Agile and athletic, Dobermans are a breed known for their physical abilities and intelligence. So how agile are they?
Dobermans are quite agile and have graceful bodies in which they can swerve and jump exceptionally well. However, they do require a lot of protein to keep their giant bodies lean. However, with some proper training, they do very well on agility courses. Thus, they are an excellent choice for agility competitions.
Since they can be a lot to handle, there are a few more things you should know before getting started with your Doberman’s training. There are a few health issues to be concerned about, and there’s a proper way to train at an early age.
Let’s dive in to look at these details further.
Are Dobermans built for agility?
Dobermans are an agile breed and grow reasonably large in appearance. They manage an effortless grace in their movement. They are also highly energetic and require regular daily exercise. As such, they need large amounts of protein to maintain their lean muscle mass.
“They are highly intelligent and easy to train dogs, making them an excellent overall combination of build and personality when learning agility.”
They are particularly good at jumps and graceful movements, but there are no limits to what they can accomplish on the course.
Larger dogs can sometimes be a hassle to train as they require more rigorous equipment. However, if you are willing to put in the work, Dobermans are built to do well in agility competitions.
One drawback is that Dobermans typically require socialization training to keep them from getting too aggressive. By focusing on early socialization, they are better positioned to channel their energies into agility activities once introduced.
At what age should a Doberman start agility?
Once Dobermans are mature, they tend to be powerful, high-energy dogs. However, they must learn to play nice from an early age to work up to competitions.
As they age, they will often grow a muscular body and deep chest and are known for their beautiful smooth coat.
They need plenty of exercise and physical activity to ensure their intense energy levels are catered for.
Introducing your Doberman to agility should start from a young age to help harness their curiosity and high energy into positive activities.
It is crucial to keep them away from jumping or climbing obstacles until their growth plates are closed when beginning training as a puppy. For Dobermans, this occurs at around the one-year mark.
You can train groundwork for agility during this time, such as targeting, stays, and tunnels. They should also learn basic obedience training, such as their name, calling them, and returns.
At one year of age, you can start with low jumps and easy climbs and build from there.
It is best to have a vet visit before you begin training in earnest, to ensure everything is on track.
Unfortunately, Dobermans are prone to quite a few ailments, including ones specific to them, such as Dancing Dobermans Disease.
Is Agility Good for Dobermans?
Yes, agility training is a type of training suitable for almost all dog breeds. It provides many benefits, including exercise, flexibility, and mental stimulation.
“Agility training stimulates Dobermans’ minds as it requires them to use different obstacles and learn how to navigate them.”
They have to stay concentrated to get their treats and praise, so they know to pay attention better.
More than most other forms of exercise, agility also increases flexibility. This is because almost all the obstacles in agility activities stretch their muscles and increase overall flexibility and activity over time.
In terms of handling and obedience training, agility training naturally helps to increase one’s dog handling ability and provides them with confidence and obedience training. It comes par for the course with the types of lessons you have to provide simultaneously.
Finally, it’s a great source of general exercise. Just be sure not to overdo it, as overworking your dog too often can lead to health problems.
Is there anything that can slow down my Doberman’s agility?
The primary things to worry about are their diet and health conditions.
Different health conditions, including hip dysplasia and joint problems, can slow down a Doberman. Get regular vet visits and get them checked out if they appear to be limping or sick with something.
It’s essential to train them properly at different ages. As a puppy, you should only be focused on obedience training and groundwork. That means no jumps or ramps until they are at least one year old.
For their diet, high protein is a must for a Doberman. Their large, lean bodies need a lot of it to maintain their optimal size and shape.
As part of their health care, look for a healthy, premium dog food mix, or even go for a raw diet or wet food.
Does agility training build confidence in Dobermans?
Absolutely. Agility training hits lots of aspects that will build confidence. Firstly, the structured environment with praise and treats will help them understand what they should be doing.
Dogs feel great when they have purpose and know what they should be doing with their energy. Because Dobermans have lots of energy, this is especially important when teaching them to be agile.
“Building confidence can also mean getting over their fears.”
Dobermans can feel a bit scared of the dark when it comes to tunnel training, and almost all dogs feel scared on the seesaw their first few times.
Overcoming these fears will build confidence in the long run.
Another problem with Dobermans is that they can become aggressive if not socialized early on.
Using agility training as an opportunity for them to meet other dogs and pet owners is a great way to curb this early on.
Of course, they’ll be expected to behave well already if they are going to a competition. However, that should be a good incentive to have them socialized during their training.
How to train your Doberman to be agile?
There’s no need to stress about making sure your Doberman is training fast or well. Agility training, in the end, is just for fun and exercise.
When training, remember to use lots of encouragement during the whole process. Keeping early sessions short, no longer than 10 minutes, is also helpful. Your dog will almost certainly lose interest quickly in the earlier sessions.
You can also teach your Doberman some tricks during agility training. Tricks help them to hone their skills and improve their obedience training.
One of the scariest obstacles for the beginner agility dog is the seesaw due to taking them off balance.
It takes dogs a lot of tried to get used to it, but it will build their confidence when they do. Use a lot of treats and positive reinforcement to help them through the scarier training bits like this one.
“For jumping, make sure to wait until their growth plates are in, around one year.”
Use very low jumps at first, and make sure the surface isn’t slippery. This would make it more dangerous for your Doberman.
Finally, weave poles tend to be the most difficult for dogs to understand. Often people have to turn to expert training or patience to get this one to work. You can start with poles much further apart to help them get started.
What type of agility equipment should your Doberman use?
You can buy at-home agility equipment kits and set them up in your backyard. However, since Dobermans are larger, you’ll probably have to splurge for quite a robust set even to get started.
“Tunnels, weave poles, jumps, seesaws, and climbing ramps are critical pieces of the puzzle.”
You’ll want decently strong equipment for your Doberman to use and might even benefit from using complete competition equipment at a training facility.
You’ll probably be looking at solid wood equipment for the jump bars, seesaws, and weave poles to stand up to a larger size dog. However, for much of the equipment, you can find tutorials on making DIY versions online.
How can I teach my Doberman agility at home?
To teach Dobermans to be agile at home, you’ll have to buy at-home agility equipment.
Once set up, use positive reinforcement and treats to get them to do the different obstacles. Since you’ll be doing a lot of training, switching to a clicker or similar options can be helpful so that you don’t overuse treats.
Even though they are an energetic breed, the first few sessions should only last 5 to 10 minutes. This is because it will be hard to keep their attention for more at first. After that, you can keep building up their endurance and obedience in longer and longer sessions.
Remember, if they are still a puppy, proper care should be taken. You should only be doing the groundwork not to hurt their growth and joints.
This is the optimal time for basic training and handling. After they are one year old, their energy level will naturally increase. This means more rigorous training for agility can be done with the full course, including jumps and ramps.
Final thoughts
Dobermans are a great family pet and an amazing breed that is known to be agile. They are large yet graceful, with a great capacity to learn. Of course, you’ll have to put in the work yourself, but if you do, you’ll be duly rewarded.
Make sure to put them on a good diet, get them socialized young, and get excited about the journey you are about to embark on together.
