of structured walking, up to twice a day
A common rule of thumb for leashed walks. Free sniffing and yard play don't count toward it.
No jogging, bike runs or lots of jumping until growth plates close (around 12–18 months, so check with your vet).
Skip busy dog parks and high-traffic trails until your vet says they're fully protected. Parvo lives in soil.
Stay away from brush and low branches that can snag tape. Head home in the rain, and keep ears dry.
Dobies get cold fast. Bring a jacket below about 45°F. In summer, if pavement is too hot for your hand for 7 seconds, it's too hot for paws.
Walk them one at a time while leash skills are new. Try a double walk once both can heel on their own.
Find trails & walking paths
Tap "Use my location" to load a map of nearby dog-friendly trails, or open a search in Maps or AllTrails.
Your location is only used to center the map and isn't saved.
Our trails
Save the paths you try with notes on shade, water, crowds and how the pups liked it. Synced between your phone and Mac.
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Activities for the pups
Mental work tires a Doberman out as much as exercise does. Ear-safe means it's fine while ears are posted.
Sniffari walks
Slow, nose-led walks on a long line. Ten minutes of sniffing wears them out more than a brisk mile.
Frozen Kongs & lick mats
Kibble soaked and frozen with a little pumpkin. Great crate time and a good calm-down after play.
Snuffle mat & scatter feeding
Turn one meal a day into a foraging game. It also slows down the gulpers (good for bloat).
Hide & seek recall
One person holds a pup while you hide, then call. Big party when they find you. Builds a rock-solid recall.
Car-ride field trips
Short drives to watch the world from the car or a blanket at the edge of a parking lot. Socialization without touching the ground.
Confidence course
Couch cushions, a wobble board, a tarp, a low plank. New surfaces at a slow pace build brave puppies.
Nosework: "Find it"
Hide treats in boxes, then around the room. Dobermans are great at scent games, and it's a perfect rainy-day job.
Puppy class
Take each pup separately if you can, or one handler per pup. They learn to focus on you around distractions.
Playdates
One calm, vaccinated adult dog teaches manners better than any dog park. Supervise closely while ears are posted.
Water intro
Shallow, calm water and a paddle with you beside them. Save it until posting is done and the vet clears wet ears.
Flirt pole (gently)
Keep the lure low and moving slowly, with no high jumps or hard twists. A great impulse-control game once joints are older.
Pet-store outings
Slick floors, carts, strangers and new smells. Carry them before their vaccines are done, and let them walk once the vet okays it.
Adventure photos
or click below. Pick several at once with ⌘-click.