Doberman Pinscher Features and Care (With Pictures)

The Doberman Pinscher is muscular, strong and compact. The Doberman Pinscher, also known by different names such as "Dobie" and "Doberman", is among the medium-sized breeds. It has a stylish appearance with its short, smooth and hard structured fur. It is a magnificent breed that combines grace, strength, speed and endurance. They attract the attention of animal lovers with their perfect physical structure and sharp intelligence. You should know that this dog, which has positive as well as negative thoughts about him, is quite intelligent and stands out with his protective nature. You can turn the Doberman breed into a good-natured dog with good training or make him rebellious, vicious, and aggressive. Apart from the genetic structure of your dog, the way of training also plays a very important role in his development. This article will teach you all about The Doberman Pinscher features and care.

 At A Glance To The Doberman Pinscher

Kind

Worker, Guard, Working Dog

Weight

60– 70 lbs

Height

30 – 35 inch

Family

Mastiff

Origin

Germany

Origin Date

1800's

Lifetime

10 - 12 Years

 

History Of The Doberman Pinscher

Louis Dobermann from Thuringen, Germany, had a great influence on the Doberman breed and many other dog breeds. He is known that Louis Dobermann from Thuringen was a tax officer and dog breeder from the town of Apolda. In the 19th century Germany, attitudes toward tax collectors were sometimes hostile in some regions. Louis Dobermann was also experiencing this as a tax collector. He needed a reliable and imposing guardian to accompany him on these tours. Afterward, he took steps to raise a hardworking dog with a high protective feature.

Although there is no clear information about which dog breeds Louis Doberman used when creating this breed, estimations were made due to the studies done. It is thought that in the late 1800s, he crossed the old German Shepherd and German Pinscher, later the Black and Tan Manchester Terrier, Greyhound, and Weimaraner, and began work on creating a guard dog. This work created the prototype of the genre, which would later be named after him. The Doberman Pinscher breed was first developed in Germany in the late 1800s as a medium-sized breed by crossing the Rottweiler, German Pinscher, and Weimaraner breeds.

Original Dobermans have somewhat heavy-boned and rounded heads. Breeders have also found different interventions in his appearance over time. The breed developed and spread in a very short time. In 1899, the first Doberman breed club was established. Doberman continued to gain acclaim, increasing day by day. The Tax Collector's dog gained an international reputation as a working dog at great speed. In 1908, the first Doberman came to America and was accepted into the AKC.

He soon took part in police dog, war dog, and military K-9 missions in Europe and America. With his skills in these areas, he soon gained more fans. He also served as a therapy dog, service for the disabled, and supported search and rescue efforts. He also participated in competitions where he would show his talents. With his sharp facial features and fearless, alert demeanor, he succeeded as a show dog in 1876 and was selected as the best competitor. Its reputation grew day by day, and many families included the Doberman breed in their homes. It has also been loved and appreciated as a family dog ​​over the years.

They achieved success during World War II but were adversely affected by the difficult conditions experienced after the war. The number of those who fed them dwindled, and only the wealthy could provide for the police and army. After 1921, the continuity of the race was ensured through the USA.

In 1977, it was the second most popular breed in America. However, the claims that the Doberman is a pure breed, which later spread in the media, unfairly damaged the reputation of this breed. Around the same time, albino white Dobermans appeared. To reduce the chances of breeding albino Doberman dogs, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America persuaded the AKC to label the registration numbers of Doberman dogs likely to carry the albino gene with the letter Z. White Doberman dogs were accepted by some clubs and not by others. 

Personality & Character Traits

The Doberman Pinscher is an imposing breed of medium size, muscular, athletic and tough looking. He has a self-confident, free and robust gait that reveals his spirits. The short and smooth fur structure also shows the breed's body, prominent and robust bone structure. One of the most distinctive features of the Doberman dog is his high energy. They are seen to be very active and active, and they love to play and run around. They need a little more exercise during the day than other dogs.

The Doberman Pinscher is a very intelligent dog. If you don't let him know that you are the leader, they will immediately take over the leadership and become the leader of the pack. Being an alpha dog means they will rule you now. This is also an undesirable situation. Therefore, if you have a Doberman dog or are considering owning it, your priority should be basic obedience training for your dog. You should start your education when you are still a puppy. The Doberman learns commands quickly, so the training process is easy. He can be a little difficult to update your tutorials and keep them interesting because he learns so quickly. Proceeding in a way that their attention will not be distracted and their interest will remain alive will keep them on the subject. He is a breed that wants to make his own decisions and puts forward his opinion on some issues. However, he cannot do these behaviors toward his owner, who leads consistently and planned way during the education process. In general, it is possible to put an end to Doberman's strong-willed, stubborn and headstrong states with training. Doberman is among the late-maturing dog breeds. It is seen that they remain as puppies until they are three or four years old.

Dobermans have severed tail and some have severed ears. These processes have been accepted as a characteristic feature of these dogs and have been applied for many years. Tail clipping is done when the pup is tiny. Ear clipping can be done by the veterinarian at a few months, depending on the owner's preference. After both procedures, it will be a painstaking and costly maintenance process that will take several months. In places where this process is not legal, it is seen that dogs grow with their natural tail and ear structures. Today, tail and ear intervention have decreased.

He is a fun, loyal and reliable friend who likes to spend time with his family members. They get along very well with children and are loving towards them. Being alone with small children is not recommended as they are a large size and it is always recommended to allow children to interact with an adult under supervision. It is known that the Doberman does not like to be left alone. Therefore, leaving them alone at home for a long time makes them sad and worried. They value their family very much; they are loyal and protective. When he thinks that his family is under threat, he takes steps to protect them without hesitation. They are unlikely to attack for no reason. Their fearless traits are at their highest when their loved ones are in danger, at other times they do not display aggressive behavior. The Doberman breed is sensitive and cares about the wishes of his owner. However, do not allow your dog to walk around without a leash in public in case his authoritarian nature emerges.

You may find that they are reserved with strangers and always alert to other dogs and cats. They have a high sense of loyalty. They are ready to protect their family, home, and loved ones. These protective aspects can turn into aggressive behaviors when they are not socialized at an early stage and when they do not participate in activities. Unless they sense a dangerous situation; In general, they have a loving, affectionate appearance. The Doberman breed loves to work; With their advanced tracking, guarding, protection, and obedience abilities, they have participated in and supported police and army missions and search and rescue teams.

They can adapt to an apartment and home life if you meet their daily activity needs. When his daily exercise needs are not met, he may exhibit negative behaviors such as barking and biting things. They protect the house they live in by displaying their guarding skills. Male Dobermans are known to have more aggressive tendencies than their females. You should also consider this character situation according to the environment you will live in when owning or buying. If you are looking at a house with a garden, chaining your dog to a place for a long time and leaving it alone will affect him negatively. Doberman does not like to be alone and chained. He wants to be a part of your family, to feel them by being with his loved ones.

It is seen that people generally approach Doberman dogs with emotions between fear and love. The effect of his appearance is due to his tough nature and the aggressive nature of these dogs by some bad breeders. Therefore, no matter how good your dog's training is, definitely wear a leash when going to public places. In this way, you can allay people's fear of dogs of this breed. You can take control of the safety of both you, your dog, and the people around you. It is observed that the development of dogs that socialize early, interact with people and animals, and explore different places is healthier. In light of this information, if you socialize and train your dog when it is a puppy, you can have a more good-natured Doberman Pinscher.

 

Physical Attributes

Body

The Doberman is a medium-sized, square-built, and athletic dog with a compact, muscular body. He has a neck structure proportional to his body and head. The neck must be dry and muscular. He has necklines that complete his soft, upright and noble stance. The back is proportionally wide, short, tight, and muscular. The waist area appears a little longer in females due to the need for breastfeeding. In general, the Doberman's waist is medium wide and muscular.

Head

He has a long head. The top of his head is flat and resembles a blunt wedge. The skull area is strong and proportional to the body. There is no swelling and protrusion in the head area. The mouth and nose protrusion is directly proportional to the head structure. His teeth are in the style of a scissor bite. He has strong white upper and lower teeth. Depending on the color of the dog, his lips can be light or dark in color. They have fully closed and not drooping lips. The nose color also varies according to the dog's fur. For example, nose colors such as black in black fur, dark brown in red, dark gray in blue, and dark tan in light brown dogs can be seen.

Ears

They have erect, high-standing ears that are proportional to their head. Ears are usually clipped at 12 weeks old to keep them upright. Where ear clipping is prohibited, the Doberman's ears are left to grow naturally. In its natural state, The tip of the ear is expected to be close to the cheek. In this way, his ears are likened to those of a hound.

Eyes

The Doberman breed has almond-shaped, medium-sized, oval, and dark-colored eyes. Eye color is in various shades according to the color of the dog's coat. For example, brown-haired dogs have lighter eye colors. He is a sought-after feature to have hairy eyelids and around the eyes.

Legs and Feet

He has a noble gait with his broad chest and straight legs. His front legs should be upright and firmly on the ground. Wrists should be turned inwards, definitely not looking outward. The hip area should be developed, muscular, and integrated with strong knees. They have feet with short, closed toes and black nails. One of the important details that make your walk noble and beautiful; a Doberman's front leg is forward while the diagonal hind leg comes forward simultaneously. It is important for this dog's posture that his joints are firm and prominent.

Tail

For Doberman dogs to have an upright and short stance, they are cut from the 2nd knuckle when they are about 3-4 days old. In countries where tail cutting is prohibited, this process is not done, and the tail is left in its natural state. In his natural state, the structure of the tail is similar to that of a greyhound.

Fur

The Doberman has a hard, short, thick, and straight coat. The structure of the feathers should show the same distribution over the whole body. However, the hair around the neck may be slightly longer than in other regions. It has a unique beauty with its stylish, shiny and smooth-looking fur.

Colour

The Doberman breed has four different fur colors: black, red, blue or light brown. Regardless of the color of the fur, there should be rust-colored spots on the face (nose, cheeks, eyes, throat), chest, feet, tail, and around the anus. White Dobermans are known as Albinos. Some clubs see those in this color as a mistake and do not accept them, and some do. That's why we specify this color tone, but we state that the comments and studies about whether there are errors are not certain.

Care

The Doberman Pinscher dog breed needs minimal grooming. You can brush your Doberman dog quickly with a short-bristled brush or grooming gloves, if possible, at least 1-2 times a week, if not daily. In this way, his fur will be healthier and brighter. In general, they shed moderately. You can take a bath outside because he is dirty and smells bad, but they do not need to take a bath often, except in such cases. The Doberman breed is not very resistant to cold weather. That's why you must wear dog clothes when you go out in winter. The dog will keep the heat in his body with his clothes. 

You should check their nails weekly and trim them at least once a month. You should be careful not to cut too much from the bottom of the nail cut. You should take care of his mouth, check your teeth and brush 2-3 times a week. You should take care to clean his ears every few days. The most used method for ear care is to clean a paper towel with baby oil. For more different ear cleaning methods, you can consult your veterinarian and get help.

In general, you can check your dog's body, eyes, nose, feet, etc. We recommend that you check the regions and monitor for any differences. It is essential for early diagnosis of possible health problems in this care. Doberman, who is properly cared for, can live a healthy life with you for many years.

 

Exercise

The Doberman Pinscher is a very active and energetic dog. This brings with it the need to exercise and play a lot. He completes his daily exercise needs by taking long walks, running, and playing games with his owner. In addition, Doberman enjoys nature walks and runs with his owner.

You can meet his exercise needs with daily 90-minute activities or 3.5–4 kilometer walks. Exercises in large areas and dog parks are vital for his physical and mental health. Participating in dog sports activities such as tracking, agility, and obedience will provide both a fun time and mental and physical exercise.

Dobermans live more harmoniously in houses with large gardens than in apartments. It is important to have a large fenced and lockable door around your garden house where your dog can run. These fences are essential for your dog's safety and other people and animals. In addition, Doberman dogs need more exercise than other dogs. This breed may not be suitable for people who cannot take and meet this responsibility.

Best Products for Doberman Pinscher

Training

The Doberman Pinscher is among the most intelligent and talented dogs. They learn quite easily and will respond to your training. It is seen that they learn a given command between 1 and 5 repetitions. He is a race that has a high sense of duty and learns and implements the commands given to it in a short time. They form a loving, fun, and devoted friendship with their owner. Doberman should start getting good training when he is a puppy. Your priority should be essential topics such as basic obedience, space protection, and toilet training. Since he is a very strong and high leadership breed, if this training is not started early, he can put its owner in a difficult situation, especially in obedience. The Doberman strives to be the leader of the herd and his owners and may exhibit alpha dog traits. Therefore, during the training, the owners must show their dog who has the leadership role and lead him.

If the Doberman breed is not well trained and adequately trained with his strong and active structures, he can exhibit aggressive, destructive behaviors and become difficult to manage. The dog's being good-natured, harmonious, and happy is related to his upbringing and training. In this case, the responsibility is mostly on the owner of the dogs. In addition to the education he will receive at an early age, his socialization and communication with people and animals in different environments under supervision will positively affect his development. Never apply physical violence or harsh behavior to your dog during all training and socialization. These negative behaviors can destroy your dog's respect for you. With consistent and determined steps, you can continue your training and friendship with your dog by applying positive methods.

Since they learn quickly, they may become apathetic and distracted from time to time during the education process. For such situations, you can win their attention by using treats, or you can keep their interest alive by diversifying your training methods. Dobermans can sometimes exhibit stubborn behavior and may want to act independently. We do not recommend allowing this too much. You must take over as the leader of your dog without approving his request and try to break his stubbornness with love, care, and understanding. Once he gets you to do what he wants, he can enter a sense of leadership. In this case, he can negatively affect the entire educational process.

Health

The Doberman Pinscher is generally a healthy breed. However, there are certain ailments to which they are prone. It is important for your dog's health to learn what these ailments are and what to do if they occur. Bloating, which is a digestive problem in the Doberman breed, is the most common ailment. Other possible conditions include hip dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), von Willebrand disease (coagulation disorder), progressive retinal atrophy, albinism, hypothyroidism, prone to cervical spondylitis (wobbler's syndrome) due to fusion of the cervical vertebrae and compression of the spinal cord.

Responsible breeders screen their breeding stock for good dogs through medical testing. We do not recommend purchasing a puppy or dog from a breeder who has not been tested for possible health, inspected breeding stocks for suitable conditions, and genetically tested.

Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club

Heart Examination
Hip Assessment
Thyroid Evaluation
Von Willebrand's Disease DNA Test
Ophthalmologist Evaluation