I've only had my Dobe for a month (rescue) unfortunately he hasn't been well recently (intestenes fillingwith gas, i've had him on Hills for sencitive stomachs, james well be loved etc, nothing has worked) vets hopefully will have him sorted soon though. any advise from fellow dobe owners would be much appreciated, on how to become the Alpha and also other any other tips etc

Many thanks

Luke & Bailey...from the Uk

Don't worry too much about being an 'Alpha' - concentrate instead on using your brain to become your dogs protector and friend........

Hi Luke

Most Dobermanns seem to do well on a raw diet - this also cuts down drastically on the gas except on the days when you give a lot of vegetables - do a search on Raw Feeding or BARF for more information on this sort of diet.

Regarding Becoming the alpha - should not be necessary as you should already be master in your own household with no need to show overt dominance over you dog.  Training is a partnership and the more work you do with your dog the deeper the bond between you becomes

Hi, thanks for the advise guys, i'm not overly worried about been the alpha just recently he's been abit naughty (barking at my dof trainers) they explained he's looking at me as a pack member not the leader, saying that in our home he does as he's told!  bless him at the moment he's very slim as he's not allowed to eat to much with his gas problem (previously he had Gastric Dialation, commonly known as bloat :-( he used to weigh 40kgs but now he only weighs 32kgs, he needs alot of loving and he's sure going to get it :-) i just want to give him the best of everything.

Many thanks

Luke & Bailey

Personally, id advise you to find different trainers.

There are many reasons why he may be barkign at them, but him looking at you as a pack member rather than a leader aint gonna be one of them, because dogs do NOT think humans are other dogs, thus they DONT think you are a member of their pack in such a way as your trainer would have youbelieve.

This is where all this 'dominance' cr@p comes from and it really DOESNT help you train your dog.

Dobes ARE big strong pushy dogs, as with all dogs, they need to know where their boundaries are, whats acceptable (ie will be rewarded) what isnt acceptable (ie what wont be rewarded).

If your trainers do not have his respect, and they need to EARN that, not scare him into it, then its likely he WILL jsut stand and bark at them rather than obey a command.

But then its as likely that he is confused, doesnt understand the question, or is unnerved as anything else.

If he behaves in a manner which is acceptable to you in your home and in your company, then that is fine (as long as it doesnt upset other people obviously).

Em

I would also advise you to find different trainers.  Your dog is telling you that there is something wrong with them for a kick off!  (Not that barking at people is an acceptable behaviour but if he only does it with them ...)

I would avoid any trainer that starts trying to put any problems down to my 'weakness' or 'lack of leadership'.  I know people who've been humiliated in classes by this sort of stuff (I think themx used the right word) and it doesn't help the dog when an owner is made to doubt themself like this.

Try some other classes if you can, and see what you think.

My dog also had stomach and gastro problems when we got her.  She was also on Hills,  I tried the Barf diet but it was a bit too difficult for us to manage (we both work full time) however what has saved our bacon is NatureDiet!  Fresh cooked vacuum packed food.  Its not full of rubbish, its not just kibble and best of all she eats it and isn't ill anymore!  Might not work for everyone but it was a great solution for us. 

Thanks to you all for your advice/replies :-)

Luke & Bailey

My dobe has a sensitive tum ..he is on Autarky and Nature diet ,
as for being alpha ..well I do think you have to be firm with them ..NO is No etc..give an inch and they wil take the whole 2 miles :D ..I would say be firm , be fair, be loving ........and when all else fails ........hit the bottle ;)  :D :D 

Lol, im not at the bottle stage yet lol, thats exactly how I been with him, he still (every now and then) tests the boundaries but thats fine as he knows what he's allowed to do etc!  Natural diet? is that mean like freshly cooked meat and veg etc? the other food you talked about, where can i get that from?

Thank :-)

Luke & Bailey

Go here for Nature Diet

Nature diet is as Vicki's link ;) and Autarky is a dried complete food -Some Tesco's stock it as do Jollies and some independant Pet stores -both are complete foods but I find the mix of the two suits my dobe ( Autarky has lots of herbs in to calm tums and seems to help with the amount of foul wind he emits    :D )

My Dobe has a very sensitive tummy she has been put on a prescription diet which seems to help. Good luck.
Mary