A brief history
The modern day Doberman
Pinscher started in Germany in the 1860's and was originally bred by Louis
Dobermann, a German tax collector. Dobermann was looking for a loyal, obedient
and protective dog. It is not certain as to the mix of
dogs used to come up with the breed, but the Rottweiler, German Pinscher,
German Shepard, Great Dane, Schnauzer, Weimaraner, Greyhound and German Shorthaired
Pointer are certainly in the part of that mix. Further refinements have been
made and credited to Americans for developing the Doberman we know and love
today.
Today
Todays Doberman is elegant,
muscular and very powerful. It is well proportioned
and comes in black, black & tan, blue-gray, red, fawn and white. Their hair
is short and thick, eyes show intelligence, and their ears and tails are usually
cropped. The
ears and tails were cropped so that they could not be grabbed and used to
hold
the dog.
As a breed the Doberman is known for its intelligence, fearlessness and assertive nature. They are a loyal breed and very affectionate with families. They are devoted, watchful and very protective of family members, which is why they make such great watch dogs.
As a pet a good Doberman should be thoroughly socialized when young which will prevent them from being overly protective. Good training is done with positive reinforcement and started at a very young age. Females are a bit more stubborn to train than a male, but they usually have a gentle and sweet nature which can be counter to their reputation. They make fantastic watchdogs and are known for their talents as guard dogs, in police and military work, search and rescue as well as competitive obedience and schutzhund sports.
Temperment
Dobermans vary greatly in temperament. Some are family dogs, and others bond only to one family member. The Doberman has been bred to work with people, and needs interaction. They are extremely intelligent, learn quickly and seem to instinctively know who is allowed in the house and who is not.
Today's Doberman Pinscher is one of the most popular breeds and is the only dog bred specifically for personal protection.
Size
Height: 27.5" (69.8cm)
for male dogs, 25.5" (64.8cm) for bitches
Weight: 66 - 88 lbs (29.5 - 39.3 kg)
Loyalty
As the only breed of dog specifically developed as a personal protection dog, the Doberman is unique in the dog world. It is a beautiful, high energy, highly intelligent dog that thrives on its relationship with its human family and that one special person in its life, the one that trains and works with it every day. A Doberman Pinscher lives to be with it's master, and will protect you with its life.
They are wonderful family dogs, devoted to the members of their "pack" and not happy working for just any stranger. The partnership you develop with your Doberman will be there for life, strong and unshakable. Dobermans are incredibly "tuned in" to their handlers. A good understanding of the dogs character and drives will make training quick and easy. Dobermans require fair treatment and will reward you with a spirited attitude and strong desire to please.
In the United States,
there are four accepted colors in the Doberman breed...
black, red, blue and fawn (also referred to as Isabella).