Guard dogs Biting
A dog that bites is an extremely dangerous dog. Hundreds of people each year are seriously injured by dog bites. The results are pain and suffering for the victims and usually death for the dog. When you first bring your new Doberman or Rottweiler puppy home you are going to be struck by how sweet and adorable he is.
You are going to think everything he does is cute even when he nips at your fingers, toes, or pant legs during play. However, the nipping you think is cute now can become a big problem later, unless you nip it in the bud from the beginning.
Bite Free Environment
The first thing to do is to establish an environment that does not encourage your new puppy to nip or bite. This means making a conscious effort to avoid activities that will encourage your Doberman's natural inclination to bite. Activities like wrestling with your puppy or playing tug of war.
When he was with his litter mates biting was part of how the puppies wrestled with one another. Don't give your Doberman the impression that biting is acceptable by putting him in situations where biting is expected.
Stop Natural Inclination
When a young puppy gets excited playing, it is only natural for him to nip. You want to play with your new puppy, but you also want to send him the message that he is not to nip or bite while playing. One way to do this is when your puppy gets excited playing with you and nips you, tell him "NO" firmly and immediately end the play.
Give him time to calm down and then begin playing again, repeating the "NO" followed by turning your attention away each and every time he nips or bites. Your Doberman wants your attention and will soon learn that to keep your attention he can't nip or bite, and the behavior will stop.
The Boss
Dobermans and Rotties tend to become aggressive if allowed to think that they are the boss of the household. Therefore, it is important to train your dog to understand that you are the boss and he is just a member of the pack. Alpha and Obedience training will help resolve this issue. When he clearly understands that you are the Alpha, he will be more than happy to settle into his role as a pack member.
Socialization
Take the time to properly socialize your dog. Introducing him to new situations and people in a nonthreatening manner will give him more confidence. The more confident your dog is, the less inclined he will be to bite. In most cases, when dogs of any breed bite they do so out of fear and anxiety. The more your Dobbie or Rottie socialize, the more confident he will become. As his confidence grows, he will become less anxious in new situations and less likely to bite out of fear.
No one can guarantee that your Doberman will never bite. But proper training will go a long way in reducing the chances of him biting.
