Rough playing

[briannamurawski]

My Doberman, 11 months, plays so rough with me, he does it with my husband too but not as often. he gets his exercise and stimulation but still has so much energy, he’ll come up to me with a toy and will play fetch and next thing I know he drops his toy and try’s to nibble on my hand, arm, stomach, thigh literally anything he can grab. (Occasionally he will do it randomly). Sometimes I think he doesn’t realize how strong he is.. I tell him off and use our e-collar and praise him when he stops but 2 mins later he’s doing the same thing. Any advice on this will help!

 

[JanS]

It sounds like he needs more training and mental stimulation to let him know you are in charge. Telling him off is only going to amp up his excitement so you need to stay calm and firm with him.

 

[Ravenbird]

I tell him off and use our e-collar and praise him when he stops but 2 mins later he’s doing the same thing. Any advice on this will help!

He's not taking you seriously and the e-collar is not being used effectively. If he's back at it in 2 minutes that means that the fun of biting you is better than the risk of correction. He needs to be more respectful of consequences. If "no" doesn't really mean "no" then he's not learning anything, you are just nagging, and at 11 months he really needs to know boundaries. Clarity is really important to these dogs. My biggest mistake bringing up my puppy was too much nagging because I didn't want to hurt her. What happened is she couldn't figure out why sometimes I would put up with her BS and sometimes I wouldn't, so being a dog, she'd see if "this time" I'd put up with shenanigans a little longer than last time. Dogs will always do what's fun to them unless they learn that for sure it will make them sorry every time. You may think you are correcting your dog, but if he repeats the action whether it's in 2 minutes or 2 hours, you have not made the lesson clear.

 

[Kswoodssue]

Agree with @Ravenbird . Quick and no nonsense is the only way. They need reminders along the way also. Give an inch, they take a mile.