Doberman Aggression

[Nicole1111]

Hello Everyone! I need your help (
I’ve had my Doberman for 9 months since he is already a year old. My cousin and I raised him ever since he was 2 months old. When he turned 4 months till 1 year old, we stayed with my parents who also had two other dogs. He hated our german chow and they have already got in a lot of fights. Because of this, we always separated them. Unfortunately, my dobie who sees my cousin as his sibling saw her trimming our German chow and lunged on her while growling, he even bit her but luckily she shoved her arm at his molars so he wasn’t able to continue. Every time my cousin would be associated with our german chow, he would always lunge, growl, and attempt to bite her. Before New Years, he saw my cousin drag my german chow to cage him. Then after New Years, he was off leash and my cousin and I were just walking around while he was running. While my cousin closed the gate, he attacked her. Yes, attacked. He lunged at her and kept biting her and wouldn’t even let go. So I shoved my own arms in his mouth and when he realized it was mine, he stopped. At this point my parents were already planning to get rid of him, but not yet until. The next day while he was play running with my dad, my mom was watching them. Out of nowhere while my parents were talking, he lunged at my mom and growled. And when my dad held him back he growled at my dad as well. My cousin and dobie grew up together, they knew each other before he knew my parents. I’m so confused, why among all people did he attack my cousin which he knew from puppyhood? We were all devastated because we ALL showed him unconditional love and made sure he was safe, happy, and active. He even has a very big space to run around. We play with him every single day AND night. His diet is high protein and he even eat fruits or other treats for snacks. We made sure to discipline him in terms of their dominance but it seems that he preys on those who don’t want to discipline him.

 

[CRDobe]

Have you talked to your breeder about this? Do any of his siblings have similar issues?

 

[Doberman Gang]

This is a unfortunately due to lack of proper training. Your Doberman does not understand the rules, he should never be allowed out with a dog that he does not get along with. You should be crating and rotating them. Just playing with them and giving exercise is not enough if you are not teaching rules with some form of obedience. I don’t believe your dog is being aggressive, if he was, no one would be sticking their arm in his mouth without ending up in the hospital. I would crate and rotate the dogs and get back to basic training, your dog needs a strong fair leader and a clear picture of what is and what is not allowed. Good luck

 

[Nicole1111]

Have you talked to your breeder about this? Do any of his siblings have similar issues?

Nope, but I will. Thank you so much for this!!!

 

[Nicole1111]

This is a unfortunately due to lack of proper training. Your Doberman does not understand the rules, he should never be allowed out with a dog that he does not get along with. You should be crating and rotating them. Just playing with them and giving exercise is not enough if you are not teaching rules with some form of obedience. I don’t believe your dog is being aggressive, if he was, no one would be sticking their arm in his mouth without ending up in the hospital. I would crate and rotate the dogs and get back to basic training, your dog needs a strong fair leader and a clear picture of what is and what is not allowed. Good luck

I see, thank you so much for this!!

 

[Eva171278]

Hello Everyone! I need your help (
I’ve had my Doberman for 9 months since he is already a year old. My cousin and I raised him ever since he was 2 months old. When he turned 4 months till 1 year old, we stayed with my parents who also had two other dogs. He hated our german chow and they have already got in a lot of fights. Because of this, we always separated them. Unfortunately, my dobie who sees my cousin as his sibling saw her trimming our German chow and lunged on her while growling, he even bit her but luckily she shoved her arm at his molars so he wasn’t able to continue. Every time my cousin would be associated with our german chow, he would always lunge, growl, and attempt to bite her. Before New Years, he saw my cousin drag my german chow to cage him. Then after New Years, he was off leash and my cousin and I were just walking around while he was running. While my cousin closed the gate, he attacked her. Yes, attacked. He lunged at her and kept biting her and wouldn’t even let go. So I shoved my own arms in his mouth and when he realized it was mine, he stopped. At this point my parents were already planning to get rid of him, but not yet until. The next day while he was play running with my dad, my mom was watching them. Out of nowhere while my parents were talking, he lunged at my mom and growled. And when my dad held him back he growled at my dad as well. My cousin and dobie grew up together, they knew each other before he knew my parents. I’m so confused, why among all people did he attack my cousin which he knew from puppyhood? We were all devastated because we ALL showed him unconditional love and made sure he was safe, happy, and active. He even has a very big space to run around. We play with him every single day AND night. His diet is high protein and he even eat fruits or other treats for snacks. We made sure to discipline him in terms of their dominance but it seems that he preys on those who don’t want to discipline him.

Hi all, I rehomed a second dobe last week, she is very sweet and friendly and was enjoying playing with out male dobe, anyway totally out of the blue and unprovoked our female just went for him and would not let go, I eventually separated them and took her away but she went for Axl again and drew blood, I am now nervous to leave them together based on that. Does anyone know if that is the end of it or do you think it could happen again? Thanks.

 

[Ravenbird]

Hi all, I rehomed a second dobe last week, she is very sweet and friendly and was enjoying playing with out male dobe, anyway totally out of the blue and unprovoked our female just went for him and would not let go, I eventually separated them and took her away but she went for Axl again and drew blood, I am now nervous to leave them together based on that. Does anyone know if that is the end of it or do you think it could happen again? Thanks.

How long have you had the new female? How old is she? If she's a young puppy you may be able to keep the dogs separate and her always on leash until she is trained and learns the rules. If she's an adult, this is probably a very ingrained dog-aggression and I'd never allow her any free time with your other dog. When you say you rehomed, I'm assuming you meant you got her from someone who didn't want/couldn't keep her any more - did they mention why?

In any case, just like mentioned in the above advice, crate and rotate, dogs should not ever be loose together. If she doesn't want to be friendly to Axl, you cannot make her. Not fair to subject Axl, it's not his fault and this could trigger angst and dog aggression in him as well to keep getting attacked.

 

[Eva171278]

How long have you had the new female? How old is she? If she's a young puppy you may be able to keep the dogs separate and her always on leash until she is trained and learns the rules. If she's an adult, this is probably a very ingrained dog-aggression and I'd never allow her any free time with your other dog. When you say you rehomed, I'm assuming you meant you got her from someone who didn't want/couldn't keep her any more - did they mention why?

In any case, just like mentioned in the above advice, crate and rotate, dogs should not ever be loose together. If she doesn't want to be friendly to Axl, you cannot make her. Not fair to subject Axl, it's not his fault and this could trigger angst and dog aggression in him as well to keep getting attacked.

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

We rehomed her,Taz on Saturday last week, she already has had some training and I am continuing on with that. She is 2. There have been a couple of spats between Axl and Taz but I thought it as over and done with. Now they are playing around as though nothing has happened. But this was on a different level, she just went for him and was not going to give up. I'm just hoping that's it over and done with.

 

[Ravenbird]

But this was on a different level, she just went for him and was not going to give up. I'm just hoping that's it over and done with.

I've heard that male dogs fight to dominate, females fight to kill. Not sure how true that is, plus it was referring to same sex aggression, but with your description of the attacks, I would be very careful letting her play with your boy. Personally I wouldn't let her interact with him at all - you've just had her a week or so? You need to be her only source of entertainment, training & food. Isolate her from the other dog and she'll soon start looking to you as the source of all things fun. Use that alone-time with her to get to know her and let her know there are house rules and boundaries and that she looks to you for guidance on how things work in her new home. Sounds like if Axl trips her trigger in play that she goes into serious fight mode. There are no words to describe how much damage a dog fight can cause, physically and mentally and to you as well, if you get in the way trying to break it up. Best of luck, sometimes it just takes a little time, sometimes it doesn't work at all.