Doberman pinscher
The dobermann was created in the 1890s by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector in Apolda, Germany, who wanted a protective dog to accompany him on his rounds.
He drew on several local breeds and produced a fast, intelligent guarding dog in a remarkably short time.
It is a medium-large dog, square and clean-lined, with a short hard coat, usually black or red with rust markings. The modern dobermann is far more even-tempered than its reputation suggests — the standard calls for a dog that is alert and determined but not aggressive. Highly trainable, deeply attached to its household, and genuinely sensitive to how it is handled.
- Origin
- Apolda, Germany, 1890s
- Size
- 30–45 kg, 61–72 cm at the shoulder
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Short, hard and close-lying
- Temperament
- Alert, loyal, intelligent, sensitive to correction
- Exercise
- 1–2 hours daily plus training
Related: German pinscher
3 doberman pinscher photos, newest first
Living with a doberman pinscher
The coat is a weekly rub over. The thin coat and low fat mean they feel cold and need a coat in winter.
They want to be with their people to an unusual degree — the breed's nickname of velcro dog is earned — and do poorly kennelled or left alone for long stretches.
The health picture needs care. Dilated cardiomyopathy is very common in the breed and often silent until advanced, so annual cardiac screening from middle age is genuinely worthwhile. Von Willebrand's disease has a DNA test, and cervical spondylomyelopathy and hip dysplasia both occur.
Deep chest means bloat. Gastric dilatation-volvulus kills within hours: unproductive retching, a distended abdomen and pacing are the signs, and they mean an emergency vet immediately.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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