Doberman Pinscher

Coat & Grooming:

Doberman Pinschers have a smooth and sleek coat with black, red, blue, or fawn fur. You’ll also see rust markings around the muzzle, paws, neck and paws. Don’t worry too much about frequent bathing – a weekly brush and a bath if something stinky gets into the fur is enough care for most owners.

Trim the nails monthly and keep an eye out for buildup in the ears. Do a weekly exam (during brushing is a good time) and look for sores and any signs of health problems.

Shedding: Doberman Pinschers shed a fair bit but they aren’t the worst offenders in the dog kingdom. Expect to do regular brushing and bathing to maintain a healthy coat on your Doberman Pinscher. This will help keep the dog hair around your home to a minimum.

Training: Doberman Pinschers can be easy to train with the right trainer and program. Many owners think they are one of the smartest and most “trainable” breeds you’ll find. Traditional working roles for the Doberman Pinscher meant breeders prized intelligence and obedience for their dogs.

Consistently across many studies over decades of research, the Doberman Pinscher scores very high on canine intelligence tests. Obedience, playfulness, and trainability come naturally with your Doberman Pinscher. It’s up to you to train them well and instill the proper respect and compliance required for a happy life around their human companions and their friends. Along with the Poodle, Collie, and Rottweiler, the Doberman Pinscher is one of the smartest dogs you’ll ever find.

Barking: Doberman Pinschers will sound the alarm, just like their ancestors did, when they want you to know that they see, hear, or smell something wrong. They are fearless but obedient, so if properly trained they likely will just bark and not chase. “Respect and Protect” is a common trait of the Doberman Pinscher. They love to please their owners and will do anything to make sure they are safe and secure at home. That said, they are usually sociable and very unlikely to be aggressive with members of the family.

Expose your Doberman Pinscher to a variety of people, places, and experiences to build confidence and help them learn to react appropriately. Always provide love, affection, and support to your pet – they will keep you safe without hurting (almost) anyone who comes to call. However: late-night burglars beware.

Personality: Doberman Pinschers are known as intelligent and aggressive guard dogs, but they can be lovable and affectionate given the right conditions. They have a low prey drive and will usually stay close to their owners. The Doberman Pinscher is a reliable companion and loyal almost to a fault.

Temperament & Behavior: Doberman Pinschers were bred as stalwart and ferocious guard dogs, but modern breeding helped to morph their personalities into something more suitable for human companionship. The breed has a reputation for being mean and aggressive, but this isn’t always the case. Use by police forces and military units around the world is largely due to the Doberman Pinscher’s powerful physique and trainability. Hollywood adopted the stereotype and the reputation stuck. Any breed can be trained to be aggressive or not with the proper instruction and encouragement.Doberman Pinschers today can be docile and well-suited to life in a family with early obedience training and socialization.

Behavior with Kids: Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs, but their size and weight can cause problems if you aren’t careful. They are protective and loving when it comes to their inner circle. Their size can pose problems around smaller dogs, children, and the elderly, but with proper socialization and supervision, Dobies make great family dogs.

Protection: Doberman Pinschers are very protective and alert when it comes to guarding their turf. They are constantly on the lookout for anything that deserves their attention. German royalty and junkyard owners can both appreciate the loyalty and aggressive protection that a Doberman Pinscher provides. These dogs are one of the classic guard breeds and preferred by many police and military K-9 units around the world.

Life span: Doberman Pinschers live to be 9 to 12 years old in most cases.

Inherited Health Issues: Just like any other breed, there are certain diseases that are common in Dobermans. If you are considering getting a Doberman puppy, be sure and discuss genetic health concerns with any prospective breeder and ask whether genetic testing for these diseases is performed on breeding pairs. Not all genetic diseases can be isolated on genetic tests, however reputable breeders will not breed dogs that have conditions that have been proven to be inherited. Multiple dermatologic conditions including acral lick dermatitis and color dilution alopecia, sulphonamide drug reaction, hypothyroidism, chronic hepatitis, gastric dilatation and volvulus Von Willebrand’s disease,, panosteitis, cancer, Wobbler’s syndrome, Dancing Doberman disease, narcolepsy-cataplexy and glomerulonephritis are just a few conditions seen more often in Doberman Pinschers as compared to other breeds.

Preventive Care: Due to the high prevalence in Dobermans of the life threatening condition known as gastric dilatation and volvulus, in which the stomach fills with air and/or food and then flips over on its axis, many veterinarians recommend a prophylactic procedure known as a gastropexy when these dogs are very young, preferably at the time of spaying or neutering. This procedure involves tacking the side of the stomach to the wall of the abdomen, so that it cannot flip over, essentially preventing volvulus. The Doberman’s deep chest makes it prone to this condition.

Dobermans have a number of skin-related issues, and although there is no proof that omega-3 fatty acids can prevent these conditions, they do promote healthy skin. Consider supplementing your Doberman’s diet with a high quality veterinary-specific fish oil product throughout his life.

When your Doberman is a puppy, feed a high quality large breed puppy food. Large breed foods are designed to discourage rapid growth rates, which have been linked with certain orthopedic issues common in large breed dogs. At approximately one year of age, switch to an adult formula.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Doberman is 2.5-4 cups

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Habits and Exercise: Studies into canine personality often use Doberman Pinschers due to their high levels of intelligence and emotional complexity as animals. Doberman Pinschers are very playful even compared to other breeds of dogs, and they exhibit personality traits that seem similar to humans. They love to sit by the fire and be close to their owners at all times.

Since they were bred as working dogs, Doberman Pinschers have a big gas tank. They eat a lot and need to burn a lot of energy. It’s good for their physical health, but it can be even more crucial to maintain good mental health and low anxiety. Doberman Pinschers learn thing very quickly, so make sure you constantly introduce new skills, experiences, and exposure to different environments to keep them engaged.

Living space: Doberman Pinschers are large dogs, so you’ll want a more than the limited living space of a small apartment. The Doberman Pinscher is a fine choice for a house with a backyard or a larger property.

Climate: Doberman Pinschers are sporting dogs, but their short fur leaves them a bit exposed in chilly weather. They much prefer a temperate or hot climate to a cold one.