The German Doberman is a beautiful, slender dog, usually with highly cropped ears and a short tail, giving these dogs their characteristic appearance.
Just by his appearance he inspires respect and is famous for his service qualities.
Dobermans are considered one of the best detection and guard dogs.
Their excellent sense of smell and protective qualities allow them to be used by the police, to protect a house or apartment, and also as bodyguards.
History of the origin of the Doberman breed
In the distant middle of the 19th century, stray dog catcher Friedrich Dobermann decided to breed a fearless and hardy breed of dogs.
There is no exact information about the ancestors of the Rottweiler. It is known that “butcher” dogs, shepherd dogs, Old German Pinschers, Thuringian Pinschers, Greyhounds, shorthaired pointers, Great Danes, and Scottish Setters were used for crossbreeding.
Description of the breed
The standard description of the Doberman breed was adopted in 1990.
The dog is endowed with excellent muscles and elegant silhouette:
- body weight is 40-45 kg for males and 32-35 kg for females;
- the height of males at the withers reaches 68-72 cm, and that of females - 63-68 cm;
- the line of the head resembles a blunt wedge;
- the nose is black or brown, depending on the color of the coat;
- the muscles on the cheeks are tightened;
- the jaws are powerful and wide;
- scissor bite;
- teeth are straight and beautiful;
- eyes dark, oval, medium size;
- ears are cropped and stick out vertically;
- the neck is long and beautiful;
- the back and lower back are quite short;
- the chest is convex and wide, with prominent ribs;
- the stomach is beautifully tucked;
- the tail is docked, leaving a pair of caudal vertebrae;
- the forelimbs are straight, the hind limbs look more rounded due to the hips;
- the coat is short, close to the skin, there is no undercoat;
- The color of Dobermans is black or dark brown;
- On the chest, paws, throat, cheekbones, above the eyelids and on the inside of the thighs, the presence of tan marks of rusty and reddish color is allowed.
How to choose a puppy?
You should only buy a Doberman from a nursery or a breeder. In this case, it is advisable to focus on how healthy and conformable his parents are. It is also necessary that the dogs of the selected line have a stable psyche and do not experience increased aggressiveness.
Puppies must be completely healthy and meet conformation requirements. They should have a square body or something close to it, strong bones, a fairly deep and wide chest, large paws with the makings of muscles. Color: brown or black with intense reddish-red tan markings.
NOTE!
If small Dobermans have had their tails docked, then by this time the wounds should be completely healed.
New owners, as a rule, crop their ears themselves, but if a puppy is sold with ears already cropped, then the stitches should already be removed and the cut should look healed.
Dog character
With proper training, this is a friendly breed of dog, despite the formidable appearance that cropped ears betray.
They become very attached to their owner, so they love to play or just stay nearby for as long as possible.
Very often they howl and bark alone, so it is better to immediately accustom them to the absence of their owners at home.
It is not recommended to be with children without adult supervision, as the dog may unexpectedly turn on the caregiver. Dobermans do not particularly like strangers.
They do not always react adequately to what is happening; for example, they may bite a friend because he patted the owner on the shoulder. It is worth always remembering this if you are dealing with a Doberman.
Features of maintenance and care
Initially, this breed was bred in Thuringia (Germany), where the climate is mild. As a result of selection, they inherited a hard outer coat without undercoat and a dry, muscular body. They lived mainly outdoors - in enclosures. With the spread of Thuringian dogs around the world, the living conditions have changed - in our climate they are cold. In winter, in cold weather, and during long walks, they need to be insulated. Previously, owners had to sew their pets' clothes to order or share their own (by the way, size 44 is quite suitable for a male)).
In addition, during icy conditions, roads are sprinkled with reagents and industrial salt, which cause irritation, injure the pads of the toes, and can cause burns or allergies. This antifreeze is dangerous even after the ice melts - no one removes it from the road. Therefore, residents of large cities began to put shoes on their pets. Now this is not a problem - special shoes are produced industrially and sold in pet stores.
Place of detention
The Doberman is more suited to being kept in the owner's home.
Photo: Tim Johnson In our latitudes, Dobermans are often kept in houses and apartments, although if you have a warm heated kennel and an insulated enclosure, they can sometimes be kept in an enclosure. If you plan to keep it in an enclosure, it is better to accustom the puppy to this from childhood. The enclosure is built large, taking into account the size of the adult individual. There are no difficulties with heating the Doberman in the apartment. And this breed needs the owner’s proximity too much to keep him alone. When kept in an enclosure without proper communication and work, it becomes “lobbery” and becomes stupid.
Feeding
It should be noted that puppies should immediately begin to be fed from a stand located at the height of the dog’s chest. This is done so as not to spoil the dog’s posture. There are different types of stands, it is easy to make it yourself, changing the height as the dog grows. Puppies up to six months are fed up to 6 times a day, adolescents - 4 times. Adults receive food 2 times a day (but never mind refueling with a tasty treat from the master's table). Clean water must be constantly available. The food is given warm.
Conditions of detention
The Doberman can live comfortably both in an apartment and in a private house. It is worth noting that in the yard it is better to place the dog in an enclosure. In this case, it is necessary to walk the dog and spend time with it.
It is strictly not recommended to put her on a chain. This will make the pet's character become aggressive.
Buying tips and advice
Firstly, you should decide why such a dog is needed and only then make the decision to buy a puppy of this breed. In any case, you should ask about his pedigree, although even having all the documents does not guarantee that you will be able to get a puppy with excellent characteristics. It should be noted that the chances of acquiring a cowardly or aggressive animal are much less. Before 2 months of age, it is unlikely that a puppy will be separated from its mother.
It should be remembered that females are more gentle and affectionate, but males have a better developed protective instinct. As a rule, experienced breeders sell animals with cropped ears and tails. A purebred and healthy puppy should not have breed defects. It is imperative to check the abdominal area so that the puppy does not have an umbilical hernia. It is mandatory to draw up a purchase and sale agreement, with the possibility of returning the puppy to the kennel in case of any negative manifestations. If a puppy is purchased from a nursery with all accompanying documents, then its cost starts from 36 thousand rubles.
Raising and training Doberman
In order for a Doberman to please you with its behavior, you should pay enough attention to its upbringing. It is important that he understands that you are the leader in your union and all your commands must be followed.
To begin with, show the dog its place to rest, familiarize it with the daily routine and walks.
In tracking work, the performance of Dobermans is significantly higher than that of shepherds.
Dobermans are good at learning commands, so there should be no problems with training.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- The breed is used in almost all active areas of human activity: security, guard, search, sports. Also, Dobermans are good guides for the blind, therefore they are also used in social spheres of society;
- Devotion and fidelity. Dogs are very brave and will do everything to protect their owner, for them he is the alpha;
- Very high intelligence. For this reason, they are very easy to train, train and raise. Dogs even waste away without brain activity, they need it;
- Hardy and strong. They can endure the most powerful physical loads and serve without getting tired for a long time;
- Appearance. Dobermans are aesthetically very beautiful. They have a very sophisticated and elegant appearance, which at the same time is combined with a strong-willed and powerful character.
But there are also disadvantages:
- The breed is not suitable for everyone. The potential owner should be stronger and stronger in character than the Doberman Pinscher. Otherwise, the dog simply will not perceive it;
- They are stubborn and willful. They will not obey just like that, this requires good reasons and the ability to dominate, but even in this case, from time to time they will have to show strength of character. This way the Doberman will understand that no one is going to play by his rules;
- Very active dogs (although this may be a plus for some). You won’t be able to get such a dog and sit at home or lie on the couch all day. Such living conditions are unacceptable for the Doberman breed;
- They can't stand cats.
Walks
For proper socialization of the puppy, it is necessary to walk in places that allow him to get used to strangers and sounds. Those who like to travel by car are advised to accustom their dog to the car while still a puppy.
During walks, it is worth remembering that Dobermans, and especially males, love to get into fights with other dogs.
Basic rules of care
In order for the Doberman to live a long and happy life in your family or in your service, you need to follow some rules:
- Choose only expensive and proven premium food. If you choose natural food for your pet, then prepare it correctly so that it is balanced. The dog must receive all nutrients;
- Daily physical and mental exercise. Without them, the dog will wither away;
- The dog’s place should be where no one will disturb him from resting;
- The dog's tail must be docked. If the owner wishes, this procedure can also be done with the ears;
- Dobermans should be bathed no more than once a month;
- The breed's ears are cleaned 2-3 times a month, and it is also necessary to wash the eyes from time to time;
- Nails also need to be trimmed, but if the dog leads an active lifestyle, they grind down on their own;
- Inspect the paw pads after a walk for the absence of calluses, wounds and cracks;
- During the winter season, you should not walk your dog for too long. If walking is necessary, then you need to buy special shoes and overalls for it.
Doberman puppy price
The price of a Doberman is in the range of 15,000-40,000 rubles. For elite representatives of the breed they can ask for up to 55,000 rubles.
It is recommended to purchase a puppy from professional nurseries.
The variety of photos of Dobermans beckons with its magnificence. With proper upbringing and proper care, you will get yourself a faithful and devoted friend, always ready to help.
