š¾ #TrainingTuesday with Jester! š¾
During the day, Jester helps his mom with chores, but when Dad comes home, itās time for agility training and more ball time! š¾
Jester started agility classes at 6 months old, but safety was always the priority. Dobermans shouldnāt do weight-bearing activities like jumping at full height until their bones and joints are fully developed. Jester didnāt jump at standard height until he was 18 months old, after getting the all-clear from X-rays.
Agility is a great way to bond with your dog, building teamwork and trust. Itās not just about speedāitās about accuracy and safety! For example, when tackling the "A" frame, dogs must touch the yellow sections at the beginning and end to protect them from launching dangerously. In beginner Novice A, the focus is on completing the course accurately within 90 seconds. Speed comes later!
Since Jester is super ball-motivated, his mom made a custom paracord tug toy that encloses his favorite ball. Itās the ultimate reward for him during training. In busy trial environments with lots of dogs, people, and distractions, tugging with his ball keeps his focus right where it belongsāon Dad!
Of course, Jesterās first trial didnāt go as planned. After being measured for his height class by the judge, Jester got into the ring andā¦ oh my! So many new people to meet! He had to say hello to the nice judge who measured him and all the friendly workers nearby. Unfortunately, visiting the judge is an automatic DQ.
But thatās part of the journey! Back to training, more tugging and ball rewards, Jesterās skills continue to improve. Toys arenāt allowed in the competition ring, but you can participate as FEO (For Exhibition Only). This allows dogs to practice in a trial setting while using their favorite toy as a reward.
Check out Jesterās first FEO run! Jester completed the course beautifully, impressing the judge who said it was one of the best FEO runs sheād seen!
T
#SeniorSunday
As Novemberās Adopt a Senior Pet Month has come to a close. Weāve created a video about how special senior are! Enjoy!
Ethel and Agility Training
š¾ It's #TrainingTuesday š¾ and today, weāre spotlighting one of our wonderful adopters and her talented girl, Ethel (formerly Ziva)!
Doberman Underground requires all adopters to enroll their new dog in a training class with a professional trainer within two months of adoption. While some applicants may think their experience makes additional training unnecessary, we know from experience that every dog has unique needs, and training is key to successful adoptions.
Not only does training provide valuable socialization, but it strengthens the bond between the dog and adopter. Dobermans are a working breed and training gives them the challenge and job they crave. From basic obedience to therapy work, tricks, agility, scent work, and even dock divingāthereās a training path for every personality.
Today, weāre thrilled to share Ethelās journey in agility! Her adopter writes: āTwo years ago, Ethel bounced into our homeāan enthusiastic, high-energy Doberman with boundless curiosity and no formal training. It was clear from the start that Ethel craves learning and has a tireless appetite for it! While other dogs might lose focus during class, Ethel is just getting warmed up. Agility has been the perfect challenge for her brilliant mind!
Every week, we tackle new obstacles and commands, and itās so rewarding to see her excel. Agility is not just about the obstacles; itās about teamwork and learning to communicate better. Weāre having a blast, and the joy on both our faces says it all!ā
Great job, Kerri and Ethel! Training is so much more than obedienceāitās a foundation for building lifelong trust, fun, and growth! š¾
š¾ #TrainingTuesday Update with Bruce! š¾
Today, weāre taking the next step in Bruceās journey. After trying out a prong collar, we realized it wasnāt the best fit for him. There are so many tools to choose from, and finding the right one for each dog is key! Now, weāre working with Drew at @TheK9Expert to start e-collar training. šŖ
The e-collar is being used to help Bruce stay in the āheelā position and not stray off. Down the road, weāll also use it for recall training. Weāre starting at a very low stimulation level to make sure Bruce isnāt overwhelmed. Itās so important that he understands the command before the collar is used as reinforcement, and we always pair it with positive reinforcement to boost his confidence.
At first, Bruce was unsure and tried to run off from the light stimulation, but it didnāt take long for him to get the hang of it! Heās now walking confidently with the long leash trailing behind, checking in with Drew for direction. Every day, we see his confidence growing! š¶š
Training two dogs as different as Oliver and Bruce can be a challenge, but weāre up for it! Weāre so lucky to have Drewās expertise to tailor our approach to the needs of each dog.
Stay tuned for more #TrainingTuesday adventures and watch Bruce and Oliverās progress! š
#DobermanUnderground #DogTraining #ECollarTraining #TrainingJourney #thek9expert
š¹It's #TrainingTuesday š¹
We're so proud of Joey and the progress he has made. Both with his foster family and @TheK9Expert with Drew and Andrea. So many distractions while you work on holding your dog's attention. Here Joey is working on "place" and we think he's just about perfect! Every day we see his confidence grow and this is helping him reach his full potential.
Place is a command you can use absolutely everywhere! Example: Does you dog rush the door when visitors arrive? Teaching the place command will eliminate that struggle!
What do you feel your most useful command is? Drop a note below!
Follow our training journey with Oliver, Bruce, and Joey! #thek9expert #dogtrainingtips
Hardware stores are dog friendly and provide a great venue for training.
šØ It's #TrainingTuesday šØ
Todayās special guest trainee is Joe Bob, or as we call him, Joey! You may remember him from his Welcome Postāhe came to us from an Amish puppy mill. Joey has a unique cleft that doesn't need fixing, and after successful entropion surgery, his eyelid is healed! Now, weāre helping him gain the confidence he needs to get ready for adoption.
Andrea at @TheK9Expert jumped in and started working with him right away. She says heās the most amazing boy! š„°
Andrea tells us they didnāt put Joey on a prong collar right away. Itās a tool thatmust be used carefully and appropriately. Once we was with them for a week, they introduced it to help teach basic leash skills and behavioral corrections. When walking him, we correct skittish behavior *not* by yelling or shaming, but by showing him where he needs to be. Teaching heel helps dogs like Joey understand their job, giving them clear guidance.
With skittish dogs, itās tempting to overcompensate with love and affection, but what they truly need is strong, confident leadership. Joey needs an Alpha to help him become the strong dog we know he can be. šŖ After that, itās all about love, affection, and praise! š
Thank you to @TheK9Expert for helping Joey grow stronger every day. We canāt wait to see him blossom even more on his path to his forever home! š #DobermanUnderground #thek9expert
Tinkerbell
Itās #WelcomeWednesday, and oh, what a magical tale we have for you today! Meet our little pixie, Tiny Tinkerbell! š
Once upon a time, a shelter called us in desperation. They had 37 dogs in danger of losing their chance at life unless someone swooped in to save them. We rushed to the rescue, intending to pick up a 35lb Doberman (her story is coming earlier at 6:30am!), but then, like a lost star falling from the sky, a tiny pup appearedāa 3-4 week old baby found all alone, lying by her mother who had crossed the bridge to Neverland. No other pups in sight, just this little sprite, waiting for her next chapter.
And as we always say, "We donāt leave any dogs behind!" So, with a sprinkle of love and a dash of magic, Tinkerbell flew home with us alongside her new companion, Tillie the Doberman. š¾
Tinkerbell is growing stronger every day. From bottle feeding to mastering her grool mix, this little fairy is learning to fly! Keep your eyes on her journey, as in just a month, sheāll be ready to find a family to call her very own forever home. š”āØ
This is just the beginning of Tinkerbellās grand adventureāstay tuned, because with a bit of pixie dust, sheās bound to soar!
š£It is Finding Foster Families Friday š£
We are always hopeful the amount of animals in need will decrease, however, that is sadly not the case. Rescues and shelters are overcrowded and beyond capacity. Although we truly try to help as many as we can, we are unable to do that without a home for the dog to start their journey to their "fur-ever".
Whether you can help short or long term, please consider helping these precious pups that ask for nothing but LOVE.
You can simply fill out a foster application at www.dudobes.org.
We have a wonderful group of volunteers that are here to support you every step of the way of this rewarding and heart filled experience ā¤ļø.
