SearchActs Aggressive toward people while in car
Kimbo is a very social and friendly 11 month old dobe. He is wonderful with people and dogs inside and outside our home. Recently, when we go in the car, especially to the dog park, and he sees people jogging or walking on the sidewalk, he acts aggressive as if he wants to bust through the window and attack them. He barks and growls loudly and scares the people half to death.
I drive a station wagon and had to keep him in the very back away from open windows, because I'm afraid he will hurt himself trying to get out at him. Outside the car, he loves attention from people and never had aggression toward anyone or dog.
Any suggestions on what to do to keep him calm on car rides?
kimbo, I've experienced that with Sofia if she sees someone on a bike or a small scooter traveling along with us.
The best suggestion I have is one of those doggie seat belts that do a great job of harnessing them and protected them from sudden stops just the way they do for us.
And BTW did you know that it's mandatory in some states in the U.S. to have your dog buckled in?
I'm just afraid this is eventually going to turn into something worse:( He has such a good temperament so far.
one of my dogs does this and it is a pain in the ASS! Some things you can try are to crate him while he is traveling in the car or make short trips where it is nothing but a training experience so you have someone else that is driving while you correct. You can use a spray bottle when he acts out, a newspaper, or leave the leash connected to a prong collar and correct everytime they get any rise from people or objects on the side of the road. It takes persistance on your part to correct and it should be everytime he does the action. If you dont stop it now it will become a larger problem that may get out of control. Not to mention that I think all of us that own Dobermans need to make sure that they are well trained and presented in a positive light for the breed. Nothing is worse than a Doberman attacking the window at little things as you drive by. All this does is give a bad name to our breed.
Kimbo
Kaiser is wicked fresh at bikers and joggers intermittently. What really works for me is anticipating and beating him to the punch so to speak. Not always easy but he has been getting better, but it is hard to be consistent with this as you are trying to be a safe driver at the same time. Let someone else drive and go to busy places so you can work with him. When I see someone up ahead, I'll grab him by the collar make him sit and say NO BARK! Most of the times this works. He can be a brat though because some days he could careless who goes by, and other days he acts like a starved caged beast lunging at windows lol!! If we were on foot he would even respond or look unless it was a skateboarder he hates those. If we go to the high school, he thinks teenagers are the second best thing next to dog biscuits (so clearly he does not discriminate very well). lol Just something you have work on. Kaiser is such a friendly pup otherwise so just wants to be beastly in the car I guess. Just watch the body language because it is easy to cut to them to the chase if your not driving.
Mary and Kaiser
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Jasmine 8-10 weeksI don't have a solution for you, but I'm sure someone will have a good suggestion. I personally need to work on a "quiet" command for Jasmine as she will bark in the car occasionally at people outside. Not as aggressive as your guy but she can be territorial and I'm thinking it is a typical guard dog thing. There is a neighbor's dog that comes around and Jasmine will play with her just fine if we meet on the road--she's SUPER playful and affectionate usually. However, one day the dog came over unannounced and laid in our driveway. You'd think Jasmine had never seen this dog before--the very same one she'd played with until exhaustion. Her hackle's raised up and she growled while walking non stop from the driveway back to the door trying to get my attention that something was up. When I told the dog in a stern voice to "go home" Jasmine morphed into something I barely recognized. She began barking and chased it aggressively off the property! My jaw dropped! The joke around our house was that our "big, mean dobie" was a complete marshmallow. Not so! Being confined to the car probably makes your dog extra territorial and concerned about space. Just my thought. I have also found that Jasmine will bark much less if I put her in a down/stay--the position is submissive and makes it harder to make a ruckus. That has been my strategy until I teach "quiet."