How are your Dobermans when strangers come in to your home?

[Two Dobes]

Great thread, sorry I just found this. I too have owned a number of Dobermans, the two that we own now are the friendliest we have owned. I was concerned when I did the Working Aptitude with our boy, that he would not pass, due to being so friendly. What a nice surprise that he passed - the exercise most dobermans fail, is the "bad guy" at the end. I was so impressed with our boy, and felt confident, yes indeed he would protect when needed.
I agreed that they do sense and smell our fear in situations, but also react if allowed to on their own suspicions. Our Glory was more suspicious when she was younger - and I still watch her when people come over, as she used to be all wiggly, then if a friend in the house stared at her too long, Off goes the ALARM! She no longer does that now that she is 2, but I know she constantly is aware of peoples behavior in our house....I too keep them behind a gate when strangers/workers are here....visible and barking, but behind a gate. Prefer to let strangers believe they are not so friendly

 

[Dobies4Dayz]

How do your Dobermans behave when strangers come inside your home? Playful? reserved? on guard? Do you ask strangers to keep distance from your dog for any reason?

Bedja is still young, 18 months next month, so his young age probably plays a role.
We had different strangers (all men) come into our home on several separate occasions lately for repair or maintenance etc. and they all liked dogs or have their own.

Bedja initially barks a bit but not much and when these men wanted to greet him he got all playful and SO sweet and friendly. Of course I'm glad my dog is friendly, but just had slightly mixed feelings about my Doberman warming up like that right away to total strangers haha.

If someone had shady intentions he would be on guard, I assume, or when he gets older he will become more reserved?

When we meet strangers outside he does seem reserved.

As a comparison my old Boxer was as mellow as they come, but he had a bit of reserve with strangers inside the house.

My 9 month old female "Medusa" does not like men coming over, and is reserved when it comes to new people in general. In the back yard she acts like the biggest baddest thing around but I honestly believe she has a touch of fear reactivate-Ness. If my kids have a birthday party or something I definitely put her up because 1. I just don't know and the risk is too great.
2. I don't want to scare her or stress her out and make the problem worse.
I wish I was a little more comfortable, so she could be more relaxed , it's just she seems so agitated and I would rather avoid a situation. My bigger issue is we now have a 13 week old male and I don't want him to pick up on her skiddish / overly protective behavior. Any advice?

 

[AnnV]

My 9 month old female "Medusa" does not like men coming over, and is reserved when it comes to new people in general. In the back yard she acts like the biggest baddest thing around but I honestly believe she has a touch of fear reactivate-Ness. If my kids have a birthday party or something I definitely put her up because 1. I just don't know and the risk is too great.
2. I don't want to scare her or stress her out and make the problem worse.
I wish I was a little more comfortable, so she could be more relaxed , it's just she seems so agitated and I would rather avoid a situation. My bigger issue is we now have a 13 week old male and I don't want him to pick up on her skiddish / overly protective behavior. Any advice?

You're right Medusa may be experiencing some fear, which is normal for her age. It's important to balance training and socialization with a feel for what the dog can tolerate without going "over the top". Most important that we humans stay emotionally calm and neutral and never coddle or scold a fearful dog. Teach Medusa to focus on you, first with enough distance from the "trigger" as to not provoke reaction, then gradually move closer. Takes a LOT of time and consistency. You will also have to train both dogs separately, away from each other.
Not an easy task with the age of your puppies. I am no expert by any means, I can only encourage you to keep on training and socializing, and reading up on the training section in this forum can help a lot!

 

[Spryte]

Gunnar (admittedly NOT full doberman) is around 18 months old. He is a completely lovable slob with anyone, greeting them like long lost friends, all wiggles and tail wags. No reasonable person would see him as threatening, despite his 80+ pounds. A bit disappointing, but a truly sweet dog. He meets vehicles at the front (closed) gate. Barks only at diesel fueled vehicles as they drive past, but not when they come through. But for those that drive past, hopefully they think he is more than they want to tangle with.

Baretta, 10 months old, does not go up to the gate unless one of us is going. She sits and observes from the front porch. I had her crated when we had electricians here. (Her crate is in the living room) She began barking when I let them in the door. (All men) I praised her, and told her it was all right. She stopped barking, but watched them. One of the guys approached her later, sweet talking her and wanted to pet her. I told him that I preferred she not get friendly with people she doesn't know, and he stopped. The other fellow with him said "She will eat you alive!"

We get NO visitors out here where we live, except a rare visit from close friends or family. We had not had anyone here since we acquired her in July. Strangely enough, my two daughters and their children (all females) came for a visit this weekend and stayed overnight. I had her crated because I still didn't know how she would react initially. She watched... even as they lugged in pillows, suitcases etc., and never made a sound. Later, I let her out and she calmly checked them out and wanted stroking. Then this week one of the electricians returned to finish up the job. She was in her crate and barked quite a bit until I told her it was okay. (I did have to "correct" my husband who loudly told her NO, lol. I don't want her to think sounding the alarm is bad.) She did not growl at any time. I do want her to let us know, and because she doesn't bark at every sound in the night outside, when she does bark, I find out why.

 

[JanS]

Both of ours are on guard and have to analyze people before they decide if they should be there. Phoebe started that as a youngster.
Della on the other hand thought everyone came to visit her so her nub was wagging right away. LOL

 

[Rnrgyrl]

My dobe. 22 months male has always been an attention whore
Anyone that gives him attention or rubs his ears he is docile and falls in love! I wish I had a tough story to tell you but he is a big sweetheart and I would rather have him than my former Dobe-who was very scary hated children hated other dogs and did not like any people coming around me! She would even growl at my roommate that’s pretty scary!

 

[Mars]

The day after I got Mars I got a text from him while I was at work. Eat to ear grin standing next to my ex wife INSIDE MY OWN HOUSE!!! Not only did he let her in, he showed her where I kept the smoke sardines and downed a few.

I found out later he already knew her and she’d be in on selecting him as my service dog.

 

[AnnV]

Well, I think it's time for an update on Bedja here. He is now 2 years and a half old and if, when I started this thread over a year ago, it seemed I worried about him being overly friendly, that worry is poof gone.
Nothing big, but we had our long time painter working here just recently for a few days, a really nice guy whom my husband and I invite to share some meals when there are longer painting projects, so not really a stranger. Just the other day he stepped in through an unlocked door at the front of the house before Bedja and I came in from the back yard. Um, Bedja spotted him first and gosh did he run up and let out a ROAR that sounded like that of a beast seven times his size, "WHHOOOOOOOW". Maybe what a charging Tyrannosaurus might have sounded like. We live on a quiet street and don't often experience the Exploding Doberman phenomenon. This time it was full blast lol.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Maybe what a charging Tyrannosaurus might have sounded like.

Love it!

With maturity, their serious side is awe inspiring to see.

 

[AnnV]

awe inspiring

Indeed.
Now our painter guy is ok with Bedja who settled the second he recognized him, but tbh I wouldn't want to be in his shoes if I were a stranger encountering this dog for the first time. Not to mention those who are actually scared of dogs. By the way, the painter had entered first thing in the morning because he was in the process of painting the particular door he entered through, otherwise I don't think he would just step in like that.

 

[Katyusharocket]

I really appreciate reading everyone's experiences and changes! So far, at 9 months, my Katyusha seems to have about 3 differing personalities when it comes to security. In the home she is silent, and will only stare at pedestrians/approachers, and it is one icy stare. When she is out in the yard, she sees someone and will bark quite a loud and deep bark as if to warn them they have been noticed and are being monitored (unless it is her vet, those two love each other and he will stop in to see her if he sees her outside. he does not get warned). As soon as I go to approach that person (outside her tie out radius) and she sees all is well, she would be happier if the person would come play with her, but they rarely want to. who knows why? her third personality is when we are not at our residence, she loves everyone! everyone she passes on a walk on the streets or people who come to the dog park, she loves them all. We haven't any experiences yet with things getting sketchy in public so no idea what she would do if someone went wrong. a few of you have mentioned how they might not know if another person is bad or not, but they sure smell it from us if we know. I think she might follow my lead on that. In all situations, she is definitely the most situationally aware dog I have ever had, and I enjoy seeing that.

 

[willardan]

My 13 month old female goes crazy when she hears the doorbell, my friend came over a while ago, she was reserved at first, but after he patted her for a while she was very friendly, she cried when he left.