Meet the Doberman Pinscher: The Perfect Protection Dog

A large to medium-sized dog, the Doberman Pinscher is the perfect combination of strength, loyalty, and intelligence. This is the kind of dog breed that’s designed to be the ultimate protection dog as they show no fear when faced with a challenging situation.

So, if you’re ready to get yourself a certified “BA”, read on to learn more about the breed.

A true German breed of magnificent origin, the Doberman Pinscher has gained a lot of notoriety for their devilishly good looks, muscular physique, and extraordinary intellect.

This particular dog breed is used as a guard dog or police dog; however, today, most Dobes, prefer to live a more comfortable life as a family pet.

A breed recognized for its symmetrical appearance, sleek coat, and muscular physique. The Doberman Pinscher is a dog breed that can credit it’s creation to one German man by the name of Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann.

Now, have you ever wondered, why did Mr. Dobermann create such a fearsome looking breed?  Well, Karl Louis was a tax collector during the 1880s. And back then, tax-collecting was a dangerous job.

To protect himself from any threats, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann began the process of creating the perfect guard dog to protect him. Many experts can only speculate on which dogs went into the making of the “baddest” dog around. Most experts conclusively say that the dog was created by crossing breeds such as the Rottweiler, Weimaraner, and Manchester Terrier.

There is evidence to suggest that the black English Greyhound was added into the Dobermans gene pool, to improve the breeds physique. In addition, two other German dog breeds—now extinct—the old German Shepherd and the German Pinscher, were used to enhance the ruggedness, intelligence, and alertness of the Doberman Pinscher.

It was only in 1908 when the Doberman was first registered with the American Kennel Club. And, as time progressed people began to realize the versatility of the breed.

During World War II, the mighty breed began to serve in the military and became iconically known as the great war dogs on the Pacific front. Their dedication and hard work demonstrated in the Second World War helped push the popularity of the breed.

Today many Dobermans are used in search and rescue operations, police force, and protection. However, this is not where their hard-working spirit stops as they make for excellent also work as service dogs and emotional support dogs—thus displaying their gentler side.

A sleek and powerful appearance, a muscular physique, and intelligence beyond compare.  The Doberman Pinscher became the pinnacle to what a perfect guard dog should be.

At first glance, they appear as a strong, large breed dog—where they are described to have an athletic build. The European Doberman tends to have a deeper and wider chest, while the American Doberman will have a leaner physique. All will have a long, wedged shaped head, almond-shaped eyes, an eye color that may range anywhere from brown, light brown, to blue, and will naturally have flopped ears and a long tail.

However, to meet the American Kennel Club standards, most breeders and owners tend to crop the ears and dock their tail. Similarly, ears may be cropped for the purpose of making the breed appear more intimidating.

Universally, the Doberman breed is bred to be a faithful and an intelligent companion, who will work hard to please their owners by being remarkably clever and able to pick up new tricks almost instantly.

Nothing best describes the breed as intelligent, alert, and loyal. These are the type of dog breeds that are known for their fearless attitude and natural protective instincts.

There are two lines D. Pinschers can be classed as—the American Doberman and the European Doberman. The European Doberman is one that is bred for work, where their most distinctive characteristic is their temperament. A lot more alert to their surroundings, these type of Dobes were bred to be guard dogs, as they have a very strong protective instinct.

In contrast, an American Doberman is often nicknamed a “velcro Dobe”, this is because, the American Doberman Pinscher is a lot more family oriented, and a bit of a couch potato.

The breed can stand anywhere from 24 inches to 26 inches in height, and weight up to 75 lbs where most European Dobermans can sometimes reach up to 105 to 110 lbs, depending on their individual lineage.

In terms of overall appearance, a European Dobe is going to be significantly larger, and heavier built, compared to their American counterpart. Most breeders describe the American Doberman as a refined and elegant breed. Thus, if you’ve got an American Dobe, then you’ll notice that they’re relatively taller, leaner, and slender compared to a thicker European line Dobe.

A Doberman pinscher puppy can come in a range of colors. You can get anything from a classic black and tan Dobe to a white Doberman pinscher. Some of the most common colors include:

In terms of grooming, most are fairly low maintenance as they don’t have long dense coats. On average, the Doberman will require bathing once a month, or whenever they get themselves a little dirty. Hardworking and active Dobies often don’t require nail trimming, as their nails will naturally wear down with activity.

Dobermans are smart dogs!

And, they were bred for the purpose of hard work.

A Doberman puppy is often quite easy to train as they tend to pick up new tricks faster than the average dog. In addition, they’ll learn very quickly what’s wrong and what’s right. If you get a D. puppy, then it’s important to start their obedience training fast.

Because the breed will grow to be strong quite fast, you’ll need to ensure you have full control of them, and that they’re well-behaved by at least 3 to 4 months of age.

Contrary to popular belief, the Doberman Pinscher is not related to the Minature Doberman (also known as Min Pin)!

The Doberman Pinscher was designed and built for hard work and protection. So, a lot of large breed dogs, and hardworking dogs like the German Pinscher, went into the creation of this breed.

The Minature Pinscher is more a family pet. It is believed that the Minature Pinscher is the product of the short-haired terrier, Italian Greyhound, and Daschund. The Minature Pinscher does not have any Doberman blood in it.

However, it is often nicknamed the Mini Doberman, because it looks like a small version of the Doberman Pinscher.

If you’re not interested in getting a purebred Doberman Pinscher, then perhaps a crossbreed of one might be right for you!

The Doberman German Shepherd is another hardworking dog breed, that was created by crossing the Dobe with a German Shepherd. These crossbreeds are on the large to giant size, and like their Dobie counterpart—they are incredibly intelligent and protective.  The Doberman German Shepherd mix can stand anywhere from 22 to 26 inches and can weigh up to 110 lbs.

Another powerful Dobie mix is the Doberman Rottweiler mix, who is believed to have originated in the United States during the 1990s. The Doberman Rottweiler mix is an energetic and obedient companion, that makes both a great family pet and guard dog. These hybrids can stand up 26 inches in height and can weigh up to 110 lbs.

All dogs can live a long and healthy life if they maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, the Doberman Pinscher, in particular, may be prone to a few diseases.

Dobermans are at risk of inheriting the following diseases:

If you’re ready to own your very own Doberman Pinscher, then be prepared to put a lot of work and time into training this dog. These are dogs that require a lot of mental stimulation and obedience training.

If you choose to get a puppy, then you can start by looking for a reputable Doberman breeder. Alternatively, you can look at adopting one from shelters or rescue.

Check out Petfinder.com for more information on where to find a Dobie puppy for adoption.

If you’re looking for European D. puppies, then make sure you search for a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders ensure that breed standards have been met, and all dogs are healthy. Reputable breeders aim to minimize the spread of inherited diseases and ensure you’ll receive a healthy pup.

Check out Britton Farms Dobermans if you’re interested in pure, European Doberman puppies!

If you’re looking to save a life, then the best thing to do is look for Doberman specific rescues. A Doberman rescue is a non-profit organization that will specialize in saving dogs from abuse, neglect, or from high-kill shelters. There are many Doberman rescues in the United States, so check out these rescues if you’re interested in saving a Dobe:

A faithful, good-hearted soul—anyone who owns a Doberman will realize how wonderful this dog is. However, as the breed tends to have a very menacing appearance, it’s quite common for owners to face backlash and hate from strangers who don’t understand Dobermans.

Nevertheless, with proper training and plenty of exercises, the Doberman Pinscher is truly a man—or woman’s best friend!