Working Dog Group - Doberman

Doberman is a breed that was developed for protection purposes in Germany. The creator of the breed Louis Doberman was a tax collector and often had to visit different places to collect taxes where he faced different kinds of threats and dangers during the journey. Wary of being under constant pressure of this kind, Louis Doberman bred these dogs by mating Beaucerons, German Pinschers, Manchester terriers, greyhounds and Rotweillers. They were thus named after their creator as Doberman pinscher. Due to the presence of multiple genes, these dogs are highly talented.

These dogs are usually tall in height growing up to 26 to 28 inches and weighing approximately 66 to 68 pounds. Their ears and tail are pruned at a very young age to keep them from growing long. They have long skull with the color of the nose depending on the color of the coat. They come in black, blue-gray, fawn, white and black with tan. They have a lean built to suit their super energetic nature and help them stay fit.

A dog that is under the category of a working dog, this breed is wrongly considered to be overly aggressive. They have a lot of energy and strength that needs to be channelized properly by taking them for long walks and if possible, jogs. They are very loyal, assertive in nature and have attachment towards family. Thus it is necessary not to isolate them as a part of their punishment. They should be trained with discipline to make them sociable and tolerant towards children.

It is very easy to train these dogs as they are highly intelligent with a great sense of smell. Therefore they are often used as police and military dogs. They are also very affectionate and caring in nature that makes them a good therapy dog that is suitable to live with the disabled people. If they are not trained properly in their childhood, they can grow up to become stubborn and aggressive in their adulthood that can prove to be dangerous. Hence it is necessary to keep a firm hand of restraint on them.

Their fierce nature makes them a breed that needs strong control, to keep them obedient and well groomed. They are very sweet, playful and can be extremely active. Hence, if not given proper exercise, this breed can face health issues like bloating, spondylitis, obesity, skin problems and congenital heart problems. Dobermans are totally active and hence cannot stay in apartments without proper exercise. They generally do well in houses with backyards. They are sensitive to cold hence it is necessary to make the necessary arrangements for them during winters.

These dogs have a short and coarse coat of hair that hardly needs any grooming and this makes them easy to maintain. They can live a life up to 13 years on an average. They tend to be dominant in nature if they are not trained to respect authority. With a high level of intelligence, they are prone to be alert and protective about their territory and masters. Dobermans usually respond well to their puppyhood training, and they love and respect their masters. But in some cases, if they are adopted in their adulthood, they are not able to accept their new masters with ease.

Dobermans can be great watchdog and therapy dogs, contrary to the portrayal of their aggressive image.