Young Dobermans are really hyper dogs. They can run here and there and jump at anything. This is their normal behavior because they have lots of energy.
Without a good avenue, young Dobermans can become destructive.
This may sound worrisome if you’re planning on buying a Doberman Pinscher. Here is good news for you:
Doberman should begin to calm down after reaching a certain age.
At what age do Dobermans calm down? When a Doberman reaches age 3 – 4, you should expect them to calm down. This will continue for the next 6 – 12 months. Although your Doberman may continue to be hyper and aggressive after two years, but not to the extent they were in their adolescent age.
Read on to understand why young Dobermans are so hyperactive and at what age they will begin to calm down.
Why Are Dobermans So Hyperactive?
Normally, Dobermans are an intelligent and high energy breed. They require about one to two hours of activities and exercise daily to maintain good health and burn off their stored energy.
Because they are highly intelligent and high spirited, Dobermans require lots of mental stimulation and enrichment to challenge their minds. Mental exercise can make your dog tired just as physical activity.
Failure to expose your Doberman to adequate exercise will result in frustration and boredom, leaving your dog unsettled and prone to behavior issues.
Also, hyperactivity is sometimes a state of mind. When Dobermans are excited or anxious, it can make their mind over-aroused, resulting in hyperactivity and leaving them unsettled.
When Do Dobermans Calm Down?
Although young Dobermans are very active and hyper, they tend to calm down as they grow older. Most times, Dobermans will be at their most hyper stage between the age of 4 months and 1 year. This is an important period to ensure that your Doberman gets the necessary exercises, the right training, and the required mental enrichment.
As Dobermans reach adulthood i.e. between the age of 1 and 2 years old, they will gradually become less active compared to how they were when younger. It’s not that they are no longer hyperactive but they now behave mature and tend towards calmness.
When your Doberman is in the mid-year of its lifespan i.e. between the age of two years to about eight years old, it is then an adult and will be reasonably calm.
The calmness will be enhanced if you had built a strong foundation of training, a regular exercise routine and mental enrichment for your Doberman. Though your Doberman will still be active, it will be a lot more controlled.
Once Doberman reaches the age of seven to eight years old, it is considered a senior dog and it will be very calm. At this age, it is still important that your dog receive regular exercise.
This will help to keep its muscles and tendons supple and strong, manage their weight, and prevent diseases like heart disease.
Even at a tender age, calmness can be trained into your Doberman, making it possible to calm the mind of your dog.
Are Doberman Puppies Hyperactive?
Although every dog is different – even dogs of the same breed, most Doberman puppies are hyperactive. While some Dobermans puppies are more energetic and active, others are less energetic and laid back.
Between the age of 4 months and 1 year, Dobermans puppies are typically very hyperactive. So make sure they get the right training, exercise, and mental enrichment they need.
How to Calm Down a Doberman Puppy
Doberman puppies are full of energy because everything is new and exciting for them. Though they will also sleep a lot, expect a period of full-on activity.
The kind of activities and exercises needed by a Doberman puppy is different from those of an adult.
This is so because their bodies, joints, and bones are growing, and over-exercising the puppy can result in damages to the growth plates.
Therefore, the best way to calm down your Doberman puppy is with free play and short walks. Mental stimulation can also help to calm down your puppy just as much as physical activities.
Will Neutering Calm Down Your Doberman?
It’s a common thought that neutering your male Doberman makes it calmer.
This has also created much debate as to whether or neutering a Doberman has much of any effect on its behavior.
Neutering your Doberman will not only stop your dog from being able to breed, but it will also stop it from producing testosterone, which may trigger some changes in its body.
Hence, a neutered Doberman may show some subtle behavioral changes but neutering will not necessarily make it calmer.
At about age six months, the level of testosterone of a Doberman puppy will increase rapidly.
By neutering the Doberman puppy before or at this age can reduce any aggressive or territorial behavior.
However, it is unlikely that neutering will have any or much effect on the energy levels and hyperactive behavior of your Doberman.
Conclusively, Dobermans are high-energy dogs and super hyperactive. Just know that neutering them isn’t going to change that behavior. Nevertheless, Dobermans should start to calm down at about 3 years.
How Do I Get My Doberman to Calm Down?
Being an energetic dog, many Doberman owners always ask the question “how do I get my Doberman to calm down?”
Luckily, there are various ways to get your Doberman to calm down or at least manage or reduce its hyperactive behavior.
Here are the suggested ways to help calm your hyperactive or even out-of-control Doberman:
1). Calm The Mind of Your Doberman: Most times, over-excitement and hyperactivity are a state of mind (i.e. the hyperactive behavior is an outward manifestation of an over-aroused or overexcited state of mind).
Therefore, to calm down your Doberman, you may need to catch the state of arousal before it gets to a high level. Normally, a Doberman doesn’t move from calm to hyper excited in one step instead the state of arousal goes up in stages – arrest it before it gets to the highest stage.
2). Calm Your Energy: Sometimes, the over-excitement in your Doberman can be a result of your exciting energy.
Hence, if you’re interacting or speaking to your Doberman with excited energy, this will also excite your Dog.
But if you calm your energy and speak to Doberman in a calm monotone pitch, this will keep your dog calmer.
Provide Sufficient Exercise:
As stated above, Dobermans are generally energetic and hyperactive dogs.
To expend their stored up energy, you’re required to subject them to daily exercises of about one hour.
Provide Mental Stimulation and Enrichment: Aside from physical exercises, mental exercises can also relax your Doberman just as much as physical exercises.
Therefore, it is important to provide mental stimulation and enrichment for your dog to challenge its mind and provide mental stimulation.
Boredom sometimes can make your dog unnecessarily hyperactive.
Rub and Massage Your Doberman’s Belly Gently: Rubbing and massaging your Doberman’s belly compassionately can also calm your dog just the rubbing and massaging affects humans.
The rubbing and massaging sensation can calm your dog down so much that it may even fall asleep.
However, rubbing and massaging should be done calmly. Also, make sure it doesn’t turn into a game. This will excite your Doberman but calm it down.
Rub Your Dobermans’ Muzzle and Stop Area Gently: Rubbing your Doberman’s muzzle gently will also have a similar effect on your Doberman as rubbing its belly gently.
Rubbing the stop area (the area on the bridge of the muzzle between the eyes) gently will also have a calming effect on your Doberman.
The stop area has many nerve endings and rubbing it will cause the release of endorphins to your dog’s brain, giving it a “feel good” calming effect.
Another similar area to rub is where the ears join the head. Rubbing this area too has the same result as rubbing the stop area.
Keep Your Doberman Away from Cats, Small Pets, And Small Children: Generally, cats, small pets, and small children (especially those below the age of six) are usually in a highly excitable state.
Keeping your Doberman with them can make your dog very overexcited with their quick and unpredictable movement. To a Doberman, this is a cue to chase and play.
Keep Your Doberman Away from Other Overexcited/Hyperactive Dogs:
Aside from keeping your Doberman away from cats, small pets, and small children, you should also keep your Doberman away from other overexcited or hyperactive dogs.
Dobermans are not only hyperactive but also very playful. Even if you’re able to get your Doberman calm by performing any of the methods above, your dog may not calm down if another hyperactive dog is getting it worked up.
Having another excited or playing dog(s) around your Doberman will get it excited, making your dog want to, and very likely try to, go and play with them.
Conclusion
Dobermans are generally high energy, intelligent, overexcited, hyperactive, and playful, especially the younger ones.
It’s not uncommon to hear some owners ask “at what age would their Doberman calm down,” or “how to calm down their hyperactive Doberman.”
As seen in the post above, your Doberman should begin to calm down after age two and as it grows older, it gets mature and calms the more.
Following the suggestions above can also help you to calm down your hyperactive Doberman.
Don’t forget; always provide your Doberman with sufficient exercise – both physical and mental exercise.