Loyal even to their own death, the Doberman Pinscher is a distinguished, sleek canine breed that has been listed with the AKC since 1908. These strong, intelligent dogs have made their way through numerous roles in history thanks to their intelligent, alert nature, but have also gained notoriety as lovable family dogs that will enjoy your affection and stand guard at your Los Angeles home in a moment’s notice.
History of the Doberman Dog Breed
Initially bred to be a protector of a German tax collector in the 19th century, the Doberman dog hails from a strong line of other breeds, including Rottweilers, German Pinschers, and the Manchester Terrier. These dogs have a long history in military roles, as search and rescue animals, and therapy dogs.
AKC Doberman Standard
- Standard Weight: Between 60 and 100 pounds
- AKC Popularity Ranking: Ranks 17 out of 197 breeds
- Standard Height: Between 24 and 28 inches tall
- Breed Type: Working Breed
Interesting Facts to Know About the Doberman Dog
Physical Doberman Characteristics
The Doberman Pinscher is a medium-sized dog, but has a muscular build with a more squared body. The breed tends to have an elongated snout with erect, pointed ears and a lengthy neck. A deeper chest cavity narrows to thinner hind-quarters and tail-docking is common. The Doberman dog is covered with sleek, short hair, which may be black, fawn, red, or blue, and lighter “rust” shades may be found on the snout, chest, and feet.
Doberman Temperament
The Doberman Pinscher is a loyal, intelligent companion that tends to develop a keen attachment to its owner. This dog breed is highly regarded for its protective nature; the dog will not back down from a threat if protecting its owner. Doberman dogs are attentive and alert to their surroundings, but just as capable of being the fun-loving companion in the process.
Doberman Life Expectancy
Dobermans do tend to be a healthy breed, but as a larger dog, Doberman life span usually falls within 10 to 12 years. Proper care, nutrition, and exercise ensure your Doberman dog has a long and healthy life.
Health and Care of Your Doberman Pinscher
Doberman dogs are mostly healthy, but can be prone to a few conditions that are associated with the breed. Some of those conditions include:
- Bloat
- Hip dysplasia
- Enlarged heart
- Hypothyroidism
While these issues can be more breed-specific, most can be avoided by working with a responsible breeder to ensure Doberman puppies for sale come from the best breeding pairs.
The Doberman Pinscher will need ample exercise, will enjoy long hikes or walks, and is excellent with tracking games or agility training. Not only is exercise enjoyable for the Doberman dog, but exercise helps to keep your dog healthy. You should also do some routine brushing to keep the Doberman’s coat clean even though these dogs do tend to be low-maintenance with their short coats.
General Doberman Training Timeline
Doberman training should begin early. These dogs are intelligent and respond extremely well to good training because they are always eager to please their owner. However, the Doberman Pinscher is strong, witty, and sometimes wary, so they can become unmanageable without the right correction.
- Basic Doberman puppy training classes should start between 8 and 12 weeks of age
- More formal obedience training should begin between 10 and 12 weeks of age
- High-level training can begin anywhere between 12 and 16 weeks of age
European vs American Doberman
When it comes to the European Doberman vs American, both breeds have a similar background with slight differences. The American Doberman has a slightly smaller build and a smaller head than the European Doberman. European Dobermans have roots as a working dog, which means they do excel when it comes to trainability and do respond quite well to a strong instruction regimen.
Common FAQs About Dobermans
Is the Doberman dog good with kids?
The Doberman dog can be good with kids. These dogs are very sociable and can be highly affectionate with children. However, the dog should be properly socialized from an early age and trained well. The well-bred, well-trained Doberman Pinscher can be a trustworthy, fearless protector over even the youngest children.
Are Doberman Pinschers considered good family dogs?
Doberman Pinschers can be excellent family dogs. Do keep in mind, however, even though Doberman Pinschers can be good family dogs, they can also bond most to one person in the family.
Will a Doberman dog get along well with other dogs?
A Doberman that is raised with other animals should be just fine with those animals. Responsible breeders will work to socialize the Doberman puppy by exposing it to other dogs early in life.
Are Dobermans an aggressive breed?
The Doberman can have aggressive traits. These dogs are a working breed with an alert temperament that is keen to trouble. Therefore, the dogs can be aggressive toward strange animals and unfamiliar people, especially when trained to act as guard dogs. Nevertheless, the Doberman tends to be loving, good-natured, and highly loyal to its owners. Doberman Pinschers would be highly unlikely to attack their owners or familiar people or animals.
Find Your Fearless Companion in Los Angeles
Overall, the Doberman Pinscher is a well-rounded dog with a protective nature and a seriously stately yet loyal dog breed. If you are looking for a Doberman dog from the best bloodline, take a look at our purebred Doberman puppies for sale at Delta Academy in Los Angeles. Not only are our Dobermans from some of the best bloodlines in the world, but they are also brought forth through ethical breeding practices. If you are interested in reinforcement-based training for your Doberman dog, please reach out to us for more information about our dog training classes.