Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last night as I was talking to my wife in our backyard, our 1 year old dobe came up from behind, lifted his leg and tried to pee on me. Luckily my wife noticed and managed to stop him.

So after a long laugh, we kinda brushed it off and went on as usual when up behind me AGAIN he lifts his leg and tries to pee on me again.

Of course this time around I laid him on his back and told him NO. But what gives??? I've never heard of this behaviour.

Any ideas?

>>Last night as I was talking to my wife in our backyard, our 1 year old dobe came up from behind, lifted his leg and tried to pee on me. Luckily my wife noticed and managed to stop him.
>>
>>So after a long laugh, we kinda brushed it off and went on as usual when up behind me AGAIN he lifts his leg and tries to pee on me again.
>>
>>Of course this time around I laid him on his back and told him NO. But what gives??? I've never heard of this behaviour.
>>
>>Any ideas?

>>>>>>>>>>>

From a dog, that's not an insult. The alpha roll can do some serious damage to your dog's temperament. Training him to sit on cue is much safer.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thai,
That definitely sounds like a dominance issue. Dobermans are a very dominant breed by default/nature. They almost have to be for the type of work they were bred for, so you almost have to use more parental/discipline care with them.
You cannot let him pee on you like that w/o discplining him. You and your wife will need to establish yourselves as the alphas. It seems right now your Dobie either already thinks he's the alpha OR he is still trying to find his place in the pecking order.
As Kdiamond said, you must train him to sit on cue, but that's just a small part of it. Here are some things you can do to help establish yourself as the alpha.
-Watch that show 'The Dog Whisperer' and soak up as much of Cesar Millan's advice as you can
-Make him/her sit before they can do ANYTHING (i.e. before they can eat, before they can go outside, before you pet them
-ignore(meaning do not speak OR even look at) him/them 5-15 minutes after you get home before you say anything to them AND 5-15 minutes before you leave of a morning/whenever.

Though I laughed SO DARN hard at this, it's very serious.

I totally agree with the other posts but must add some more.

Time to start NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE.

Feeding 2 times a day, you put his food down after and only after he sit's and stay's..you put the food down,.....then break him. For now, give him small amounts from your hand, showing him that you decide when he eats and how.

DO NOT let him sleep on your bed. Some would say keep him of the sofa and stuff too but I don't think it's needed. This is telling him(sleeping on your bed) that he is equal to you...he's not.

everything he gets, outside, walk ANYTHING he must do something for it....

Good luck

-----
Char
Animal Health Tech