Should you test your Doberman puppy to determine how to train it, or should you just play it by ear? It happens that even if you checked the bloodline, followed all the breeders' tricks on determining temperament, you end up with a Dobermann puppy totally unsuited as a guard dog. He's playful and loves to have fun! He is unable to follow direction and the last trainer just gave up on him. What should you do?

The first you should do is to NOT GIVE UP. Your Dobermann puppy still has all the potential to be the one you've always dreamed of owning, and it won't hurt to adjust your timetable a wee bit, just to get it all right. In the process, you can bet that little pup will grow on you.

The trick is finding that one tickle spot that will get your Doberman dog to follow you. It may be a special treat or a specific time of day where he or she responds to most favorably. Your objective would be to find your Doberman puppy's weak spot in order to get the training done properly.

You can conduct a series of informal tests to help you do this. Here are some suggestions:

a) Try restraining the puppy by turning it on its back. Watch for the reaction. If the dog allows you to put him on this position for even for a couple of seconds, then it will follow and is more receptive to instruction. This would signal that the dog appears to have a good temperament for training as a guard dog. If the dog freezes, then you need to find out the reason why the dog acts unnaturally.

b) Let the puppy lose in an area enclosed by fences. Start walking and encourage the puppy to follow you. If it does, then it is friendly and shows interest in having contact with humans. This is an excellent sign that the puppy could be a great pet, as well as a security dog

c) Have a special dog treat and let your puppy smell it. Then, toss it but keep your puppy restrained for a few seconds. Release and let him find the treat. Test different kinds of treats to find out which one he likes the most

d) Interact with the puppy, and look for clues about the Doberman puppy's response to treats, praises, touch, and trainability

e) Expose the puppies to strange, new sounds like loud clanging, and watch for their reaction to the noise stimuli. Just be careful not to frighten them to the point of causing trauma

Testing is something that is done by most breeders, not just in Australia and the surrounding areas like Queensland, Victoria, Canberra, and NSW, but also around the world from other parts of Asia to the United States and Europe. If you are unsure about handling the testing, find a breeder from any of these areas: NSW, Canberra, Victoria, or Queensland. Australia is a well-known for its breeding techniques and high quality of testing. The Doberman puppies for sale around these parts are of excellent breed and bloodline. You will have a hard time finding Dobermann dogs or puppies that are not well cared for, not in Australia where animals are considered precious and highly regarded as part of a household, and this bodes well for you and your dog if you got your Dobermann from within Australia.

If you have more than one Doberman puppy, know its history. If the puppy is mixed breed, then be sure to run the tests several times over his training. The results will often swing erratically until it finally settles in.

Remember that as your Doberman grows, he or she will change in temperament and maturity. It will help to record the progress, not just for your puppy, but also for yourself. It can uplift you when you feel like throwing in the towel, or just donating the dog to charity. It can happen, no smirking now. Don't give in to these kinds of urges. You will regret an impulsive decision like this. Doberman dogs are one of the most loyal and intelligent breeds around. They will never leave you if you are in a crisis, and will stand by you throughout your troubles.

Finally, keep in mind that while testing is encouraged, it is not 100% accurate. Thus, keep an open mind. As long as the Doberman puppy is treated fairly, then there's no harm in testing, and you create a bond that will outlast any test.