Dobermans are usually depicted and stereotyped as vicious, ferocious, and aggressive. They are most of the time feared; however, this is far from the truth. The Doberman Pinscher is actually a loving family dog and will only attack if needed.
Doberman Pinschers is a fairly new breed that only came into existence in the late 19th century. However, though new, they immediately became known for their compact and sleek body. They carry a smooth, glistening coat that is, most of the time, colored black. They hold a tall stature that makes them elegant and noble.
No wonder that in even just a small amount of time, they became one of the most popular dog breeds in the US.
Doberman Pinscher Statistics
| Dog Breed Group | Working |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Height | 26-28 inches (male); 24-26 inches (female) |
| Weight | 75-100 pounds (male); 60-90 pounds (female) |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
Doberman Pinscher Ratings
| Energy level | |
| Exercise needs | |
| Requires attention | |
| Playfulness | |
| Trainability | |
| Shedding | |
| Grooming | |
| Friendly with family | |
| Friendly with kids | |
| Friendly with strangers | |
| Friendly with other dogs | |
| Prey Drive |
Doberman Pinscher History
Doberman Pinschers came into existence only in Germany in the late 19th century.
As the story goes, they were created by a man named Louis Doberman, a tax collector. And even in those times, he knew the dangers of his job. There are a lot of risks, such as bandits around the area who would want to steal the money. Because of this, he thought of breeding a dog that will serve as a guard to protect him in case bad things happen.
He crossed several dog breeds together that eventually resulted in the Doberman Pinscher that we know today. By 1876, the Doberman Pinscher was shown, and it was met with great excitement. Unfortunately, there were no records as to what dogs he used. And when Dobermann died in 1894, he carried this information with him.
German breeders continued his work and refined the Doberman Pinscher. This time, they focused on creating a super dog. However, the breed came to be aggressive.
It was only until a breeder named Otto Goeller that the Doberman Pinscher became a more gentle and good breed. The dogs started performing and winning dog shows, and even served the two world wars and became known war heroes.
Temperament Of The Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers are known to have loyal, fearless, and alert temperaments. Despite their bad reputation, you can trust Dobermans whenever you need them. They are playful and love being with their family. Their protective nature comes when the need arises.
As working dogs, Dobermans are used to being busy, whether it’s physically or mentally. They are easy to train, but you would need to be creative to come up with different ideas to entertain them. Another key is you need to be firm and consistent as the owner.
If left with too little exercise or too little bonding, behavioral problems may start to arise, and you don’t want that.
Most Dobermans love everyone. And though they are reserved with strangers, they will stay on high alert just in case. They are also good with children raised with them. However, there are times when they only want to bond with one person.
When it comes to other dogs, they might tend to be aggressive towards other males. But in general, they are not dog-aggressive. Most even quickly get along with other dogs.
Early socialization is the key to control behavioral problems. Socialize them with strangers, sights, and other animals while they’re young.
This is not a dog for everyone. They need someone who can pay attention to them and be able to give them their exercise and training needs.
Doberman Pinscher Care Requirements
- Nutrition: Doberman Pinschers are athletic dogs that require a high-quality diet to maintain optimal health conditions. As the owner, you must ensure that the food can be digested easily. The primary ingredient should always be protein or meat. You can get this from animal sources such as chicken, beef, or lamb. You can also add whole grains such as sweet potatoes and brown rice. Careful not to choose food products with by-products as main ingredients. These will not be digested quickly and might cause more problems in the future. The same thing should be considered if you’re opting to feed him dog food. Make sure that the ingredients are high-quality so your Doberman will get all the nutrients he needs.
- Grooming: Although the Doberman’s coat is short and smooth, it does shed regularly. You need to do daily brushing if you want to maintain that shiny glow. Their coat also belongs to the “ wash and wear” type of hair, so he doesn’t need a lot of baths. That is unless he gets too dirty. Nails, ears, and teeth should be taken care of as well. Trim the nails when needed, clean the airs, and you can use dental treats to clean up their teeth. You also have the option to take him to a pet groomer for an expert to handle.
- Exercise: Doberman’s are working dogs. They are used to doing a lot of things because of their athletic background. Because of this, they need a lot of exercise and play. He would undoubtedly enjoy daily walking. If you’re going a little extra, then you can take him hiking, biking, or running. It’s also best if you have a large fenced area where he can do a lot of stuff. Make sure you give him all his exercise needs as he might appear restless if he’s not able to do an activity in a day. You can also make him participate in some dog sports so he can show off his tracking, agility, and obedience skills.
- Health: Just like other dog breeds, Dobermans are also prone to some health conditions. Some severe health problems common to Dobermans are Wobblers syndrome, Cervical Vertebral Instability, and cardiomyopathy. Possible minor conditions he might experience are hip dysplasia, osteosarcoma, von Willebrand’s disease, and gastric torsion. Blue Doberman’s are particularly prone to hair loss while some Doberman might also experience hypothyroidism, albinism, and progressive retinal atrophy. Some of these diseases are taken from parents. This is why it’s best to check with Doberman’s parents to see which diseases they have. Regular check-up is also key to the early detection of certain health conditions.
- Lifespan: The life expectancy of Doberman Pinschers is 10-12 years.
Famous Doberman Pinschers
- Big Boy: The first Doberman to win the Best in Show at the Rhode Island Kennel Club Show in 1928
- Ferry v Raufeisen: The first Doberman to win Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club Show in 1939
- Storm: Wins back to back Best in Shows at Westminster
- Gypsy Rose: The first Doberman to achieve an Obedience Trial Championship in 1978
- Cryptonite: The top winning Doberman in history; won 124 Best in Show awards
- Toledobes Serengeti: The “winningest” Doberman Pinscher bitch of all time
- Kurt: The first canine casualty in the 1944 Battle of Guam in WWII
- Rodney: The Doberman from the movie It Shouldn’t Happen to a Dog
- Cerberus: The zombie Doberman from Resident Evil
- Diablo: The Doberman Pinscher from the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Fun Facts About Doberman Pinschers
- Dobermans are a new breed created in the early 1880s.
- Doberman Pinschers were created by a tax collector who needed a canine bodyguard.
- Dobermans are a mix of several dog breeds. Some of them are believed to be Rottweiler, Manchester Terrier, Great Dane, and Greyhound.
- They were used for several jobs such as police work, tracking, diving, search and rescue, therapy, and more.
- They are frequently cast in movies.
- They’re war heroes; several Dobermans have been used to assist in the two world wars.
- Their ear and tail are cropped and docked for a purpose – so they can fight better.
- Doberman Pinschers are highly intelligent. They’re the 5th smartest dog breed.