HI EVERYONE.

I HAVE A 5 MONTH OLD DOBERMANN MALE WHO IS GREAT IN THE HOUSE WITH ALL THE FAMILY. WE GO TO OBIDIENCE TRAINING AND HE IS FINE AND WILL CHILL OUT WITH PEOPLE WALKING BY AND SOME PEOPLE TOUCHING HIM THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEONE WILL GO TO TOUCH HIM AND HE WILL SNAP. THANKFULLY HE HASNT CONNECTED WITH ANYONE AND AS SOON AS HE HAS DONE IT HE WILL MOVE OUT THE WAY AND I TELL HIM OFF FOR DOING IT, BUT HE IS MY FIRST DOBERMANN AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS HE DOESNT DO IT ALL THE TIME SO I DONT KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT.
IS THERE ANYONE WITH ANY ADVICE OUT THERE.

First of all he needs a vet check to ensure there isn't a medical problem which may be leaving him feeling vulnerable.  While you are at the vets ask them to recommend a 'behaviourist' who should be a member of the UKRCB or the APBC, or a member of the APDT with an interest in behaviour.

Agressions like this could be done to so many things and has the potential to go very wrong if incorrect advise is given over the internet.  Please do stop telling him off for it though - he will pick up on your stress levels and may start to connect the presence of strangers with you being worried, and become even more determined to keep people away.  If he were my dog, I'd be thinking about walking him in a muzzle to prevent any damamge for the time being.

I agree with Digger - the first stop should be the vets!!  At 5 months old he shouldn't have the confidence to snap at anyone.  Second point what does your trainer suggest??  Is there any pattern to it - is it men or women or anything discernable??

Are these people trying to pet him? One of my dogs will not snap or bite hands but sometimes if he sees you waving your hands around infront of him he tries to "catch" them and snaps (not hard). If this is the case i would suggest anyone that pets him appraoch slowly , not looking the dog directly in the eye because this can be threatening. Offer your palm to sniff and once he warms up then pet.

It can be really threatening to a dog if someone is staring it in the eye then reaching arms out , especially to a dog with high fight drive (dobie)

I have read that the best place to ask people to stroke your dog if they ask if they can stroke your dog is on their chest,or side as the head area is quite sensitive and our pup who is now nearly 6 mnths old didnt at fist like being stroked on her head,she accepts it now as it was something we did gradually indooors with the family,but if any children ask to stroke her i still ask if they would stroke her chest or the side of her body,although she does seem now to allow people to stroke her head and ears and loves all the attention she gets,it can be quite daunting for a pup to have so many people wanting to give it attention if you are not sure or think she may be phased out politely ask people not to stroke,i must say most people who approach us when out do ask if its alright and i encourage if i think the dog is happy to be petted. hth

Hi All,

My Trainer doesnt know what to do as they have never had one this age do it.
It is when people are trying to pet him, but not everyone, it is more when people just come up and go straight in and try and stroke him without holding their hands out first and even letting him get used to them been there when he does it. I thought about what digger said about muzzling him but he isnt like it all the time it is more when he is in a tight spot and feels there is no way out. the trainer did wonder whether he could be guarding me alot of the time. I know he is dominant as he doesnt like to socialise with other male dogs already and always has been from been a small pup. but i dont now what to do with this one.  I will take hi to the vets and see what they say

It sounds more like fear than dominance to me ...

I think if some people are just going straight in he feels as you say put in a corner i would probably be on my guard if someone rushed up to me i didnt know and immediatley show some sort of mild aggression,he is probably frightened.Can you maybe try to read the situation and ask people to put their hand down gently and slowly to allow him to sniff them,and then if he is happy let them gently stroke him.Explain he is only a puppy and needs to feel safe.