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History
The Doberman Pinscher was named after Louis Dobermann, a German who developed the breed in the late 1800's. Dobermann was a tax collector working in rough neighborhoods, rightfully afraid of being attacked. He decided to create a new breed, an aggressive, alert protection dog, to help him in his work. It is thought that he crossed German Pinschers with Rottweillers, Beaucerons, Pinschers, Greyhounds and other breeds to create the sleek and highly intelligent Doberman Pinscher. True to his original purpose, the Doberman excels at police, military and guard work. The breed has been used to patrol department stores to catch "sleep-ins", thieves hiding in the store after hours. Many Dobermans have been war heroes, serving as First Aid dogs, attack dogs, patrol and sentry dogs, messengers and mine detecting dogs. The Doberman also excels at competitive obedience, Schutzhund, and tracking. The breed's appearance itself is a potent crime deterrent. A well-bred, well-trained and well-treated Doberman Pinscher can be a fine companion dog.
Description
Aristocratic, elegant, compact and athletic black-and-tan or red-and-tan dog. The sleek, short coat's well-defined markings compliment the sharply defined body contours. The head is long and narrow and the top of the skull is flat. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark and lively. Ears may be cropped or natural, but the tail is generally docked. The body is squarely proportioned, about the same length as the height at the withers. The breed has a graceful and buoyant gait.
Talents
Tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, military work, search & rescue, competitive obedience, and Schutzhund.
Personality
Bred for a century to be an outstanding guard dog, the Doberman Pinscher is intense and energetic with tremendous strength and stamina. Versatile and highly intelligent. Determined, fearless and assertive, but not vicious. Noble, loyal and affectionate with the family. Likes to be physically close to family members. Devoted and watchful. A very people-oriented breed. The Doberman needs an owner who is willing and able to discipline the dog without being afraid of him. All family members should learn to handle the dog properly as Dobermans can be pushy if allowed to have their own way too much. The Doberman is naturally protective and does not need additional "protection" training to be a fine guard. In fact, he should be thoroughly socialized when young to prevent over-protectiveness. Mental stimulation is important for a truly well-adjusted and happy Doberman. The Doberman must be consistently and thoroughly trained to be a good pet. Training should be through positive reinforcement. Dobes can be good family dogs if of good temperament, well-trained and raised with children from early puppyhood. Best for the experienced owner. Aggression towards other dogs is accepted in the AKC standard. Though generally a dominant breed, Dobermans vary greatly in temperament. Some are even very submissive. Some individuals are family dogs, and some bond only to one person. The Doberman has been bred to work with man, and he needs this interaction often. Dobermans must be with the family, and not abandoned to the backyard.
Behavior
Children: Good only when raised with children from puppyhood.
Friendliness: Moderately protective.
Trainability: Very easy to train.
Independence: Needs people a lot.
Dominance: Very high.
Other Pets: Generally good with other pets.
Combativeness: Very dog-aggressive.
Noise: Average bark.
Notes
The Doberman is very energetic and needs thorough frequent exercise. The coat is easy to care for. Quality and personality characteristics of Dobermans are highly variable. Some breeders select for "sharpness" (aggressiveness) so chose a puppy with care. Avoid timid dogs, as they can become fear biters. Imported lines can be particularly aggressive. Many American breeders have been striving to refine the temperament for companionability. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America sponsors a temperament test. It would be helpful to know the temperaments of the sire and dam of your puppy as these characteristics are often inherited. Never buy a Doberman from a puppy mill; seek a reputable source that emphasizes good temperament and sound body. This breed is susceptible to many serious diseases including hip dysplasia, von Willebrand's disease and congenital heart disorders. The latter two can be fatal, so buy only from stock that has been tested for these problems. Subject to cold, and may be prone to bloat. May also develop skin problems.
Grooming
Grooming: A little grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: No trimming or stripping needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Docking: The ears are customarily cropped, and the tail is customarily docked.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Jogging: An excellent jogging companion.
Indoors: Fairly active indoors.
Apartments: Will be OK in an apartment if sufficiently exercised.
Outdoor Space: Best with at least an average-size yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Not recommended for novice owners.
Longevity: Long (15 or more years).
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