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About the Doberman
The Doberman Pinscher is named after its creator Louis Dobermann. Dobermann was a German tax collector who also ran the local animal shelter in his area. A skilled breeder, he set out to create a medium-sized working dog that would accompany and protect him during the day on his travels. Most educated guesses suggest that crosses of the Rottweiler, the German Pincher, the Manchester Terrier and perhaps the Greyhound were used to perfect the breed by 1899. At first the breed was unpopular with most dog fanciers but did catch the eye of those interested in a medium-sized security dog. Further refinements were made and the breed was officially recognized in Germany and then shortly after in America in 1908. Americans are credited with developing the handsome and reliable Doberman Pinscher we know today.
The Doberman was officially recognized in 1900 by the AKC and is an elegant yet muscular, quick and powerful dog. Other adjectives commonly used to describe the breed are intelligent, versatile, easily trained, determined, fearless, assertive and loyal. That’s just about everything you could want in a companion animal. But that adorable puppy will soon become not only a graceful and affectionate companion, it will also become very attached to its owner and family and will mature into the ultimate in personal and home protection. The Doberman is naturally protective and does not need additional “protection training” to be a fine guard dog. A Dobermans is always aware of his surroundings. He is on guard and on duty at all times. He doesn't miss a thing and is responsive and will check out anything that alerts him to possible danger to his family. The Doberman standing alertly---staring at the danger---ears held totally up and eyes focused on the threat. Woe to the foolish man who doesn't think the Doberman will stand his ground and dare the intruder to go through him. It is this stance and attitude and lightening fast reflexes and responses that, coupled with the Dobermans totally fearless and confident attitude, which makes him the absolute PREMIER protection and guard dog, as well as cherished pet, family companion and comrade. He is unflappable when danger is present. Total devotion to family is the Doberman's job everyday. He is focused on his family and wants to please and do exactly what they want him to do. He will bond and attach himself to the family and execute his role as companion and protector like no other breed can. Dobies are well known for their desire to please the human they own. And they are very intelligent. Just about the only thing they can’t learn is what you don’t teach them!
A Doberman likes to be physically close to its family members. In fact, it is also often described as a “Velcro” dog. That’s because it will almost always want to be wherever its owner is and usually in physical contact with him or her if it can manage it. There’s something funny about at 75 pound lap dog, don’t you think? Dobermans are definitely great house dogs. They can be yard dogs too, but they prefer to be close to their humans. If you do keep them outside, please have a yard large enough to provide them with plenty of exercise which they desperately need.
Although Dobermans have the "reputation" of being very aggressive, even vicious, this is simply not true in the vast majority of cases. Any animal that is not properly cared for has the potential of becoming unbalanced, and even dangerous. Of course, you can make a Doberman vicious but that is true of any breed. Only cruel, unprincipled and immature owners think making a dog vicious is “neat”. As a rule, and when given a good home and kind treatment, they are very sweet and gentle and are really excellent with the elderly, the infirm and with children. They are merely big, protective babies who are devoted to their human children as well as any other pets in the home. That being said, due to their protective natures, it may not be a good idea to leave your Doberman with unsupervised children. As with many protective breeds, Dobermans will be very good companions for their own human children but they may be over-protective and misread the shouting and rough-house play of other children as a threat to their children. This isn’t very likely but it is something to consider.
Dobermans are active and should be consistently and thoroughly trained to be a good pet. For this reason, they do best with an experienced owner (but even humans can learn!) so, if you are a first time owner, it is best to learn as much about them as you can before you take on the responsibility of owning this canine thoroughbred. Fortunately, there are many good sources available in book form and on the internet. Pet stores and veterinarians are also excellent sources of advice. Selecting the right puppy personality and activity level for each new owner is much more easily accomplished by doing so.
The Doberman Pinscher is instinctively alert, loyal, loving, and has a watchful temperament. He is naturally protective of those he loves, and uses his keen intelligence to weigh various situations. Unless neglected and bored, the Doberman is a quiet dog. Usually when there is barking, there is a good reason to check out the source of the dog's concern.
Today's well bred Doberman is not prone to outbursts or temper, although, unstable dogs of poor breeding stock can be found in this as well as other breeds. It is to be stressed that poor temperament is more a sign of careless breeding by unknowledgeable persons than a characteristic of the Doberman. It is vital that potential puppy owners be sure of the quality of the parent stock and have a trusting and communicative relationship with the breeder of their pup.
Doberman Fast Facts:
Size:
Males: 26-28 inches tall. Females: 24-26 inches tall.
Males: 70-90 pounds. Females: 60-75 pounds.
Life expectancy:
10-13 years with 9.6 being the average life span given proper nutrition and care. At one year, the females are usually close to being their adult height and further growth is mostly in mass. Males will continue to grow over the next year and may even add a few inches of height. At 12 months, a puppy has become an adult. A male is considered to be in his “prime” at 3+ years and a female at 2 to 3 years. From 1 to 6 years of age, a Doberman is enjoying life and is a great joy to his owner. Dobermans begin collecting their senior citizen discounts at about 7 years of age. They begin to slow down and may begin experiencing the “aches and pains” of aging. They may require a special diet and trips to the vet become more common. Heart problems and cancer are major concerns as are teeth and joints. Examine your friend for lumps/bumps or anything which looks different. Unusual behavior may indicate a problem which should be attended to by the dog’s vet.
Color:
On the standard Doberman, rust markings should appear on the muzzle, the throat, above the eyes, the front of the chest, beneath the tail and on all legs and feet. A small white patch less than one-half inch square is permissible on the chest. Of course, if you don’t plan to “show” your dog in competition, who cares? They’re all lovable.
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In the United States, there are four accepted colors in the Doberman breed. These are: black, red, blue and fawn (also referred to as Isabella). (Note: in genetic terminology, Doberman "red" is actually "brown" -- and "red" Dobermans are often called "brown" in other countries).
The very first standard for the Doberman Pinscher was written in 1899, in Germany. Blue Dobermans were actually added to that standard in 1901, only two years after the first standard. In fact, the blue Dobermans were added to the standard at the same time as reds. Fawns have been recorded in the breed since 1912, only 13 years after the first standard was written. In the United States, fawns have been accepted in the breed standard since 1969--more than thirty years ago. Blues have a long history of success in the breed ring, and both blues and fawns have had many supporters through the years. In fact, in the years before the first World War, blues were said to be of better quality than blacks!
Note: The Blue and Fawn Doberman Pinschers will require a little extra care. Their skin and eyes are more sensitive to the sun than the other colors. For example: people with blonde or red hair should not be exposed to the bright sun for long periods of time. Treat them like they are one of your children, because they are part of your family. |
Ears and tails:
Puppies are born with long “hound-dog” ears and tails. Tails are customarily docked (either “Rotweiller style at the first joint or Doberman style at the second joint depending upon the breeder’s preference) and dewclaws are removed by a vet at the age of 3 days. Ears are cropped at 8-12 weeks of age. The ears are sutured after cropping and taped over the head by the vet and then covered with gauze or glued to a piece of Styrofoam between them. The ears heal and, after about 10 days, the sutures are removed and the ear can be taped to begin the process of keeping them upright.
Of course, some owners prefer not to crop the ears but most prefer to do so. If for some reason, you must sell the dog later, its resale price is usually much higher if the ears are cropped and the tail is docked. Once cropped, they must be “taped” for a couple of months to make them stand. If they are cropped too late, the chances are very good that either one or both ears will fail to stand. In fact, many vets will refuse to crop after 12 weeks of age. The usual fee for cropping is in the neighborhood of $250.
Important tip: If When you take the puppy to the vet for ear cropping, be sure to tell your vet EXACTLY what ear shape you want because vets have their preferences too and those preferences may not match yours. If possible, show them a picture of the ear shape you want and stress it several times or you may be dissatisfied with the result.
Teething:
At about 12 weeks of age, the Doberman starts the teething phase which continues for about 3 months. Baby teeth fall out and the permanent teeth come in. Often the puppy simply swallows the baby teeth (which is normal) but sometimes you will find them on the floor. During this time gums can become swollen and bleed and the puppy chews on EVERYTHING it can get its mouth around since chewing helps the new teeth come through the gums. You need to provide soft, chewable toys and treats during this period or you will soon begin to think that termites would be a blessing compared to your little angel. Supervise your puppy CLOSELY during this phase. They not only chew but they also often swallow what they are chewing and this can result in blockages, illness and even a very painful death. Permanent teeth should all be present at about 6 months.
Grooming:
Weekly grooming should be a ritual in any Doberman's life. Grooming is quite simple. Dobermans have semi-coarse overcoat fur and a soft undercoat fur. Taking a few minutes to comb and brush your Doberman on a weekly basis is an excellent control for shedding. The shedding blade draws out all the already dead but not shed hair. A bath every 3 to 4 weeks is helpful in controlling parasites and shedding. It also helps to maintain a healthy skin condition.
Healthy Dobermans have little to no "Doggy" odor. An occasional bath with a mild moisturizing dog shampoo will keep them looking their best. There are products on the market to use for cleaning the ears. They should be used after the bath and should contain a drying agent. This will help to dry up any excess water that may of slipped past the cotton and made it's way into the dogs ears during the bath. Water left in the ears frequently does cause problems. Don't forget to trim the toenails as they grow quickly.
Living Conditions:
Dobermans will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised but do best in a medium to large-sized yard. The Doberman is a “working class” dog and may therefore display nervousness, destructiveness, excessive barking and other undesirable behaviors if it is deprived of exercise and training.
Dobermans are very temperature sensitive. In general, if you are uncomfortable with the temperature, your Dobie will be as well. Dobermans are definitely not cold weather dogs. Insulate their dog houses in the winter. If possible, also provide a safe winter heat source in the dog house if they are to be kept outside for any length of time. Provide them with lots of shade and fresh water in the summer. DO NOT EVER lock you dog in a car on a hot summer day even with the windows slightly opened or even for “just a short time". It is a terrible way to die.
Ear Cropping - A Doberman’s ears are naturally floppy so without surgery it's ears will not stand up. There are two primary reasons for cropped ears, and both have to do with FUNCTION. The first is that a neatly cropped ear is less of a "handle" for an attacker to hang on to. Since the Doberman has been bred to be a personal protector, a cropped ear gives the dog a decided advantage in a confrontation with a perpetrator. The second has to do with sound "localization". An erect earred dog can localize the source of a sound to within a 5 degree cone, whereas a drop earred dog can only localize a sound source to within a 20 degree cone. Since Dobermans do SEARCH AND DETECTION as well as SEARCH AND RESCUE, cropped ears are a decided advantage. There is no disqualification from the showring for uncropped ears so people can and do show Dobermans in the US which are not cropped.
Common Myths About Dobermans
MYTH: When Dobermans grow older, their skulls stop growing but their brain doesn't. As their brain becomes larger as they grow, it puts pressure on the brain driving the Doberman insane and causing it to “turn” on its owner.
FACT:
Of course this is ridiculous. Doberman people merely shake their heads in wonderment at the total lunacy of these claims. When they are properly bred, raised, socialized, and trained, Dobermans will love, protect and often die for their families. This loyalty to his family is instinctive. It will develop naturally and you don’t have to do anything to develop it. Of course obedience training is a different matter and should be considered by all Doberman owners.
Just like any other dog, when the skull stops growing, so des the brain. If Dobermans routinely went insane and became vicious, nature would eventually target them for extinction. However, if you abuse any dog, a dog can, and probably should, turn on the person perpetrating the abuse. You would probably do the same if you were abused or threatened. Only a %^$%@*! abuses any animal and those who do, in my humble opinion, deserve what they get.
MYTH:In order to make a Doberman protective, you must make it “Mean”. .
FACT:
We can offer no explanation for the origins of these outrageous fallacies. Knowledgeable dog people know that any dog of any breed (just like any person), if abused, could certainly display aggression toward its abuser, even if that abuser is its owner. But common sense should lead people to dispel these blanket, ridiculous assertions.
A Doberman is naturally protective of his family and home. Nothing needs to be done to enhance that aspect of its instinctive personality. If you abuse a Doberman to try to make it mean, the process will backfire and your dog will only protect himself from you. Further, if the dog injures someone else and it is proven that you intentionally made it mean, you are probably going to get sued and the dog will probably be put down. Lose/lose.
MYTH:Don’t “socialize” your Doberman because keeping a Doberman isolated from people and other animals will make it more protective of you and your family.
FACT:
If a Doberman is not properly socialized, it probably will not protect you because he will be shy and uncertain around other dogs and people. Unfamiliar situations may confuse or frighten him. Allowing your puppy to encounter as many different situations, people and other dogs will bolster his confidence and teach him not to fear bite. He will then take his cue from you when he reacts to a given situation. Greeting people in a friendly manner will assure him that he should do the same. And vice versa. I don’t, however, recommend that you begin exposing him to others (animals or people) until his immune vaccinations are complete to prevent him from contracting diseases. |
