Dobermanns (alternatively spelled Doberman in North America and Australia) or Doberman Pinscher are used as primarily as guard dogs, watch dogs, or police dogs, and have a reputation as being loyal and intelligent. They equally suitable however as family pets, even with young children and they are trusting companion dogs.

Appearance
A Dobermann female's shoulder height is about 24 inches (61 cm) and weight is about 75 to 80 pounds (34 to 36 kg), with males standing about 26 or 27 inches (66 to 68 cm) at the shoulder and weighs around 90 pounds (41 kg).

Dobermanns typically have a very deep, broad chest, a thick but fit body, and a generally muscular build. However, in recent years some breeders have primarily bred, shown, and sold a much slimmer or slender-looking Dobermann (as seen in the picture). This has become a popular body type among many buyers, especially those who want to show their Dobies competitively. The traditional body type is still more desirable to many casual owners and to those who want the dog for security reasons.

Colour
The best known Dobermann's colour as the typical black with brown markings, however there is also a red or red and tan Doberman found in the USA, and a "brown" Dobermann in the rest of the world, which is primarily deep reddish-brown with tan markings. Rarely appearing, is the grey and fawn Doberman, but these are animals remain pure bred examples

In the 1970s, an Albino Doberman was born and used to create a line of white, Albino Doberman. This is not a true colour variation of white as the dogs are albinos, so their popularity rose and fell quickly once people realized the health problem associated with the condition. Many countries have now banned the purposeful breeding of white dobermans

Tails
Very few Dobermans with tails are seen, as most have their tails docked at birth. Their tail is in fact naturally one of the longest in existence compared with other dogs. In many breeds this practice of docking is now outlawed on the grounds it is unnecessary and inhumane, but it persists in the Doberman for two likely reasons.

(1) In its work as a guard or police dog, a long tail could be a hindrance, with criminals grabbing it.

(2) The very long, thin, tail of the Doberman is easily damaged causing them problems such as broken tail, docking in Dobermans is seen as humane for this reason by many, rather than the opposite

Ears
This is not true, however, of Dobermann ear cropping, which should be done between 7 and 9 weeks, though it can done up to six months or a year after the Dobermann's birth, and is therefore usually left up to the discretion of the dog owner. Cropping done after 12 weeks has a high rate of failure in getting the ears to stand. In larger and larger numbers, Dobermann owners are opting not to have their pet's ears cropped, in a procedure that is believed to be extremely painful for the animal. The process involves cutting off part of the animal's ears and then propping them up with posts or cups 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 can take a few weeks or may take months. Because taping too tightly can cause blood flow problems, taping must be done by a veterinarian or experienced breeder.

While there have been no studies that involved looking at cropped vs non-cropped dobermans, 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 ear cropping and tail shortening 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
Because of the Dobermann's typical use as a guard dog, and its often stereotyped role as such in movies, many people are afraid of Dobermanns. However, Dobermanns are in general a loving and intelligent breed. Although there is variation in temperament, an average Dobermann rarely attacks people, and only when it feels that it, its property, or its family are in danger.

Health
An average, healthy Dobermann is expected to live around 12 years, with a majority of Dobermanns dying between age 11 and 13. Common health problems are dialated cardiomyopathy, von Willebrands disease (a bleeding disorder that can be tested for genetically), hypothyroidism, cancer, and in the blues and fawns, alopecia.

History
Dobermanns were first bred in Germany around 1890 by 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 fierceness. 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.

Other relevant pages - Doberman Pinscher - Dobermann

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