Protection Dog Breeds we offer For Sale:

German Shepherd Dog | Boxer Dog | Doberman Pinscher | Belgian Malinois

Bouvier des Flandres | Giant Schnauzer | Dutch Shepherd Dog | Rottweiler | Airedale Terrier

(Click on the above links to learn about each breed)

Doberman Pinscher

(Dobermann Pinscher)

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The Doberman Pinscher in Brief:

The Doberman Pinscher, breed of large, compact working dog originating in Germany 1890. It stands from 24 to 28 in. (61–71 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 88 lb (27–34 kg). Its short, smooth, close-lying coat may be black, brown, or blue in color with rust red markings above the eyes and on the muzzle, chest, legs, and vent. The Doberman was named for Louis Dobermann of Apolda, Germany, a dog-pound keeper who developed the breed by crossing native German sheepherding-dog stock with the Rottweiler, Manchester terrier, and the old German pinscher. The Doberman was first used as a guard dog and pet. Later, when its great capacity for training was appreciated, it became increasingly popular as a police and war dog.

Pronunciation of Doberman Pinscher:

Doe-ber-man PIN-sher pronunciation

Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher:

Bred for a century to be an outstanding guard dog, the Doberman Pinscher is intense and energetic with tremendous strength and stamina. The Doberman is versatile, highly intelligent and very easy to train. The Doberman is determined, fearless and assertive, but not vicious. The Doberman is noble, loyal and affectionate with the family. The Doberman likes to be physically close to the family members. The Doberman is devoted and watchful, this is 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. All Dobermans should be thoroughly socialized when young to prevent them from becoming overly aggressive. 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.

Doberman training should be through positive reinforcement. Dobermans can be good family dogs if of good breeding and temperament, well trained and raised with children from early puppyhood. Dobermans do best with experienced owners. Female Dobermans are a little more stubborn to train than the males. Although the Doberman has the reputation of being a very aggressive dog, this is not normally the case. Dobermans have been known to make great therapy dogs. Dobermans are sweet and gentle with nursing-home patients - tip-toeing over IV tubing and walking at the resident's speed (which can be very slow), while at the same time a protection trained Doberman will fiercely defend his master if it becomes necessary. Dobermans are like big, protective babies. Doberman Pinschers have many talents including man tracking, watchdogging, guarding, personal protection, police K9 work, military K9 work, search & rescue, therapy work, competitive obedience and schutzhund. Though generally a dominant breed, Dobermans vary greatly in temperament. Some Dobermans are even very submissive -it is extremely important to purchase your Doberman from a well respected provider to ensure the quality of the dog. Some individual Dobermans 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. The Doberman must be with family, and not abandoned to the backyard.

Description of the Doberman Pinscher:

The Doberman Pinscher is an elegant, muscular and very powerful dog. The Doberman has a well proportioned chest, a short back and a lean, muscular neck. The Doberman has a hard, short-haired, close-fitting coat comes in black, black & tan, blue-gray, red, fawn and white. While white markings are considered a fault in some clubs in others it is accepted. The Doberman's hair is short, thick, hard and tight to its body. The Doberman's teeth are strong and close in a scissors bite. The Doberman's eyes are dark with a lively, intelligent expression. The Doberman's ears are usually cropped (cut at the age of about 12 weeks). The Doberman pup's ears have to be taped for a couple of months to make them stand up. Many countries in Europe have banned the cropping of pup ears and the docking of their tails. Lately, many breeders have left their pups "natural". If left natural they develop ears somewhat like a hound. The Doberman's tail is usually docked at the age of 3 days. If the tail is not docked it grows a tail somewhat like hound. The Doberman's legs are perfectly straight. The Doberman's gait must be elastic, elegant, and cover a lot of ground. -Note that the tail and ears have nothing to do with the Doberman's ability to do his work.

Height, Weight of the Doberman Pinscher:

Height: Dogs (Males) 26-28 inches (66-71cm.), Bitches (Females) 24-26 inches (61-66cm.)

Weight: 66-88 pounds (30-40kg.)

Health Problems of the Doberman Pinscher:

The Doberman is generally healthy; possible cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord; possible inherited blood disorder (Von Willebrands disease); obesity in middle age. The Doberman is also prone to bloat, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disorders. Thorough veterinary checks are advisable before purchasing a puppy. The gene which produces the albino (White) Dobermans is the same gene which produced the famous white tigers and lions owned by Siegfriend & Roy in Las Vegas. The gene is said to be a masking gene, meaning it "takes over" and masks the color that the dog would be otherwise. There is no evidence, that this gene carries with it any deleterious or adverse health concerns that are sometimes associated with all white animals such as deafness, blindness, or unstable minds. Some Doberman breeders beg to differ claiming the gene does cause health issues -due to this discrepancy white Dobermans are not common and are extremely rarely trained as personal protection dogs.

Living Conditions of the Doberman Pinscher:

The Doberman will do well in an apartment if sufficiently exercised, but does best with at least an average-sized yard. Dobermans are very cold sensitive and are not an outside dog. That is one of the reasons why police in areas where it gets cold are not able to use them.

Exercise of the Doberman Pinscher:

The Doberman is very energetic and needs thorough frequent exercise.

Life Expectancy of the Doberman Pinscher:

Around10-13 years.

Grooming of the Doberman Pinscher:

Dobermans need little grooming and are average shedders.

Origin of the Doberman Pinscher:

The Doberman is a breed of relatively recent origin. It was developed in Germany in the 1860's, presumably by crossing among German Pinschers with Rottweilers, Beauceron, Pinschers, Greyhounds and English Greyhound to create the sleek and highly intelligent Doberman Pinscher. The creator of this mixture was a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann. Dobermann had to travel frequently through bandit-infested areas, and decided to "construct" a watchdog and bodyguard capable of handling any situation that might arise. Bearing the name of its originator (shortened by one "N"), the Doberman was first presented at a dog show in 1876. It was immediately a big success.