Dobermann: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Black and tan dog breed from Germany}}

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{{Redirect|Doberman|other uses|Doberman (disambiguation)}}

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 align=right cellpadding=2 style="width:250px; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; clear: right"

{{More citations needed|date=March 2018}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

!Dobermann

{{infobox dog breed

|- align=center

| name = Dobermann

|[[Image:Dobermann.jpg|250px|]]<br>Red Dobermann with<br> uncropped ears and [[docking|docked tail]].

| nickname =

|- align=center bgcolor=pink

| image = Dobermann handling.jpg

!Alternative names

| image_caption = Adult bitch, with full ears and tail

| altname = Doberman Pinscher

| country = [[German Empire|Germany]]

| maleweight = {{right|{{cvt|40|-|45|kg|lb|round=5}}{{r|fci2}}}}

| femaleweight = {{right|{{cvt|32|-|35|kg|lb|round=5}}{{r|fci2}}}}

| maleheight = {{right|{{cvt|68|to|72|cm|in}}{{r|fci2}}}}

| femaleheight = {{right|{{cvt|63|to|68|cm|in}}{{r|fci2}}}}

| coat = short

| color = black & tan, red & tan

| kc_name = [[Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen|VDH]]

| kc_std = https://www.vdh.de/welpen/mein-welpe/dobermann

| fcistd = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/143g02-en.pdf

| note =

| image_alt = Dob-3ans.jpg

}}

The '''Dobermann'''{{efn|name= a}} is a German [[list of dog breeds|breed]] of medium-large [[working dog]] of [[pinscher]] type. It was originally bred in [[Thuringia]] in about 1890 by [[Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann|Louis Dobermann]], a [[tax collector]].<ref name="Get to Know the Doberman Pinscher">[http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm "Get to Know the Doberman Pinscher"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209073438/http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm |date=9 February 2015 }}, 'The American Kennel Club', retrieved 6 May 2014</ref> It has a long muzzle and – ideally – an even and graceful [[gait]]. The ears were traditionally [[Cropping (animal)|cropped]] and the tail [[docking (dog)|docked]], practices which are now illegal in many countries.

The Dobermann is intelligent, alert and tenaciously loyal; it is kept as a [[guard dog]] or as a [[companion animal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/15/opinion/l-dobermans-suffer-from-a-bad-press-003793.html|title=Dobermans Suffer From a Bad Press|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=15 February 1993 |access-date=20 August 2018|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820172817/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/15/opinion/l-dobermans-suffer-from-a-bad-press-003793.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In Canada and the United States it is known as the '''Doberman Pinscher'''.

|-

|

{| align=center

|-

|Doberman Pinscher

|}

|- align=center bgcolor=pink

!Country of origin

|- align=center

|[[Germany]]

|- align=center bgcolor=pink

!Common nicknames

|- align=center

|Dobie

|- align=center bgcolor=pink

!Classification and breed standards

|-

|

{| align=center

|[[Fédération Cynologique Internationale|FCI]]: ||Group 2 Section 1 #143

|[http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:TqfgQ0Q7aKYJ:www.fci.be/uploaded_files/143GB2003_en.doc+site:www.fci.be+%22143+/14.+02.+1994%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Stds]

|-

|[[American Kennel Club|AKC]]: ||Working

|[http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm Stds]

|-

|[[Australian National Kennel Council|ANKC]]: ||Group 6 (Utility)

|[http://www.ankc.aust.com/doberman.html Stds]

|-

|[[Canadian Kennel Club|CKC]]: ||Group 3 - Working Dogs

|[http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/doberman/dobermanarticle1.htm Stds]

|-

|[[Kennel Club (UK)|KC(UK)]]: ||Working

|[http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/discoverdogs/working/w848.htm Stds]

|-

|[[New Zealand Kennel Club|NZKC]]: ||Utility

|[http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br628.html Stds]

|-

|[[United Kennel Club|UKC]]: || Guardian Dogs

|[http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/guardiandogs/doberman.std.shtml Stds]

|-

|}

|}<!-- end of breed table -->

The '''Dobermann''' or '''Doberman Pinscher''' (also, more colloquially, '''Dobie''') is a [[dog breed|breed]] of domestic [[dog]]. Dobermanns are commonly used as [[guard dog]]s, [[watch dog]]s, or [[police dog]]s, and have a reputation as being a dog that is incredibly loyal to its familial duties and that is vicious if crossed.

==Appearance History ==

[[File:Doberman Pinscher Portrait.jpg|thumb|Dobermann, 1909]]

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

Dobermanns were first bred in the 1880s by [[Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann]], a tax collector who ran a dog pound in [[Apolda]] in present-day [[Thuringia]] in central Germany. With access to dogs of many breeds, he got the idea to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him. He set out to breed a new type of dog that would exhibit impressive stamina, strength, and intelligence. Five years after Dobermann's death, Otto Goeller, one of the earliest breeders, created the National Doberman Pinscher Club and is considered to have perfected the breed, breeding and refining them in the 1890s.<ref>{{Cite book| title= Doberman Pinschers| url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780866228060| url-access= registration| last= Donnelly| first= Kerry| publisher= T.F.H. Publications |year=1988 |___location= US| pages= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780866228060/page/8 8]–11| isbn= 0-86622-806-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title= Basic Guide to the Doberman Pinscher |url= https://archive.org/details/basicguidetodobe00jone |url-access= registration |publisher= Dace Publishing |year= 1997|___location= US |pages= [https://archive.org/details/basicguidetodobe00jone/page/9 9]–11|isbn=0-932045-10-3}}</ref>

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 desireable to many casual owners and to those who want the dog for security reasons.

[[File:Dobermann Pinscher from 1915.JPG|thumb|right|Dobermann Pinscher, 1915]]

===Color===

Most people picture a Dobermann's color as the typical black with brown markings. However, the existence of two different color genes in Dobermanns provides four different [[phenotypes]] in Dobermann color. The traditional color, produced when both genes have the [[Dominant gene|dominant]] [[allele]], is commonly referred to as ''black'' or ''black and tan'', while the most common variation, due to one gene having the [[Recessive gene|recessive]] [[allele]], produces what is called a ''red'' or ''red and tan'' Doberman in America and a "brown" Dobermann in the rest of the world, which is primarily deep reddish-brown with tan markings.

The breed is believed to have been created from several different breeds of dogs that had the characteristics that Dobermann was looking for. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain, although many experts believe that the Dobermann is a combination of several breeds including the [[Beauceron]], [[German Pinscher]], [[Rottweiler]] and [[Weimaraner]].<ref name="Breeds">{{cite web |url= http://www.dpca.org/breed/breed_history.htm |title= Breed history |publisher= Dobermann Pinscher Club of America |access-date= 24 August 2016 |archive-date= 18 February 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160218235554/http://www.dpca.org/breed/breed_history.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> The single exception is the documented crossing with the [[Greyhound]] and [[Manchester Terrier]]. It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd was the single largest contributor to the Dobermann breed. Philip Greunig's ''The Dobermann Pinscher'' (1939) describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, who helped to establish the breed.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} The [[American Kennel Club]] believes the breeds utilized to develop the Dobermann Pinscher may have included the old shorthaired shepherd, Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier and the German Pinscher.<ref name="Get to Know the Doberman Pinscher"/>

The other gene having the recessive allele, while the first one retains the dominant, produces the ''blue'' (grey) Dobermann, whereas the least likely combination of both color genes having recessive alleles produces ''fawn'', which is a light tan color, often called ''isabella''.

After Dobermann's death in 1894, the Germans named the breed Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the word 'pinscher' on the grounds that this German word for 'terrier' was no longer appropriate. The British did the same a few years later; now the US and Canada are the only countries who continue to use Pinscher and have dropped an "n" from Dobermann's surname.<ref name="Breeds" />

In the 1970s, a fifth color of Dobermann, dubbed the ''white'' Dobermann, was born and she was subsequently bred to her son who was also bred to his litter sisters. This tight inbreeding went on for some time so certain breeders could "fix" the mutation, which has been widely marketed. Dobermanns of this color possess a genetic [[mutation]], which prevents its pigment proteins from being manufactured, regardless of the [[genotypes]] of either of the two color genes; that is, it is an [[albino]]. Though many potential Dobermann owners find the color beautiful, albino Dobermanns, like albinos of other species, face increased risk of [[cancer]] and other diseases and should avoid sun exposure as much as possible. The popularity of the white Dobermann has died down dramatically as the risks have become known, with many people even calling for an end to the breeding and marketing of the white Dobermann, because they perceive it as cruelty to the animal. Some countries have made the purposeful breeding of the white Dobermann illegal, but breeders who care and take note of the ancestors can avoid breeding albinos as they are all descended from the original bitch.

During [[World War II]], the [[United States Marine Corps]] adopted the Doberman Pinscher as its official [[war dog]], although the Corps did not exclusively use this breed in the role.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===Tails===

What may come as a surprise to people who are used to seeing Dobermann tails that are just a couple of inches long, is that the Dobermann is actually born with a tail that is longer than that of most breeds of dog. Typically, a Doberman Pinscher undergoes [[docking]], a procedure in which the majority of its tail is cut off within days after its birth. The rationale for this is that it is the "look" that the dog is supposed to have, since it was the way Louis Dobermann originally envisioned the dog. It also gives the dog an appearance of ferocity and toughness.

In 2013 a list of breeds by annual number of registrations, based on a survey of member clubs of the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]], placed the Dobermann 26th, with {{val|20941}} new registrations per year.{{r|skk}} Statistics compiled by the AKC for 2009 placed the Doberman Pinscher 15th, with {{val|10233}} registrations in that year.{{r|akcstat}} In the fifteen years from 2009 to 2023 the average number of puppies whelped per year in Germany was approximately {{val|535}}, representing just over {{val|1|u=%}} of the average total number of births for all breeds, recorded at slightly more than {{val|77000}} per year.{{r|vdh2}}

Aside from these more vain reasons of putting the animals through a procedure that many view as inhumane, one practical reason for docking the tail is that it removes what would be a convenient "handle" for a criminal or attacker to grab when the Dobermann is performing its guard or police work. Another reason is that dogs with the type of tails that the Dobermann has (long with little hair or flesh over the tail bones) have a very common occurrence of "broken tail". Broken tail may range from the actual tail bones being broken to the more common skin injuries that are very difficult to heal because of the difficulty of bandaging or protecting the tail. Broken tail is often a self inflicted injury caused by the Dobermann enthusiastically wagging its long tail, regardless of the objects it is hitting with it.

== Characteristics ==

Regardless of people's beliefs on this matter, few Dobermann purchasers have a choice on the length of their Dobermann's tail; docking must be done soon after the dog's birth, which means that the breeder nearly always makes the decision, before their dogs are even put on the market.

The Dobermann is a medium-large dog of [[pinscher]] type.{{r|fci}} Dogs stand some {{val|68|–|72|u=cm}} at the [[withers]], with a weight usually in the range {{val|40|–|45|u=kg}}; bitches are considerably smaller, with height and weight ranges of {{val|63|–|68|u=cm}} and {{val|32|–|35|u=kg}} respectively.{{r|fci2|vdh}} It is a [[working dog]], and registration is subject to completion of a [[working trial]].{{r|fci}}

===Ears===

This is not true, however, of Dobermann [[docking|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.

It was originally intended as a guard dog,<ref name="akc">{{cite web

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).

| publisher = American Kennel Club

| url = http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm

| title = American Kennel Club: Doberman Pinscher breed standard.

| access-date = 4 February 2009

| archive-date = 9 February 2015

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150209073438/http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/index.cfm

| url-status = live

}}</ref><ref name="ckc">{{cite web

| url=http://www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Shows-Trials/Breed-Standards/Group-3-Working/DBP-Doberman-Pinscher

| title=Canadian Kennel Club: Doberman Pinscher breed standard.

| quote=Size: "Males, decidedly masculine, without coarseness. Females, decidedly feminine, without over-refinement."

| access-date=2 May 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205083203/http://www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Shows-Trials/Breed-Standards/Group-3-Working/DBP-Doberman-Pinscher

| archive-date=5 December 2014

| url-status=dead

}}</ref> so males typically have a muscular and intimidating appearance.<ref name="akc"/><ref name="ckc"/>

=== Color ===

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 [[dog show|breed shows]] Dobermanns are allowed to compete only if they have the traditional look.

[[File:Fawndobermannpincher.webp|alt=Fawn Dobermann Pinscher with cropped ears|thumb|Fawn Dobermann Pinscher with cropped ears]]

[[File:Doberman blue, purebred CKC.JPG|alt=Blue Dobermann|thumb|Blue Dobermann]]

Two different color genes exist in the Dobermann: one for ''black'' (B) and one for ''color dilution'' (D). There are nine possible combinations of these [[allele]]s, which can result in four different color [[phenotypes]]: black, blue, red, and [[Fawn (colour)|fawn]] (Isabella).<ref name="DPCA-color">{{cite web

| url=http://dpca.org/breed/breed_color.htm

| publisher=Doberman Pinscher Club of America

| title=Color Chart

| access-date=23 March 2007

| archive-date=9 April 2009

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409094257/http://dpca.org/breed/breed_color.htm

| url-status=live

}}</ref> The traditional and most common color occurs when both the color and dilution genes have at least one [[Dominant gene|dominant]] allele (i.e., BBDD, BBDd, BbDD or BbDd) and is commonly referred to as ''black'', ''black and rust,'' or ''black and tan''. The ''red'', ''red rust,'' or ''brown'' coloration occurs when the black gene has two [[Recessive gene|recessive]] alleles but the dilution gene has at least one dominant allele (i.e., bbDD, bbDd). The ''blue'' Dobermann has the color gene with at least one dominant allele and the dilution gene with both recessive alleles (i.e., BBdd or Bbdd). The ''fawn'' coloration is the least common, occurring only when both the color and dilution genes have two recessive alleles (i.e., bbdd). Thus, the blue color is a diluted black, and the fawn color is a diluted red.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Expression of the color dilution gene is a disorder called [[Canine follicular dysplasia|color dilution alopecia]], a kind of canine follicular dysplasia. Although not life-threatening, these dogs can develop skin problems.<ref name="dilution">{{cite journal

| doi=10.1111/j.1365-3164.1990.tb00089.x

| title=Colour Dilution Alopecia in Doberman Pinschers with Blue or Fawn Coat Colours: A Study on the Incidence and Histopathology of this Disorder

| last=Miller

| first=William H. Jr.

| journal = Veterinary Dermatology

| volume=1

| issue=3

| pages=113–122

| year=2008

| url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3164.1990.tb00089.x

| access-date=20 November 2024

| pmid=34644836

| url-access=subscription

}}</ref>

White Doberman are cream in color with blue eyes and pink noses, paw pads, and eye rims. The first white Doberman was born in 1976.<ref name="DPCA-albino">{{cite web

| url=http://dpca.org/albino/albino_about.htm

| publisher=Doberman Pinscher Club of America

| title=What is an Albino Doberman

| access-date=25 March 2007

| archive-date=9 April 2009

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409093848/http://dpca.org/albino/albino_about.htm

| url-status=live

}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2024}} White Doberman were identified as albino, and the condition is caused by a partial deletion in the [[SLC45A2]] gene.<ref>{{cite journal

| doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0092127

| title=A Partial Gene Deletion of SLC45A2 Causes Oculocutaneous Albinism in Doberman Pinscher Dogs

| author=Winkler PA

| journal = PLOS ONE

| volume=9

| year=2014

| issue=3

| pages=e92127

| pmid=24647637

| pmc=3960214

| bibcode=2014PLoSO...992127W

| doi-access=free

}}</ref> Although albino Doberman are prone to suffer long term issues including photosensitivity/photophobia, skin lesions/tumors, and solar skin damage, there is no evidence suggesting this mutation causes deafness.<ref>{{cite web|title=Can dogs be albino|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-be-albino/|publisher=American Kennel Club|access-date = 31 August 2024 }}</ref>

=== Tail ===

[[File:Jean Dark Snö of Sweden.jpg|thumb|Dobermann with full tail]]

[[File:Doberman Pinschers black and blue.jpg|thumb|Blue Dobermann with docked tail]]

The Dobermann's natural tail is fairly long, but individual dogs often have a short tail as a result of docking, a procedure in which the majority of the tail is surgically removed shortly after birth.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The practice of docking has been around for centuries and is older than the Dobermann as a breed.<ref name="gudas">{{cite book

| first1=Raymond |last1=Gudas |first2=Betsy |last2=Sikora Siino |title=Doberman Pinschers: Everything about purchase, care, nutrition, training and behavior

| publisher=Barron's Educational Series

| year=2005

}}</ref> The historical reason for docking is to ensure that the tail does not get in the way of the dog's work.<ref name="gudas"/> Docking and cropping (see below) have been written out of the Breed Standard by FCI and the International Dobermann Club (IDC), and dogs born after 2016 will not be allowed to participate in FCI or IDC shows without a full tail and natural ears.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} In the UK, dogs with docked tails have been banned from show for a number of years{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} and the practice is now illegal for native born dogs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Welfare Act 2006 Section 6 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/notes/division/7/2/3 |website=Legislation.gov.uk |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> Docking is illegal in all European Union states,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 125 |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=signatures-by-treaty&treatynum=125 |website=Council of Europe |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> as well as Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Is the tail docking of dogs legal in Australia? |url=https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/is-the-tail-docking-of-dogs-legal-in-australia/ |website=Royal Australian Society for the Protection of Animals |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> The AKC standard for Doberman Pinschers includes a tail docked near the 2nd [[vertebra]].<ref name="akc"/>

=== Ears ===

[[File:Dobermann Black and Tan "Vito".jpg|alt=Traditional black and tan Dobermann with ears cropped|thumb|Traditional black and tan Dobermann with ears cropped]]

Some owners crop Dobermann's ears.<ref name="Pagan">{{cite web|url=http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/ear-cropping-and-tail-docking|access-date=1 September 2016|title=Ear cropping and tail docking: Should you or shouldn't you?|author=Pagan, C.|publisher=WebMD|archive-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902052952/http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/ear-cropping-and-tail-docking|url-status=live}}</ref> The Doberman Pinscher Club of America requires that ears be "normally cropped and carried erect" for conformation.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Doberman – Breed Standard|url=http://dpca.org/breed/breed_standard.htm|work=DPCA|access-date=14 January 2013|archive-date=24 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124071252/http://dpca.org/breed/breed_standard.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Like tail docking, ear cropping is illegal in many countries<ref name="CFHS">{{cite web|url=http://cfhs.ca/athome/ear_cropping_and_tail_docking|title=Ear cropping and tail docking|publisher=The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies/Fédération des sociétés canadiennes d'assistance aux animaux (CFHS/FSCAA)|access-date=29 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909124714/http://cfhs.ca/athome/ear_cropping_and_tail_docking/|archive-date=9 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has never been legal in some Commonwealth countries.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

== Intelligence ==

[[Dog intelligence|Canine intelligence]] is an umbrella term that encompasses the faculties involved in a wide range of mental tasks, such as learning, problem-solving, and communication. The Doberman Pinscher has been ranked amongst the most intelligent dog breeds in experimental studies and expert evaluations. Psychologist [[Stanley Coren]] ranks the Dobermann as the 5th most intelligent dog in the category of ''[[Obedience training|obedience command training]],'' based on the selective surveys answered by experienced trainers (as documented in his book ''[[The Intelligence of Dogs]]''). Additionally, in two studies, Hart and Hart (1985) ranked the Doberman Pinscher first in the same category,<ref name="hart">

{{cite journal

| author1=Hart, B.L. |author2=Hart, L.A. |title=Selecting pet dogs on the basis of cluster analysis of breed behavior profiles and gender

| journal=J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.

| volume=186

| issue=11

| pages=1181–1185

| year=1985

|doi=10.2460/javma.1985.186.11.1181 | pmid=4008297

}}</ref> and Tortora (1980) gave the Dobermann the highest rank in general trainability.<ref name="tortora1980">{{cite journal

| title=Animal behavior therapy: the behavioral diagnosis and treatment of dominance-motivated aggression in canines. 1 [Dogs]

| author=Tortora, D.F.

| year=1980

| journal=Canine Practice

| issn=0094-4904

| volume=7

}}</ref>

== 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.

Although they are considered to be working dogs, Dobermanns are often stereotyped as being ferocious and aggressive.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1958/05/12/577801/the-doberman-pinscher-darlingor-devil|title=The Doberman pinscher: darling...or devil?|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=14 June 2018|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171358/https://www.si.com/vault/1958/05/12/577801/the-doberman-pinscher-darlingor-devil|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4141/db14ko.jpg]]

[[File:Dobermannwurf.jpg|thumb|right|Doberman Pinscher puppies]]

There is some evidence that Doberman Pinschers in North America have a calmer and more even temperament than their European counterparts because of the breeding strategies employed by American breeders.<ref name="coren">{{cite book

| title=Why does my dog act that way?

| last=Coren

| first=Stanley

| publisher=Simon & Schuster

| year=2006

| isbn=0-7432-7706-6

| url=https://archive.org/details/whydoesmydogactt00core

}}</ref> Despite this, the American breed standard states that, for purposes of determining of conformation fault, aggression and belligerence by a Doberman toward other dogs is not counted as viciousness.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Doberman – Breed Standard|url=http://dpca.org/breed/breed_standard.htm|work=DPCA|access-date=14 January 2013|archive-date=24 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124071252/http://dpca.org/breed/breed_standard.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

There is a great deal of scientific evidence that Doberman Pinschers have a number of stable psychological traits, such as certain personality factors and intelligence. As early as 1965, studies have shown that there are several broad behavioral traits that significantly predict behavior and are genetically determined.<ref name="scott">{{cite book

| last1=Scott

| first1=John Paul

| last2=Fuller

| first2=John L.

| year=1975

| title=Dog Behavior: the Genetic Basis<!-- new edition of Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, published in 1965 -->

| ___location=Chicago and London

| publisher=University of Chicago Press

| isbn=0-226-74335-7

| url=https://archive.org/details/dogbehaviorgenet00scot

| via=Internet Archive

}}</ref> Subsequently, there have been numerous scientific attempts to quantify canine [[Personality psychology|personality]] or temperament by using [[factor Analysis|statistical]] techniques for assessing personality traits in humans. These studies often vary in terms of the personality factors they focus on and in terms of ranking breeds differently along these dimensions. One such study found that Doberman Pinschers, compared to other breeds, rank high in playfulness, average in curiosity/fearlessness, low on aggressiveness, and low on sociability.<ref>{{cite journal

| journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science

| title=Breed-typical behaviour in dogs—Historical remnants or recent constructs?

| last=Svartberg

| first=Kenth

| year=2006

| doi=10.1016/j.applanim.2005.06.014

| volume=96

| issue=3–4

| pages=293–313

| citeseerx=10.1.1.515.7023

| s2cid=512233

}}</ref> Another such study ranked Doberman Pinschers low on reactivity/surgence and high on aggression/disagreeableness and openness/trainability.<ref name="draper">

{{citation

| last=Draper

| first=Thomas

| year=1995

| title=Canine analogs of human personality factors

| journal=Journal of General Psychology

| volume=122

| issue=3

| doi=10.1080/00221309.1995.9921236

| pmid=7650520

| pages=241–252

}}</ref>

In addition to the studies of canine personality, there has been some research to determine whether there are breed differences in aggression. In a study published in 2008, aggression was divided into four categories: aggression directed at strangers, owner, strange dogs, and rivalry with other household dogs.<ref name="duffy2008">{{cite journal|

journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science|

title=Breed differences in canine aggression|

author1=Duffy DL|

author2=Hsu Y|

author3=Serpell JA|

year=2008|

url=http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/Breed%20Differences%20in%20canine%20aggression.pdf|

volume=114|

issue=3–4|

doi=10.1016/j.applanim.2008.04.006|

pages=441–460|

access-date=24 August 2010|

archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717155637/http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/Breed%20Differences%20in%20canine%20aggression.pdf|

archive-date=17 July 2011|

url-status=dead}}</ref> This study found that the Doberman Pinscher ranked relatively high on stranger-directed aggression, but extremely low on owner-directed aggression. The Doberman Pinscher ranked as average on dog-directed aggression and dog rivalry. Looking only at bites and attempted bites, Doberman Pinschers rank as far less aggressive towards humans and show less aggression than many breeds without a reputation (e.g., [[Cocker Spaniel]], [[Dalmatian (dog)|Dalmatian]], and [[Great Dane]]). This study concluded that aggression has a genetic basis, that the Dobermann shows a distinctive pattern of aggression depending on the situation and that contemporary Doberman Pinschers are not an aggressive breed overall.<ref name="duffy2008"/>

According to the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC), between 1979 and 1998, the Doberman Pinscher was involved in attacks on humans resulting in fatalities less frequently than several other dog breeds such as [[Pit bull]]s, [[German Shepherd|German Shepherd Dogs]], [[Rottweiler]]s, [[Husky]]-type dogs, [[Wolfdog|wolf-dog hybrid]]s and [[Alaskan Malamute]]s.<ref name="CDC">[https://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf US Centers for Disease Control: Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623055336/http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf |date=23 June 2011 }}. Retrieved 25 March 2007</ref><ref>{{cite journal|

journal=JAVMA|

volume=217|

title=Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998 |first1=Jeffrey J. |last1=Sacks |first2=Leslie |last2=Sinclair |first3=Julie |last3=Gilchrist |first4=Gail C. |last4=Golab |first5=Randall |last5=Lockwood }}</ref> According to this CDC study, one of the most important factors contributing to dog bites is the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.<ref>{{cite journal

| journal=Pediatrics

| year=1996

| title=Fatal dog attacks, 1989–1994

| last1=Sacks

| first1=JJ

| pmid=8657532

| last2=Lockwood

| first2=R

| last3=Hornreich

| first3=J

| last4=Sattini

| first4=RW

| volume=97

| issue=6 Pt 1

| pages=891–5

| doi=10.1542/peds.97.6.891

| s2cid=245088140

| display-authors=etal}}</ref>

== Health ==

===Life expectancy===

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11.2 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for [[Mongrel|crossbreeds]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=McMillan | first1=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=531| pmid=38302530 | pmc=10834484 | bibcode=2024NatSR..14..531M }}</ref> A 2024 Italian study found a life expectancy of 8 years for the breed compared to 10 years overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Roccaro | first1=Mariana | last2=Salini | first2=Romolo | last3=Pietra | first3=Marco | last4=Sgorbini | first4=Micaela | last5=Gori | first5=Eleonora | last6=Dondi | first6=Maurizio | last7=Crisi | first7=Paolo E. | last8=Conte | first8=Annamaria | last9=Dalla Villa | first9=Paolo | last10=Podaliri | first10=Michele | last11=Ciaramella | first11=Paolo | last12=Di Palma | first12=Cristina | last13=Passantino | first13=Annamaria | last14=Porciello | first14=Francesco | last15=Gianella | first15=Paola | last16=Guglielmini | first16=Carlo | last17=Alborali | first17=Giovanni L. | last18=Rota Nodari | first18=Sara | last19=Sabatelli | first19=Sonia | last20=Peli | first20=Angelo | title=Factors related to longevity and mortality of dogs in Italy | journal=Preventive Veterinary Medicine | volume=225 | date=2024 | doi=10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106155 | page=106155| doi-access=free | pmid=38394961 | hdl=11585/961937 | hdl-access=free }}</ref> A 2005 Swedish study of insurance data found 68% of Dobermann died by the age of 10, higher than the overall rate of 35% of dogs dying by the age of 10.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Egenvall | first1=A | last2=Bonnett | first2=Bn | last3=Hedhammar | first3=å | last4=Olson | first4=P | title=Mortality in over 350,000 Insured Swedish Dogs from 1995–2000: II. Breed-Specific Age and Survival Patterns and Relative Risk for Causes of Death | journal=Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica | volume=46 | issue=3 | date=2005-09-30 | pages=121–136 | issn=1751-0147 | pmid=16261925 | pmc=1624818 | doi=10.1186/1751-0147-46-121 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Cardiac health===

[[Cardiomyopathies]] are a common problem for the breed.<ref name="endo"/> and cardiac issues are a common cause of death in the breed with 15% of deaths being cardiac related according to a UK survey.<ref name="KC survey">{{cite journal | last1=Adams | first1=V. J. | last2=Evans | first2=K. M. | last3=Sampson | first3=J. | last4=Wood | first4=J. L. N. | title=Methods and mortality results of a health survey of purebred dogs in the UK | journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice | volume=51 | issue=10 | date=2010-10-01 | doi=10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.00974.x | pages=512–524| pmid=21029096 }}</ref> Data from the University of Purdue Medical Veterinary Database found the breed to be predisposed to [[dilated cardiomyopathy]] (DCM) with 5.8% of Dobermanns having the condition.<ref>Sisson D, O’Grady MR, Calvert CA. Myocardial diseases of dogs. In: Fox PR, Sisson D,

Moise NS, editors. Textbook of canine and feline cardiology: principles and clinical

practice. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1999. p. 581–619</ref> Another study in America found a prevalence of 7.32% for the condition.<ref name="bellumori">{{cite journal | last1=Bellumori | first1=Thomas P. | last2=Famula | first2=Thomas R. | last3=Bannasch | first3=Danika L. | last4=Belanger | first4=Janelle M. | last5=Oberbauer | first5=Anita M. | title=Prevalence of inherited disorders among mixed-breed and purebred dogs: 27,254 cases (1995–2010) | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | volume=242 | issue=11 | date=2013-06-01 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.242.11.1549 | pages=1549–1555| pmid=23683021 }}</ref> An English study of 369 cases found the Dobermann make up 16% of those.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Martin | first1=M. W. S. | last2=Stafford Johnson | first2=M. J. | last3=Celona | first3=B. | title=Canine dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study of signalment, presentation and clinical findings in 369 cases | journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice | volume=50 | issue=1 | date=2009 | issn=0022-4510 | doi=10.1111/j.1748-5827.2008.00659.x | pages=23–29| pmid=19037887 }}</ref> This disease impacts Dobermanns more severely than other breeds with an average survival time of 52 days compared to 240 days for other breeds.<ref name="c2">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S1760-2734(06)70019-4 |title= Dilated cardiomyopathy in the Dobermann dog: survival, causes of death and a pedigree review in a related line |first1= Aleksandra| last1= Domanjko-Petrič |first2= Polona |last2= Stabej | first3= A. |last3= Žemva |journal=Journal of Veterinary Cardiology |year=2002 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=17–24 |pmid=19081342}}</ref> This is possibly due to the type of DCM that affects the Dobermann differing.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O'Grady | first1=Michael R. | last2=O'Sullivan | first2=M.Lynne | title=Dilated cardiomyopathy: an update | journal=Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice | volume=34 | issue=5 | date=2004 | doi=10.1016/j.cvsm.2004.05.009 | pages=1187–1207| pmid=15325477 }}</ref> Research has shown that the breed is affected by an attenuated wavy fiber type of DCM that affects many other breeds,<ref name="tidholm"/> as well as an additional fatty infiltration-degenerative type that appears to be specific to Dobermann Pinscher and [[Boxer (dog)|Boxer]] breeds.<ref name="tidholm">

{{cite journal

| journal=Veterinary Pathology

| volume=42

| issue=1

| year=2005

| title=Histologic Characterization of Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy

| first1= A.| last1= Tidholm | first2= L. |last2= Jönsson |doi=10.1354/vp.42-1-1

|pmid=15657266

| pages=1–8

| s2cid=15431327

}}</ref>

This serious disease is likely to be fatal in most Dobermanns affected.<ref name="tidholm" />

Roughly a quarter of Dobermann Pinschers who develop cardiomyopathy die suddenly from seemingly unknown causes,<ref name="tidholm"/><ref name="calvert97">

{{cite journal

| journal = J Am Vet Med Assoc

| year= 1997

| volume = 210

| title=Clinical and pathologic findings in Dobermanns with occult cardiomyopathy that died suddenly or developed congestive heart failure: 54 cases (1984–1991)

| author1=Calvert CA |author2=Hall G |author3=Jacobs G |author4=Pickus C. | doi= 10.2460/javma.1997.210.04.505

}}</ref><ref name="chf"/> and an additional fifty percent die of [[congestive heart failure]].<ref name="chf">

{{cite journal

| journal = Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

| year = 2000

| volume=216

| doi=10.2460/javma.2000.216.34

| title=Association between results of ambulatory electrocardiography and development of cardiomyopathy during long-term follow-up of Doberman Pinschers

| author1= Calvert CA |author2= Jacobs GJ |author3= Smith DD |author4= Rathbun SL |author5= Pickus CW |pages = 34–39

| pmid = 10638315

| issue = 1

| doi-access= free

}}</ref> Among female Dobermanns, the sudden death manifestation of the disease is more common, whereas males tend to develop congestive heart failure.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dutton|first1=E.|last2=López-Alvarez|first2=J.|date=2018-04-17|title=An update on canine cardiomyopathies – is it all in the genes?|journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice|volume=59|issue=8|pages=455–464 |language= en| doi= 10.1111/jsap.12841| pmid=29665072| issn=0022-4510|doi-access=free}}</ref> In addition to being more prevalent in Dobermanns, this disease is also more serious in the breed. Following a diagnosis, the average non-Dobermann has an expected survival time of 8 months; for Dobermann Pinschers, however, the expected survival time is less than two months.<ref name="c2"/> Although the causes for the disease are largely unknown, there is evidence that it is a familial disease inherited as an [[Dominance (genetics)|autosomal dominant trait]].<ref name="familial">

{{cite journal

| journal=J Vet Intern Med

| year=2007

| volume=21

| title=A prospective genetic evaluation of familial dilated cardiomyopathy in the Doberman pinscher

| author1= Meurs KM |author2=Fox PR |author3=Norgard M |author4=Spier AW |author5=Lamb A |author6=Koplitz SL |author7=Baumwart RD. | issue=5

| pages=1016–1020

| doi=10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.tb03058.x

| pmid=17939558

| doi-access=}}</ref>

===Dermatology===

The Dobermann is predisposed to the following [[dermatological]] conditions: [[acral lick dermatitis]]; [[pyoderma|chin pyoderma]], acne, or [[folliculitis]]; [[Drug eruption|cutaneous drug eruption]]s; [[colour dilution alopecia]]; [[demodicosis]]; [[follicular dysplasia]]; {{ill|interdigital haemorrhagic bulla|qid=Q131298158|s=1|v=sup}}, pedal [[furunculosis]] or [[cyst]]; [[pemphigus foliaceus]]; and [[vitiligo]].<ref name="dermatology">{{cite book | last1=Hnilica | first1=Keith A. | last2=Patterson | first2=Adam P. | title=Small Animal Dermatology | publisher=Saunders | publication-place=St. Louis (Miss.) | date=2016-09-19 | isbn=978-0-323-37651-8 | page=}}</ref>

===Other conditions===

Other conditions that the breed is predisposed to include: [[von Willebrand's disease]],<ref name="UPEI">{{cite web

| url = http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/breeds/doberman2.htm

| title = Doberman Pinscher

| via = UPEI.ca

| publisher = [[University of Prince Edward Island]]

| work = Canine Inherited Disorders Database

| access-date = 25 March 2007

| archive-date = 5 November 2013

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105081600/http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/breeds/doberman2.htm

| url-status = live

}}</ref> and [[prostatic disease]].<ref name="krawiec">{{cite journal

| journal=J Am Vet Med Assoc

| year=1992

| volume=200

| pages=1119–22

| title=Study of prostatic disease in dogs: 177 cases (1981–1986)

| author1=Krawiec DR |author2=Heflin D. | issue=8

| doi=10.2460/javma.1992.200.08.1119

| pmid=1376729

}}</ref> Canine [[Animal psychopathology#Obsessive compulsive disorder .28OCD.29|compulsive disorder]] was found to be prevalent in 28% of Dobermanns in one study.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Ogata |first=Niwako| author2= Gillis, Timothy E.|author3=Liu, Xiaoxu| author4=Cunningham, Suzanne M.|author5= Lowen, Steven B. |author6= Adams, Bonnie L. |author7= Sutherland-Smith, James| author8= Mintzopoulos, Dionyssios|author9=Janes, Amy C.|author10=Dodman, Nicholas H.|author11=Kaufman, Marc J.|title=Brain structural abnormalities in Dobermann Pinschers with canine compulsive disorder|journal=Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry| year= 2013 |volume= 45|pages=1–6 |doi= 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.04.002|pmid=23590875|s2cid=4107434| quote= CCD is highly prevalent among Dobermans, with an estimated incidence of about 28% in a database including over 2300 dogs (personal communication, Andrew Borgman, Statistical Analyst, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI)}}</ref> The breed is predisposed to [[Hypothyroidism in dogs|hypothyroidism]]<ref name="dermatology"/><ref name="endo">{{cite book |author1-first=J. Catherine |author1-last=Scott-Moncrieff |editor1-last=Feldman | editor1-first=Edward C. | editor2-last=Nelson | editor2-first=Richard W. | editor3-last=Reusch | editor3-first=Claudia | editor4-last=Scott-Moncrieff | editor4-first=J. Catharine |title=Canine and feline endocrinology |date=2015 |publisher=Elsevier Saunders |___location=St. Louis, Missouri |isbn=978-1-4557-4456-5 |edition=Fourth |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9781455744565/canine-and-feline-endocrinology |chapter=Hypothyroidism| publication-place=St. Louis, Missouri | page=91}}</ref> with one US study finding 6.3% of Dobermanns to have the condition compared to 1.54% for mixed-breeds.<ref name="bellumori"/> The Dobermann is also predisposed to [[gastric dilatation volvulus]].<ref>{{cite journal | last=Bell | first=Jerold S. | title=Inherited and Predisposing Factors in the Development of Gastric Dilatation Volvulus in Dogs | journal=Topics in Companion Animal Medicine | volume=29 | issue=3 | date=2014 | doi=10.1053/j.tcam.2014.09.002 | pages=60–63| pmid=25496921 }}</ref> A study of 295 cases in America found 6.1% of cases to belong to the Dobermann.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Brockman | first1=Daniel J. | last2=Washabau | first2=Robert J. | last3=Drobatz | first3=Kenneth J. | title=Canine gastric dilatation/volvulus syndrome in a veterinary critical care unit: 295 cases (1986–1992) | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | volume=207 | issue=4 | date=1995-08-15 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.1995.207.04.0460 | pages=460–464| pmid=7591946 }}</ref> Another American study of 1,934 cases found an odds ratio of 5.5 for the Dobermann.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Glickman | first1=Lawrence T. | last2=Glickman | first2=Nita W. | last3=Pérez | first3=Cynthia M. | last4=Schellenberg | first4=Diana B. | last5=Lantz | first5=Gary C. | title=Analysis of risk factors for gastric dilatation and dilatation-volvulus in dogs | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | volume=204 | issue=9 | date=1994-05-01 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.1994.204.09.1465 | pages=1465–1471| pmid=8050972 }}</ref>

===Skeletal conditions===

A North American study reviewing over a million dogs examined at veterinary teaching hospitals found the Dobermann to have a noticeably lower prevalence of [[Canine hip dysplasia|hip dysplasia]] with 1.34% of Dobermanns having hip dysplasia compared to 3.52% overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Witsberger | first1=Tige H. | last2=Villamil | first2=J. Armando | last3=Schultz | first3=Loren G. | last4=Hahn | first4=Allen W. | last5=Cook | first5=James L. | title=Prevalence of and risk factors for hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | volume=232 | issue=12 | date=2008-06-15 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.232.12.1818 | pages=1818–1824| pmid=18598150 }}</ref> Another North American study of over 1,000,000 and 250,000 hip and elbow scans found the Dobermann to be among the 15 breeds least likely to have both hip and [[elbow dysplasia]]. 5.7% of Dobermanns over the age of 2 years had hip dysplasia and 0.8% had elbow dysplasia.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Oberbauer | first1=A. M. | last2=Keller | first2=G. G. | last3=Famula | first3=T. R. | title=Long-term genetic selection reduced prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in 60 dog breeds | journal=PLOS ONE | publisher=Public Library of Science (PLoS) | volume=12 | issue=2 | date=2017-02-24 | issn=1932-6203 | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0172918 | doi-access=free | page=e0172918| pmid=28234985 | pmc=5325577 | bibcode=2017PLoSO..1272918O }}</ref>

A US study of the records of over 90,000 dogs found the Dobermann to be predisposed to {{ill|intervertebral disc disease|qid=Q131298172|s=1|v=sup}} (IVDD), with 12.7% of Dobermanns having the condition compared to 4.43% for [[Mongrel|mixed-breed]]s.<ref name="bellumori"/>

== See also ==

* [[Choking Doberman]]

==Notes==

{{Notelist | refs=

{{efn|name = a| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|oʊ|b|ər|m|ə|n}}; {{IPA|de|ˈdoːbɐman|audio=De-Dobermann.ogg}}}}

}}

== References ==

{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=akcstat>[s.n.] (2016). [https://web.archive.org/web/20230714131214/https://images.akc.org/pdf/archives/AKCregstats_1991-2008.pdf Dog Registration Statistics 1991–2008]. New York: The American Kennel Club. Archived 14 July 2023.</ref>

==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]].

<ref name=fci>[https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/DOBERMANN-143.html FCI breeds nomenclature: Dobermann (143)]. Thuin, Belgium: Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed September 2024.</ref>

==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.

<ref name=fci2>[http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/143g02-en.pdf FCI-Standard N° 143: Dobermann]. Thuin, Belgium: Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed September 2024.</ref>

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.

<ref name=skk>[Svenska Kennelklubben] (2013). [https://web.archive.org/web/20221216042611/http://newsletter15.dogdotcom.be/en/skk.aspx Registration figures worldwide – from top thirty to endangered breeds]. ''FCI Newsletter'' 15. Thuin, Belgium: Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Archived 16 December 2022.</ref>

==Famous "Dobies"==

<ref name=vdh>[https://welpen.vdh.de/hunderassen/rasselexikon/ergebnis/dobermann Dobermann] (in German). Dortmund: Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen. Accessed September 2024.</ref>

*Blitz from [[Road Rovers]]

<ref name=vdh2>[https://www.vdh.de/ueber-den-vdh/welpenstatistik/ Welpenstatistik] (in German). Dortmund: Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen. Accessed September 2024.</ref>

}}

==Further reading==

{{refbegin|39em}}

* {{cite book

| title = The Dobermann Pinscher: History and Breed Development

| first1 = Philipp

| last1 =Gruenig

| year = 1939

| publisher = Orange Judd & Company

| ___location = New York

| oclc = 12437476

| translator-last1=Von Hoegen

| translator-first1=Maximilian

}}

* {{cite book

| title = The Doberman Pinscher: Brains and Beauty

| last1 = Walker

| first1 = Joanna

| last2 = Humphries

| first2 = Rod

| year = 1999

| publisher = Howell Book House

| ___location = New York

| isbn = 0876052162

| oclc=41580391

}}

{{refend}}

== External links ==

[[Category:Dog breeds]]

{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y}}

<!--- en:Dobermann --->

* {{Official website|https://www.idc-dobermann.com/en/|name=International Dobermann Club}}

{{Pinschers and Schnauzers}}

{{German dogs}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Germany]]

[[de:Dobermann]]

[[Category:FCI breeds]]

[[fr:Dobermann (chien)]]

[[he:דוברמן פינצ'ר]]

[[nl:Dobermann]]

[[pl:Doberman]]

[[pt:Dobermann]]

[[fi:Dobermann]]