Doberman Rescue and Adoption for New England and Eastern New York
Hot Line (603)887-1200

D.R.U.U.
Educating Dobermans and Owners

With the long-awaited completion of the Doberman Rescue Unlimited shelter comes the advent of a new approach in helping surrendered dogs find permanent homes. Doberman Rescue Unlimited University (DRU U) is an in-house training program designed to use a basic obedience format in the rehabilitation of Doberman Pinschers given up for adoption. Behavioral issues are addressed as well, with an eye toward preparing the dog for a normal life in an average pet-owner's home. Dogs enrolled in the program are adopted out with two or three complimentary private lessons in order to help the new owners get off to the best possible start with their new Dobe, and all have the option to continue with private lessons in the future.

OUR STUDENT BODY
Dobermans selected for enrollment in DRU U cover the spectrum from totally well adjusted but untrained animals to "shell-shocked" victims of abuse and severe neglect. We limit enrollment to six dogs at a time in order to guarantee them the focus and quality time that excellent training and behavior modification demands. The dogs are chosen by a general consensus among the shelter staff, whose members' daily interaction with them provide reliable feedback for the Training Director.
Long-term residents of the shelter who have advanced to the point of indoor, off-lead obedience under high-level distraction are moved into the "Post-Grad" category and are worked on a less frequent basis. These dogs not only serve as demo dogs for visitors, they are also "goodwill ambassadors" who may accompany the training staff to pet supply stores and DRU events. A good example of a high profile post grad would be Sarge, the handsome red boy who led the procession to the Memorial Garden on the day of its dedication ceremony (in lockstep with a bagpipe player, no less!). Large Sarge has since been placed in a home of his own, but many of his "grad school" buddies remain at DRU. Proving the theory that a trained dog is a free dog, they often get to spend time with the shelter staff as they go about their duties in the office, kitchen and outside areas, and are often taken out for walks around the neighborhood by experienced volunteers.
Adopters of a DRU U student or Graduate are entitled to one, two or three complimentary lessons after adoption and are welcomed and encouraged to keep up with their training for as long as they own their DRU U dog. Dogs and owners living beyond a reasonable commute are referred to Doberman-experienced trainers in their own area and are free to contact the DRU U Training Staff with any questions, problems or updates concerning their dog. Of the nearly two hundred dogs helped by DRU U, dozens are dogs who were to be surrendered by confused and hopeless owners but who succeeded with the intervention of the DRU U staff and were able to remain in their original homes.

The Roster

Toby
Toby


   


 


RESULT BASED VS. METHOD BASED TRAINING

In the ever volatile field of training theory, there are many participants who live and die (and therefore condemn their canine charges) by a particular method. It has been the experience of our Training Director (with nearly twenty years as a student, teacher and competitor) that this approach is unfair to disadvantaged dogs in a shelter setting. DRU U is a results-based training program designed to help dogs, not a platform to demonstrate the superiority of a particular method. The Dobermans in DRU's care display a wide variety of temperament, learning aptitude, and drive and each deserves to be treated as an individual entity. The tools and approaches vary from dog to dog and change as necessary throughout the learning period. All training procedures are performed with each dog's best interests in mind. The big picture that results is a Doberman who is undergoing a learning process which is fun, fair and effective and which complements his individual personality and gives him the best possible chance to excel as a treasured pet in a loving home.

ADOPTER EDUCATION
At DRU U we believe in being knowledgeable about our breed of choice and we are careful to represent not only the adult adopted Doberman's potential for success but also his limitations. Educating our adopters is as important a duty as educating the dogs in our care. Helping adopters to understand Doberman temperament is key. Finding the dog that meets their abilities and expectations is sometimes challenging, but the large majority of our adopters are highly educable and their desire to help a Doberman in need includes a desire to work toward the successful partnership they want to achieve. Many of our adopters have forged wonderful relationships with their adopted Dobes and friendships with their DRU U trainers in the pursuit of that goal.
DRU U publishes Dobe-specific training and behavior articles, some of which are printed in the DRU Newsletter and all of which may be accessed at this site. The staff trainers are constantly learning via ongoing mentor/apprentice relationships, seminars, and research and are always looking for new and successful training ideas to pass on to their human students.
The DRU U staff believes in the vision of the Doberman as the ultimate family companion and working dog and encourages its dog/owner student teams to continue training toward specific accomplishments. These may be pursued on the trial field, on the agility course or via therapy work, as has been proven by successful DRU U students. However, the DRU U Doberman who excels in his role as partner and friend has the most important job of all. The objective of DRU U's owner education efforts is to help adopters feel that their DRU U Dobe is truly "the dog of a lifetime".