Very protective - what do I do?

[Warm blooded fellow]

I have had a few malinois, a few mastiffs, a staffy, German shepherd and grew up with dogs in my house hold. I am NEW to Dobermans. I am not used to the highly territorial and protective nature of the dog. May I mark that he is not overly aggressive and will even actively avoid dog fights at the park. But when bad people are bad towards me and mean dogs are mean towards or too close to me...it’s game on. I’m not sure how Far this protection instinct will grow being as he is 10 months old. Since he is almost a 100lbs of all muscle I feel I need to figure this out before he gets too out of control. Thoughts? Please no man-splaining.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

Lots of daily training multiple times a day. Structured walking in populated areas with distractions. Eventually he will understand what is a true threat and what isn’t. He will read your emotions through the leash so calm assertive training is necessary.

 

[GOD'S GRACE]

I got to follow up with Tropicalbri here....
First Dobermans are made for Protection...can't help that, but as stated you can train...
Secondly Dobermans sense you fear very quickly so be careful with your body language and tone of voice when conforted...

I'n sure things will work out as time goes on

 

[Warm blooded fellow]

I got to follow up with Tropicalbri here....
First Dobermans are made for Protection...can't help that, but as stated you can train...
Secondly Dobermans sense you fear very quickly so be careful with your body language and tone of voice when conforted...

I'n sure things will work out as time goes on

Usually it’s less of my fear as I’m a very calm and centered person. That said he KNOWS bad people. I’m gonna be starting training 5 days a week here soon so I think I might get a handle on it. 10 months old FORWARD -> Does the protection instinct get stronger? How much so.

 

[GOD'S GRACE]

With training you can certainly heighten his abilities...but the drive to protect is already there...That's why training is so important...what some call protective, might be completely different...a dog might be scared, not protective...so with training you being to the front the qualities already there, and fine tune them... and you can harden off less desirable ones...

 

[Tropicalbri's]

10 months old FORWARD -> Does the protection instinct get stronger? How much so.

I think what you are seeing is the influx of hormones and going through fear periods which can cause them to act like they are aggressive, similar to or is fear aggression. This will level out with training.
My male did this, strutting around with a bully swagger like he wanted someone to pick a fight with him. He got over this with some direction from me.
He learned quickly that bully attitude doesn’t work at our house. He still has the swagger when doing perimeter patrol which is ok with me as long as he doesn’t try and escalate it.

 

[Warm blooded fellow]

I think what you are seeing is the influx of hormones and going through fear periods which can cause them to act like they are aggressive, similar to or is fear aggression. This will level out with training.
My male did this, strutting around with a bully swagger like he wanted someone to pick a fight with him. He got over this with some direction from me.
He learned quickly that bully attitude doesn’t work at our house. He still has the swagger when doing perimeter patrol which is ok with me as long as he doesn’t try and escalate it.

You didn’t read what I wrote then. I said...he actively avoids fights. NOT overly aggressive was also in there if you read it. I’m not new to the dog world.

 

[Gelcoater]

My first Dobe started showing her protective side at about this age.

Don’t forget here, you have a breed of dog now who’s entire existence was created to protect its people.
That is what the breed was created to do, not herding, not ratting or critter hunting, or retrieving, etc.
Protection!

You need to teach and train to properly use the tools bred in and when and how to properly do it.
Knowing you have had Mals, staffies, GSD, you are already familiar with head strong dogs, no doubt! Lol.
Dobermans are a bit different.
Strong minded, yes. But there’s a certain “wisdom” they have.
Hard to explain.
You’ll see

 

[Tropicalbri's]

I appreciate your correction however I did read the ‘actively avoids fights’ as I have read that from you before in a different post.
I also understand you are not new to the dog world, that is evident again from your description of the Mal in another post, but you are new to the Doberman world per your statement.
I offered what I thought might contribute to his behavior as you described it. I also remember from a prior post that you described him as ‘mixing it up with your Mal when you said ow’ and I believe I read in one of your first posts that he ‘plowed’ a blood hound that got in your space. So judging from past posts that doesn’t sound like aggression avoidance.

Perhaps I am tired from physically working my a$$ off today and took your response in a negative light. If that isn’t the case and you are leaning to the condescending then try losing the attitude because I was simply offering options of what he may be experiencing.
I am not new to the dog world either, nor am I new to the Doberman world.

What I have gathered from your comments is you are around a lot of bad people/dogs and your boy is showing protection and you described him as knowing ‘bad people’ from regular people. I think most dogs have this intuitive attribute, maybe some more than others.
While dobes may have the protection instincts, training must be done to teach him when protection is necessary and how he should handle himself in those situations.
With this breed training is something that should be done everyday for the entirety of their life especially if you see he has natural protective instincts given his muscled up body of 100lbs at 10 months.

I also stand by what I said regarding hormones as a factor for some behavior issues.

 

[Gelcoater]

I also stand by what I said regarding hormones as a factor for some behavior issues.

I think there’s absolutely some merit to this.

 

[Rits]

You didn’t read what I wrote then. I said...he actively avoids fights. NOT overly aggressive was also in there if you read it. I’m not new to the dog world.

Take what helps you and leave the rest. No need with the tone of your post. If you aren't new to dog ownership, great. The advice will soak in much easier. Responding like this will make people not want to reply.

 

[Prushanks]

You didn’t read what I wrote then. I said...he actively avoids fights. NOT overly aggressive was also in there if you read it. I’m not new to the dog world.

Uncalled for.

Take what helps you and leave the rest. No need with the tone of your post. If you aren't new to dog ownership, great. The advice will soak in much easier. Responding like this will make people not want to reply.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Doberman Gang]

I have had a few malinois, a few mastiffs, a staffy, German shepherd and grew up with dogs in my house hold. I am NEW to Dobermans. I am not used to the highly territorial and protective nature of the dog. May I mark that he is not overly aggressive and will even actively avoid dog fights at the park. But when bad people are bad towards me and mean dogs are mean towards or too close to me...it’s game on. I’m not sure how Far this protection instinct will grow being as he is 10 months old. Since he is almost a 100lbs of all muscle I feel I need to figure this out before he gets too out of control. Thoughts? Please no man-splaining.

Love to see a picture of this 100lb all muscle doberman. Is that him in your avatar?

 

[Doberman Gang]

Usually it’s less of my fear as I’m a very calm and centered person. That said he KNOWS bad people. I’m gonna be starting training 5 days a week here soon so I think I might get a handle on it. 10 months old FORWARD -> Does the protection instinct get stronger? How much so.

For your dog probably not, you can train to increase confidence but truly protective dogs have something called fight drive. It can not be trained, they have it or they don’t. You already said your dog actively avoids dog fights and is not overly aggressive. A dog with high drive and fight drive will not actively avoid a dog fight. It sounds to me like your dog may lack some confidence and acts out in protective situations because there is a lack of a true leader to take control of the situation and he feels he must try to take the leadership role. But he is only 10 months old and is definitely not mature enough to be in that role. Doing some obedience training with a trainer that can help you assume that role would be benificial for you both. To answer your question though, no his protection instincts are what they are, but you can build more confidence with your dog by taking a better leadership role thru training.

Also mastiffs are the number 1 dog breed for protecting their territory. Next time maybe just ask a question you want help with and accept the fact that people are trying to help you.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Perhaps you can "mansplain" how you have had so many dogs, seeing as you are apparently a "fellow." You allude to at least nine dogs that you have had as an adult.

You seem to have quite an extraordinary Doberman. Massive and muscular, and more of a handful than any of the Malinois you've had.

 

[mako28]

not sure, but maybe an idea:
Is his confidence lacking? I've worked w pups who act like total turds because they're nervous. So much new stuff, new hormones, new environments and new dogs. It sounds like he's holding it in and posturing. He has his instincts but doesn't know how to manage them. (Me in high school.)
Can you find some new dogs you trust and that can handle your boy? start exposing him to very different things and get him use to the idea that "with you, new is cool".
(I think I'm on the same path; I can already tell that my 5 month old is fearless and alpha-minded. I'm doing extra effort to get her out there, exposed and nonreactive. Had her work through her commands 4 feet away from multiple revving motorcycles last weekend. She went from scared to chase to F you to "oh...okay" in less than 10-minutes. They'll figure it out.)

 

[NikiL02]

Imho from your description his protection is because he doesnt take his cues from you. He is protecting you because you aren't telling him not to. Nero has no protection training whatsoever. In fact on a walk some kids startled him and he just about jumped out of his pants. He calmed quickly and we continued our walk. He ignores people and other dogs on our walks as he is supposed to. At dog parks he plays with other dogs really well and never is aggressive. He is always nervous with new people, especially if hubs or I are not with him (which happens at my work.)
However a friend of ours that Nero has never met came into our house and every protection instinct bred into him came to the surface. Hackles were up, growling and barking commenced, but when we told him to stop, he did. He wasn't sure still about this new person but we said it was okay so it must be. Eventually he was able to have our friend pet him.
Our dogs take their cues from us. If we have confidence then they can feel secure in our decisions and actions and will act and react appropriately.
Dog training, as you must already know, is not about commands. It is about trust. Their trust in us that we can lead them. I hope you can work on that with your guy I also hope you can be in a place where there aren't bad people so that you feel safe.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Imho from your description his protection is because he doesnt take his cues from you. He is protecting you because you aren't telling him not to. Nero has no protection training whatsoever. In fact on a walk some kids startled him and he just about jumped out of his pants. He calmed quickly and we continued our walk. He ignores people and other dogs on our walks as he is supposed to. At dog parks he plays with other dogs really well and never is aggressive. He is always nervous with new people, especially if hubs or I are not with him (which happens at my work.)
However a friend of ours that Nero has never met came into our house and every protection instinct bred into him came to the surface. Hackles were up, growling and barking commenced, but when we told him to stop, he did. He wasn't sure still about this new person but we said it was okay so it must be. Eventually he was able to have our friend pet him.
Our dogs take their cues from us. If we have confidence then they can feel secure in our decisions and actions and will act and react appropriately.
Dog training, as you must already know, is not about commands. It is about trust. Their trust in us that we can lead them. I hope you can work on that with your guy I also hope you can be in a place where there aren't bad people so that you feel safe.

Trust is good and necessary; but so is training.

 

[NikiL02]

I believe they go hand in hand. A well trained dog won't do a thing if they dont think you can lead. They're more likely to, but unless they know you can lead, the training not only takes longer, it may not be possible.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Where is the fellow these days? I was so hoping to see pics of his beast.