Doberman Pinscher

Description:

The Doberman Pinscher is a strong, powerful, muscular and athletic breed of dog. The Doberman carries its head high and its strong lean body is capable of great speed. The high set ears fold to the side of the head except when cropped (common in the U.S.) they are erect. The Doberman’s tail is usually docked and its feet are small and catlike. The Doberman’s glossy coat is short, smooth and hard and lies close to the body. This breed’s coat is usually black, blue or red – with clearly defined tan markings. Male Dobermans are 27 to 28 inches tall and females 24 to 27 inches at shoulder height. Dobermans are quite heavy for their lean appearance and can weigh from 65 to 90 pounds. The Doberman is a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Working Dog Group.

History:

Doberman Pinchers are one of the few dog breeds whose history is very well known. Dobermans were developed by a German dogcatcher, Louis Doberman, to guard his house. He wanted a very obedient but aggressive guard dog. Dobermans were used by the German army in WWI as a guard and patrol dog. More recently the dog breed has become very popular as a police dog, watch dog and family dog. The Doberman was ranked 22nd out 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC registrations.
 

Temperament:

Dobermans are usually protective but also are sweet and docile family dogs. This breed is brave, intelligent and loyal. However some Dobermans are very nervous and aggressive. This breed needs early socialization and obedience training when it is a puppy and this regime should be continued until the dog is at least 18 months old. Dobermans do fine with older children if they are raised with them. Male Dobes can be very aggressive with other male dogs and shouldn’t be trusted with small pets and strange children. Dobermans need lots of exercise and companionship and shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time. Dobermans are intelligent and easily trained but not by a novice dog owner. This breed should spend a significant amount of time at a dog training school. Dobermans make good guard dogs and good watchdogs and are wary of strangers. This breed is not recommended for the novice dog owner.

Exercise:

This is an active dog breed and it needs brisk and long daily walks to keep it happy and calm. Dobermans thrive on lots of exercise and all-out running as often as possible during the first few years. Dobermans prefer living indoors with their family.
 

Grooming:

Dobermans require minimal grooming and are a low shedding dog breed. During shedding just use a knobbly rubber glove to remove dead and loose hairs.

 

Health Considerations:

Dobermans have a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. Common health problems include: hip dysplasia, Wobbler’s syndrome, bloat, cancer and heart disease.

 

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