How to Manage Puppy Biting in Doberman Pinschers: Effective Training Techniques
Doberman Pinschers are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and strength. As puppies, they, on average, exhibit a high energy level and can sometimes express this through more puppy biting than in other breeds. As almost all Doberman owners can attest to, Doberman puppies are often little velociraptors. However, puppy biting is normal play behavior in all breeds and something that can surface, especially during the teething phase. Although normal, managing and redirecting this behavior in Doberman puppies is crucial to ensure they grow into well-mannered adults. Here are several effective training techniques to deal with puppy biting explicitly tailored to the Doberman breed.
Understanding the Behavior
Firstly, it's essential to understand why your Doberman puppy is biting. They’re neither biting to hurt you nor are they using their razor-sharp puppy teeth out of spite. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and Dobermans are particularly mouth-oriented. They also bite during play and when they're teething. Moreover, puppy biting may increase when they’re tired. Remember, puppies need to sleep at least 20 hours a day when they’re 2-3 months old and around 18 hours of sleep at 4-5 months. Recognizing these reasons will help you address the behavior more effectively.
1. Redirecting the Bite
When your Doberman puppy starts to bite, redirect its attention to a toy or chew bone. Keep various chew toys handy so you can quickly offer an alternative. This teaches your puppy what is acceptable to bite. Toys you can freeze are particularly good for teething puppies as the cold helps soothe their gums.
2. Implementing "Bite Inhibition"
Bite inhibition is the process of teaching your puppy to control the force of its bites. If your Doberman puppy bites you, let out a sharp yelp or say "ouch" in a firm tone, then withdraw your attention for a few seconds. This mimics the reaction they would get from another puppy when they bite too hard. Once they let go, direct them to the toy and praise them. Be aware that some trainers have the opinion that this technique is counterproductive. Most of these trainers base this assessment on outdated ‘alpha theories.’ Their thought is that you show weakness when you yelp, and such weakness signals that you’re not in charge. Unfortunately, this idea is outdated and disregards natural pack behaviors between siblings. Despite some trainers’ ideas, moms do not typically throw their puppies on their backs or pin them down. They may discipline them. However, they will use their body language and voice rather than physical force. They generally show far more nurturing and protective behaviors, and aggressive dominance tactics are an extension of the faulty early observations when random wolves were put together in captivity. As such, Dobermans are incredibly sensitive to their humans and understand quickly that they’re hurting you when you implement the technique of yelping, and they will not see you as weak.
3. Consistent Socialization
Socializing your puppy with other dogs and people is crucial. It helps them understand appropriate behaviors and how to interact without biting. If you only own one dog, you may want to organize playdates with other vaccinated dogs but under supervision. Not every dog is fond of puppy craziness, and it would be unfair to the puppy and the other dog if the encounter ended in an altercation. It is a myth that other dogs won’t hurt a puppy. If it is not their own puppy, they can and, under some circumstances, will take action that can hurt your puppy. Additionally, we strongly recommend you avoid dog parks and puppy classes (we explain why in a different post). However, exposure to other dogs early on will help your Doberman learn what behavior is acceptable from their species and not just you as a human being.
4. Positive Reinforcement
Reward your puppy for good behavior. When they play without biting, offer praise, treats, or playtime. Positive reinforcement helps your Doberman understand what behaviors are rewarded and wanted. Focus on reinforcing gentle play and rewarding them when they choose not to bite. Beware, negative reinforcement, which is largely based, again, on faulty alpha theories, can be especially detrimental to Dobermans, most notably when using your hands in their face to correct puppy biting. Avoid pushing them away in general, but even more so by using your hand to push them away from you by pushing their face. For one, pushing them away may seem like you’re playing with them, and two, Dobermans are very sensitive to people being ‘in their face,’ including with their hands. You do not want to create a biting problem when you reach for their face to, for example, examine their teeth or clean their eyes, now or later in their life.
Also, you may see puppy biting training techniques online where you’re supposed to grab them by their collar and the excess skin on their necks to hold them until they relax. While this could be a valuable addition to your training toolbox, we do not recommend this technique with your Doberman. As mentioned, Dobermans are very sensitive to negative reinforcement and people and other animals being ‘in their faces.’ ‘Being in their face’ also reaches into their head space, including their necks. What will most likely happen with a Doberman is that they will get more amped up and flop to the ground to perform an ‘alligator roll.’ Believe us, from experience, they will get to your hand, and they will likely bite even harder than before. Again, it is best to stick to positive reinforcement techniques. You can expand your knowledge of why positive reinforcement is crucial with a Doberman in this article.
5. Time-outs
If your puppy continues to bite despite redirection and yelping, it's time for a time-out. This doesn't mean scolding or physically punishing your puppy; instead, calmly remove them from the play area or turn your back on them for a few minutes. This break helps them understand that biting stops fun activities. Caution: some people like to use the crate as a time-out area. However, putting your puppy in the crate after they do something undesirable, such as play biting, may act as an associated punishment to them. Hence, they’ll start to perceive the crate as something undesirable, and that’s the exact opposite of what the crate should mean to them. The crate is supposed to be their safe haven where they can chill and feel comfortable for short periods of time.
6. Training Commands
Teach basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it.” These commands can help manage your puppy's behavior and distract them from biting. Training sessions also strengthen the bond between you and your puppy, making them more likely to listen and respond to you. This technique is especially helpful in preventing puppy biting in the first place since you may not always have a toy on you to redirect. Learn to recognize when your pup is starting to bite so you can tell them a command, such as ‘sit’ before the biting occurs. Then, continue with training to keep them occupied and distracted from biting you.
7. Patience and Consistency
Training a Doberman puppy not to bite takes time, patience, and consistency. Despite all the YouTube videos that promise to stop puppy biting immediately, do not expect immediate results. Ensure all family members and regular visitors follow the same rules regarding handling biting. There is no such thing as stopping a normal and instinctual behavior in one session.
8. Professional Help
If your puppy's biting persists or escalates, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can provide personalized strategies and support to address your puppy's specific needs. Since the dog training industry is widely unregulated, we highly recommend finding a certified trainer, especially a fear-free one. Everyone can call themselves a trainer, and while there might be some great ones out there who lack proper training and certification, it only takes one ‘bad’ trainer to create an entire slew of additional problems you will have to work on with your puppy. A pup that grows into a physically and mentally strong canine will need proper training to become a well-adjusted being that you can take anywhere.
Train Your Pup
Managing your Doberman puppy's biting behavior is crucial for their development into a well-behaved adult. You can guide your puppy toward more appropriate behaviors by understanding why they bite and employing these training techniques. Remember, every puppy is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Stay patient, consistent, and positive, and you'll help your Doberman grow into a loving and well-mannered companion.
Further Readings:
Rudolph Schenkel: Expression Studies on Wolves, 1947.
https://archive.org/details/SchenkelCaptiveWolfStudy.compressed
L. David Mech: “Alpha Status, Dominance, and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs”, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1 November 1999. Summary.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1343&context=usgsnpwrc
L. David Mech: “Leadership in Wolf, Canis lupus, Packs”, Canadian Field Naturalist, 2000.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1388&context=usgsnpwrc
L. David Mech: “Whatever Happened to the Term Alpha Wolf?”, International Wolf, winter 2008, International Wolf Center.
