ORIGINE OF THE DOBERMANN BREED

Like with many other dog breeds, the exact history of the Dobermann is unclear. The breed standard was established in 1890 as a guard dog.  Following Louis Dobermann’s death in 1894, the Germans named the breed the Dobermann Pinscher as a tribute to the man. However, 5 decades later, the word “pinscher” was dropped from the name.

The Dobermann Pinscher was created by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Karl was the German tax collector and dog catcher who also worked as a police officer at night. He needed a working dog that could be alert, fast acting and protect him while performing his less glamorous duties. He began to selectively breed, focussing on the dogs’ characters rather than their physical appearance.

AND WHAT WAS THE RESULT?

The result was an intelligent dog with enough trainability to keep it under control, yet a dog that would aggressively protect its owner on command. It maintained these traits, as well as being athletic, strong, fast, loyal and ferocious, and has been employed as a war dog, police dog and personal protection dog.

Like many breeds, the war and post-war eras nearly drove the Dobermann to extinction. It was saved by Werner Jung, who smuggled Dobermanns from East to West Germany and continued a breeding program that most of today’s dogs descend from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4IoctA4vtc

DOBERMANN SIZE

They are considered a medium to large dogs with a square, compact, muscular body and possess stamina and speed. Dobermans are noble looking and carry themselves with pride. They stand 68 – 72cm males and 63 -68cm females at the shoulder, and while no standard weight is defined, they tend to weigh between 42 – 48 kilos males and 32 -38 kilos females. The short, hard, smooth and close-lying coat can come in several colors, including black, brown, blue and fawn, with sharply defined markings appearing above the eyes, on the muzzle, throat and forechest. Dobermanns enjoy a lifespan that averages 10 to 11 years.

The Dobermann has been a longtime favorite for service work as well as military and police work. The breed is extremely intelligent and willing to please with a high drive to do any job assigned to them. This also makes them exceptional service dogs and family guardians. In the right hands, the Dobermann is easy to train and considered one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. 

ARE THE DOBERMANNS DANGEROUS DOGS?

Unfortunately, the Dobermann has a reputation for being a dangerous dog. However, people familiar with the breed know that Dobermanns are loving, affectionate, sensitive, and loyal. When you have a Dobermann, your Dobermann may physically defend you and your family members from perceived threats. It’s highly unlikely that your dog will attack you.

Old myth says that Dobermanns can’t trust around kids. This myth probably got started due to the dog’s large size, its history as a guard dog, and its protective nature. The reality here is that a Dobermann that grows up around kids typically becomes an affectionate family member that’s very loyal and gentle with children, especially when trained and socialized.

Early breeders chose to crop the ears and dock the tail to lower the risk of injury or attack. Even after the need for dogs in tax collection fell out of practice, many breeders and Dog Owners chose to continue the tradition of ear cropping and tail docking.

The negative image of the Dobermann is fading away. Dog Owners are beginning to recognise that the Dobermann is a dog with big, loving heart. Fortunately, the practice of ear cropping and tail docking is falling out of fashion as well. In many places, this type of cosmetic procedure is banned, giving us a fully-tailed, floppy-eared Dobermann.

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