History The Doberman is a German breed that traces its heritage back to some of the old German dogs such as the Rottweiler, the smooth haired German Pinscher and the Black and Tan Terrier of England. The word pinscher in German actually means terrier. Herr Louis Dobermann (note the original spelling) of Apolda, Germany, developed the breed in the 1890s to use as a guard dog and a watchdog. As it developed, its qualities of intelligence and ability to absorb and retain training brought it in demand as a police and war dog. In this service its agility and courage made it highly prized. An excellent nose adapted the dog to criminal tracking and also has led to its use as a hunting dog. The breed was officially recognized in 1908 by the American Kennel Club. The Doberman has been fortunate with the aid of selective breeding to have absorbed the good qualities of the breeds which have made a contribution to its heritage. From the beginning it has been a working dog devoted to the service of mankind. Appearance The Doberman is a medium sized dog of clean cut appearance with males reaching 26-28 inches tall at the withers and bitches 24-26 inches. Dogs not within this size range would not be considered correct according to the breed standard. Males usually weigh 80-85 pounds; bitches 68-72 pounds. The Doberman has a smooth, muscular body with a short, fine, close laying coat. Ears can be cropped and erect or natural. The tail is docked short. Permissible colors are black, red, blue and fawn (Isabella). White is not an allowed color. All colors have sharply defined rust markings above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, forechest, legs, feet and below the tail.
Personality The
Doberman, as described in the written standard for the breed, is
energetic, watchful and determined. They are guarded with strangers,
but excessive shyness or aggressiveness should not be tolerated. The
Doberman is naturally protective and should never be trained to
attack. A very intelligent breed, they can be a challenge to train as
they require quick thinking and firm consistency on the part of their trainer to make
progress. A superb family dog noted for its devotion to the family;
the properly bred and trained Doberman has a sound mind and body, and
the heart and spirit of a gentleman. Care and Exercise The Doberman is an athletic breed and must have regular exercise to maintain its look, conditioning and agility. Many behavioral problems can surface due to boredom or lack of exercise. The Doberman is a "people" dog and does not do well with lengthy stints alone. The short coat requires little care but does not afford sufficient warmth to allow the dog to thrive housed outside in cold climates. Obedience training, even just the basics, is very important to make a Doberman a viable member of the family. Health Concerns The Doberman is generally a healthy breed, although as with all breeds, there are some problems which occur more frequently in the breed than in the general dog population. There are tests to screen for many of the common problems, and the puppy buyer would do well to inquire whether the sire and dam were tested for the various problems, as well as the incidence of the problems in the specific lines. A bleeding problem known as von Willebrand's disease (vWD) sometimes occurs in the Doberman. We now have a genetic test that will identify whether a Doberman is genetically clear, carrier or affected. It is important to note that many affected Dobermans never experience a bleeding problem, but when it does occur, it can be serious. When considering some of the other health problems in the breed, this vWD is not the most serious problem but it is listed first because we now have a definitive test to screen for the problem and eliminate it in the offspring. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM or cardio) is a serious heart condition. It is thought to be inherited, and the genetics of the disease are currently being studied by the same researchers who developed the test for von Willebrand's disease. While we do not yet have a definitive test for DCM, there are some methods of testing (24-hour holter ECG monitor and echocardiogram) that are recommended. Both sire and dam should be tested by a veterinarian or cardiologist within three months of the breeding. There are different testing methods available. DCM cannot be diagnosed by simply listening to the heart.