The Doberman in the breed portraitThe Doberman is slender and powerful. This dog breed not only has a powerful physique, but also a pronounced intelligence. The Doberman is fearless, alert and among the best guard dogs in the world.
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Breed: Doberman
Origin: Germany
temperament: Energetic, obedient, intelligent, fearless, focused, loyal, confident
size (height at withers): 66-72 cm (male), 61-68 cm (female)
Weight: 40-45 kg (male), 32-35 kg (female)
life expectancy: 10-13 years
FCI classification: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molosser and Swiss Mountain Dogs / Section 1: Pinscher and Schnauzer
The Dobermann is a slimly built dog breed – muscular, fast and powerful. The physique is athletic and elegant. Due to its elegance and casual, athletic way of moving, the Doberman has created a reputation for itself as the "king of the dog kingdom. The Doberman's glossy coat color is usually black or brown. In addition, this dog breed often has small rust-colored spots on the body.
In Germany, the Doberman is on the list of potentially dangerous dogs in one federal state. Who would like to acquire a Dobermann, should therefore absolutely inform himself before about the valid regulations and editions to the attitude in the respective Land or. Inform place of residence. The Doberman is considered a second-category fighting dog in Brandenburg.
The Doberman dates back to the middle of the 19. The disease dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when a German tax collector named Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann thought it would be wise to have extra protection with him while collecting taxes. As the owner of a dog kennel, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann was familiar with a variety of different dog breeds and knew exactly which dog would be a perfect companion on his tax tours.
He began trying out dogs that he thought would be good, watchful companions. Although there are no official records of which dog breeds have been paired, experts speculate that the Doberman is a mix of the German Pinscher, the Rottweiler, and the black terrier.
It is worth noting that modern Dobermans are much slimmer than their earlier ancestors. The "temperament" of the dog has also changed over the years, making it a much more pleasant companion today.
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The Doberman is not a dog for beginners, as it has quite a temperament and strength of character. The Doberman is a trustworthy, loyal, playful and fun-loving companion. He is a natural protector and would do anything to protect the members of his family. Towards strangers the Doberman is rather reserved and regards them with skepticism.
Being extremely athletic and intelligent, the Doberman loves to be mentally and physically challenged by its owner. The only real concern you should have with your Doberman is that he will find his own ways to release his energy.
Each individual dog breed tends to get health conditions. The Doberman tends to develop some health problems that could make it quite expensive to own. You should know this in any case.
The most common diseases a Doberman can get include:
Von Willebrand disease: This blood disease prevents the dog's blood from clotting. Excessive bleeding after injury or surgery is the biggest symptom. Others are gum bleeding, nose bleeding, intestinal bleeding and stomach bleeding.
Hip dysplasia: The inherited defect in which the femur does not fit closely to the hip joint. This can lead to pain. Leading to paralysis in the legs. X-ray examination is important to diagnose this condition.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This eye disease causes gradual deterioration of dog's retina. Dogs suffering from this disease become night blind and as the disease progresses, the dogs lose their vision during the day as well.
Hypothyroidism: This condition affects the dog's thyroid gland and causes hair loss, epilepsy, obesity, dark spots on the skin, lethargy and other conditions. These diseases can be treated with diets. be treated with medicines.
Wobbler syndrome: This inherited condition affects spinal cord compression caused by cervical spinal instability. Symptoms of this disease include paralysis in the legs and neck pain.
Cardiomyopathy: The disease affects the heart muscle of the dog and makes them weak and thin. The heart chambers dilate due to the condition, resulting in an abnormally large heart. This condition can lead to heart failure.
Albinism: This genetic condition causes the dog to have no pigment. The Doberman is thus white, has a pink nose/skin and blue or light eyes. These dogs are sensitive to sunlight. Develop various health problems.
Color Mutant Alopecia: This disease can be observed in blue coat. Dogs born with this condition have a normal coat, but begin to show signs at 3 to 4 months of age. The dog begins to develop brittle hair. Has patchy hair loss.
Narcolepsy: Neurological disorder is caused by the brain's inability to regulate the wake-sleep pattern. The dog may suddenly become sleepy. Fall asleep at any time of day.
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus: Commonly known as flatulence. It occurs when the dog's stomach bloats with gas. This means the dog is unable to expel the excess air and needs immediate help.
Recommended health tests for the Doberman:
– Heart exam – Hip evaluation – Thyroid exam – Von Willebrand disease DNA test – Eye exam – Vision test
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In addition to regular weekly grooming, an occasional bath will keep the Doberman clean and looking its best. Their strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to prevent overgrowth, splintering and tearing. Ears should be checked regularly to prevent accumulation of earwax and debris that can lead to infections. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
The short, rough coat of the Doberman is easy to maintain. You should brush your Doberman a few times a week. Bathe or dry shampoo as needed. This breed of dog has an average shedding.
For the Doberman it is important to get very good dog food. The Doberman puppy should be fed age-appropriate dog food recommended by the dog's breeder or veterinarian. Treats can be an important aid to training. Find out which foods are safe for your Doberman and which are not. Talk to your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog's weight or diet. There should always be enough clean, fresh water available.
On the back of most dog food packages, you'll find instructions on how much to give your dog. Puppies (18 months. Younger): 1.800 calories per day.800 calories per day. – Healthy adults (over 18 months): 2.100 calories per day. – Older dogs (less active adults due to their age): 1.300 calories per day.
These are approximate figures based on the average adult weight of a Doberman of 35 Kg. Always check the packaging of the food to determine the correct portions for your dog.
For example, a Doberman that relaxes a lot and doesn't exercise much only needs about 2.000 calories per day. A very active Doberman that moves a lot probably needs more than 3.400 calories per day. Keep track of your dog's activity and weight and adjust portions accordingly.
Here is the typical course for a Doberman puppy, during its growth:
– Puppy Doberman (6 to 8 weeks old): 4 meals per day. – Young Doberman (8 weeks to 12 months old): 3 meals per day. – Adult Doberman (1 year and older): 2 meals per day.
Please make sure that meals are spread evenly throughout the day. Dobermans tend to bloat, and this can pose a greater risk if they are only fed once a day.
Transition from puppy to adult food:
Normally, about 18 months of age is a good time to switch your Doberman from puppy food to adult food. Always take a gradual approach so as not to upset your dog's stomach. You can do this easily by mixing the new (adult) food with the old (puppy) food in larger and larger portions until the changeover is complete!
A gradual change over a period of 10 days is usually sufficient without upsetting your dog's stomach too much.
The Doberman is an energetic athlete that needs plenty of exercise and free running. A Doberman enjoys taking long walks or hikes with his owner every day. A large, fenced area for running is important for his physical and mental well-being. Participation in dog sports such as z.B. Agility offers dog and owner, exercise for body and mind – and a lot of fun together.
Whether it's children, other dogs, or other types of pets, the key is early socialization. When a Doberman is a young puppy, they are curious about everything. If you put your Doberman in as many situations as possible with people and other animals, you can be sure they will turn out splendidly.
Take your Doberman to the dog park, to your family reunions, let him play with the neighborhood kids and their cute puppies, enroll him in puppy classes, or even take your Doberman swimming with you. Just do as much as you can when your Doberman is young.
Dobermans are very intelligent, learn easily, respond quickly and are loving and fun companions. However, they are very strong dogs and can become pushy, destructive and uncontrollable if not properly trained.
The Doberman should always live indoors with people and not outdoors.
As already mentioned, the Doberman is a highly intelligent and people-oriented dog breed that is loyal, loving and protective. If socialization and proper training are provided early on, they can make excellent family pets.
Dobermans are generally great with kids they've grown up with. You are great at being gentle and tolerant of young children and babies. They can also be great with all children if socialized from a young age. It is important to teach children how to handle and treat animals properly to avoid incidents. Even with well-trained dogs, you should always supervise them when they play with children to make sure things don't get out of hand.
The Doberman was bred to be very people oriented, which has the side effect of possibly requiring too much affection. Cuddling, endless stroking and kisses on the face are highly appreciated by these dogs.
Because Dobermans were originally bred as personal protection dogs, they have a natural instinct to protect their owners. This is especially true for anyone with whom the dog spends a lot of time.
Any pets your Doberman is used to or better yet grew up with should be fine. The problems occur, however, when your adult Doberman suddenly has to get used to a small furry pet. You have to watch your Doberman closely. If he is fearful around another animal or wants to protect you, this can be bad. It is best to get your Doberman used to handling other pets as early as possible.
Dobermans generally get along well with other dogs in the house. If you have two dogs of the same sex at home, bitches generally get along better with other bitches. Two male Dobermans or even one male Doberman. A male dog of a different breed may present a more difficult situation.
Although each dog's personality is different, Dobermans generally get along well with other large animals. They can also get along well with horses if properly introduced to them. However, Dobermans often have trouble getting along with smaller furry pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and ferrets. Some successes were reported by Doberman owners who got their dogs used to a rabbit at a young age. However, introducing an adult Doberman to one of these pets may not end well for the smaller furry animal.
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