The Doberman Pinscher is a breed of working dog that was developed in Apolda, Germany by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann in the late 19th century. It is believed that the Doberman was created by crossing several different breeds of dogs, including the Rottweiler, German Pinscher, Great Dane, German Shepherd Dog, Manchester Terrier and English Shorthair Greyhound. This mix of breeds has resulted in a strong, athletic and intelligent dog that is often used as a guard dog or companion. The breed standard describes the Dobermann as a medium-sized dog with a muscular build.
It is believed that the Weimaraner was used to give the Doberman its hunting, retrieving and smelling abilities. The Doberman Pinscher is an elegant and powerful dog that measures 24 to 28 inches (61 to 71 cm) and weighs 60 to 88 pounds (27 to 40 kg). When training a Doberman, it is important to remember that they are very intelligent and loyal dogs. Aggressiveness or shock collars should not be used as this can make them shy or angry.
Instead, they should be given plenty of attention, leadership and activity. This breed excels in agility courses and needs at least an hour of vigorous exercise each day. The Doberman Pinscher has been used in many roles throughout history, including K-9 police and military service, therapy dogs and service dogs for the disabled. During World War II, the United States Marine Corps adopted the Doberman Pinscher as its official war dog.
The DDP (Doberman Pinscher Club) works to reduce the incidence of hereditary diseases in the breed by addressing depression in the overall genetic diversity of the Doberman. Coupling is also commonly practiced on this breed, which involves surgically removing most of the tail shortly after birth.
