Give the Doberman plenty of encouragement
When the Doberman does what you asked for, you must affirm it immediately so it understands that this is the behavior you want. The dog cannot guess your expectations on its own. Only timely rewards can guide it little by little toward the actions you want.
Maintain a firm attitude toward the Doberman
Dogs naturally have a tendency to follow strong leaders, so the owner must establish leadership. You should not only be the provider of food and the organizer of games, but also the leader of behavior. Your attitude should be calm, firm, friendly, and gentle at the same time. Only then can you earn the Doberman’s obedience.
Use a steady tone of voice
A dog’s response is strongly influenced by the owner’s tone. Using a calm and firm voice when giving commands makes the Doberman feel secure and helps it obey. When giving a warning, the voice can be louder and more serious. The puppy must know where the acceptable limits are, so your voice should be used to stop unwanted behavior in time.
Have lasting patience
The success of training depends not only on the dog’s speed of response, but also on long-term repeated practice. Patience and persistence are therefore extremely important. Every behavior can become a training opportunity. A puppy may repeat the same mistake again and again, but if you keep making the same requirement, it will gradually learn what is forbidden and what is allowed. If repeated instruction still does not bring the effect you want and you feel yourself becoming angry, it is better to stop and continue later rather than rush and end up making things worse.
Apply rules consistently
Rules must be consistent, otherwise the Doberman will become confused and not know what to do. Commands should be reasonable, clear, and firm, and once a rule is established it must be carried through consistently. If the dog’s behavior violates the rule, you must let it know through a clear response. Every member of the household should enforce the same rules. For example, if you scold the Doberman for jumping on you when you are dressed to go out, but allow it to jump on you when you are relaxing at home, that inconsistency will confuse the dog and frustrate it. For dogs, rules need to be black and white. They do not understand gray areas.
Respond immediately
The right time for correction is always immediate. Whenever you see the puppy doing something you like, such as looking at you, following you, or greeting you happily without jumping, let it know immediately that it did well. Reward right away. Timely praise improves learning. When the dog makes a mistake, you should say “no” firmly at once and interrupt the behavior immediately. Scolding or punishing afterward is not useful and only makes the puppy confused, mistrustful, or afraid of you. If your reaction is delayed, the Doberman will not understand what your response relates to.
Use verbal correction rather than emotional anger
You should choose a specific word to indicate correction, such as “stop,” “no,” or “don’t.” The correction should not be an emotional outburst, but a short and sharp signal that attracts the dog’s attention. There is no need to scream loudly or use the dog’s name as a reprimand. The dog’s name should always be associated with positive things.
Ignore bad attention-seeking behavior
Puppies often bark to get attention, because barking usually produces a reaction from the owner. When trying to stop a puppy from barking, one of the best methods is to ignore it. You can leave the room while the dog is barking and avoid responding until it stops. The puppy will quickly understand that barking makes you leave rather than stay. Of course, as mentioned earlier, your behavior must remain consistent and firm. When the puppy behaves rudely, training can be used to shape behavior that fits your expectations. This process may use up much of your patience, but in the end you will have a well-behaved Doberman. Do not give in out of softness, because that will only strengthen bad habits. In time, the Doberman learns that it must control its own behavior in order to receive the owner’s rewards.
Name training
The first big event when the Doberman enters the home is receiving a name. How do you get it used to that name, which will stay with it for life? When the puppy is happily playing, eating, or being praised, call its name in a bright tone to get its attention. Repeating its name in those moments helps it quickly understand that the sound refers to itself.
Toilet training
After activity, after waking up, or after eating, a Doberman puppy will often walk around and sniff the floor. That is usually the sign that it wants to relieve itself. Quickly bring it to the chosen toilet area, and after it finishes, be sure to praise it. After several repetitions, the dog will naturally remember where it is supposed to go. Before toilet training is complete, never beat the puppy or press its nose into the waste to “teach it a lesson.” That will only create fear and make obedience harder to achieve.
Night barking training
A dog that has just arrived in a strange environment is usually emotionally unstable and often needs two or three days to adapt. It may whine or cry at night. In that case, you can give it old items carrying familiar smells, toys, or even a ticking clock, because the rhythm can resemble a heartbeat. Letting the puppy sleep where it can see its owner can also help it feel safer and shift its attention.
Feeding training
Try to spend the first few days closely with your puppy and make sure you are the person feeding it. At this age, food is the strongest motivator and can quickly help the puppy identify you as its owner. Dogs usually prefer having a fixed feeding place, which helps strengthen habit formation. Some dogs like dragging food out of the bowl to eat it on the floor, so you may want to place newspaper underneath. If there is more than one dog, they should be fed separately and with separate bowls to avoid conflict or uneven distribution.
When you are eating, if the Doberman comes forward begging or acting cute for food, you must refuse firmly. Otherwise it will form the bad habit of begging every time you eat, or even rummaging through trash when you are absent.