The Doberman Pinscher or simply the Doberman is a dog of medium to large size that originated in Germany. The person responsible for developing this breed was a German tax collector named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann – hence the name.
This is one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world due to its powerful and unique physique, but also very loyal and ferocious personality. It is not surprising to learn that Doberman’s first role was to serve as a bodyguard who protected his owner during the local tax collections. Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann wanted and needed a dog breed that would be fearless, ferocious, fast, but also very loyal and intelligent.
By mixing several breeds such as the German Pinscher, the Greyhound, the Great Dane, and several others, he created what is today known as a very beautiful and amazing dog — the Doberman Pinscher. In this article, we are going to cover this breed’s most important characteristics.
Breed Characteristics
Dog Breed Group: | Working Dogs |
Height: | 2 feet to 2 feet, 4 inches tall at the shoulder |
Weight: | Generally 60 to 80 pounds |
Life Span: | 10 to 13 years |
Having in mind that the Doberman we know today was developed at the end of the 19th century, he is considered a rather new dog breed. However, he is still one of the most popular dog breeds, especially in the USA.
The Doberman Pinscher is a dog that is not sensitive, however, he does not easily get adapted to just any conditions. Firstly, he is a big and powerful dog that needs a lot of exercises. That means that he is not really suitable for living in small and cramped apartments unless he is taken out on long walks at least twice a day.
Secondly, the Doberman Pinscher is not suitable for novice owners because he has a large build and needs proper training from an early age. Only strong-willed or experienced owners should deal with this dog breed.
A weak and easily frightened person would not be able to train this dog properly and he will grow into an ill-mannered and stubborn adult dog that would not allow you to manage or train him. Additionally, this dog has a very short coat which means that he cannot tolerate strong winters and low temperatures. You should consider this beforehand and take into account the environment in which you would raise a Doberman Pinscher puppy.
The Doberman Pinscher is a dog breed that is easily trained and that is largely due to the fact that he is extremely intelligent dog. Obedience and mental training should be started as soon as possible and as long as you teach your dog via positive reinforcement, rewards and games, you will have no problems. As with most dogs, an owner should have patience and strong will in order to grow a puppy into a well-mannered and strong adult dog that won’t pose any threat to others or be self-destructive.
Playing and training will influence you positively as well. You should know that the Doberman Pinscher does not have a prey drive or a tendency to bark and howl too much. He is also not a breed that develops a wanderlust potential or the potential for mouthiness. That can be the result of his mixed genes of various breeds.
When it comes to exercising, the Doberman Pinscher is a high-energy dog breed that needs a lot of running, walking, playing and training (both physical and mental). The intensity of his exercises should be medium and as he already has a huge potential for playfulness, it would not be difficult to engage him in most games. This dog loves to learn and please his owner, so you should give him as much your free time as you can.
Speaking of grooming and health, the Doberman Pinscher that is easy to groom because of his thin and short coat; however, he sheds a lot. He also has a drooling potential and needs to be brushed daily and cleaned after due to his large size. Speaking of general health, the Doberman Pinscher is not considered a healthy dog.
He can be affected by numerous diseases, which can be also the result of his mixed heritage. One of the most known diseases is dilated cardiomyopathy which is also the major cause of death in this breed. The average lifespan is around 10 years, which is a bit shorter than in the most dog breeds.
The Doberman Pinscher is a very friendly dog, even though he is often portrayed as an aggressive breed. He might had been bred for the purpose of protecting and being ferocious, but if trained properly, nowadays he can be a great family dog who behaves well around children.
He is very affectionate towards family members and loves to be neat them and protect them. A study has shown that the Doberman Pinscher is not friendly towards strangers and he can be very aggressive towards unfamiliar people if he has not been trained to tolerate them.
He is even less friendly towards other, unfamiliar dogs, especially the ones of his kind. This kind of suspicious or even aggressive behavior should be cut in the roots by training your Doberman Pinscher puppy from an early age and socializing him.
Conclusion
To sum up, we have covered the most important characterizes of a dog breed called the Doberman Pinscher or Dobie. You are now familiar with their physical traits, personality quirks and most importantly – their basic needs.
If you are an active person who has time for spending time outdoors and lives in a cozy and spacious house or an apartment – then this dog breed might be for you. The Doberman also need an owner who is strong-willed and patient because he can easily turn into an alpha dog and start controlling you instead of being controlled. Giving him proper love and meeting his needs will make not only him happy, but you as well.