Are Dobermans Good Apartment Dogs?

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Dobermans, also known as Doberman Pinschers, have a bad reputation for being aggressive and difficult to control dogs. But in reality, they are gentle, loving, and loyal dogs.

But are Dobermans good apartment dogs?

Dobermans can be great apartment dogs as long as they get plenty of exercise and are given enough attention and quality time by their owners. They are very adaptable and loyal dogs with a friendly and loving personality.

But, the Doberman is the ideal dog for your lifestyle and you are able to meet his needs in order to live in an apartment?

What You Should Know About Living with a Doberman

Living with a Doberman Pinscher

Originally, Dobermans were bred as guard dogs which makes them very loyal and protective dogs with their family.

The Doberman is a large breed that is characterized by being people-oriented dogs who are loving and affectionate.

They are very intelligent, strong, and energetic dogs that adapt well to various situations, but they must be properly socialized and trained from an early age.

Doberman a Good Family Dog?

Dobermans are excellent family dogs. They are people-oriented dogs who are very loyal, loving, and affectionate.

They are pack animals that create very strong ties with their family and enjoy spending time with them. They are known to be very protective dogs and will not hesitate to protect their family if necessary.

But you need to socialize and train them from an early age.

Dobermans are generally very good with children, especially if they are raised with them. Although, if they are well socialized from an early age, they are very gentle and tolerant dogs with all children.

Do Dobermans Need a Lot of Exercise?

Dobermans are high-energy dogs that need a lot of exercise on a daily basis.

They need an hour or two of exercise daily to stay physically and mentally healthy and prevent behavioral problems like destructive behaviors and excessive barking.

For a Doberman to adapt well to apartment life, he must get enough exercise.

Going for a walk is a great exercise for a Doberman, it not only provides physical activity but also mental stimulation through the various stimuli of the environment such as smells, sights, and sounds.

It’s recommended that they have a couple of walks between 30 and 45 minutes a day and the ideal pace of the walk should be a quick energy trot.

Daily short walks are always more effective than a couple of long walks a week.

It’s important to establish a more or less stable daily routine for your dog. Try to take your dog for a walk around the same time every day.

In addition to daily walks, Dobermans need high-intensity activities. 

Running and biking with your dog are good options. Dobermans are excellent running partners as they have good stamina and can run long distances.

In addition to physical exercise, a Doberman must be provided with adequate mental stimulation. In addition to daily walks, some ways to keep a Doberman mentally active are:

  • Puzzle Toys
  • Chew Toys
  • Scent Games

Are Dobermans Easy to Train?

Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinschers are very intelligent, alert, and eager to please dogs, which makes them easy to train.

But it’s important to start training your dog from the day he arrives home. If you wait a few months to start, the process will be more difficult.

Dobermans can be dominant dogs, so an important part of training a Doberman is for your dog to see you as the leader of the pack, as a firm, confident and calm leader.

This does not mean being harsh or using physical punishment on your dog as this can backfire.

Dobermans respond very well to positive reinforcement training. This is to reinforce the desired behaviors with treats and praise instead to punish them for bad behavior.

The secret to successfully training a Doberman is to be consistent and patient.

Are Dobermans Hard to Potty Train?

Los Dobermans are easy to potty train. They are intelligent dogs that will quickly understand what it’s about while using positive reinforcement.

To potty train your Doberman in an apartment the key is to get him out regularly to go to the bathroom.

Choose a place near the apartment that is preferably a grass surface since dogs tend to develop a preference for a specific surface to go to the bathroom.

Keep in mind that puppies tend to need to do their stuff about every hour or two. This means that at first, you will have to make several trips outside a day. As your dog grows, he will need to go outside less often.

The aim of this is to give him the opportunity to do his things in the right place and to reward him and praise him when he does it successfully.

At first, it’s inevitable that there are accidents inside the apartment.

In case you find your dog doing his things at the moment, immediately take him outside so that he finishes doing in the designated place and when he finishes, reward him.

If you find an accident inside the apartment, you should not scold your dog, you just have to clean the affected area with an enzymatic cleaner so that there is no trace of the smell left.

Can Dobermans Be Left Alone?

Dobermans are dogs that love to be in the company of people. But despite this, they are very adaptable dogs that tolerate being left alone better than other breeds.

It’s not recommended to leave a Doberman puppy for more than four hours and it is necessary to consider how long our puppy can hold his bladder.

But an adult Doberman can manage to be alone for up to eight hours as long as he has been properly trained and has enough physical activity daily.

Some tips that can help when leaving your Doberman home alone are:

  • Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise before being left alone. A tired Doberman will be calmer and will spend most of the time just resting.
  • Leave plenty of chew and mentally stimulating toys within his reach to keep him entertained and so he doesn’t start chewing on things he shouldn’t.
  • Ask a friend or family member to visit your dog in the middle of the day to play with him and take him for a walk and go to the bathroom.
  • Look for professional services of Dog Walkers and Dog Sitters.
  • Take your Doberman to a Doggie Daycare where he can spend the time playing with other dogs.

Do Dobermans Bark a Lot?

The Doberman is a dog breed that doesn’t tend to bark a lot. But they are dogs that were bred as guard dogs so they tend to bark when they perceive any threat nearby.

In addition to barking to alert their owners that something is wrong, Dobermans tend to bark when they want to tell you something specific. 

The most common reasons are:

  • To advise that he needs to go out to the bathroom.
  • To request attention from their owners when they feel neglected.
  • Out of frustration and the need to release his large amount of energy due to insufficient exercise.

Do Dobermans Need to Be Groomed?

Grooming a Doberman is very easy and it doesn’t take much work. One brushing a week is enough and you only need to bathe them when they get dirty.

Dobermans shed moderately but can be easily controlled if they are brushed regularly.

In addition to this, you only have to cut their nails in case they do not wear them naturally, and brush their teeth frequently to prevent bad breath and diseases in the mouth.

Is a Doberman a Good Apartment Dog?

Doberman apartment

A Doberman Pinscher can adapt well to apartment life as long as they have enough exercise, are socialized, and are properly trained.

Some of the characteristics that make Dobermans good large apartment dogs are:

  • They are intelligent dogs, eager to please, and easy to train. This allows them to be well-behaved dogs that learn quickly what is expected of them.
  • They are dogs that love to be with their people all the time. They do better and feel more secure when they feel part of the pack, and apartment life makes this easier.
  • They are very clean dogs that don’t shed a lot and need little grooming.
  • They are very adaptable dogs that develop well in various environments and situations.
  • They are dogs with a friendly, affectionate and loyal personality

Tips for Raising a Doberman in an Apartment

Check the Breed Restrictions of Your Apartment

Some apartments have dog breed restrictions. This means that some breeds are banned from the building because they are considered dangerous, noisy, and unmanageable.

Unfortunately, Dobermans are one of the most commonly banned breeds of apartment buildings as they are considered difficult to control and aggressive.

In addition to Dog Breeds Restrictions, there are also usually size, weight, and age restrictions.

For this reason, it’s important to contact your apartment manager or landlord to find out the building rules related to dogs.

Early Socialization Is Essential

One of the keys to ensuring that a Doberman becomes a well-tempered dog is necessary to socialize him since he is a puppy.

When a Doberman is not properly socialized he can grow into a suspicious, fearful, or even aggressive dog.

Socialization involves introducing a dog to a variety of environments and situations from an early age.

It’s important that your dog gets to know and relate to as many children, people, and other animals as possible.

Through socialization, a Doberman gains the confidence and tools necessary to behave appropriately in various social situations.

Socializing with other dogs is important because it allows a dog to learn the language between dogs and how to behave with one another.

Establish a Daily Routine From the Beginning

Dobermans, like most dogs, do well when they know what to expect during the day.

A daily routine has many benefits for a Doberman.

But mainly it helps your dog feel more secure knowing what to expect from his environment. This helps prevent stress and makes it a calmer and more confident dog.

The daily routine should include meals, potty breaks, playing, and exercise.

  • Mealtime. You have to feed your dog around the same hours of the day. This is important because it influences other aspects of the day, such as potty breaks.
  • Potty Breaks. Living in an apartment taking your dog out to the bathroom is an essential part of their daily care. It is necessary to take it out first thing in the morning, before leaving for work and immediately after returning home. It is also recommended that you have a potty break after each meal, before bedtime and if possible in the middle of the day.
  • Exercise and Playtime. Physical activity, both exercise and playtime are essential to the well-being of a Doberman. When a dog has his exercise routines around the same hours, he learns to distribute his energy throughout the day and use as much time as he can to rest and sleep.

Control Your Doberman’s Barking

When one lives in an apartment, the constant barking of our dog is usually a problem with the neighbors, and a Doberman’s bark is truly loud and strong.

Although Dobermans are usually dogs that don’t bark much, they are alert and watchful dogs. They can bark every time someone walks by the door of the apartment or to the noise of other neighbors.

Although you can’t completely stop a dog from barking, you can control

The main cause of a Doberman barking excessively is due to a lack of exercise or negligence.

Dobermans need attention and lots of exercise. If they have enough exercise and their owners spend quality time playing and doing fun things with them, they are less likely to bark excessively.

One way to control a dog’s bark is to teach him the “Speak” and “Quiet” commands.

  1. Put your dog in a situation or do something that will make him bark.
  2. As soon as your dog starts barking, say the command “speak” in a calm, firm voice and give him a treat right away. Regularly practice these points until your dog barks when asked.
  3. Ask your dog to start barking and wait for him to be quiet. 
  4. As soon as your dog is silent, say the “quiet” command and treat him immediately.
  5. When he starts to master it, gradually extend the time you say “quiet” and when you treat him.
  6. Practice regularly until your dog stops barking when you command it.

Find a Good Dog Park Nearby

Find a good Dog Park near your apartment that you can take your Doberman to regularly.

Dog Parks are of great help since it is a space where your dog can socialize with other dogs.

Also, being dogs that need a lot of physical activity, it is the perfect place for them to run and play freely until they get tired.

We just have to make sure that the park is a safe place, well fenced where he cannot escape, and where there are well-socialized dogs and responsible owners.

Final Thoughts

Although the Doberman is a low maintenance dog, he’s not a dog that is recommended to first-time owners.

He’s a large dog breed that needs his people to dedicate time and effort so that he grows and becomes a healthy and happy dog in all aspects of his life.

If so, a Doberman can be an excellent companion and a great apartment roommate.

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