Socialization and exercise for intact pup?

[Sage024]

Hey all! Thanks so much for your help so far, I’m so glad I found this forum.

My boy is 7 months and will be 8 months on Jan 6th. He’s been going to daycare 2x a week since he was 5 months. He’ll have to stop going soon, as they have a rule that puppies 8 months and older must be neutered. I don’t plan to neuter him until 18 months or so.

I live in midtown ATL and Piedmont dog park is the cleanest, safest, biggest dog park within walking range to me (I don’t have a car). I usually only take him there when it’s not busy so I can keep a super close eye on him. Recently it’s been busier with the holidays but I’m trying to go on off hours because he has recently started trying to hump some dogs and I don’t want him to start with that. His recall isn’t perfect and historically he’s been great with dogs. So I just play it as safe as possible because 20-30 mins at the dog park seems to do the trick for him with exercise for the day. (We don’t go to the park everyday though).

I’m also considering board and train? But have heard so many mixed things about them. He needs a lot of training still. I work one on one with a trainer once a week, but maybe adding group training classes in addition would be a good move? Has anyone done board and train with their dobe and recommends it? I’m worried he’ll be anxious and it’ll cause issues. I’m also concerned he’ll just train an hour a day and be crated the rest of the time and I’ll spend 2-3k for him to be bored and come back half trained.

What’s the typical method for this age?

 

[CRDobe]

Group training, with a good trainer, would be much better for both of you. I'd be very hesitant about a board-and-train.

 

[Sage024]

Group training, with a good trainer, would be much better for both of you. I'd be very hesitant about a board-and-train.

Group training would be good, I’m very worried about board and train solely for separation and not knowing what’s happening to my dog all day. I’ve heard horror stories about mistreatment but also met many people in the city who sent theirs to board and train and recommend it. I’ll look into group classes in the city!

 

[Firestar Dobe]

The bond you build with your boy when training is more important than anything. As for socialization, socializing your dog means being able to be in a crowd of people or around other dogs or people and your dog will not react. Dog parks are not a good idea, you have no control over your dog, you don't know how other people and their dogs will behave, another dog could injure yours or your dog could get fleas or something worse. If you want to teach your dog to not react to other dogs you can stay outside of the dog park and work with your dog while still being insight of other dogs and people. A training class for you and your dog would be the safest and easiest way to do his training.

 

[Ddski5]

If you want to teach your dog to not react to other dogs you can stay outside of the dog park and work with your dog while still being insight of other dogs and people.

This has greatly worked for me!!!!

 

[Ravenbird]

No dog parks ever. All the reasons stated by others here. Use the outside of the fence for training with distractions. Not only dog parks, but any off leash play with other dogs that don't live with you is not a good idea, considering his behavior, his age, and his imperfect recall - at 7 months you can't expect great behavior and the more he practices bad behavior, the more he will want to. It's self-rewarding, so it will become harder and harder to make yourself more important.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

Group training would be good, I’m very worried about board and train solely for separation and not knowing what’s happening to my dog all day. I’ve heard horror stories about mistreatment but also met many people in the city who sent theirs to board and train and recommend it. I’ll look into group classes in the city!

The best training you can do right now is environmental training.
This will teach them to be calm, look to you for guidance, and desensitize them to noises, traffic, sudden movements, screaming kids, etc.
They need exposure to all types of environments to learn confidence and to look at you as their pack leader.
They need to trust you to keep them safe in all situations.

Humping is a process of hormones developing and is not always a dominance issue.
Older male dogs will smell the testosterone of a young male and will attempt to challenge them for dominance.

I have always felt that Dobermanns specifically do not need the interaction of other dogs outside the home as they must be with their owner to be secure. They are the ultimate Velcro breed.

I would take your dog everywhere you go and teach vehicle etiquette.
Every new experience, when done properly builds confidence.
Keep training sessions highly motivating and fun with lots of praise and short sessions multiple times a day. It allows you to bond with your boy.