Doberman Pinscher
Breed Group: Working Group
Size Group: Big Dog Breeds
Origin: Germany
Height: 26”-28” (male) 24”-26” (female)
Weight: 75-100lbs (male) 60-90lbs (female)
Color: Black & rust, Blue & rust, Red & rust, Fawn & rust
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Temperament: Alert, steadfast, intelligent, spirited
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
The Doberman Pinscher strikes fear in the heart of any would be robber. These pups were bred for just that! German tax collector Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann created the breed as his sidekick and personal guard dog when he had to go about collecting. While the original Dobies, as they are affectionally known, were aggressive the breed has become quite the opposite.
Dobies need appropriate training and boundaries, or they will begin to express unsavory dominate traits. This breed has low maintenance grooming requirements. Traditionally Dobies have their tails docked and their ears cropped. In many areas these practices are becoming outlawed. While still permitted in the US, more and more owners are keeping their pup’s ears natural.
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Celebrity Owners
JFK, Nicholas Cage, Kevin Hart, Mariah Carey, Forest Whitaker, Beatrice Arthur, Priscilla Presley, William Shatner
Fun Facts
Grab the popcorn! “The Doberman Gang” is a 1972 film about a dog trainer that used 6 Doberman pups to rob a bank.
Health
Doberman pinschers are generally very healthy dogs. Some health conditions to be aware of include dilated cardiomyopathy, von Willebrand’s disease, Caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, bloat, albinism, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, and hip dysplasia.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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Grooming
Dobies do not require much upkeep. Brush your pup’s coat once a week to remove dead hair and redistribute naturally occurring skin oil. Your pup will only need a bath when he gets dirty or starts to smell. As with all dogs, keep your pup’s eyes and ears clean and clear of debris. Especially if you keep your pup’s ears in their natural state, as floppy-eared dogs are prone to ear infections. Trim your pup’s nail monthly and brush your pup’s teeth several times per week.
Cost
$1,000 – $2,500
Exercise
Dobies need at least an hour of activity every day. They love to run, walk, hike and play games with family. If you have a fenced in backyard your pup can spend hours entertaining himself where he is allowed to roam free. His short coat does not keep him protected from extreme cold, so be aware of the temperate during winter months. Many people fear this breed and it is always a good idea to keep your pup on a leash when out and about.
Nutrition
Your full-sized Doberman pinscher will eat around 3 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. Training your Dobie will keep him from being overly aggressive or timid. Some pups are aggressive with other dogs they do not know, keeping your dog on a leash is the best defense against a difficult situation.
These pups are highly trainable and respond best to positive reinforcement. Starting training early is key. It is easier to help a tiny puppy to respond correctly to commands than it is a full sized 90lb dog. You will need to assert yourself as the alpha of your relationship. A dog that senses weak leadership will often try to take over the pack.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Easily trained
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The "Ruff"
Can be aggressive with unknown dogs
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