diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 15bd1729..4bcb5e5e 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ updates:
       interval: "weekly"
     labels:
       - "CI"
+    target-branch: "5.1.x"
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index aba144a8..0ebe0df3 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
     "require-dev": {
         "composer/semver": "^3.4",
         "doctrine/coding-standard": "^11.0",
-        "doctrine/data-fixtures": "^1.7",
+        "doctrine/data-fixtures": "^1.8 || ^2.0",
         "phpstan/phpstan": "^2.0",
         "phpunit/phpunit": "^9.5.5",
         "symfony/browser-kit": "^6.4 || ^7.0",
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
         "symfony/yaml": "^6.4 || ^7.0"
     },
     "conflict": {
-        "doctrine/data-fixtures": "<1.3"
+        "doctrine/data-fixtures": "<1.8 || >=3"
     },
     "suggest": {
         "doctrine/data-fixtures": "Load data fixtures"
diff --git a/src/Command/LoadDataFixturesDoctrineODMCommand.php b/src/Command/LoadDataFixturesDoctrineODMCommand.php
index b2bb6b30..1e5a60e2 100644
--- a/src/Command/LoadDataFixturesDoctrineODMCommand.php
+++ b/src/Command/LoadDataFixturesDoctrineODMCommand.php
@@ -95,12 +95,6 @@ public function log($level, $message, array $context = []): void
             {
                 $this->output->writeln(sprintf('  <comment>></comment> <info>%s</info>', $message));
             }
-
-            /** @deprecated to be removed when dropping support for doctrine/data-fixtures <1.8 */
-            public function __invoke(string $message): void
-            {
-                $this->log(0, $message);
-            }
         });
         $executor->execute($fixtures, $input->getOption('append'));