Doberman dog

History of origin

These graceful and strong dogs were bred in Germany in the 1880s and bear the name of their “father” – the founder of the breed, Friedrich Karl Louis Dobermann. A tax collector and night policeman from the town of Apold once thought it would be nice to go to work with a reliable four-legged protector, but among the breeds known to the Dobermann, all had their drawbacks. His ideal dog was supposed to perform exclusively official tasks – no “hugging” with the owner, be intimidating, but at the same time obey unquestioningly.

The policeman approached the selection of dogs responsibly. To develop a new breed, the breeder crossed the German Pinscher with the Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Manchester Terrier. In addition, the blood of hounds and great danes also flows in the blood of Dobermans.

Officially, the first Dobermans were presented at an exhibition in 1887. True, the breed was originally called the “Thuringian Pinscher”, and only after the death of Friedrich Louis Dobermann was renamed the “Doberman Pinscher” (later the second word was removed from the name).

Handsome Dobermans appeared in Our Country in 1902, and their fate in our country was not easy. Brought to work in the police as excellent detectives, years later these dogs were almost completely destroyed by the revolution, civil war and devastation.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Doberman selflessly fought on all fronts – he was a reconnaissance dog, a liaison dog, a demolition dog, a sapper dog, a paratrooper dog …

Only in the 70s, the Doberman ceased to be officially considered a service breed, and amateur cynologists took up its breeding. In the world and European exhibitions, Dobermans of Our Country always take prizes, among them there are World and European Champions.

Breed description

Dobermans are strong and at the same time graceful dogs with a proportional and slender physique. Their developed musculature and wide bone are visible to the naked eye. The last breed standard was approved in 2015, and all parameters are prescribed in it very strictly.

So, according to the standards, the Doberman cable should be 68-72 cm high at the withers, the allowable weight is 40-45 kg. The bitch, of course, is smaller: height – 63 – 68 cm, weight – 33 – 35 kg.

The head of the Dobermans is medium-sized, in the form of a wedge with a long narrow muzzle and an undeveloped forehead. Dark small oval eyes, ears set high.

The chest of Dobermans is developed and rounded, the back is straight and strong, the stomach is taut. The front legs are located at right angles to the body, the hind legs are slightly set aside.

The coat of Dobermans is short and hard, lying close to the skin. There is no undercoat, which is why representatives of this breed are not adapted for life in aviaries. The main color is black or brown with bright rust-colored tan spots of a certain shape.

“In our country, docking (cutting) of ears and tails is allowed, which corresponds to the classic type of Doberman,” explains Marina Gorbacheva, owner of Pride of Our Country kennel. – In European countries, docking is prohibited, so now you can often see a Doberman with natural tail and ears at exhibitions. The prohibition of doberman docking is the subject of active discussion and controversy among lovers of this breed.

How to distinguish a real Doberman from a bred with a “marriage”? There are several signs. Firstly, in terms of coat: in a Doberman, it should not be soft or wavy, there should not be white marks in the color and, of course, no undercoat. The movements of the Doberman are light and elastic, the run is beautiful and fast, and the amble, as well as the clubfoot, are considered a vice.

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Character

Fearless, energetic and loyal are the three main qualities of a real Doberman. On the streets, they are most often walked in muzzles (puppies are accustomed to them even before six months), so often ordinary people consider Dobermans an aggressive breed. But it’s not.

The Doberman is friendly, gets along well with children, cats and other pets. There are cases when a Doberman taught children to take their first steps,” says Marina Gorbacheva. “He is fearless and will easily give his life for his masters. He is clean in everyday life, including due to short and smooth wool, does not have specific odors characteristic of other breeds. It is not difficult to keep him in a small apartment, but a special place for walking is required. He compensates for his calmness in the house with an active game and running on the street. The Doberman is used not only as a companion, sport and show dog, but also as a guard dog. However, a Doberman cannot live on the street!

Dobermans like no other need a strong leader. Such dogs cannot be raised by children or soft-bodied adults – it is best to take them in a kennel from parents with a balanced character and a strong nervous system, as well as competent training and care. Otherwise, the Doberman may grow up weak-willed, cowardly or dangerous to others.

Dobermans by nature get along well with other animals, but only if they are familiar with them from puppyhood. For children, a properly educated dog is not dangerous, besides, the Doberman loves outdoor games.

Also, representatives of this breed have an excellent sense of smell and work well on the trail. Dobermans are excellent guards, watchmen, bloodhounds and companions.

Care and maintenance

These “aristocrats” are neat, and thanks to their short coat, care for them does not take much time. Just imagine: you only need to bathe a Doberman 2-3 times a year (!). And as a daily care, it is enough to wipe the coat and paws of the pet after a walk with a damp towel. Once a week, the animal should be combed out with a special brush.

But the dog’s claws, ears and teeth must be monitored constantly. Doberman claws grow quickly, and the auricles and oral cavity need weekly inspection and cleaning. Until about six months, the puppy undergoes a change of teeth. The owners during this period will have to monitor the gums, to prevent inflammatory processes in the mouth. The dog’s eyes should be wiped daily with a clean cloth.

Any veterinarian will confirm to you that Doberman ears are his pride. They, like the tail, are docked at birth. Many people ask – why? It’s simple: to maintain the breed standard. In order for the ears to stand up correctly, you will have to buy a metal crown for them, and in any case, you should consult a veterinarian.

– Dobermans need a spacious room – a small apartment will be cramped for them, – continues Marina Gorbacheva. – And besides, with such a dog you will have to walk for a long time and actively. Dobermans are best fed with high-quality dry and wet food for large dogs. In no case should they be mixed with homemade food, for example, with cereals and meat. Dobermans can be fed with boiled vegetables and cereals, lean pork, cottage cheese, sea fish and raw eggs.

For the winter, the owners should buy warm clothes for their pet – due to the lack of an undercoat for Dobermans, this is not a luxury, but an essential item.

Education and training

Doberman training will have to be done from the first days, as soon as the puppy appears in the house. The initial commands that need to be learned by the four-legged are “Place”, “Fu”, “Come”, “Aport”. Dobermans are very smart and quickly understand what the owner wants. But at the same time, not everyone can cope with the temper of these “aristocrats”. For inexperienced dog breeders, raising a puppy can be difficult. Sometimes the owner may feel sorry for the dog, because he is still small. But in dealing with a Doberman, softness is inappropriate: commands must be given firmly and harshly.

– In Dobermans, the psyche is formed up to three years, and it is important to have time to put maximum knowledge and skills into the dog before this age. And most importantly – understanding who is the boss in the house, – Marina Gorbacheva believes. – Those who are going to buy an animal of this breed should take into account that Dobermans are proud, strong and courageous dogs prone to dominance. At the same time, males are more predictable and easier to train than females.

In general, the training recommendations are simple: reward your pet with treats for following commands, be consistent and show your authority, do not provoke the dog to anger and do not allow him to gnaw on furniture and pick up food from the floor. Also, never use physical force.

Owners should take care not only about long walks in the fresh air, but also about the availability of toys – Dobermans are very active and love to play.

Health and disease

Dobermans do not just seem to be strong – they are really strong healthy animals.

When you get a pet, you are responsible for its health. Up to six months, Doberman puppies go through three stages of vaccination. Vaccinations can be done even at home, if you call a veterinarian at home, says Marina Gorbacheva. – In addition, the owners need to carefully monitor the nutrition of the dog. Despite the fact that representatives of the breed have a stable digestive system, stomach torsion often occurs – this is the trouble of all large dogs with a wide chest.

Also common pathologies are heart rhythm disturbance, dysplasia of the elbow joints, osteopathy, epilepsy. Due to their high mobility, Dobermans are prone to injuries of the musculoskeletal system, cut and stab wounds. But if you regularly show your pet to the veterinarian and follow all the recommendations for care, your Doberman can live up to 14 years.

Popular questions and answers

Answered our most popular questions cynologist, author of a manual on training and keeping dogs Irina Makarenkova.