1. My Doberman puppy has arrived. What should I do on the first day?
Immediately upon arrival:
- Bathe the puppy with warm water and mild dog shampoo to remove transport odors
- Thoroughly examine the dog – check eyes, ears, nose, mouth, paws, and skin for any problems
- Let him slowly explore the space, starting with one room and gradually expanding the territory
- This space mapping is crucial – the dog must know where he is to begin relaxing
First days expectations: Your puppy will sleep significantly more than usual (up to 18-20 hours daily), won’t leave your side, and will be visibly confused. This is completely normal! He needs time to get used to new smells, people, spaces, and sounds.
First care:
- Offer fresh water immediately
- If coming from a long journey, give a small amount of food (no more than half the usual portion)
- Provide a quiet, warm corner with a soft blanket
- The key is peace and security – build a feeling that he can trust you, without much noise and commotion for the first 48 hours
2. When can I start the first walks?
Wait until tomorrow for the first outdoor walk. Let him get used to the interior of the home on the first day.
First walk:
- Go to a quiet part of the neighborhood, avoid crowds and noisy streets
- Keep the puppy close to you, don’t allow him to approach unknown dogs
- Protect your puppy – avoid potentially dangerous situations
- Don’t allow conflicts with other dogs, cats, or any animals
- Always carry rewards – treats, small cubes of cheese or meat
- Hug him and praise every desirable behavior you want repeated
- The first walk shouldn’t last more than 10-15 minutes
Additional advice: Carry wet wipes and bags in case the puppy relieves himself, and a mini water bottle for him.
3. When can I receive guests?
Visits from friends and neighbors can start only 48 hours after your pet’s arrival, not before. Ideally from the third day after arrival.
Why this is important:
- Give the puppy time to get used to and explore the new space
- When he feels safe in his new home, he’ll more easily accept new people
- Too much stimulation at once can lead to stress and behavioral regression
When receiving guests:
- Warn them to be calm and not force contact
- Children should be supervised by adults
- Let the puppy first “hear” guests before seeing them
- If the puppy shows signs of stress, end the visit. Remove the puppy to another room with a family member who is already familiar and trusted
4. How much food should I give my puppy?
For a 3-month-old puppy – three meals daily:DOBERMAN PUPPY SUPPLEMENTATION: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR RESPONSIBLE OWNERS
- 250g quality puppy kibble
- Add about 250g ground beef (cooked or raw, quality)
- 250ml natural yogurt (without sugar and additives)
Meal schedule:
- Morning (7-8am): kibble + yogurt
- Midday (12-1pm): kibble + meat
- Evening (6-7pm): kibble + meat or yogurt
Notes:
- Always provide fresh water next to food
- Serve food in the same bowl at the same place
- If the puppy doesn’t eat immediately, remove food after 20 minutes
- Monitor weight – healthy growth is gradual, don’t force excessive weight gain
- Add probiotics to the supplementation routine for the first 7 days after arrival
5. How do I teach my puppy to relieve himself outside?
Basic rule: After sleeping and after eating, always take the dog outside and don’t go back inside until he does everything he needs to do.
Success strategy:
- As soon as the puppy wakes up – immediately outside
- 15-30 minutes after meals – outside
- Before bedtime – last outing
- On weekends, take him out every hour or two
When he relieves himself outside:
- Immediately give a reward and enthusiastically praise the dog
- Always use the same word (“good,” “super,” “excellent”)
- Pet him and show how proud you are
- Avoid using diapers in the house, it makes the process of getting used to relieving himself outside more difficult
Realistic expectations: Until 6 months, accidents are possible because the dog is still a baby and can’t always control urination. Don’t punish accidents – simply clean up and continue training.
6. My Doberman chews things around the house. What should I do?
This is completely normal behavior – the puppy explores the world with his teeth and needs things he can safely chew.
Buy quality toys:
- Solid rubber balls (hard to destroy)
- Braided ropes for play and tugging
- Kong toys that you can fill with food
- Mental stimulation games that use food
- Natural material chews (leather, antler)
- Tennis balls and fabric toys and soft rubber toys are useless, your Doberman will destroy them in minutes
Strategy:
- When you catch the puppy chewing a forbidden item, say “no” and replace with an allowed toy
- Praise him when he chews his toy
- Smear the toy with a little pâté
- Remove valuable items from the puppy’s reach
- Provide enough physical and mental stimulation
- If he has enough physical activity, he’ll be too tired to make problems. Always keep in mind – A tired dog is a calm dog
Additional advice: Rotate toys – don’t leave all at once, but change them every few days to maintain interest.
During teething (4-7 months): Give the puppy frozen carrots to chew. The cold reduces gum pain, and carrots are safe and nutritious. You can cut them into larger pieces or give a whole small carrot. This is a natural and safe way to help the puppy during the painful teething process.
7. When should I go to the veterinarian?
Wait a few days to avoid additional stress from too many new experiences at once.
Before the visit:
- Review the vaccination documentation you received from the breeder
- Prepare a list of questions
What the veterinarian should check:
- General health examination
- Whether the dog is protected from external parasites (fleas, ticks, mosquitoes)
- Vaccination and revaccination plan
- Examination of teeth, ears, eyes
- Discussion about nutrition and care
Advice: Choose a veterinarian with experience with large breeds who will support your approach to raising.
8. Building a trust relationship
Remember – you are now creating a bond that will last a lifetime. A bond in which the dog feels cared for, protected, and loved.
How to build trust:
- Be consistent in routine
- Reward every good behavior
- Don’t yell or physically punish unless absolutely necessary
- Spend time together – play, train, cuddle
- Talk to the puppy – they understand tone of voice
- Be patient – learning takes time
Your puppy is still a baby – he’s still afraid of things he doesn’t understand. Always keep this in mind and be guided by this goal. Empathy and understanding are the keys to success. Show patience and provide tenderness, but be clear and consistent in what the puppy must not do, this way you’ll build a relationship full of respect and trust, to mutual satisfaction. You must be an authority to your Doberman, he must learn to respect you because he trusts and respects you and therefore obeys.
9. If the dog is cropped – ear taping
When to start: You can wait 24h from arrival for the puppy to get used to it, or start immediately – it’s completely up to you.
Preparation:
- Ask the breeder for detailed advice and demonstration
- Get quality medical tape and cotton pads
- Clean ears with hydrogen peroxide
- Position the ear in the correct position
- Tape carefully, not too tightly
- Change tape every 5-7 days
- The process usually lasts 2-4 months
Note: During taping, watch for signs of inflammation or allergic reactions to the adhesive.
Important for cartilage development: During the ear raising process, exclusively with veterinary consultation, consider adding glucosaminoglycan supplements. These supplements help strengthen cartilage and can be crucial for successful formation of proper ear shape. Cartilage in Dobermans is relatively soft and needs additional support during intensive growth.
10. What is NOT normal behavior?
Concerning signs:
- Complete hiding and avoiding contact for more than 24h
- Constantly running from the room when you enter
- Continuous howling or whimpering
- Complete refusal of food and water for more than 12h
- Frequent vomiting (more than once daily)
- Increased discharge from nose or eyes (greenish, yellowish)
- Frequent loose stools, with blood traces, foamy, unusual color (more than three daily)
- Lethargy – dog doesn’t react to anything
When to go to veterinarian immediately:
- Any of the mentioned symptoms lasting more than 24h
- Vomiting with blood
- Diarrhea with blood
- Difficulty breathing
- Trembling that doesn’t stop
ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL START
Routine is key
- Waking up, feeding, and sleeping at the same time
- Regular outdoor outings
- Short training sessions (5-10 minutes) several times daily
Socialization
- Gradual introduction to different sounds (vacuum, TV, traffic)
- Positive experiences with different surfaces (grass, asphalt, tiles)
- Meeting different people (gradually!)
- Be with your dog all the time, pet him, get down on the ground next to him, be his support while he gets to know your world, protection and encouragement, so that one day he will be the same for you
Mental stimulation
- Hiding treats around the house for the puppy to find
- Learning basic commands (“sit,” “stay,” “come”)
- Different toy textures for exploration
Prepare the home
- Remove dangerous objects from the floor
- Protect electrical cables
- Provide a safe sleeping place
- Prepare “training zones” with pads for accidents
- Mop and bucket
- Enzyme-based odor removal products that dissolve urea. Can be useful to remove traces at accident sites where the dog might come again to mark territory because he now smells his scent there. Prevent this with products that remove tags
Remember: The first months are most important for forming your Doberman’s character. Invest time and patience now – the result will be a dog who will be your best friend and protector throughout life. Put in effort at the beginning and enjoy a perfectly raised, obedient, and balanced dog for the next 10+ years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I give my puppy raw meat? A: Yes, quality raw beef or chicken meat is safe for Doberman puppies, but consult with your veterinarian about quantities and hygiene. Buy meat only from butchers that sell products intended for human consumption. WARNING!!! Never give raw pork to a puppy. Danger of fatal, incurable disease (Aujeszky’s disease).
Q: How long does the ear taping process last? A: Usually 4-6 months, depending on individual cartilage development in puppies. The key is consistency.
Q: When can my puppy go for walks outside the yard? A: After complete vaccination, usually around 12-14 weeks of age. At Orao Doberman kennel, puppies come to new homes completely vaccinated so they can go anywhere as soon as they arrive at their new owner’s.
Q: Should my Doberman puppy sleep in bed with me? A: A separate sleeping place for the puppy is recommended for many reasons. It’s a matter of discipline, hygiene, general puppy training, and safety.
Q: How often should I bathe my Doberman puppy? A: Once monthly or as needed, more frequent bathing can dry out the skin.
Thank you for your time and trust!
Orao Doberman