Large
12 Years
45 Kg
Working Dogs
Courageous, Energetic, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Responsive
The intimidating Dobermann Pinscher, a medium-large breed that originated in Germany as a personal protection dog is an obedient breed and acts on command. This German canine is intelligent and loyal. It has a long head in proportion to the overall body size with a muzzle shaped like a blunt wedge. It has a flat head with a slight stop, flat cheeks and a solid colour nose depending on the coat colour. It has almond-shaped eyes with alert expression, highly set ears that are normally dropped, and scissors bite teeth. The neck is long and lean with a muscular nape. The Dobermann is long as it is tall (square) with strong, parallel front legs and muscular hindquarters. Some Dobermanns have customarily docked tails which adds to the aesthetic of the bread. It has a characteristic “toe stand” – it stands on its toes and not the pads. It is a short-coated breed which is made of smooth, hard and close-lying hairs. Coat colours are black, brown, blue or fawn (Isabella) with rust red markings above the eyes, muzzle, throat and chest, legs, feet and below the tail. The ideal height of the Dobermann from withers is 69 cm for a male and 65 cm for a female. A dog is heavier at 40-45 kg while a bitch typically weighs 32-35 kg as is typical with most breeds.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Dobermann Pinscher (pinscher means terrier in German), as it was previously called, is a creation of German tax collector Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (born Tobermann) who lived in the town of Apolda in central Thuringia, Germany from 1834 to 1894. In 1890, he ran a dog pound in the local town and set out to create a breed that would help protect him in his tax collection duties particularly through many dangerous areas. The Dobermann is believed to have been a mixture of the old German Shepherd, Beauceron, German Pinscher, Rottweiler and the Manchester Terrier. Each breed contains qualities that Tobermann was looking for in an ideal protection dog. When he died in 1894, the breed was officially named “Dobermann Pinscher” in honour of its creator but later dropped the “pinscher” 50 years later as it was agreed that it was no longer appropriate. The modern-day Dobermanns are descendants of the dogs bred by Werner Jung in post-war West Germany who is credited to have single-handedly saved the breed from extinction.
The Dobermann is a fearless protection dog. Obedient and loyal, this breed is restrained to follow on command. It is an absolutely wonderful breed to have as a watch dog and a guard dog. It is one of the breeds used by the police, military and other law enforcements in performing their duties. Careful and selective breeding throughout the years created the Dobermann with a much more good-natured temperament, high intelligence and great trainability that we know today. However, being the protection dog that it is, the Dobermann is among the more likely breeds to display aggression toward strangers and other unfamiliar dogs.
The Dobermann is an intelligent breed with high trainability. However, the success of any training effort (which is true with other breeds) depends on consistency, leadership, supervision, timing, practice, and patience. Repetitive training is the most important factor. Being one of the smartest dog breeds, the Dobermann needs a trainer that is smarter than him. Positive reinforcement is ideal while ignoring inappropriate behaviour will tell the dog to only do good. Training the Dobermann during puppyhood is highly beneficial.
The Dobermann has a short, smooth hard coat that is quite easy to groom. A few minutes a week to comb out dead undercoat will make the top coat shine and lay flat and straight. This breed has little to no “doggy” smell so frequent bathing is not necessary but occasional baths with a mild dog shampoo will keep it smelling great. Inspect the ears on a regular basis and remove wax or any dirt when necessary. Brush the teeth daily.
On average, the Dobermann can live between 10-11 years. Common health problems include:
This Dobermann was originally bred to accompany his master wherever he went so this is an active breed that is used to an all-day work. With that being said, this dog requires a tremendous amount of physical activity in order to stay strong and healthy. Long walks or an hour of jogging may not be sufficient for some breeds. An ideal setting is a house with a very large and fenced yard or an open area in the countryside where the dog can run at full speed and play until he is satisfied. It is not a dog for an apartment life or a house with a very small yard. A game of fetch or a Frisbee are effective ways to channel its enormous energy.
Contrary to popular belief, the modern-day Dobermann is no longer the vicious dog that it originally was. The aggressive behaviour has been bred out of the Dobermann for many decades now. The Dobermann of today is very loving, playful, affectionate, and loyal and is suitable for a family with children, especially if grew up with the family. Most breeders and owners will agree that a well-socialized and trained Dobermann is an excellent companion to children (even the young ones) as well as other animals. A puppy Dobermann however, should be given special treatment because it may become a little stressed if not handled properly. Young children should be taught not to play rough games with it or should be supervised when the puppy is playing with them.
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