Doberman

The Doberman was named after its first known breeder, Friedrich Louis Doberman. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity, and exercise needs, training, and care of the Dobermann dog breed in the profile.

He lived in the 19th century and is said to have been a tax collector and city dog ​​catcher, among other things. This gave him the right to capture any free-roaming dogs. He did that too and then mated the particularly sharp dogs. Among them were the so-called “butcher dogs”, precursors of today’s Rottweiler, mixed with a shepherd dog whose fur was black and red. His breed was then used as a guard, police dog, and to hunt predators.

General Appearance

The Doberman is a large, lean yet very powerful dog with a narrow head and strong teeth. Its ears are droopy and its tail is long—traits that were surgically altered long after birth. Protruding ears and a barely recognizable tail should better show off his muscular body and give him a more dangerous look. This torture is now forbidden in Germany. The Doberman’s coat is short, hard, and very dense. Dobermans come in the colors brown and black, each with light markings, the so-called brand on the muzzle, legs, chest, and above the eyes.

Behavior and character

The Doberman is a wonderful dog – docile, people-oriented, and active. As a protection, guard, and companion dog, he is reliable and composed. Unfortunately, Doberman sometimes has a bad reputation. Not entirely wrong, because in the wrong hands it becomes a dangerous weapon – like almost every big dog. If he grows up in a healthy environment, he shows himself from his best side: as a smart, affectionate, and obedient companion who also gets along well with other animals and children. However, he prefers to be a single animal than a family animal, he bonds particularly strongly to one person and would like to spend his time with this person above all.

Need for employment and physical activity

A hardworking dog who will enjoy most canine sports. But he would even prefer a real job as a guard or protection dog. He’s a real workaholic.

Upbringing

The owner of this dog should show the strength of character. The dog needs an alpha animal that it can orient itself to and trust unconditionally. It becomes critical when this dog believes that its owner is not in control of the situation and needs help.

Maintenance

The short coat does not require any special care. However, the dog’s ears, eyes, teeth, and gums should be checked regularly.

Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases

HD, spondylosis, Wobber syndrome, DCM (heart disease), and Blue Doberman Syndrome can occur. Above all, the unqualified mass breeding has led to undesirable characteristics in this breed. Therefore, take a close look at the breeder.

Did you know?

Although the Dobermann was never used in dog fights and is therefore not a classic “fighting dog”, it was (temporarily) classified as a potentially dangerous dog (category 2 list dogs) in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Here you have to get permission to keep this breed.