I'm rejecting my dog.

[sleeper]

Can anyone help me?
I don't know why i'm rejecting her,but just looking at her recently exhausts me.I am injured constantly with walking her (i suffer from bad shoulders)and so she has been confined to the house for nearly two weeks.(and the back yard).Her mate(my partners dog)gets out slightly more but my partner can only walk one of them at a time and needless to say he walks his own dog.(His right hand is useless due to injury also).My partner is giving out to me needless to say but i just have no get up and go.My dog is very high maintenance.Training is constant with her and if she is not being continually retrained she won't comply.Even though i have taken pains to have her well socialised with other dogs(who she loves)she still drags me along every time she see's another as if she had never seen a dog before.I walk her along country roads as its quieter and she enjoys it.I can never relax with her and i also feel that she doesn't really respect me and trys to make life hard(?)Can a dog do this?!!!
I think she is driving me nuts.
she has started jumping over the back yard wall and is constantly lying in her bed looking pissed off.Its not me who really scolds her for that. I don't get a look in because my partner gets there before me.
Is it possible that she is just the wrong type of dog for me?
I'm at my wits end.
She is 13 months old and a dobermann pinscher.And she dosn't seem to return any love to me even though she is given it.Help

[ramanth]

I'd recommend either Doggy Day Care or hire a Dog Walker. :)

[Logan]

Well, it doesn't sound like you are in a position to love her and devote your time to her, right now. For a 13 month old dog, both of those things are necessary. She is bored, based on your comments about her.

I don't want to get into what is going on with you, but perhaps you need to look to some outside help, as in a trainer, and if you still don't feel a bond and the willingness to work with her, please place her in rescue soon so that she can get what she needs.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

There are lots of others on here which will recommend multiple suggestions that will work but have you ever tried different kinds of leads(harness, the face control collars, the pronged collars, etc). I have two boxers, Duke pulls and always has, not to go after anything, just to walk at the end of the lead but after awhile it bothers your arm so I bought him a pronged collar. I know a lot of people are against it but I believe it works. Duke pulled the first time it was on, it pinched, he did a quick yip, he stopped pulling and now is very well behaved on the leash. I do not even have to put that collar on any more, just a regular collar will work. There was also a suggestion on her that one PTer was using with her pulling dogs was that when they pulled quickly change directions, if they pull again change directions, each time they pull, the dogs apparently got the idea and were much better behaved on leads. Dobbies need regular exercise, high energy working dogs, so yes maybe she is the wrong dog for you. That doesn't mean you don't love her but maybe there is a better suited family for her that can give her the constant attention, correction and exercise.

Try getting a one on one training that can come to your house and observe her behavior and your techniques. If all else failed my suggestion would be to find her a loving forever family to give her what she needs. JMO.

[luvofallhorses]

Well, it doesn't sound like you are in a position to love her and devote your time to her, right now. For a 13 month old dog, both of those things are necessary. She is bored, based on your comments about her.

I don't want to get into what is going on with you, but perhaps you need to look to some outside help, as in a trainer, and if you still don't feel a bond and the willingness to work with her, please place her in rescue soon so that she can get what she needs.

well said. Dobermans aren't for everyone, either. they have LOTS of energy and are high maintanence. would I own one? Yes, but I'd have to have a lot of time on my hands. Please place her in a rescue and she can get the love, patience, and care she deserves.. where did you get her? Did you even research dobermans before you got her?

[sumbirdy]

I would suggest placing her in another home or rescue. More than likely dobermans just aren't the dog for you. You should probably do some research about smaller/less high maintanence (sp?)/less energized dogs. There's gotta be one out there that suits your lifestyle. But always research a breed of dog before you buy or adopt.
Another good choice: mixed breeds! There's so many out there that need homes and many are laid back dogs who don't need tremendous amounts of excercise or training. It also sounds to me like you need an older dog. One who's more laid back and has all of his training/socialization and most of his puppiness has calmed down.
If you do decide to place your doberman elsewhere please find a good and loving home that are willing to take care of her needs.

[cyber-sibes]

It does sound like maybe you should think about rehoming her. Not going out, even just for a walk for two weeks, has to be torture for a 13 month old Dobie. Love her as you may, it's not fair to her. It sounds like you have other issues going on, perhaps now is not the best time to try raising a young dog.

[mike001]

You do sound done in. could you be going through a bout of depression and are mistaking i for no energy. Maybe a check up would be the first thing to look into (for yourself). I agree with everyone, Dobes are high energy dogs, but they also need an alpha to look up to. Taking walks might just not be enough for the pup. Is there an enclosed area somewhere where you could bring her to play ball and let her run? an unused school field, or rink? You also need some hlp learning how to cope and handle the dog....have you looked into training classes? You will learn a lot and so will your dog, plus they're lots of fun. Anywhere that you could take her swimming and throw a ball in for her to retreive?
It would be such a shame to have to rehome the dog. Dobes are very sensitive and are mostly one owner dogs. If you just can't find feelings for this dog then you would have no choice but to find her a home with someone who will give her what she craves most....love.

[lizbud]

People here have given some thoughtful & honest replies & I don't really
have anything different to say but, I would ask you what was it about this
dog that prompted you to take her home anyway? Also, did you know
anything about this breed before?

[crow_noir]

She needs exercise before she is going to start respecting you.

I have really bad knees and can't even walk a mile. (about 1/4 is my limit.) I'm still able to exercise a Husky enough to get her to listen to me. (and that's quite a feat. Huskies are independent and could care less about what YOU want.) Not only that, but i got a dog that's bread for pulling to not pull so much on lead. (for suggestions, look up the many recent posts on walking. I've posted much advice in them. The one thing I do have to mention though in case you don't look them up is get a long training lead and take her to a field. Let her do her running that way.)

You have an advantage over me that I don't have with this foster dog. Mine doesn't get along with about 2/3 the rest of the dog population. Since yours does perhaps you could take it to some dog parks. That should wear her out.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

Dobies (especially young ones, under 4) are extremely active and energetic dogs. If I ever get another one it definitely won't be a young one I'm sure. I'd highly recommend taking some obedience classes. They're good for socializing, training with distractions, and the instructor (if they're any good) can teach you how to deal with different issues and let you know what to do so your dog appreciates and respects you. Female Dobermans in general will never show they love you like most dogs (the can be pretty reserved and like their own space), but you should still feel it and feel respected by her.

Also, mental activities tire a dog out much quicker than physical activites. I'd work on lots of obedience skills, tricks, getting peanut butter out of a kong, etc. every day as well as let her run and play. Dobes certainly are a lot of dog and many people feel the same way as you with their younger Dobermans. You're definitely not alone, but I hope you have some success with her and enjoy her. Once they're relaxed and well mannered and trained dogs, they're honestly (in my opinion) one of the best breeds out there. But like I said, it usually takes them a good 3-4 years to reach that point and it takes a lot of work. :)

[sleeper]

Hi All
Thanks for your honest replies.I shall attempt to answer some of your questions!!!
We did actually do a lot of research before we got the dobermann pups. We were at it for nearly a year!!We even researched their bloodlines and temeperaments! We had the house dog proofed as well!.We knew it wouldn't all be plain sailing.My partner had the an accident at work after we got them and basically broke his hand. I was left doing a lot for them.Obviously i didn't really mind, sure what can you do?I know suffer from agonising shoulders and chest muscles.
As to the suggestions for entertaining them we do all that!! ...kongs with peanut butter...parks...running...frisbee too and training...they do know their obedience commands.Most of the time they neglect to acknowledge them!!
There was a suggestion to get a trainer to observe myself and Sheera and i think i'll go with that as a last resort.
I am used to have large energetic dogs. I grew up surrounded by them!!We kept Setters and G. Retreivers and little spaniels and a german shepherd.
I wasn't completely blind!
I think mayb it might be the fact that i can't give her as much freedom or leeway as i gave my dogs growing up. People don't tend to be a scared of a golden retreiver wanting to play with them as a dobermann!!
I'm going to give it one last try and if things aren't improving i may have to rehome her.(and mayb try some pick me up for myself a few more ideas on special training aides, I already use a under the leg pinch harness)

Thank guys, you were really helpful and honest.

[pitc9]

I wish you luck and applaud you for realizing that you can't give her the life she needs and so deserves as a Dobie and reaching out for help instead of turning your back on her and giving up.
I know you love her and want to keep her, but as you said:

"I think maybe it might be the fact that I can't give her as much freedom or leeway as I gave my dogs growing up"

As for having a trainer or behaviorist observe you and Sheere, I think that should be one of the first things you need to do and not a last resort.
This way they can tell you what you need to do and how to help you both.