Description

The Doberman Pinscher is a medium sized breed of domestic dog. They are a very common dog that is known for their loyalty, intelligence and alertness. At one time, they are used most often as watchdogs, police dogs and guard dogs. They were known as the most recognizable breeds in certain countries because of the role they played in society. They had a reputation for having bad temperament years ago, but due to careful breeding, the Doberman Pinscher of today is a lively, happy and well-adjusted dog that makes an excellent family pet.

The Doberman is a beautiful dog with a proud regal appearance. They stand tall and proud, holding their head very high. The body of the Doberman is powerful and squared shaped. They are very sturdy, with some of the males weighing over 100 pounds. The neck of the Doberman is strong and arched to hold their head high. The ears are usually cropped and held high and erect. Their tails are docked, although they are born with long tails. The cropping of the ears and tails, although banned in some countries, is required for specific shows. This dog is capable of running very fast and covering a lot of ground with a very smooth gait.

Coat Description

The coat of the Doberman is short and smooth and lies close to the body. Often there is a gray undercoat on the neck, but it is difficult to see.

Although the most common color for the Doberman is black, they are can be blue/gray, black and tan, red or fawn and white. Occasionally, you may see a white Doberman, but this is very rare.

History

The Doberman Pinschers got their origin in Germany in the late 1890s with a man named Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman, the first man to breed this dog. Upon Karl's death, the Germans named this dog Doberman-pinscher after Karl. Years later the word "pinscher", which meant terrier in Germany, was dropped from the name.

Karl was looking for a dog that would have the perfect combination of intelligence, loyalty, strength and courage. His goal was to breed the perfect dog for this role. It is said that the Doberman was created by combining several dogs including Pinscher, Rottweiler, Greyhound, Great Dane, Manchester terrier, German shepherd and German Shorthair. They do believe that the majority of the gene pool came from the German shepherd. Whichever it was, the result was a success as this dog is very popular today.

Temperament

the Doberman Pinschers are a loving and very intelligent dog. They are gentle and loyal to their family members. Although there have been many misconceptions about the Doberman, they will generally only attack if someone is mistreating them or they feel their family is being threatened. Those that own the Doberman feel that they make excellent pets and companions for adults as well as children.

The Doberman has been used as a guard dog and police dog because of their loyalty and intelligence. They have been stereotyped as mean dogs in the past, but today are known as excellent family dogs.

Health Problems

Although the Doberman Pinscher is a hardy and healthy dog, they are prone to certain health disorders. Some of the most common problems that may develop in this breed are:

[-]Cardiomyopathy- when the heart becomes enlarged and may fail[/-]

[-]Wobble Disease-this is a disease where the dog begins to wobble when they move. They need to see a vet as soon as possible for this.[/-]

[-]Von Willebrand's Disease-this is a blood disorder in the Doberman as well as many other breeds of dogs[/-]

[-]Hypothyroidism-this is where the dog is not receiving adequate thyroid hormone[/-]

[-]Cancer[/-]

[-]Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease[/-] affecting the dog's eyes and can lead to blindness

[-]Cancer[/-]

[-]Hip Dysplasia[/-]

[-]Bloat[/-]

The Doberman does have a tendency to become overweight, which can lead to other health problems so it's up to the owner to watch the weight and eating habits.

Grooming

The Doberman is not a dog that requires a lot of maintenance or grooming. All they require is being brushed once a week to keep their coat smooth. They do not shed very much so they don't require a lot of care.

If you choose to bathe them, which shouldn't be done too often, use a gentle dog shampoo or conditioner. The nails should be trimmed on a regular basis to avoid them getting accidentally broken or tearing the vein. This should be started when they are young puppies to get them used to the routine.

The inside of the ears should also be kept clean at all times. Gently wipe the ears with a moist cotton ball and make sure they are thoroughly dried. If you see any signs of dark wax or a foul smell, this may be signs of a yeast infection or ear infection. If this is the case, they should be seen by a veterinarian.

Exercise

The Doberman is a dog with a lot of energy and requires regular exercise. Because the Doberman cannot deal with cold weather, they can't just be let out in a pen for their own exercise. They need to be taken on walks or played with outdoors. They are a very athletic dog that competes in many agility competitions. They love playing with their owner. The more exercise they get, the better physical condition they are in overall.

Training

The Doberman is a very intelligent dog that is easy to train because of this loyalty and intelligence. They do like to believe they are the boss in the family and needs to be taught otherwise at a very young age. They love running around outdoors and if you have a large yard, this is the perfect place to train them. Training can be part of their fun playtime as well.

Because of their naturally dominant personality, it is important that they get some sort of obedience training at a young age. They have a lot of energy and will probably go a lot longer than their owner will before getting tired. Many Doberman owners enroll their Doberman in basic obedience class at a very young age. This works wonders for their behavior and personality.