Doberman Pinscher | Complete Breed Profile

Doberman Pinscher is the most intelligent and fearless dog breed in the world. This dog originated in Germany in 1890 by a tax collector named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. These dogs were bred in ancient times for guarding purposes because they are highly energetic, obedient, and fearless. Psychologist Stanley Coren ranks the Doberman Pinscher as the fifth most intelligent dog breed in the world. Dobermans are always ready to defend their owner from the attack of a stranger, so they can be used as personal guard dogs. There is an issue of aggressive behavior in this breed but with proper training, they can be loyal and friendly companions.

Dobermans are exceptional guard dogs because they can easily learn and train how to defend their owners. Unlike Rottweilers, which are not pet-friendly, the Doberman Pinscher is social with other dogs. Dobie has markings on the head, paws, and tail. These markings are usually tan in color. These dogs have docked tails and cropped ears, but in some countries, tail docking is an illegal procedure. So in those countries, the Doberman with a full tail is also available.

Characteristics of Doberman Pinscher:

Playfulness	Medium
Affection Level	High
Energy Level	High
Intelligence Level	High
Exercise Need	Low
Pet Friendly	Medium
Kid Friendly	Medium
Amount of Shedding	Medium
Tendency to Bark	Low
Trainability	Medium
Friendliness	Medium

History of Breed:

In 1880, Karl Fredrich Loius Doberman, for whom the breed was named, got the idea of creating a dog that could exhibit remarkable stamina and intelligence and be proven as a wonderful defense dog. He was actually a tax holder in Apolda (a town in Germany), but in addition, he also operated a dog pound and had access to a variety of dogs that were used in different breeding programs.

It is believed that this dog breed was created from several different breeds, but the exact ratio of mixing is still unknown. The contributing breeds are Greyhounds, German Pinschers, Rottweilers, and Black and Tan Terriers.

After the death of Karl Dobermann, the German People named this breed Doberman Pinscher but after some time they dropped the word Pinscher for this breed. The British practiced the same. Now only in the US and Canada the Doberman is called by its full name ” Doberman Pinscher.

In World War II these dogs were used by US Marine forces as their official war dogs. Twenty-five Dobermans who died fighting with troops on Guam are honored at the World War II War Dog Memorial at the National War Dog Cemetery at Naval Base Guam.

For more details about the Doberman history, you can check out

Denise Flaim. Doberman Pinscher History: The Surprising Past Behind the Breed. American Kennel Club.

Care and Training of Doberman:

Coat Grooming:

The Doberman Pinscher has a short hair coat that is smooth in texture so it requires less grooming. The hair needs to be combed once a week.

Dental Care:

Dental hygiene is also very important for your Dobie. Washing the teeth once a week is good practice for keeping your dog in good health status.

Bathing:

These dogs are fastidious dogs, they keep themselves clean and have little doggy odor. When you feel that your dog is looking dirty then clean your dog with a hot water bath.

Nails Trimming:

Regular Nail trimming is necessary to avoid any discomfort during walking.

Training :

The energy level of these dogs is very impressive so they need plenty of exercise. A regular walk is not enough for Doberman Pinscher. To keep your dog in healthy condition, you must have to take your dog with you for a brisk walk. Because of their athletic body, they are ready for running.

Dobermans are aggressive towards other dog breeds that’s why socialization must be done at an early age to make them familiarize themselves with other pets.

Regards their training, they are already keen to train so training a Doberman is quite easy.

Common Health Issues:

This dog breed is prone to a number of health problems. Out of these some health problems are very much common while some are less common and vary depending on certain factors. Let’s have a brief look at these health issues.

Dilated Cardiac Myopathy:

Owing to enlargement of heart, the pumping of blood fails to occur properly.

Cervical Vertebral Instability:

This problem is also known as Wobbler disease. In this problem, there is a malformation of cervical vertebrae leading to unsteady ( wobble ) gait.

Von Willebrands Disease:

A decreased amount of blood plasma clotting factor ( VWF ). In this problem, the blood doesn’t clot properly. A common heredity problem in Doberman Pinscher.

Now the less common problems in this breed are:

Hip Dysplasia:

This problem occurs during embryonic development. In a normal case, the head of the femur (ball) and the cavity of a pelvic bone called acetabulum grow uniformly. But in Hip Dysplasia, this uniform growth doesn’t occur resulting in a deformed hip. The pain of this problem occurs later in life. Hip Dysplasia leads to arthritis or other joint problems. Screening must be assure before adopting any Doberman.

Hypothyroidism:

A low level of thyroid secretions leads to tiredness, bradycardia etc.

Gastric Dilation Volvulus:

GDV is an alarming situation. This problem is also called Bloating. When an excess gas or food filled in the stomach, it expands and rotates thus cutting off the blood supply to the stomach. It will lead to necrosis of stomach tissue. This problem also disturbs the normal functioning of major organs like the lungs and heart causing tachycardia.

Diet and Nutrition:

The Diet of a Doberman Pinscher depends upon many factors like its age, size, activity level, etc. Normally they require two meals a day of dry dog food. As they are prone to Gastric Dilation Volvulus or other gastric torsions, so avoid a large meal.

Also must check out the daily routine care like weight check because obesity in a dog causes a decrease in life span. Visit every month to a veterinarian to get a diet schedule for your dog.

Conclusions:

Pros:

• Fearless dog ( ready every time for attack )
• Intelligent and Athletic dog

Cons:

• Not pet friendly without training
• Not suitable for a household pet as it requires a large space

Where to Buy or adopt:

Before buying any dog breed make sure that either they have done proper screening tests on the breed or not. First of all check in your local animal shelter or rescue group to see if there is Doberman Pinscher available for you.

Otherwise, best place to search for a Doberman is

The Doberman Pinscher Club of America

Other Breeds to Consider:

Rottweiler

German Shepherd

Siberian Husky