Doberman
General Information
- The Doberman or Doberman Pinscher is a sleek, agile, and powerful dog breed that was originally developed around 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany. It is known for its long head, muscular body, and graceful gait. It is loyal, loving, and a confident guardian.
- It is a working breed that was used as a guard dog, police dog, military dog, and service dog. It is now also a popular companion and family dog. It is America’s 17th most popular dog breed according to AKC.
- It has a short, smooth coat that comes in black, blue, fawn, or red with rust markings on the head, throat, chest, base of the tail, and feet. The average litter size is 6 to 8 puppies[3. The life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
History and Origin
- The Doberman was created by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector and dog breeder from Apolda, Germany. He wanted to develop a fearless and loyal guard dog that could protect him during his rounds. He crossed various breeds such as Rottweilers, German Pinschers, Greyhounds, Weimaraners, and Manchester Terriers.
- The first official breed club was formed in 1899 by Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening. They named the breed after its creator and established the first breed standard. The first Doberman was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1908.
- The Doberman gained popularity as a police and military dog during the World Wars. It was also used as a service dog for the blind and disabled. After the wars, the breed’s temperament was softened to make it more suitable as a companion and family dog.
Breed Characteristics
- The Doberman is a medium-large breed that stands 24 to 28 inches (male) or 22 to 26 inches (female) at the withers and weighs 60 to 100 pounds (male) or 50 to 90 pounds (female). It has a square frame; its length should equal its height. It has a strong neck, a deep chest, and a straight back. Its tail is usually docked short and its ears are often cropped to stand erect.
- The coat is short, smooth, and shiny. It can be black, blue, fawn, or red with rust markings on specific areas of the body. The markings should be clearly defined and contrast with the base color. The coat should lie flat on the body and require minimal grooming.
- The head is long and wedge-shaped. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark in color, and moderately deep-set. The ears are medium-sized, triangular, pendant, and set high on the head. The muzzle is well-developed with strong jaws. The nose is black and large. The lips are tight-fitting. The teeth meet in a scissors bite.
- The Doberman has a life span of 10 to 12 years and is prone to some health problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), cervical vertebral instability (CVI), hip dysplasia,