Hi,

I have a 6.5 month old blue Doberman. I went to see a new litter at the breeder and was planning on just seeing the litter and parents. This poor dog was running with a pack of 7 adult and 2 puppies from his litter. He spent the whole time I was there curled in a ball hiding or so scared of the other dogs he was barely on is feet. I fell in love with him and knew I couldn't leave him there to be abused.

It has been a month now and I have been working with the 8week to 8 month video and pack training. My question is this: I can't not be out of Boudreau's sight. He comes unglued if I leave the room and heaven forbid I should leave him for more than 5 minutes. His crate is in my son's room so he is with someone but he totally freaks out. I have my son doing the treat trick for when he is quiet and calm. That isn't working.

He will throw a fit but as soon as he see me he is so happy and calm. I don't even have to talk to him, pet him of let him loose. He just has to know he can see me.

Can someone please help me ?

PS: On another topic, he has his ears cropped but they don't stand up. Not sure how long the breeder taped them. Vet says to just message them and they might stand up. ANy suggestions?

Thank you so much!!
Justine

What is a normal day like for your dog? When you get him out of his crate, what happens next, then next, etc... When you leave for work, what do you do? Give us some information and we can try to work this out. Amount of training (if any) and amount of exercise (if any) on a daily basis?

sounds alot like my "Max" my White GSD, you might have a fear biter on your hands, if you do nothing else with the dog start socializing the pupper with everybody, turn everybody into a treat despenser, make trips to the vet just to get him use to going, go to the park when its not busy. Later do some confidence building training like cute tricks and some simple agility

 Quote: dennis jones

sounds alot like my "Max" my White GSD, you might have a fear biter on your hands,

Dennis, what about the post made you think a possible fear biter?

About the ears. It depends alot on the cut- a very short military crop should be fairly easy to get standing and just massage could do the trick while it would be near impossible to get a very long show cut to stand at that age if it hasn´t been taped regularly. In either case I personally would support them if I would be determined to get them standing.

My dobe was a year old with a medium show cut when I got her and one ear wasn´t standing at the time. I taped and taped for months without letting the ear go unsupproted for more than a few hours and though it is still not perfect it is standing (my sig picture shows her and her ears- one shows slight break in the middle). Some of my friends haven´t been so lucky and have dogs that have been taped through puppyhood and still get floppy ears. Depends on the strenght of the ear, the heavyness (sorry for not finding a better word for it) of the skin and other factors.

Thank you for the reply

He is great now and isn't afraid of anything. Well he does hate people in rain slickers hehe He doesn't really notice other people or dogs when we are out walking. He is totally centered on me. I don't allow him to go up to people but he is around them and I talk to others as I walk. He just stays by my side and is usually pretty patient

It is just me being out of his sight that is the problem. I have given him a Kong with his canned meat, 2 puzzle treat dispensing toys and bones. He won't touch them when I am not there the second he sees me he makes short order of them.

I am the alpha period. Man son ( 14) and husband are way down on the list. He learned quick that they won't follow thru on a command so just ignores them for the most part. We have a cat we rescued a few years back and he is great with her. She gets a little put out when he noses her in the butt. He is never mean to her but will chase her trying to play now and then.

I have to say that without all of the Leerburg podcasts and the dvd I would have been totally lost with this dog. I had a doberman when I was a child ( someone stoled him right from under my 8 year old nose) and Great Danes. This is the first dog I have ever had trouble with and thru Leerburg I have gone from a dog that was bitten so many times by his pack that he still has sores to a dog that can walk beside me calmly. He has leanred to sit and lay down in one day and is now trys to figure out what I want before I even have the treat out

I have them taped now. They are cut wide and a little tall. Maybe 2 1/2 inches tall. They both break at the same point. It isn't like I really care one way or the other but it would be nice to see them up I love him no matter what.

I don't know whats on the video, so I don't know if I'm contradicting anything you've seen or have been doing. The first thing I would do is try to ride it out. Crate him alone and ignore him till he quiets. Then take him out. Try and increase the time you leave him while he's quiet.

Then I would try to set a routine that you can stick to. Something consistant so that he knows what to expect and depend on.

I am a stay at home Mom. He is with me 24/7. He is walked every 2 hours for anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour.

As soon as I let him out of the crate he stay glued to my side. I have never had to tether him lol

His schedule is:
7:00 am he goes for a walk for 30 minutes
7:30 am he gets fed ( he is always very polite and will sit and wait for his food)
7:30 he plays with his puzzle and Kong then naps till 9 am
9:00 am he goes for his next walk and training
He usually comes back in a sleeps till 11:00 till noon
12:00 pm he goes for a walk and some tug play.
1:00 He chews on his bone till he falls asleep again hehe
3:00 He gets fed
3:30 walk time again
It follows that pace till 10:00 pm and then it is bedtime.

Justine, is the pup getting any exercise besides the walking on a leash? I have found that a tired dog - both physically and mentally is far less apt to be stressed out.