I'm no dog trainer either, Monica may jump in with comments but she's got a really full plate right now if she doesn't jump in quick.
I do some of what Joanne is saying and some different. The stand up and in front of the dog part is good and showing the dog you are the alpha not the dog, and a quick correction in a firm voice. I see so many people with barking dogs holding and petting the dog as he's going off like an idiot saying things in soft voice like "it's ok it's ok"and all they are doing is reinforcing the dog continuing. The dog pays no attention and the dog is assuming alpha.
One thing that I'm really happy and proud of is this Zeus is amazing when out and about and being walked or even in huge crowds and places like Woofstock with tons of people and thousands of dogs and he is not dog agressive. He doesn't bark at dogs on walks and he's not agressive on walks. He is alert when called for and he looks it but the hair is not up and he's not ready to attack or barking. Even if dogs are being walked past him or we are walking past them in their yards and they are barking and going off he sometimes even just ignores them and is aloof but ears standing but not agressive. That I'm so thankifull for as I had a previous Doberman that was very people and dog agressive and I was the guy that had to walk afterhours cross the street etc and it's not good. This time I did everthing I could to not have that. I have to thank Monica for that as for her breeding program for temperment and placing the right pup to the right person and in our case she had me hanging around dog shows with Zeus and all the show ring dobermans just before a year old and after. We probably did 15 or so shows just socalizing and he's been in the ring 3 times so far. No big brags but he's gone through the ring, that's an accomplishment in itself!
I also had him out in the public and around people places and events, at the race track around crowds and even open exhaust race cars and he's really quite well rounded. It took lots of time over time but he is not agressive to other dogs or people out being walked or in crowds etc on leash with me. That is so refreshing.
The trainer we used recently with Zeus it was all about Alpha and who was and breaking it somewhat so it's not him. You will get all the background and help on this and the basics in a basic 101 puppy class and you need to do that with your pup.
Now Zeus is a much older dog but little things along the way we didn't do as we should have, helped him look for a higher pecking order towards alpha position. So any doors in and out of the house, we are 1st he isn't, and he's made to wait, same getting in the vehicle, up and down stairs etc he waits and we are 1st. he gets on couch after being invited not before. Keep up on basic obedience training come, stay, down, sit etc after you have that down with the dog. Even now I find myself slack and not doing enough of the basic commands each week. It so easy to get into a slump and not do the basics each week. It may sound like small things but it establishes who is alpha as the alpha is always 1st.
I know all the basics, know what I should be doing it and I'm pretty religious on follow through but still it's easy to drop the ball. I say this to show everyone reading it's easy to be a human and get in a slump.
The guard barking to the doorbell or outside, two different dogs and trainers but old dog it was a loud correction ECH like sound and stand and be in front of the dog, and if it continued same thing and step forward. It will only take a couple and the dog will stop. This dog and trainer similar but it's slightly different command like a BAH sound but the rest is the same. We have a little pillow with chain inside and after one or two bahs and standing, toss the pillow towards the dogs feet and the correction and it's amazing how it works! You have to be consistent though and timing is everything and THAT is the challenge for you the owner, consistent and timing. It's still a challenge for us but we work on it.
Whoever the trainer is you get, should be your guide. 2 adult dogs here over time and a couple completely different trainers, but the process was pretty similar. Monica's help again also very similar. Even if you watch Caesar Milan and what he does it's all very similar to what I have experienced in any outside training we have had.
If you do not have a basic pupply class planned, get one planned. read in your manual and Monica has a good read on that. As courses go, don't do a petsmart one, do something a little better. Even the petsmart one though gives the basics and gets you and your pup interacting with other owners and pups and is good for both of you.
Ask at the local pet stores etc I'm sure there are some decent classes around you. You can probably find a Barkbuster pup class or a McCann's or a local dog breeder of another breed that does basic pupply classes. That's what we had here in Grimsby a Bullmastiff breeder that does basic puppy classes and then advanced after if you want that.
Monica is a great trainer and amazing with showing you and doing training classes but it's not always easy or even practical to drive back to Belwood. If you aren't real far away see if she has any traing courses planned or upcoming. She's worked with Zeus and I a little as a pup and then last fall with some show training and she is really good.
It's key to get your pup in a class, get around other dogs and people as much as possible so she's socalized and learns what's good and what's not.
Like I said, Itook the basic puppy class with the local bullmastiff breeder it was 8 or 10 weeks and you work between the weeks for the next class. Then after that It was just me building on basic things like come, sit, stay down etc, walking and trying for a good heel. In there I had Monica work a couple times at shows, and at her place nothing too formal.
That was enough and we were ok enough that I took a shot and a CKC CGN test at 19 months old and we passed and he got that title and certificate. Even still though I have to work on Come, Zeus some times can be totally amazing on come and other times he's a challenge.
Canadian Kennel Club - Canine Good Neighbour. it's a series of multiple small tests that you and the dog take that shows good temperment and basic obedience of the dog.
www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=91It was fun and also good for us. Take a look and it's a good thing to shoot and practice for and take the test and see how you do.