Activities For Doberman Bulldogs

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Activities For Doberman Bulldogs

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Introduction

A Doberman Bulldog combines two "pawpular" dogs, the Doberman Pinscher and Bulldog, into one loveable breed. The Doberman Pinscher is a muscular dog, renowned for their strength and intelligence, making them an ideal candidate for obedience lessons. Dobermans are loyal and seek out adventure. They need daily stimulation, both mental and physical, to keep them occupied and prevent destructive behaviors.

The Bulldog is less agile than a Doberman, with a much lower energy level. These pups are willing to please, but they tend to have a stubborn side as well. Bulldogs don't do well in the heat and require far less exercise than a Doberman. The Doberman Bulldog takes after both parents, needing a moderate amount of physical activity daily for approximately 45 minutes. They're alert and loving towards their family, but need to be socialized early on to prevent aggression towards other dogs. Challenge your Doberman Bulldog by stimulating them mentally and physically each day!

"Oppawtunities" to Socialize

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Any Day

Free

Easy

1 - 2 hrs

Items needed

Leash

Activity description

As both Bulldogs and Dobermans can be wary of other dogs and therefore act out aggressively, it's no wonder the Doberman Bulldog can act in the same manner. For this reason, it's essential you socialize your pooch at an early age.

There's a variety of ways to socialize your dog, each method with its own benefits. Basic daily walks will expose your pooch to other dogs, especially if you live in a densely "pawpulated" urban area. Once your pup is comfortable and calm around other dogs, visit a dog park for a little puppy play time. For a truly intimate experience that allows your pup to build a relationship with another, arrange for regular play dates with a friend. Regardless of the course you take, all three activities are relatively cheap and require limited materials -- aside from another dog.

Step

Daily walks

Taking a daily walk not only benefits your Doberman Bulldog's physique, but it also gives them the chance to see and "pawssibly" socialize with other dogs, even if just briefly. Get your pooch accustomed to other dogs by walking around your neighborhood regularly. This will help prepare them for your visits to the dog park.

Step

Visiting the dog park

Visit a local dog park to really let your pooch interact with other dogs. Most municipal dog parks are separated into sections for large and small dogs, but be sure to look up the rules and regulations of the park you plan to visit beforehand. Within the park, your pooch can roam off-leash and interact with others. It may take multiple initial visits to build up their confidence.

Step

Arranging regular play dates

A playdate is the most intimate experience you can "offur" your pooch when it comes to interacting with other dogs. To arrange a playdate, find a family member or friend who has a pooch. Meet with them regularly, perhaps once a week for an hour, to give the dogs time to bond with one another. Introduce the dogs using a leash, always providing supervision. As their relationship deepens, you can remove the leash and worry less about constant supervision.

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Obedience Training

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Any Day

Cheap

Normal

30 - 60 min

Items needed

Treats

Leash

Activity description

Obedience training is sure to run smoothly with a Doberman Bulldog, as their Doberman parent is highly intelligent and responsive, making them the "pawfect" candidate. Obedience training can be started right away upon acquiring your pooch.

Keep in mind that puppies don't have great memory retention, so teaching a complex command can take longer the younger your pooch is. Teaching dogs earlier on and being consistent in training will lead to better acquisition of skills later on, however. You can start training basic commands, like "sit" and "stay", around the age of 8 weeks.

If you're a new handler, refresh yourself on the qualities of an effective leader. Review basic command training and how to use positive reinforcement. Be prepared to invest lots of time into your Doberman Bulldog's initial training, and to revisit all taught commands consistently and repeatedly throughout their lifespan!

Step

Preparing yourself as a leader

To be an effective leader, you must be consistent and thorough. A pack leader is confident and does not lash out in anger; rather, if a pack member steps out of line, they give a quick, sharp correction. Keep this in mind when training your pup. You want them to always see you as a leader. Patience and calm are necessary assets of an efficient pack leader.

Step

Selecting a technique

There's a variety of techniques you can use when training, but the most common for introducing a command is using guiding. You can guide your pooch into a wanted position following a command by using either a leash or treat. Once in position, repeat the command and reward your dog so they can learn to associate that command with the position they are in.

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Using repetition and consistency

Teaching a command just once won't suffice. In fact, to maintain a learned command, you need to revisit it consistently -- daily would be ideal. Focus on one command at a time, until your pup understands what to do. Then, build on to each command by adding a new one. Be sure to have plenty of treats handy to reward your pooch when they're successful. Positive reinforcement is key to training.

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Brain Games

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0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

30 - 60 min

Items needed

Healthy Treats

Toy Bin

Toys

Activity description

Use activities to stimulate your Doberman Bulldog's mind while simultaneously getting them moving to maximize their workout. You can play all kinds of brain games both indoors and out. For starters, after you've mastered the basics of obedience training, put these skills to the test by introducing your pup to the game of toy tidy-up. For this activity, you will need an open storage bin or container to keep your dog's toys in, and treats to teach them how to put them inside.

You can also try different variations of "hide and seek" by either hiding an object for your dog to retrieve or hiding yourself for them to find. Either method will force your pooch to use their thinking skills combined with their strong sniffer to seek you out! You'll never have a dull moment with your pooch by using brain games to get them thinking and moving daily.

Step

Toy tidy-up

Toy tidy-up is a fun way to get your pup thinking and a quick way to tidy up the house! For this activity, you will need to use your obedience training to teach your pup to put their toys into the designated bin, preferably one that is open so they have access to it at all times. Incorporate teaching the game into your regular obedience lessons, and once they learn the command to tidy their toys, put your pup to the test by scattering them throughout the house!

Step

Hide and seek

You can play hide and seek with your Doberman Bulldog just as you'd play with a child. Begin by having your pooch sit and stay while you head off and find a hiding spot. When hidden, call for your pup and enjoy waiting while they seek you out! After your pooch succeeds, try playing another round.

Step

Object retrieval

Object retrieval is just like hide and seek, except this time your Doberman Bulldog will be searching for a cherished toy or intriguing treat. Introduce your pup to the object you're going to hide and have them sit and stay while you hide it. Once it's hidden, give them the command to seek, and watch in amusement while they sniff out their prize! Repeat the game multiple times to tire them out both mentally and physically.

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More Fun Ideas...

Hiking the Great Outdoors

Hiking outside of an urban area is an excellent way to provide your pup with new and engaging stimuli they don't regularly see in town. Depending on both of your abilities, you may want to start with simpler paths before hitting tough terrain. Build your endurance together with this activity.

Backyard Games

Playing simple, quick backyard games is another way to excite and exercise your Doberman Bulldog. Try basic fetch by throwing a ball, or use a soccer ball for a fun game of keep away with your feet. If your backyard is large enough, your pooch can use the open space for running.

Conclusion

Doberman Bulldogs are a "pawsitive" addition to any household, so long as you keep them satisfied with sufficient stimulation. Doberman Bulldogs can take after either parent breed when it comes to their activity level. If they take after their Bulldog parent, they may not need as much exercise, but plan to provide at least 45 minutes of exercise daily.

To satisfy your pooch's physical and mental needs, combine activities that work both the mind and body. Obedience training is a tiring exercise because it requires your pup to focus. Socialization opportunities are more likely to lead to a physical workout as the dogs play and interact with one another. Hiking, hiding objects or playing hide and seek are all fun ways to get your Doberman Bulldog moving. Take advantage of your Doberman Bulldog's intelligence and eagerness to please by spending time together exploring a variety of challenging yet engaging activities.