Doberman
Temperament:
The Doberman is a powerful and large dog. However, he has a loyal and lovable character. Despite this, however, he is very alert and shows quite a strong protective instinct. He can be a hundred percent reliable and gentle dog. But for that he depends on the expert treatment of his owner.
Characteristics
Muscular and strong with a proud and elegant attitude. The Doberman is not without reason called the "ideal image of a dog". The Doberman is recognized by the FCI and is assigned as a dog breed of group 2. Males grow to an average height of 60 cm and weigh around 32 kg; bitches, on the other hand, are a little smaller.
The dog breed has a rather elongated head. It particularly impresses with a supple and muscular body. In the past, the ears were often docked in order to make the ears stand upright. Likewise, the tail was often docked.
The Doberman has a short, shiny and smooth coat. The coat color varies from black, fawn, dark red and blue. Dobermans have a rust colored pattern on the face, chest and legs. The life expectancy of a Doberman averages 10 to 12 years.
As a well-behaved dog, the Doberman is quite a family dog. The elegant quadruped is born with a friendly character. Despite this, its size and guarding instinct can make it dangerous as an adult dog. However, this is true only if the Doberman is incorrectly raised or even trained.
Fond of children, affectionate and easy to lead on the leash. This is how the muscular dog shows itself when it has been well and lovingly trained. The Doberman is gentle, sensitive and compatible. He gets along well with other four-legged friends. In addition, he should be well socialized and imprinted from puppyhood.
Teaching a Doberman is pure joy. The dog is smart, obedient, athletic and enjoys learning tricks. He also likes to romp around in various dog sports like obedience or agility. The Doberman will join in all your activities. Even on the daily jogging round he accompanies you with pleasure.
However, the breed is not necessarily suitable for beginners. His intelligence and alertness can be dangerous if inconsistent education. He can make his own decisions, which are not always desirable.
Ideally, you should bring a Doberman puppy into your home at the age of eight weeks. Immediately you should start with a consistent education. So the dog knows from the beginning what he is allowed and what not. In addition, the dog is imprinted on you as a reference person. This makes the education much easier. Also, the relationship between man and dog is strengthened.
Socialization should begin at the dog breeder. The breeder should already acquaint the puppies with everyday noises. The puppies should also be used to strange people and animals. Therefore, before buying a thorough research is necessary so that you find a reputable breeder.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The needs as well as the demand on the food differ a lot. The food depends on the area of use and the activity of the Doberman. As a protection or guard dog in service, the energy requirement is rather high. The amount of food required increases with the level of activity.
Even as a family dog, the four-legged friend needs employment and always enough exercise. You can achieve this through various types of sports programs. Games and extensive walks together are also part of it.
Only through the extensive and regular workout the dog is calm. So he is balanced and after training quite satisfied with doing nothing. Of course, the powerhouse must be fed accordingly. But not only the activity and the breed bring special needs. Each individual quadruped has its characteristics and individual feed requirements.
The energy and nutrient requirements differ according to weight, size and activity. For very athletic dogs, the food should contain more carbohydrates. Whereas for less active dogs, a moderate carbohydrate content is recommended. This also prevents overweight.
In addition to the activity of the dog, the amount of food is crucial for the weight of the dog. An adjusted amount of nutrients ensures a balanced ratio. Feeding rewards and treats should be taken into account. The treats should be deducted from the food ration.
You can choose a dry food or a wet food for your dog. Also, these two types of food can be combined. This is a matter of taste for your dog.
Doberman care
The Doberman is particularly easy to care for. He has a very short-haired coat without a felting undercoat. The coat requires very little care. It does not need daily attention, as long-haired dogs often require.
The Doberman is already fully satisfied with an extensive brushing. This is done ideally once a week. A special curry comb or a soft dog brush is already enough. These clean the short coat from any dust as well as dirt. Regular brushing makes the coat shine beautifully. At the same time, brushing promotes blood circulation and stimulates the circulation. Also the sebum production is stimulated, so a beautiful shine is created.
The Doberman belongs to the low-maintenance dog breeds. In general, the dogs have little or hardly any hair. Nevertheless, you should not be an extreme cleanliness fanatic. Dog hair on the floor and furniture is simply part of everyday life with a dog in the house. If you want to reduce the hair, you can brush the dog once a day.
However, there are other grooming routines as well. You should include these in your daily routine with Doberman. Eyes, ears, mouth and teeth should be checked every few days. Paws and claws should also be briefly checked quietly once a day. Careful cleaning should be done as needed. This often takes only a few minutes. Nevertheless, it is an important contribution to the well-being and the well-groomed appearance.
Suitable accessories
Dobermans are particularly active and need exercise. If they are allowed to let off steam properly, they are happier and much more balanced. To exercise the dog, toys such as balls and Frisbees are suitable. These are available for purchase as accessory items for large dogs.
The four-legged friend is also well suited for all kinds of dog sports. For example, agility and obedience are best suited. Swimming or search and tracking games are also popular. The intelligent dog also wants to be mentally stimulated. He visibly grows at the ever new tasks and challenges.
In the winter months it is recommended to get your Doberman a suitable winter coat. The rather weak undercoat makes the elegant dog freeze easily. A dog coat prevents hypothermia and colds. A Dog bathrobe you should also have at home.
Origin & History
The Doberman is a relatively young dog breed and originates from Germany. The breed was first bred in the early years around 1870 by "Friedrich Louis Dobermann". He came from Apolda in Thuringia. The Doberman is the only dog breed named after its breeder.
The name giver worked as a dog catcher and tax collector at that time. He thus worked in two quite unpopular professions. This led to the fact that he was not very popular with fellow men. For his own protection, he wanted to breed a special dog. This should already scare off strangers by its appearance. In addition, he should be able to actually keep them away in case of doubt.
For the desired characteristics were mixed sheepdogs and Rottweiler. These are dogs with strong protective instinct. In addition, they have pronounced courage and active character.
The resulting Doberman is persistent and agile. He has keen senses and a strong protective instinct. In addition, he shows an intelligent sense for wrong and right. You should teach him to judge this sense correctly. So that he does not decide otherwise after his own discretion. From a human point of view, this can also go in an undesirable direction.
Due to all these characteristics, the Doberman was already preferred as a police dog from the 20th century. This gave him the nickname "gendarme dog". The dogs were also popular as hunting, utility and guard dogs. Due to its affectionate character, the Doberman is also ideal as a family dog. The dog is especially affectionate and open-minded towards children.
Even today, the Doberman is a popular police and guard dog. He is also useful in customs and the army. Also as a therapy, rescue or guide dog for the blind, the intelligent dogs are often encountered.
