Doberman Pinschers

Dobermans are tough when the situation calls for it, but they’re very good at discriminating against a serious threat from one they can just keep an eye on. And they will indeed keep an eye on everyone and everything. If a real threat is perceived, they’re ready to take action. It’s their combination of brains, brawn and bravery that has made them so popular with police, military and families for decades. Dobermans are highly intelligent, learn quickly and are willing to please. They are alert and active but not annoyingly so. They make well-mannered house dogs. The Doberman physique is a picture of sleek athleticism. The Doberman is strong but graceful, with an alert attitude and piercing gaze that can intimidate the bravest of burglars. A Doberman always turns heads wherever it goes. Owning a Doberman is like having your own guard dog and sentry service that can patrol your yard and share your home, and look like a high-fashion model doing it.

The Doberman is square-proportioned but compactly built. They are sleek, with flowing lines, but also athletic and muscular. The stomach is tucked up, but not as much as a Greyhound’s. The topline is flat. The feet are well-knuckled. The head is a blunt wedge. Overall, the Doberman combines elegance and power. Its carriage tends to be proud and alert, with an intelligent look. The breed naturally stops four-square, and its gait is tireless. In countries in which it’s legal, the tail is customarily docked, and the ears cropped. Uncropped ears hang down. Standard colors include black, red, blue, and fawn, while standard markings include rust.

The Doberman Pinscher was a breed specifically created with a job in mind: to serve as a personal protection dog for a door-to-door tax collector in the late 1800s. This was not a popular job, nor a safe one, and Louis Dobermann needed a dog that he could trust with his life. The dog had to be alert, protective, biddable and intelligent—traits that survive today in the breed. They have been used extensively as police, military, private sentry and family protection dogs since then. They can be fierce when the circumstances warrant, but are generally gentle and safe around trusted ones, including family members of all ages. That said, most Dobermans do not easily trust strangers, and won't hesitate to make sure even your welcome company doesn't feel at home––at least not until they’ve visited several times. Dobermans make well-mannered house dogs, and are devoted family members. They do bark, but not without reason. They can be reactive toward other dogs, but tend to get along with housemates. They do well with other household pets, especially if they are raised together. Even though they tend to be alert, and love outdoor adventures and action, they are also capable of relaxing, and they relish lazy time on the couch with family. This is a great family dog that is able to fulfill many roles: guardian, playmate, fellow adventurer and even cuddler.

It’s as though all Dobermans are born with a hereditary knowledge of who to trust and what to do in an emergency. They can look right through a person as though reading their intentions. And they can do this to you if you try to train them using force techniques. It’s important to know what you’re doing when training any dog; it's imperative with a Doberman. If they think you’re a bully or using harsh techniques, they'll rebel and refuse to work. If they think you're uncertain and don't have a clue about training, they’ll agree, and again, refuse to cooperate. But if you use appropriate positive rewards, consistently coupled with firm and consistent rules, they will respect you—because they want to, not because they've been forced to. Dobes have succeeded at the very highest levels of competitive obedience and rally. They’ve excelled as military, police, service, and search & rescue dogs—all jobs where people’s lives depended on these dogs. They are capable of uncanny feats of intelligence. You just have to show them how, and convince them you both want to do them. Dobermans love to show off their ability at obedience, rally, agility, tracking, dock diving and protection sports.

Doberman Pinschers were developed by the efforts of one man, Herr Louis Dobermann, a door-to-door tax collector who needed someone to watch his back. So in the late 1800s he crossed breeds including the Rottweiler, Beauceron, German Pinscher, and later the Black & Tan Manchester Terrier, Greyhound, and Weimaraner. The breed bearing his name was soon adopted as a police, guard, and war dog. During World War II, the United States Marine Corps adopted the Doberman as its official war dog. Later, they became a popular family pet, eventually rising to become the second most popular AKC breed in 1977. In the late 1970s the breed received much bad press as it was portrayed as a demonic attack dog. It’s true that during this time of irresponsible ownership Doberman bites were not uncommon. In most of the world the breed name is simply “Doberman.” The Doberman is still a popular military dog, but has been replaced in many cases by the Belgian Malinois. A Doberman that was supposed to be guarding a priceless stuffed toy exhibition once infamously ripped up a $75,000 Teddy bear. Owners include Rudolph Valentino, Bela Lugosi, John F. Kennedy, Raquel Welch, William Shatner, Priscilla Presley, Nicolas Cage, Hunter Thompson, and Mariah Carey.