Out of Control Doberman

Question
My six month old dobie male is out of control.  He has just been enrolled in his second round of obedience classes.  On the leash he is great.  At home and off leash is will not listen.  Jumps on people, counters and is out of control.  I have had two previous dobes, but this guy is trying my patience.  We are planning on showing him, as we did with the others in the past, but he is just one big puppy-head.  When will he calm down???

Answer
The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

The above boiler plate may seem a little redundant, but I need to make the point that obedience training shouldn't be about the dog learning to sit, but the owner learning to be the leader.  If you find the second class is no better than the first, you may as well drop it and find a good book.  One big advantage of a class is learning to stay on task around other dogs, essential for a show dog.  

When he will settle down?  Maybe after a year, or even 3 years.  If you weren't going to show him, I would say neuter him now.  I think the AKC's rule on not neutering dogs and breeding show dogs is out of date with our current problems of slaughtering dogs by the millions for lack of homes.  

If you chose to neuter him now, later you could still compete is such events as agility.