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The Doberman Pinscher (alternatively spelled Dobermann in many countries) or Doberman is a breed of domestic dog. Doberman Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used as guard dogs, watch dogs, or police dogs, this is less common today. In many countries, Doberman Pinschers are one of the most recognizable breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of media attention. Careful breeding has improved the disposition of this breed, and the modern Doberman Pinscher is an energetic and lively breed ideally suited for companionship and family life. Dobermanns are commonly used as guard dogs, watch dogs, or police dogs. Dobermanns are in many countries one of the most recognizable breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of media stereotyping.
Appearance: According to the AKC breed standard, a
Dobermann bitch's shoulder height is between 24 to 26 inches,
and weight is between 65 to 75 pounds, whereas the male stands
between 26 to 28 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 75
to 85 pounds.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard is
slightly different and is followed by most countries. A male
Dobermann should stand 26.5 to 28 inches (68 to 72 cm) and
weigh between 89 to 100 pounds (40 to 45 kg). A bitch should
stand 24.5 inches to 27 inches (63 to 68 cm) and weigh between
71 to 78 pounds (32 to 35 kg).
Dobermanns typically have a deep, broad chest, and a
powerful, muscular body of medium size. However, in recent
years some breeders have primarily bred, shown, and sold a
slimmer or more slender-looking Dobermann. This has become a
popular body type among many owners, especially those who want
to show their Dobes competitively. The traditional body type
is still more desirable to many casual owners and to those who
want the dog for protection.
Furthermore, despite the "ideal" standards, it is
impossible to have complete control over the size and weight
of dogs. Generally speaking, show animals must fall within the
ideal range of both size and weight (for that country's breed
standard), but it is not unusual to find male Dobies weighing
over 100 pounds or females that are also larger than called
for by the breed standards.
Larger sizes might lead to additional health problems,
although those who are looking for a Dobermann to provide
personal protection or for use in police agencies or the
military generally seek out the larger examples and some
breeders create specific breeding pairs in the hope of getting
a litter of large dogs.
Color: Most people picture a Dobermann's color as
the typical black with rust markings. However, the existence
of two different color genes in the Dobermann provides four
different phenotypes in Dobermann color.
The traditional color, produced when one or both genes have
the dominant allele, is commonly referred to as black or black
and rust (also called black and tan), while the most common
variation, due to both genes having the recessive allele,
produces what is called a red or red and rust Dobermann in
America and a "brown" Dobermann in the rest of the
world, which is primarily deep reddish-brown with rust
markings.
The other gene having the recessive allele, while the first
one retains the dominant, produces the blue (grey) Dobermann,
whereas the least likely combination of both color genes
having recessive alleles produces fawn, which is a light tan
color, often called Isabella.
In the 1970s a "white" Dobermann was born, and
she was subsequently bred to her son who was also bred to his
litter sisters. This tight inbreeding went on for some time so
certain breeders could "fix" the mutation, which has
been widely marketed. Dobermanns of this color possess a
genetic mutation, which prevents its pigment proteins from
being manufactured, regardless of the genotypes of either of
the two color genes; that is, it is an albino.
Though many potential Dobermann owners find the color
beautiful, albino Dobermanns, like albinos of other species,
face increased risk of cancer and other diseases and should
avoid sun exposure as much as possible.
The popularity of the "white" Dobermann has died
down dramatically as the risks have become known, with many
people even calling for an end to the breeding and marketing
of the white Dobermann, because they perceive it as cruelty to
the animal. Some countries have made the purposeful breeding
of the white Dobermann illegal, but breeders who care and take
note of the ancestors can avoid breeding albinos as they are
all descended from the original bitch.
Tails: Although the Dobermann is most commonly seen
with its traditional short tail, it is actually born with a
tail that is longer than many breeds. Typically, a Dobermann
Pinscher undergoes docking, a procedure in which the majority
of its tail is cut off or removed in other ways within days
after its birth. The rationale being that it completes the
sleek "look" that the dog is supposed to have, since
it was the way Louis Dobermann had originally envisioned the
dog.
Aside from these reasons that many view as inhumane, one
practical reason for docking the tail is that it removes what
would be a convenient "handle" for a criminal or
attacker to grab when the Dobermann is performing its guard or
police work. Another reason is that dogs with the thin,
whip-like tail of the Dobermann have a very common occurrence
of "broken tail".
Broken tail may range from the actual tail bones being
broken to the more common skin injuries that are very
difficult to heal because of the difficulty of bandaging or
protecting the tail. Broken tail is often a self inflicted
injury caused by the Dobermann enthusiastically wagging its
long tail, regardless of the objects it is hitting with it.
Regardless of people's beliefs on this matter, few
potential owners have a choice on the length of their
Dobermann's tail; docking must be done soon after the dog's
birth, which means that the breeder nearly always makes the
decision, before their dogs are even put on the market.
Ears: This is not true, however, of Dobermann ear
cropping, which should be done between 7 and 9 weeks. It is
something that should be taken care of while still in the
breeder's care, before the puppy goes home with its new
owners. Cropping done after 12 weeks has a high rate of
failure in getting the ears to stand. Some Dobermann owners
prefer not to have their pet's ears cropped because they
believe the procedure may be painful for the animal.
The process involves trimming off part of the animal's ears
and then propping them up with posts and tape bandages, which
allows the cartilage to develop into an upright position as
the puppy grows. The puppy will still have the ability to lay
the ears back or down. The process of posting the ears
generally takes about a month, but longer show crops can take
several months.
While there have been no studies that involved looking at
cropped vs non-cropped Dobermanns, it is believed that
cropping dramatically reduces the occurrence of ear infections
and hematomas (blood blisters caused by damage to the ear
tips, commonly from hard shaking of the head).
Although the acts of cropping and docking seem inhumane to
some, the traditional Dobermann has always been the one that
has had both procedures. In some countries, docking and
cropping are now illegal, but in some breed shows Dobermanns
are allowed to compete only if they have the traditional look.
Temperament: The Dobermann is often used as a protection
dog, due to its intelligence, loyalty, and ability to
physically challenge human agressors. Dobermanns are even now,
and once more extensively, used in police work and in the
military and are top fighting dogs if trained properly. In
these roles, they inspire fear. They are often stereotyped in
such roles in movies (where they are trained to exhibit
seemingly "aggressive" behavior), and consequently
many people are afraid of the breed. A related problem is the
misunderstanding of their legitimate roles; because guard dogs
are trained to neutralize unwelcome intruders, many people
mistakenly believe that Dobermanns are vicious.
However, Dobermanns are, in general, a loyal, loving, and
intelligent breed. Although there is variation in temperament,
a typical pet Dobermann attacks only when it feels that it,
its property, or its family are in danger. The Doberman is
involved in human dog bite-related incidents less frequently
than many other dog breeds.
Those familiar with the breed consider well-bred and
properly socialized Dobermanns to be excellent pets and
companions, suitable for families with other dog breeds, young
children, and even cats.
Health: An average, healthy Dobermann is expected to
live close to 12 years, with a majority of Dobermanns dying
between age 11 and 13. Common health problems are dilated
cardiomyopathy, von Willebrands disease (a bleeding disorder
that can be tested for genetically), hypothyroidism, cancer,
and in the dilute colors (blues and fawns), alopecia. Common health problems are dilated cardiomyopathy,cervical vertebral instability - CVI, von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder for which there is genetic testing). Other problems that are less severe or seen less frequently include:
Hypothyroidism
Cancer
Progressive retinal atrophy
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Copper toxicosis
Color dilution alopecia in blues and fawns
Hip dysplasia
Peripheral neuropathy ("Dancing Doberman disease", very rare)
History: Dobermanns were first bred in Germany
around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. He was a tax
collector who needed a protection dog to guard him, so he set
out to breed a new type of dog that, in his opinion, would be
the perfect combination of strength, loyalty, intelligence,
and ferocity. He also worked with dogs as a second job, giving
him access to dogs for breeding. Later, Otto Goeller and
Philip Gruening continued to develop the breed.
The breed is believed to have been created from several
different breeds of dogs that had the characteristics that
Dobermann was looking for, including the Pinscher, the
Rottweiler, the Thuringian Shepherd Dog, the black Greyhound,
the Great Dane, the Weimaraner, the German Shorthaired
Pointer, and the German Shepherd Dog.
The exact ratios of mixing, and even the exact breeds that
were used, remains uncertain to this day, although many
experts believe that the Dobermann is a combination of at
least four of these breeds. The single exception is the
documented cross with the Greyhound. It is also widely
believed that the German Shepherd gene pool was the single
largest contributor to the Dobermann breed.
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