Training The Dobermann
Dobermans are different. We would love to jump on the "training a doberman is just like any other dog" bandwagon, but it's just not true. A Doberman is not a Malinois. Its not a bulldog. Its not a Border Collie or a Cane Corso. The Doberman is the first (and only) breed of dog that was specifically created for personal protection. They weren't created to herd livestock, or pull carts, or hunt game, or patrol property alone. They were created to accompany their owners everywhere, discerning a threat if needed, ready and alert to protect their owner from other humans that may be looking to do their handler harm. The original Dobermann was a sharp dog, but not an unstable monster, lashing out at anyone and everyone. Their unique purpose set them apart from other guardian breeds of their era. Motivating a Doberman is different from motivating other working breeds- the Doberman is generally not a prey monster like most Malinois, but neither are they heavily leaning toward defense like most Corsos. There aren't many training decoys skilled at truly building a strong working Doberman; it requires an ability to really read a dog, to fluidly channel drives back and forth between prey, aggression and defense; it requires a trainer to have the knowledge and skill of gauging what each individual dog sees as pressure, when and how to apply that pressure, and when and why to relieve it. It requires a trainer to TRULY know how to best work the dog in front of them. Some (those who firmly believe training a Doberman is no different than any other breed), will say "yeah, but those are skills all training decoys should have. They're not Doberman-specific techniques", and they are absolutely correct! But the disconnect comes with the word SHOULD. Yes, all training decoys SHOULD have those skills before training client dogs of any breed, but the hard fact is that very few actually do. When the dog in front of them doesn't engage with a prey item, and seems disinterested, many trainers simply have no idea what to do. And when the Doberman doesn't conform to that trainer's narrow skillset, they'll be declared a "wash", because most trainers would rather wash a dog than admit that they don't have the skills needed for an off breed; they will blame the dog instead of making a referral to a better trainer, advising the owner to get rid of it and get a "real dog" (read: Malinois or GSD).
Dobermans are notorious for being a thinking breed, and can tend to be lazy; they have earned a reputation for slipping the grip on a long bite/courage test. They are generally a slow maturing breed and need to be built up slowly, and not capped until they have the mental maturity to be capped without killing their drive. They often need much more building than a typical sport bred herder.
Part of our interview process before selling a working puppy is to ascertain the handlers resources- have they ever titled a working dog before? Do they have a club within driving distance, and are they actually a member, or do they just "know about a club nearby"? Have they made contact with the club to make sure they are accepting new members, and to make sure they accept off breeds? Has that club worked with off breeds before? How many titled off breeds has that club produced? Titling any dog in a bite sport is a huge time and financial commitment, finding a local club can be a challenge, not to mention finding one that is accepting new members and will allow a Doberman or other off breed; even if you find one- is their training decoy even qualified to be teaching? There will be plenty of folks who will read this and say there are loads of trainers that can work Dobermans appropriately- but typically those are IGP Doberman people. Outside of the IGP bubble, when you look at the big picture and the vast number of decoys offering training, you'll start to see that the truly skilled trainers are actually a small percentage.
Dobermans are notorious for being a thinking breed, and can tend to be lazy; they have earned a reputation for slipping the grip on a long bite/courage test. They are generally a slow maturing breed and need to be built up slowly, and not capped until they have the mental maturity to be capped without killing their drive. They often need much more building than a typical sport bred herder.
Part of our interview process before selling a working puppy is to ascertain the handlers resources- have they ever titled a working dog before? Do they have a club within driving distance, and are they actually a member, or do they just "know about a club nearby"? Have they made contact with the club to make sure they are accepting new members, and to make sure they accept off breeds? Has that club worked with off breeds before? How many titled off breeds has that club produced? Titling any dog in a bite sport is a huge time and financial commitment, finding a local club can be a challenge, not to mention finding one that is accepting new members and will allow a Doberman or other off breed; even if you find one- is their training decoy even qualified to be teaching? There will be plenty of folks who will read this and say there are loads of trainers that can work Dobermans appropriately- but typically those are IGP Doberman people. Outside of the IGP bubble, when you look at the big picture and the vast number of decoys offering training, you'll start to see that the truly skilled trainers are actually a small percentage.
|
In other words- don't let those who have never done something, criticize your performance.
|
Training Decoys/Helpers
Inspired by Josh Kirby's decoy database, we are compiling a list of training decoys and helpers who are experienced and talented with building Dobermans and other "off breeds" from puppyhood/green dog to adult. These trainers have been recommended by Doberman/Off Breed owners and handlers who have been coached to success by these trainers. Trainers that we have worked with and can personally vouch for are denoted with an asterisk*. This list is a work in progress and we will be adding to it periodically. If you have a super trainer who can really build and develop an off breed from puppy/green dog to the trial field, or can troubleshoot and problem solve dogs with issues, please let us know so we can list them here!
*formatted for a PC*
*formatted for a PC*
Trainer |
Disclipline(s) |
Location |
Contact |
|
Drew Fischesser*
|
PSA Senior Decoy, Police K9 Trainer, APPDA, PPD
|
Ohio
|
dogsbydrewllc@gmail.com
|
|
Robert Hamilton*
|
IGP certified helper
|
Michigan
|
Facebook
|
|
John Lugo*
|
Mondio Ring
|
North Carolina
|
Facebook
|
|
Christian Gomez*
|
IGP certified helper, American Schutzhund, K9 Street League, PSA, Mondio, French Ring
|
California
|
Facebook
|
|
Mahogany Gamble
|
Mondio Ring
|
California
|
Facebook
|
|
Jeremy Sebree
|
APPDA certified decoy, PSA, PPD
|
Missouri
|
Facebook
jeremy.sebree@gmail.com |
|
Dez Lynch
|
APPDA certified decoy, PPD, PSA, K9 Street League
|
Maryland
|
misfitk9services@gmail.com
|
|
John Soares
|
IGP
|
New York, New Jersey
|
Facebook
|
|
Butch Henderson
|
IGP
|
Maryland
|
Facebook
|
|
Joaquim Dovat
|
Mondio Ring, French Ring
|
Nevada
|
Facebook
|
|
HB Ryan
|
Mondio Ring
|
Oklahoma
|
Facebook (Rockytop Dog Sports)
|
|
Tai Nero
|
APPDA, PPD
|
New York
|
Facebook
|
|
Todd Dunlap
|
Mondio Ring
|
Pennsylvania
|
Facebook
|
|
Spencer Bowman
|
Mondio Ring, French Ring
|
California
|
Facebook
|
|
Amanda Calderon
|
PSA, PPD,
|
Georgia
|
Facebook
|
|
Eddie White
|
PSA
|
Indiana
|
Facebook
|
|
Summer Melillo
|
IGP
|
Alabama
|
summerM.88@gmail.com
|
|
Mike Wright
|
WDA
|
Virginia
|
Facebook
|
|
Dakoda Riddle
|
PSA, PPD
|
Texas
|
Facebook (Lone Star State K9 LLC)
|
|
Joel Monroe
|
IGP
|
California
|
Facebook
|
|
Adrian Centeno
|
French Ring
|
California
|
Facebook
|
|
Collin Young
|
IGP
|
Illinois
|
Facebook
|
|
Mark Banks
|
IGP, PSA, PPD, APPDA
|
Maryland
|
hck9md@gmail.com, Facebook
|
|
Alexei Turkin
|
IGP
|
Canada (but travels to the US)
|
Facebook (Veles Sport Dog Training)
|
|
Rod (Marco) Davis
|
IGP
|
Virginia
|
Facebook (Marco Davis)
|
|
Waine Singleton
|
IGP
|
Illinois
|
Facebook
|
|
Zane Hodge
|
IGP, APA, Police K9
|
Virginia
|
Facebook (Blue Ridge Schutzhund Club)
|
|
Armin Winkler
|
IGP, KNPV
|
Virginia
|
Facebook
|
|
Bryan Hendricks
|
IGP
|
New Jersey
|
prodogservices@gmail.com
610-453-9900 |
|
Antonis Stylianou
|
IGP
|
Kansas
|
Facebook
|
|
Francesco Rinaldo
|
IGP, PSA, PPD
|
Florida
|
Facebook (Lupo K9 Services)
|
|
Andrew Gallegos
|
PSA, PPD
|
New Jersey
|
Facebook
|
|
Jacob Placensia
|
PSA
|
Colorado
|
Facebook
|
|
Marquise Berry
|
IGP, PSA
|
New York, Florida
|
Facebook
|