Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Now for most folks who aren’t necessarily all that familiar with the Doberman Pinscher dog breed it may come as a surprise to learn that these dogs are really “sweet” animals to own.

And despite…

The fact that they may look a “bit” intimidating, they’re actually quite playful and friendly, not to mention SUPER smart.

Which is a bit ironic…

Because over the years, these dogs have often been put in “roles” which don’t often shed light on the fact that they can be great household pets and perfect companion animals for children of all ages.

This is why…

We wanted to take a moment and discuss what it’s like to actually own a Doberman Pinscher so that if you are considering possibly purchase a Doberman Pinscher puppy or better yet adopting a Doberman Pinscher rescue dog, you’ll know exactly what to expect if you do.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  Germany

Original Function:  Guard dog, personal protection.

Height:  24 to 28 inches

Weight:  65 to 90 pounds

Dog Breed Classification:  Working Dog

Lifespan:  10 to 13 years

Origin of the Doberman Pinscher Dog Breed

The Doberman Pinscher dog breed can trace its origin back to the mid 1800’s when a German “tax collector” by the name of Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann though it might be “prudent” to have a little extra protection with him while out on his “collection route”.

You see…

Back then, folks weren’t all that thrilled about paying their taxes just as most of us aren’t thrilled about it now!  Only back then, rather than simply “mail in” what you owe, folks actually had to submit their payment to a “tax collector”.

And in the case of…

Louis Dobermann, he just happened to be a “tax collector” who also owned a ran a dog pound.  So, needless to say, Louis Dobermann was quite familiar with a variety of different dog breeds and knew exactly which one’s would make a perfect “companion” animal while making his rounds.

And having ample…

Access to a wide variety of different dog breeds, Mr. Dobermann began “experiment” with dogs that he thought could meet his needs.  And while there are no “official” records describing which breeds were mixed to create the Doberman Pinscher, many experts speculate that the dog is a mix between the German Pinscher, the Rottweiler, and Black and Tan Terrier.

Physical Traits and Characteristics of Doberman Pinschers

Although the Doberman Pinschers weren’t bred for their looks, they still have unique features which we here at IndulgeYourPet find quite pleasant to look at!

Now this…

Medium-long breed is strong and muscular which features a long muzzle and if you look real closely you’ll notice that most of the time, these guys prefer to stand on their toes.

Giving even the…

Most casual observer the impression that this dog is ready for action.  Because simply put, this dog isn’t a “heavy-footed” dog, they are built for action!

And while…

Most Dobermans will tend to be back or black rust colored, it’s not uncommon to see a variety of other colors as well including:

• Blue
• Red or red rust
• Fawn
• Brown

One thing that we…

Should mention particularly after going into so much detail about the history of the Doberman Pinscher breed is that “modern” Dobermans are much slimmer and sleeker than their earlier ancestors and the “temperament” of the dog has also changed over the years making him a much more “pleasant” companion.

Doberman Pinscher Temperament and Personality.

At it’s “core” the Doberman Pinscher dog is a trustworthy, loyal, playful, and fun-loving companion who is a natural protector and would go to any lengths to protect the members of his family.

That said however…

These dogs aren’t necessarily aggressive unless they absolutely have to be.  This is probably why they aren’t as popular as the should be because people who really want an “aggressive” dog won’t really be satisfied with a Doberman.

And those…

Afraid that the Doberman is too aggressive won’t take a chance on adopting one!

Which is probably…

Just fine for those who have owned Doberman’s in the past because they get to be the proud owners of one of the “dog world’s” best held secret which is these guys are totally awesome!

And…

Super easy to train too boot!  You see, these guys are super smart.  And since they love to be mentally and physically challenged by their owners, they make for perfect students in any dog obedience program.

In fact…

The only real worry you should have is if you don’t enroll one of these guys in a class or you don’t provide them with plenty of opportunities to run and play, your Doberman will find his own ways to release all of this energy.

And there…

Is a really good chance you won’t approve of how he “feels” he should “vent”!

Doberman Pinscher Health Concerns

Each and every dog breed is prone to getting some health disorders, and while we would love to tell you that these guys are a super healthy dog breed, the truth is they are prone to develop quite a few health issues which could make owing a Doberman Pinscher quite expensive.

That said however…

Assuming that you would with a “reputable” Doberman Pinscher breeder, many of the following disorders can be avoid.  Just be sure you ask your breeder about these conditions and where or not the parents of the puppy you’re considering has any of these conditions.

Common medical conditions that can affect the Doberman Pinscher breed can include:

• Von Willebrand’s Disease: This blood disorder doesn’t allow the dog’s blood to clot. Excessive bleeding after an injury or surgery is the biggest symptom. Others include bleeding gums, nose bleed, bleeding intestines, and stomach.
• Hip Dysplasia: The inherited condition in which the thigh bone doesn’t snugly fit the hip joint. This can cause pain and lameness in legs. Getting an X-ray is important to diagnose this condition.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This eye disease causes the gradual deterioration of the dog’s retina. Dogs that have this disease become night-blind and as the disease progresses, the dogs also lose their vision during the day.
• Hypothyroidism: This disorder affects the dog’s thyroid gland and leads to hair loss, epilepsy, obesity, dark patches on the skin, lethargy, and other conditions. It can be treated using diet and medicine.
• Wobblers Syndrome: This inherited condition affects the spinal cord compression which is caused due to cervical vertebral instability. The symptoms of this disorder include paralysis in the legs and neck pain.
• Cardiomyopathy: The disease affects the dog’s heart muscles and makes them weak and thin. The heart chambers widen due to the condition which lead to an abnormally large heart. This condition can lead to heart failure.
• Albinism: This genetic condition causes the dog to have no pigment. So, the Doberman Pinscher is white in color, with a pink nose and skin, and blue or light eyes. These dogs are sensitive to sunlight and develop various health problems.
• Color Mutant Alopecia: This condition can be seen in fawn or blue coat colors. Dogs born with conditions have a normal coat but start to show signs when they are 3 to 4 months old. The dog starts developing brittle hair and has patchy hair loss.
• Narcolepsy: the neurological disorder is caused due to the inability of the brain to regulate wake-sleep patterns. The dog may suddenly get sleepy at any time of the day and fall asleep.
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Commonly known as bloat, GDV is a potentially life threatening disease. This occurs when the dog’s stomach is distended with gas and twists on itself. This means that the dog isn’t able to pass the excess air out and needs immediate attention.

Now at this point…

You may be thinking to yourself…

“Wow, that’s a lot of things that can go wrong with a Doberman Pinscher!”

And in truth, you’re right.  But at the end of the day, things can go “wrong” with a lot of different types of dogs.

This is why…

Regardless of what “kind” of dog you ultimately decide to adopt, we always advise all of our readers to take a moment and consider what would happen to you and your new pet if you suddenly received a $2000 or $3000 dollar vet bill?

Would you be able to afford the care that your new pet would need?

If not, you might want to consider possibly purchasing a pet insurance policy on your animals so that if something like that ever occurred, you wouldn’t be on the “hook” for the full cost of care.

For more information about some of the pros and cons of owning a pet insurance policy as well as information on who we “feel” is currently offering some of the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry right now, we would encourage you to check out our Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies.