection partnership around the property and my son and myself. Take care and again great video,

[@shannonsommers5156]

My doberman is 4 and I've been in her food dish as she ate so she was used to it. I did your crawl command and she did it 1st time then I dropped treat across the room and gave same command and she did it. I knew she was smart but I didn't know that smart. Usually she learns a trick by the 2nd time I do it. Best dogs ever. Julia is a 4 year old beagle/coon/Doberman I rescued her at 9 months. Now I'm looking at another in Canada and another in Illinois. We have 2 beagles and the hound/Doberman mix. I think I can teach her all your advanced tricks in a week

[@jond285]

We just got another Dobie after losing ours last year (10year old blue Doberman- yes. 10!). Watching your videos are great reminders on the little thing to make sure we continue to do.

[@theproofistrivial7677]

I don’t have a Doberman, but I took your advice about the potty training with cue. We started late, when he was about 5 months, but he already uses the bell from time to time (now 6 months). It’s a great idea. Our trainer was impressed with this idea too and is adding it to her arsenal.

[@tyganza4923]

This is my first ever you tube comment, but I have to say your first mistake just happened to me! Picked up or pup and he was sick next day, turns out tested positive for giardia so that was a $1000 mistake. Called the guy that sold us the dog and he said "oh the other dogs are fine maybe I'll keep then away from the horses" thanks pal! Ooooh well live and learn. I will say tho I have been watching your videos for a couple day now and your driving lots of good info. I have owned Jack Russell's for years, they are smart dogs but I can't believe how my "Arlo" ( haha Stole the name from ya) is recalling after a less than a week owning him! Cake walk compared to a Jack! (Nothing like spending hours with a Jack for them to look at you and go umm ya no I'm not doing that! They are stubborn guys but awesome!) He's feeling better now but just wanted to say thanks for the vids I will suscribe! And I'm finding majority of your info applies to ALL dogs! Thanks again from up here in Canada where the cropping is illegal!! Boo

[@bonniebradley6461]

I have Cane Corso pups. The nail trimming isn't needed now. When they were younger it was a nightmare! Getting them to trust you holding their paw is a MUST!

[@lablondedujapon5992]

Hi i'm going to have a doberman and I'm a bit worry about doing the wrong things but your video help me a lot ! Thank you !

[@iamsarahharris]

Absolutely love your channel and you’ve been such a great help with everything from which breed type to choose through to this. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@lfreeman5991]

I’ve had boxers in the past (just got a Doberman pup), and my mistake was not being a strong leader and babying the dog too much. I lost the respect of my last boxer which meant lots of leash pulling and bad behaviors. He was a strong boy too! I eventually went through training with him and was able to regain control, although not without difficulty! This new pup will be trained early (and still with lots of love)!

[@coloringroxs]

I honestly can’t wait for another puppy when we are ready or even a rescue and right from the get go heavy training. Because even a rescue dog can learn a new way to live with a new pack who sets rules boundaries and limitations

[@Maverick99]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@corey3710]

Thank you this advice helped

[@alphadog5996]

Leash training was my biggest mistake. But now that I have more experience with the breed its no longer a problem. Great video. Wondering if you have done a video on the Blue Doberman.

[@DobermanPlanet]

Glad you enjoyed it Alpha! I'm working on my Blue Doberman video currently!! :-)

[@beil3960]

I did quite a few of the things you did, but what stands out to me is how I fed my first Doberman puppy(a red male, named Dakota), I had a stainless steel 3 qt. bowl, that I would fill up the instant it was empty, sometimes up to 4 times a day, usually it was 3 times a day, not realizing the risk there was for him to bloat. Thankfully, he never did bloat, I got so lucky, I fed him this way because he was grossly under weight, he was 27 lbs. at 6 weeks, now he was big for his age. even at that weight every rib and his hip bones showed, the vet was shocked at how thin he was, the vet would never have thought he weighed that much, and he was loaded in fleas, I went on to have 3 more Dobermans,( 2 were puppies the other was an adult female), and all were fed smaller portions 3-4 times a day, I dodged a bullet with the first one. I also didn't neuter early enough, I didn't neuter Dakota until he was 6 years old, He was a tyrant to the female dogs in the house, wouldn't keep his nose to himself, pestered them to the point he'd get attacked on a regular basis. He ended up getting neutered when he was sniffing at my Pekingese female and she leaped up and bit him in self defense, on his testicles, he ended up at the vets for an emergency visit to get neutered, a little earlier than I had anticipated, but he had the most amazing results, no more sniffing and harassing the female dogs, became a much more relaxed dog, I regretted I hadn't done it sooner. My Doberman pups after him, if male were neutered at or around 8 weeks, My female was spayed at about 4-6 months, she never came into heat even once. I learned my lesson about neutering early. Sorry for rambling on, but I do love talking about my Dobermans.

[@dannysnarski2469]

I think this is good advice for ALL dogs. I did several of the same "good" and "bad" things that you did with my 100 pound German Shepherd Dog. If I had to pick two REALLY important issue you touch on I'd pick 1. Nails: I had the same issue and it was a problem his whole life, and 2. Socialization, I did the same and my boy was great everywhere with everyone, while still being protective and confident. Fortunately, the child behavior came naturally for him, as I do not have children, but he always knew to be gentle with children and the elderly. Gotta hand it to the Germans when it comes to creating breeds. My next dog may be a Doberman. Thanks for the video!

[@hiteshraja76]

These mistakes make me so much aware of my mistakes with my first Doberman. Lack of adequate socialisation and nail care. Fortunately childlike behaviour and food protection was taken care by us rightfully from a very early age. Also I agree with the breeder part. I got my first Doberman from a local kennel owner until I realised that she is not be a perfect Doberman. But the most fortunate part is She is very loving caring and sensitive

[@dobermanpac1064]

Hi John.... great video. We all made these mistakes and our Dobermans straighten us out!! LOLLLL

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thank you Robert! Oh yes, they do a great job of training us owners, don't they?!

[@jocelynej6910]

My mistakes with my Sheltie: - leash training (she pulls a lot but she’s an anxious dog and doesn’t like loud noises) - trimming her nails... - brushing her teeth (she started air snapping the tooth brush...)

[@deputyspurkat]

I know this is one of your old videos, but still good advise. When you was going through your list of “things wrong” I was yep to them all. Then to the “right” I was yep to them too. The socialization was what I made sure I got right, because I had always heard that was a “big one” to get right. The food one also. I had experience with a Rotty years ago that was food aggressive from the get go, never wanted to deal with that again. I just lost my second Doberman in October last year, he was only 2 1/2 years old, still trying to get over that, it is hard. I beat myself up over it to this day. I took him to the vet, 6 days later he was gone. When I purchased him I purchased from a reputable breeder, they gave a 2 year health guarantee. They are honoring the guarantee even though he was 2 years 6 months. There are still good people in this world. They had a litter that was ready the first of December, that was just to soon for me. They will have another litter ready in late spring, I hope to be ready by then. Anyway enough about me, didn’t mean to bore you with all that. I love your channel, keep up the good work. You have a beautiful Doberman, he looks like my TY. 🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️

[@karenjoyce4677]

Love your videos! Great information. Only thing I would ad, having once been an Afghan Hound breeder and showed them, would be to ask the breeder to meet the dam and sure of the pup. Temperament is bred and if s breeder denied this, I would seek another breeder. Of especially great importance with highly protective breeds. I love my Doberman and he never fails to amaze me with his nature and abilities. Have raised 112 dogs of four breeds in my lifetime and my Doberman is best ever. Would give second place to an Anatolian Shepherd was gifted with by a breeder friend.

[@outsideinoregon]

Such great honesty! I have my first Dobie too. I wish I worked more on the “watch me” technique.

[@MrSpa304]

thanks for your transparency and honesty. I am exactly doing what your "not to do's". I will definitely take your advice and see how it works out. thanks again.

[@alikamaldonado4260]

Great video! Me and the wife r planing on getting one in the next 3-4months. Super excited to get him and start growing a bond with um.

[@jessicaharding512]

I did all the same things you did! Every single thing! Lol I’m so glad I’m not the only one!

[@Androcentus]

Man I gotta tell you: your video is one of the most helpful and straight to the point doberman videos. There are so many useless videos on youtube on this topic. Yours just shines! Looking to get one also, could you please direct me on how to learn where to go what to do as far as training? Thanks!

[@yourmother8939]

1. Education video 2. This guy cares a LOT about his dog and it's amazing to watch this

[@lesliegums5119]

Omg love your videos. I got my first dobe when I was 23 thru a rescue. He was given up due to missing front teeth and couldn't be shown or bred. I was smitten and went on to do dobe rescue and adopted 8-10( lost track) in my life. I'm 67 and have maybe my last one as I'm concerned about being able to properly care for them. The female I have now is from an Amish puppy mill and she is pretty screwed up. She was kept in a crate for the first 4 years of her life and bred repeatedly. They were gong to shoot her but the rescue that I was with at the time managed to get the Amish to give up their unwanted dogs to us. Dobermans are usually very resilient but Guin, short for Guinivier, hasn't been able to come around. She is still very fearful and anxious. I have her on trazadone and it helps but she will not leave the living room but to go outside. She does well outside and her fear is greatly diminished. I massage her alot and never raise my voice to her. She will stare me down and whine and sometimes I get short with her but never in a way that scares her. I got her when she was 5 and she is now about 12. She is showing signs of aging but is still very active. This is my breed, hands down. I have had other breeds at the same time as having a dobe and I also have a silkie terrier, also an owner giveup. They get along real well and I have 2cats. One big happy family. She's a blk and tan and her ears are long. Wish I could include a pic as she is a beauty.

[@sean37723]

I'm getting a Doberman soon and I will be following your steps!

[@_skywalk]

same, my doby always pull on the leash, if I put a harness he just pull my elbow out, or if the harness is bad quality, he just compress his lungs until he choke, still better then a regular colar, but the herm sprenger prong collar help me correct this behavior, feel like I have control now when im walking, also didnt crop his ears, and that was a mistake, now have to take care cleaning extra, but I found a good product that solved that problem for me.

[@_skywalk]

but my doby isnt aggressive, unless you have a rope and he want to play, he like to play rough with anything he can pull at. but thats about it, hes near the age that hes jumping on people less too, I hurt my hands many times playing with him, but he never bite anyone, and when he encounter a dog that is aggressive, he's very passive, he kind of look at them with a face "what are you barking at me for brother" attitude, at least I got that right, and the one time, another dog jumped on him aggresively all he did was push him back.

[@_skywalk]

and the why he want to jump on people his to give you a hug neck to neck, lil fur ball of cuddles.

[@tiffanycovington2818]

I love watching your videos I am not in the market for a new dog yet, however I have been recently looking up random dog videos to see what type of dog I might want. Up until I found your channel I was still not sure which dog to get. After just watching 2-3 videos I was sure I want a Doberman.....I just keep watching your videos too learn all I can before my time comes to get a new pet.

[@gianlucaduz7912]

I made the same first two mistakes ! Appreciate your videos bro

[@DobermanPlanet]

Glad to hear I'm not alone! Thanks man, so glad you are enjoying them!

[@mikehunt4018]

Your a top man 👍🏼Just got our first dobie fast learner but the nipping is out of control when exited he needs a time out on our lap for five minutes nice and still and he settles

[@crownjewel409]

You have really helped me navigate learning about this breed I will be getting a new puppy this year will be my first doberman great information!

[@antoinettenovella1630]

Did you purchase one and how has your experience been?

[@crownjewel409]

@@antoinettenovella1630 no I am moving to Texas from NC shortly,I may reconsider this breed,it is powerful and not sure I want to entertain having another big dog...

[@WingsAsEaglesMinistries]

One of best informative sites I've found. Great work and look forward to videos of your new dobie eventually

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thank you! That really means a lot!!

[@philiproberts6947]

Yet again John, another great informative fun video. Always look forward to your content. Not pulled the trigger yet on getting my family a Doberman,still researching a couple of other breeds aswell,a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a Cane Corso.

[@DobermanPlanet]

Glad you enjoyed it Philip! I'm holding out hope that you'll end up with a Dobie! :-)

[@olgaboisvert3964]

Nail trimming is a two person job with my Drake. My husband hugs him while I trim and feed dried fish treats after each nail. It's taken a long time to get to this stage. My other dobe, Lexi, will just give me her paw. Which is amazing considering we rescued her at 7 months.

[@DobermanPlanet]

I like that approach of giving a treat after each nail!!! I might have to try that someday!

[@olgaboisvert3964]

@stan S We tried a Dremel but he was afraid of the sound. I wonder if the pet ones are quieter.

[@rvcasa]

@@olgaboisvert3964 No, I got the 3-in-1 pet only tool (with AA batteries) and the noise freaks out most humans, let a lone my dog! Plus, the spinning bit at the end, is protected by a plastic shield/casing (which is also suppose to catch nail timings) but my dog's nails get stuck inside and he panics and bolts! - It's better to use one from the hardware store.

[@olgaboisvert3964]

@@rvcasa Thanks, good to know.

[@brandon9632]

Thanks for the advice got a 5month German shepherd this was very useful

[@Larry11181]

I just got a Doberman puppy today named M’Baku. I’m off to a good start so far. I had a reputable breeder so he has a good pedigree. I will make sure to follow this advice as he gets older.

[@GIOVANNI-vf5ox]

Good on you for being open about some of the things you would of liked to of done differently - most people blame others but good on you for owning up to things you would have done differently

[@DobermanPlanet]

Thank you so much! I certainly learned a lot and made mistakes along the way!

[@julieyates487]

my son has a 3 yr old European breed Doberman, chocolate and tan, he's stunning, absolutely fantastic with young children, he won't leave them just stands and guards them, great to see...They're not an easy breed to train but the joy you have with them is fantastic, very inquisitive can be stubborn but the love they give you is amazing....Not a breed I would have previously chosen, but if I was well enough, I'd seriously have one.. The one thing that riles me is the cutting of the ears, why would you inflict pain on an animal who would become your loyal friend, for what, "looks", pathetic. Never seen or heard my sons dog show any sign of nastiness, but when he sits and raises his thick neck and stares at you, wow, it's pretty intimidating......

[@lovepet4565]

And you are a GREAT PARENT to the cutest red headed baby!

[@DobermanPlanet]

Haha thank you, I think he's pretty cute myself!

[@Makke19931337]

I got my first doberman and hes 21 weeks now, this video will save me doing some mistakes! Good video!

[@foxxiangel6384]

i’m glad you can own up to ur mistakes (unlike so many others) AND are willing to share to help future dobie parents! very proud!

[@kayceegreer4418]

Thank you for this video. 11:48 ..not only do we need to own those mistakes that we make, we need to share our mistakes for the education of other beginners. Thank you for this video. I, myself, fall in love with pups, dogs and most all of my dogs have been from backyard breedings or a stray dog that happened my way that I may have taken to the pound or I may have decided to keep or kept for a while and decided "NOPE!". I've learned a lot more since those days from watching videos like this, and various books. I have successfully rehabbed a backyard bred, hostile - I MEAN HOSTILE - defensive biter, an American Staffordshire Terrier. Soon after I had learned that I should have visited the home saw the people's behavior with the Dog Saw the dog behavior and just get a Vibe for what's going on there what to look for ETC and so none of the good stuff that you're supposed to see or are supposed to check out and make sure it's on the up-and-up. I saw that 19 year old girl pick up those pups and spank them when they started growling and chewing at each other in play- the only thing is that the play was more hostile than I have ever heard any other litters be towards one another, and I think it must have been because she was spanking them it increased that behavior! It took three and a half years to get her to stop being so defensive towards humans , myself included. She is almost 5 and has only recently begun to glue her head to my hand while we are resting, like a hug, sitting in chair watching TV, my hand on the armrest but her hair still is bristled up on her back ready to defend herself if need be. There is still mistrust of humans and fear in the back of her memory that she will be hit. I got her when she was 6 weeks old they said I don't really trust that now that I met both of the people I may have gotten her at 4 weeks. I also found out that the girl loves her dog so much she separated mom from pups very early on because they were just at her all of the time she said, and she wanted to give her dog some rest so the puppies wouldn't bother her. Mamadog had to stay on a pillow by the couch across the room from her babies. They were kept in a space no larger than the top of a kitchen stove, and there were originally 12 pups some of which I discovered had birth defects such as a one-vertebra tail nub coming from the top of the hip bones on the back, a puckered up place resembling an anus with no opening where the tail should be normally, and the vulva was where the anus should have been and had apparently, the insides had not developed properly, to have two separate tubes for the urine and waste as it should be, so then, excrement came from the vulva, from where the urine flows. Back to the separation of dam and pups: mamadog never got the opportunity to teach her dogbabies any manners such as when to stop acting in a bothersome manner that was over the line. They also simply did not get enough bonding time with their mother. My pup was aloof for the longest time. Not to mention the growling and hostility in the biting and it wasn't just hostility and fighting she charged at me constantly. When she was too tired and about to fall asleep on her own she would let me scratch behind her ears she was aware of that comforting and the stroking of her neck around her ears and face then, but as soon as she woke up she was on again like a woodchipper. I'm sure it was hell for her wanting to bond and wanting to be social, as dogs are social creatures, but distrusting every hand that comes towards her as a potential enemy that must be defeated so that she may live another day. Oh yeah, I tried every authority -and asked everyone I did call- if there was anyone who could do anything about it to shut that girl down and I got nowhere.

[@dstcfsg9043]

We started early with our Doberman puppy, but he still pulls a little. Of course he’ll heal when commanded but the minute I release him he’s back out front. He’s so happy and good otherwise it’s just not worth winning all the time. I feel because he’s home alone sometimes he deserves to explore and mark his territory when we go on our journeys. 😀😊

[@bannyb41]

I always say you have the best channel because of how relatable your videos are. Glad to see you're "human" like everyone else and not an experienced trainer. I almost fell for a backyard breeder as well, but glad I didn't, ESPECIALLY after watching your videos. I know I've said it before but I'm going to keep on saying it, there is quite literally $0 you can spend that would ever equal the information you have in your vids. Thanks for being informative and personable! And as usual I look forward to next your next video.

[@akina9007]

Thank u I have a 7mo female euro dobbie puppy this will help. My immediate issue is that she freaks out whenever we try to make her go in the car So she stays home ( it sucks for socialisation even though we have 6 dogs) I can’t find a way to make her get in the car willingly. First mistake we made was being too tough on her training ( old fashion training) i didn’t like it, now we are more in tune with ourselves and she shows us way more love than when we started . I love her so much.

[@kimpower7008]

We had that same problem. We started using pieces of hot dogs to lure him in. We started by standing by the door and giving a treat - only if he stood calmly. Then treated when we opened the door - again, he had to be calm. After that, we would put a hot dog on the edge of the seat so he could easily reach it. A few days later, we put the hot dog farther into the car so he could still get it but had to stretch. We did this every day by putting the hot dog a little further until he had to eventually get in. Now he hops in like a pro! It's not an overnight trick, though. It took several weeks of doing it every day. We also rode him just around the block for a while until he got used to riding. And remember to PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! Good luck!

[@DobermanPlanet]

Yeah I think the best training technique is the one that you adapt for your specific dog. Sometimes the harsher training can work well for the right dog. But some dogs need a softer approach and will react horribly to the harsher training. Sounds like you may be getting it dialed in to what she works well with, so that's awesome!

[@akina9007]

Kim Power thank u... we will definitely try that

[@akina9007]

Doberman Planet thank u for ur channel It is is gem for dobbie lovers keep up the good work

[@kimpower7008]

@@akina9007 You're very welcome! Our Dobie is almost 10 months old, so he's still in training! He's a mess, but we love him!