Our Doberman Pinscher dog breed information profile includes characteristics, traits, Doberman Pinscher personality and temperament. Learn about Doberman Pinscher lifespan, suitability for children, exercise needs, training, health problems and much more. Enjoy our Doberman Pinscher pictures gallery, and send in your own cute Doberman Pinscher puppy photos!

Meet the Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed

The Doberman Pinscher dog breed needs little introduction. This is one of the most recognized dog breeds in the world. Dobermans are well known for their high level of intelligence and sleek appearance.

Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed Facts | Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed History | Doberman Pinscher Appearance
Doberman Pinscher Temperament | Doberman Pinscher Exercise Needs
Doberman Pinscher Grooming Needs
Doberman Pinscher Training | Doberman Pinscher Health Issues
Is the Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed the Right Choice for You?

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Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed History

The Doberman Pinscher dog breed has a very interesting history. Apparently, tax collecting in 19th century Germany was thankless task. Louis Dobermann, whose job as tax solicitor found it not only thankless, but downright dangerous. So, Herr Dobermann went about creating a dog that could accompany him on his rounds. Ideally, Dobermann wanted a sleek and muscular dog that was highly trainable and alert. He chose as progenitors, a German Shepherd and a German Pinscher and later added the Black and Tan Manchester Terrier, the Greyhound and the Weimaraner dog breed. The result of these efforts is the widely recognizable Doberman Pinscher. By 1899, the Doberman Pincher was well established and the first breed club was formed.

The first Doberman Pinschers to arrive in America attracted many fanciers. Soon, the elegant Doberman Pinscher was finding use as guard dogs throughout America and the world. With his protection ability eclipsing his other attributes, the Doberman soon had a reputation as fearless family protector. With his soaring popularity, came the Doberman’s first foray in the show ring. There, the Doberman Pinscher’s chiseled good looks and confident demeanor vaulted his profile as a show dog. The Doberman’s popularity continued to grow. At its peak in 1977, the Doberman Pincher dog breed was the second most popular in America.

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Doberman Pinscher Appearance

What does the Doberman Pinscher dog breed look like? The Doberman Pinscher is muscular, powerful and sleek. Most commonly, the Doberman Pinscher is back with tan markings, but red, blue and fawn are also acceptable colors. Some years ago a white Doberman Pincher emerged but was quickly disallowed. Still, the genetic marker for albino Dobermans remains, so the American Kennel Club tags the registration on any specimens carrying the gene. The letter Z notates this gene in the Doberman’s registration.

The Doberman Pinscher Pinscher’s head is long and wedge shaped. His eyes are almond shaped and his ears are either cropped or un-cropped. The Doberman’s tail is customarily docked near the second joint and is carried just above horizontal. Show dogs especially have well tucked stomachs and have pronounced under-angulated hind legs.

Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed Temperament and Personality

The Doberman Pinscher dog breeds’ guarding and protection abilities have caused his reputation to take a bit of a beating. People unfamiliar with the Doberman Pinscher breed may think that the Doberman is an aggressive and hostile dog. This characterization is more urban legend than it is reality. In fact, the Doberman Pinscher is intelligent and obedient. The Doberman is sensitive and keen to please his owner and anyone in his family pack.

The Doberman Pinscher can show aggression towards other dogs, but often has a surprising gentleness with cats. Strangers will be greeted with suspicion, but careful training can moderate the Doberman Pinchers response.

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Doberman Pinscher Exercise Needs

For a lithe and muscular dog, the Doberman Pinscher takes a very sensible position of exercise. He will certainly need a daily walk of 5-8 kilometers, but he shouldn’t run you ragged. The Doberman will also enjoy off leash runs in areas that are suitable. For the sake of others, don’t allow your Doberman to run freely in a park. Even when you are confident about your Doberman Pinschers’ docile temperament, passers-by may be terrified of your freely roaming dog.

At home, your Doberman Pinscher will enjoy romps in the yard punctuated with games of fetch. Be sure to engage your Doberman Pinscher daily as bored Dobermans can be destructive, and landscaping is a favorite pastime.

Grooming Doberman Pinschers

The coat care for the Doberman Pinscher dog breed is minimal. Just give him a gentle weekly brushing to let his natural oils work their magic. The Dobermans’ coat should be gleaming and lustrous. Some Doberman Pinschers protest to having their feet, ears and muzzle groomed. If this is the case for your Doberman, try desensitizing him with one second touches followed by a treat, then two second touches followed by a treat and so on. With luck, your Doberman and your remaining fingers will soon enjoy grooming these areas too.

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Training Doberman Pinschers

Properly training the Doberman Pinscher dog breed requires time and patience. Highly intelligent and receptive to positive reinforcement, the Doberman is a willing companion who is eager to learn. However, because they are a large breed of dog and due to the fact that they do have a lot of energy, it’s highly recommended that you enroll your Doberman pinscher puppy into early obedience courses. As a puppy gets bigger, you’ll find adult obedience courses much easier. You may also discover that your athletic Doberman pinscher enjoys doggie sports, such as Frisbee catching and agility training.

If you do choose to train your Doberman at home, there are a few guidelines to follow. First, don’t try to train your Doberman in your living room. The Doberman is an extremely active breed that needs lots of space to run. Similarly, the Doberman Pinscher’s intelligence dictates that he will not be responsive to boring training; he needs space and excitement. So, begin your Doberman training in a spacious area and be well-armed with plenty of fetching-for-reward type tricks.

Finally, the temperament of your Doberman depends in part on your treatment of him during training. As his trainer, you should be firm yet kind with some measure of authority. For a sweet tempered dog, avoid yanking on his lease, using an overly harsh tone and never punish your Doberman by hitting him.

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Doberman Pinscher Health Concerns

Some common health concerns for your Doberman Pinscher include; CVI, cardiomyopathy, vWD, demodicosis, osteoscarcoma, gastric torsion, CHD, albinism, hypothyroidism, PRA and narcolepsy.

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Is the Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed the Right Choice for You?

While the Doberman Pinscher can be a wonderful family dog, careful consideration should first be given, prior to bringing one into your home. For starters, the Doberman Pinscher is a high maintenance dog because it tends to be a highly intelligent and very athletic. These two traits they can make for a very destructive dog, should he become bored or develop other behavioral problems. The Doberman Pinscher enjoys interacting with his human family. He is not the type of dog that’s easily forgotten. If you have plenty of time to devote to your canine companion, lots of love and lots of patience, the Doberman Pinscher dog breed may very well be right for you!

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