Hey to all! We just got a 1 year old doberman who was neglected from his previous home. The breeder got him back and after careful consideration and evaluation, we found the dog to be great for us. We brought him home last night and he was fantastic! We took him to the beach all day today to socialize him and he was a dream. We got home in the early afternoon, and then the problems began;
He went at me with his teeth bared after I was petting him (never an issue before). I grabbed his jowl so fast and made it clear that this was unacceptable behaviour. I didin't think much of it since I figured he was testing and he was a suck afterwards. Problem was that he did it again another time just a few hours later when I was inspecting his feet (never a problem before - I tested him on it at the breeders place to make sure he was okay with everything we would have to do with him - food, nail trimming, grooming etc)

He has barked and growled at me twice now when he was in his crate down for a nap and he has gone at the cat out of the blue, who he was fine with yesterday and this morning, and bit the cat twice. Fortunately for the cat, all the dog got was some hair. We both knew this dog was going to be a handlful with obedience training but we tested and tried his temperment numerous times (as did the breeder) before we decided to take him since he displayed NO signs of aggression whatsoever. However, we;re now thinking it is because he was in a kennel and not a home that he was fine.

My husband is now not comfortable with the dog and honestly, neither am I. If the dog just tested once, that is one thing, but doing it again worries me. We have family and friends and children to consider. He is a great dog outside but inside a home, something just isn't right. His previous owners (because we don't know for sure what was done to him) must have started something to get this behaviour. We have no problem dealing with obedience and such but I REFUSE to deal with ANY sort of aggressie behaviour, no matter how minor.

I need some advice as I really love this dog, but we just can't take the risk. I feel really terrible having to take him back especially since the breeder felt we were best for him out of many who were trying to get him. I don't want to let the breeder down but it seems it is inevitable.

Any support or ideas would be very helpful. I just don't want to make a mistake as he is a great dog everywhere we thought we;d have problems with him, but where he has displayed no problems before, he now is.

Thanks in advance.

I replied to your other post. You don't need to post twice.

I don't know anything about getting dogs from bredders or anything like that but our daughter got a dog from the animal shelter & on the paper she got w/him said that it sometimes takes 2 weeks for them to get comfortable in your home & then show their "true colors" (not their exact wording but I can't look that up beccause Buster ate - well, tore up - the paper :? ). He's part Basset part Lab & he is a TRUE retriever - he retrieves EVERYTHING (even stuff he doesn't need to be retrieving ). Kathy

I found this site while surfing the net. It has alot of information about dog training.

here is the site: http://www.phsspca.org/training/dogs.htm

I hope this helps.

GO NOW! AND ASK A LIVE QUESTION!