Doberman
Breed History:
Taking its name from one of its original breeders, Louis Dobermann, of Apolda, Germany, the elegant and
muscular Doberman Pinscher became very popular within a short period of time; originating in about 1890, today the Doberman Pinscher is a well-chiselled model of alertness, agility, and high temperament, while at the same time incorporating elegance and aristocracy in its profile. Bred from Rottweilers, Black and Tan Terriers, and smooth-haired German Pointers, the Doberman seems to
have inherited the best of all these breeds. Its trainability is excellent, giving it careers as a police dog and army dog, and it also has an excellent nose. But it is also a wonderful companion, as the AKC suggests, "energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient." It should have no
hint of viciousness or shyness about it.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Almost a short haired version of the Giant Schnauzer, elegant and relatively high on his legs.
Doberman PinscherFrom Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doberman_Pinscher , the free encyclopedia
Doberman Pinscher
''Doberman" redirects here. For other uses, see Doberman
(disambiguation).
Doberman Pinscher
A female Dobermann Pinscher with a
docked tail and cropped ears.
Other names
Doberman
Nicknames
Dobie
Dobermann
Dobynm (in some countries)
Country of origin
Germany
[hide]Traits
Weight
Male
34-41 Kg (75 to 90 lbs)
Female
27-36 Kg (60 to 80 lbs)
Height
Male
68.8 cm (27.5")
Female
63.9 cm (25.5")
Color
black, red, blue, fawn, and white (albino)
Life span
10-11 years
[show]Classification and
standards
FCI
Group 2 Section 99 #1000
standard
AKC
Working
standard
ANKC
Group 6 (Utility)
standard
CKC
Group 3 - Working Dogs
standard
KC
(UK)
Working
standard
NZKC
Utility
standard
UKC
Guardian Dogs
standard
Dog (Canis
lupus familiaris)
The Doberman Pinscher (alternatively spelled Dobermann in many
countries) or simply Doberman, is a breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Doberman
Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known
as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used
as guard dogs or police dogs, this is less common today.[citation needed]
In many countries, Doberman Pinschers are one of the most recognizable
breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of
media attention (see temperament). Careful breeding has improved the
disposition of this breed, and the modern Doberman Pinscher is an energetic and
lively breed suitable for companionship and family life.
[edit] Characteristics
[edit] Appearance
Kennel club standards describe Doberman Pinschers as dogs of medium-large
size with a square build and short coat. They are compactly built and athletic
with endurance and swiftness. The Doberman Pinscher should have a proud,
watchful, determined, and obedient temperament.[1] The
dog was originally intended as a guard dog,[1][2] so
males should have a masculine, muscular, noble appearance.[1][2]
Females are thinner, but should not be spindly.[1]
[edit] Size and proportions
The Doberman is a dog of medium size. Although the breed standards vary among kennel and breed
clubs, the dog typically stands between 26 to 28 inches 27.5 being ideal (66 to
72 cm), the female is typically somewhere between 24 to 26 inches, 25.5 being
ideal (61 to 68 cm).[1][3] The
Doberman has a square frame: its length should equal its height to the withers,
and the length of its head, neck and legs should be in proportion to its
body.[1]
European lines, particularly those from the former Yugoslavia and former Soviet
Union, tend to be larger than those in North America.
There are no standards for the weight of the Doberman Pinscher. The ideal dog
must have sufficient size for an optimal combination of strength, endurance and
agility.[3] The
male generally weighs between 70 and 90 pounds (34 and 45 kg) and the female
between 60 and 90 pounds (27 and 41 kg).
[edit] Color
Traditional "Black and Tan / Rust" Doberman
Pinscher
An example of one black and one blue Doberman
Pinscher
Two different color genes exist in the Doberman, one for black (B) and
one for color dilution (D). There are nine possible combinations of these
allelles (BBDD, BBDd BbDD BbDd, BBdd, Bbdd, bbDD, bbDd, bbdd), which result in
four different color phenotypes: black, red, blue, and fawn
(Isabella).[4] The
traditional and most common color occurs when both the color and dilution genes
have at least one dominant allele (i.e., BBDD, BBDd, BbDD or BbDd), and is
commonly referred to as black or black and rust (also called black
and tan). The red, red rust or brown coloration occurs when
the black gene has two recessive alleles but the dilution gene has at least one
dominant allele (i.e., bbDD, bbDd). "Blue" and "fawn" are controlled by the
color dilution gene. The blue Doberman 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 (Isabella) 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.
Expression of the color dilution gene is a disorder called Color Dilution
Alopecia. Although not life threatening, these dogs can develop skin
problems.[5]
In 1976, a "white" Doberman Pinscher was whelped,[6] and
was subsequently bred to her son, who was also bred to his litter sisters. This
tight inbreeding continued for some time to allow the breeders to "fix" the
mutation. White dobermans are a cream color with pure white markings and icy
blue eyes. Although this is consistent with albinism, the proper characterization of the
mutation is currently unknown. The animals are commonly known as
tyrosinase-positive albinoids, lacking melanin in oculocutaneous structures,[7] but no
known mutation has been identified.
[edit] Tails
Doberman with undocked tail
The Doberman Pinscher'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.
The practice of docking has been around for centuries, and is older than the
Doberman as a breed.[8] The
putative reason for docking is to ensure that the tail does not get in the way
of the dog's work.[8]
Docking has always been controversial.[9] The American Kennel Club standard for Doberman
Pinschers includes a tail docked near the 2nd vertebra.[1]
Docking is a common practice in North America, Russia and Japan (as well as a
number of other countries with Doberman populations), where it is legal. In many
European countries, docking has been made illegal, and in others it is
limited.
[edit] Ears
Doberman with natural ears.
Posted doberman ears with backer rod and
tape.
This section needs
additional citations for verification.
(January
2012)
Doberman Pinschers often have their ears cropped, as do many other breeds, a
procedure that is functionally related to breed type for both the traditional
guard duty and effective sound localization. Like tail docking, ear cropping is
illegal in some countries,[specify] and in these
pictures Doberman Pinschers have natural ears. Doberman Pinscher ear
cropping is usually done between 7 and 9 weeks of age and is done
under anesthesia. Cropping done after 12 weeks has a low rate of success in
getting the ears to stand.
In some countries' conformation shows,[specify] Doberman
Pinschers are allowed to compete with either cropped or natural ears. In Germany
a cropped or docked dog cannot be shown regardless of country of origin. Special
written exception to this policy does occur when Germany is the location for
international events.
[edit] Temperament
Although they are considered to be working dogs, Doberman Pinschers are often
stereotyped as being ferocious and aggressive. As a personal protection dog, the
Doberman was originally bred for these traits: it had to be large and
intimidating, fearless, and willing to defend its owner, but sufficiently
obedient and restrained to only do so on command. These traits served the dog
well in its role as a personal defense dog, police dog, or war dog, but were not
ideally adapted to a companionship role. In recent decades, the Doberman
Pinscher's size, short coat, and intelligence made it a desirable house dog.
Their aggression has been toned down by modern breeders over the years, and
today's Dobermans are known for a much more even and good natured temperament,
extreme loyalty, high intelligence, and great trainability.
They can easily learn to 'Respect and Protect' their owners, and are
therefore considered to be excellent guard dogs that protect their loved ones.
They are generally sociable toward humans and can be with other dogs. However,
Dobermans rank among the more-likely breeds to show aggressive behaviour toward
strangers and other dogs, but not among the most likely to do so. They are very
unlikely to show aggressive behaviour toward their owners.
There is 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.[10]
Because of these differences in breeding strategies, different lines of Doberman
Pinschers have developed different traits. Although many contemporary Doberman
Pinschers in North America are gentle and friendly to strangers, some lines are
bred more true to the original personality standard.[11]
Although the aggressiveness stereotype is less true today, the personality of
the Doberman Pinscher is unique. 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.[12]
Subsequently, there have been numerous scientific attempts to quantify canine personality or temperament by using 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.[13]
Another such study ranked Doberman Pinschers low on reactivity/surgence, and
high on aggression/disagreeableness and openness/trainability.[14]
[edit] Intelligence
Two Dobermans
A Doberman Pinscher in a dog
park in Hod Hasharon, Israel
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 ranked
amongst the most intelligent of dog breeds in experimental studies and expert
evaluations. For instance, Psychologist Stanley Coren ranks the Doberman as the 5th most
intelligent dog in the category of obedience command training, based on
the selective surveys he performed of some trainers (as documented in his book
The Intelligence of Dogs). Additionally, in
two studies, Hart and Hart (1985) ranked the Doberman Pinscher first in this
category.[15] and
Tortora (1980) gave the Doberman the highest rank in trainability.[16]
Although the methods of evaluation differ, these studies consistently show that
the Doberman Pinscher, along with the Border Collie, German Shepherd and Standard Poodle, is one of the most trainable breeds of
dog.
[edit] Aggression
In addition to the studies of canine personality, there has been some
research to determine whether there are breed differences in aggression. In a
recent study, aggression was divided into four categories: aggression directed
at strangers, owner, other strange dogs and rivalry with other household
dogs.[17] 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, Border Collie and Great Dane). This study concluded that aggression
has a genetic basis, that the Doberman shows a distinctive pattern of aggression
depending on the situation, and that contemporary Doberman Pinschers are not an
aggressive breed overall.[17]
Although recent studies do not rank Doberman Pinschers as the most aggressive
breed, their size, strength and aggression towards strangers makes them
potentially dangerous.[18]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
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-type dogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Rottweilers, Husky-type, Wolf-dog hybrids and Alaskan Malamutes.[18][19]
According to this Center for Disease Control and Prevention study,
one of the most important factors contributing to dog bites are related to the
level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.[20]
[edit] Health
The Doberman's lifespan is about 10-11 years, on average.[21] They
may suffer from a number of health concerns. Common serious health problems
include dilated cardiomyopathy,[22][23][24] cervical vertebral instability (CVI),[25] von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder for
which genetic testing has been available since 2000; the test enables both
parents of a prospective litter to be tested for the carrier gene, thus
preventing inheritance of the disease ),[22] and
prostatic disease.[26] Less
serious common health concerns include hypothyroidism and hip
dysplasia.[27]
Studies have shown that the Doberman Pinscher suffers from prostatic diseases,
(such as bacterial prostatiti, prostatic cysts, prostatic adenocarcinoma, and
benign hyperplasia) more than any other breed. Neutering can significantly
reduce these risks (see Dog for information).
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a major cause of death in Doberman Pinschers. This
disease affects Dobermans more than any other breed.[28]
Nearly 40% of DCM diagnoses are for Doberman Pinschers, followed by German
Shepherds at 13%.[28]
Research has shown that the breed is affected by an attenuated wavy fiber
type of DCM that affects many other breeds,[29] as
well as an additional, fatty infiltration-degenerative type that appears
to be specific to Doberman Pinscher and Boxer breeds.[29] This
serious disease is likely to be fatal in most Doberman Pinschers affected.[30]
Across multiple studies, more than half of the Doberman Pinschers studied
develop the condition. Roughly a quarter of Doberman Pinschers who developed
cardiomyopathy died suddenly from unknown causes,[29][31][32] and
an additional fifty percent died of congestive
heart failure[32] In
addition to being more prevalent, this disease is also more serious in Doberman
Pinschers. Following diagnosis, the average non-Doberman has an expected
survival time of 8 months; for Doberman Pinschers, the expected survival time is
less than 2 months.[28]
Although the causes for the disease are largely unknown, there is evidence that
it is a familial disease inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.[33]
Investigation into the genetic causes of canine DCM may lead to therapeutic and
breeding practices to limit its impact[34][35]
[edit] History
Dobermann Pinscher, 1909
Doberman Pinschers were first bred in the town of Apolda, in the German state of Thuringia around 1890, following the Franco-Prussian War by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Dobermann served
in the dangerous role of local tax collector, and ran the Apolda dog pound. With
access to dogs of many breeds, he aimed to create a breed that would be ideal
for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many
bandit-infested areas. He set out to breed a new type of dog that, in his
opinion, would be the perfect combination of strength, speed, endurance,
loyalty, intelligence, and ferocity. Later, Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening
continued to develop the breed to become the dog that is seen today.
Dobermann Pinscher, 1915
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
German Pinscher, the Beauceron, the Rottweiler, the Thuringian Sylvan Dog, the Greyhound,
the Great
Dane, the Weimaraner, the German
Shorthaired Pointer, the Manchester Terrier and the Old
German Shepherd Dog. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the
exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain to this day, although many experts
believe that the Doberman Pinscher is a combination of at least four of these
breeds. The single exception is the documented crossing with the Greyhound and
Manchester Terrier. It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd gene
pool was the single largest contributor to the Doberman breed. Philip
Greunig'sThe Dobermann Pinscher (1939), is considered the foremost study
of the development of the breed by one of its most ardent students. Greunig's
study describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, whose hand
allowed the Doberman to become the dog we recognize today.
After Dobermann's death in 1894, the Germans named the breed
Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the 'pinscher'
on the grounds that this German word for terrier was no longer appropriate. The
British did the same a few years later.
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.
Taking its name from one of its original breeders, Louis Dobermann, of Apolda, Germany, the elegant and
muscular Doberman Pinscher became very popular within a short period of time; originating in about 1890, today the Doberman Pinscher is a well-chiselled model of alertness, agility, and high temperament, while at the same time incorporating elegance and aristocracy in its profile. Bred from Rottweilers, Black and Tan Terriers, and smooth-haired German Pointers, the Doberman seems to
have inherited the best of all these breeds. Its trainability is excellent, giving it careers as a police dog and army dog, and it also has an excellent nose. But it is also a wonderful companion, as the AKC suggests, "energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient." It should have no
hint of viciousness or shyness about it.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Almost a short haired version of the Giant Schnauzer, elegant and relatively high on his legs.
Doberman PinscherFrom Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doberman_Pinscher , the free encyclopedia
Doberman Pinscher
''Doberman" redirects here. For other uses, see Doberman
(disambiguation).
Doberman Pinscher
A female Dobermann Pinscher with a
docked tail and cropped ears.
Other names
Doberman
Nicknames
Dobie
Dobermann
Dobynm (in some countries)
Country of origin
Germany
[hide]Traits
Weight
Male
34-41 Kg (75 to 90 lbs)
Female
27-36 Kg (60 to 80 lbs)
Height
Male
68.8 cm (27.5")
Female
63.9 cm (25.5")
Color
black, red, blue, fawn, and white (albino)
Life span
10-11 years
[show]Classification and
standards
FCI
Group 2 Section 99 #1000
standard
AKC
Working
standard
ANKC
Group 6 (Utility)
standard
CKC
Group 3 - Working Dogs
standard
KC
(UK)
Working
standard
NZKC
Utility
standard
UKC
Guardian Dogs
standard
Dog (Canis
lupus familiaris)
The Doberman Pinscher (alternatively spelled Dobermann in many
countries) or simply Doberman, is a breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Doberman
Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known
as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used
as guard dogs or police dogs, this is less common today.[citation needed]
In many countries, Doberman Pinschers are one of the most recognizable
breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of
media attention (see temperament). Careful breeding has improved the
disposition of this breed, and the modern Doberman Pinscher is an energetic and
lively breed suitable for companionship and family life.
[edit] Characteristics
[edit] Appearance
Kennel club standards describe Doberman Pinschers as dogs of medium-large
size with a square build and short coat. They are compactly built and athletic
with endurance and swiftness. The Doberman Pinscher should have a proud,
watchful, determined, and obedient temperament.[1] The
dog was originally intended as a guard dog,[1][2] so
males should have a masculine, muscular, noble appearance.[1][2]
Females are thinner, but should not be spindly.[1]
[edit] Size and proportions
The Doberman is a dog of medium size. Although the breed standards vary among kennel and breed
clubs, the dog typically stands between 26 to 28 inches 27.5 being ideal (66 to
72 cm), the female is typically somewhere between 24 to 26 inches, 25.5 being
ideal (61 to 68 cm).[1][3] The
Doberman has a square frame: its length should equal its height to the withers,
and the length of its head, neck and legs should be in proportion to its
body.[1]
European lines, particularly those from the former Yugoslavia and former Soviet
Union, tend to be larger than those in North America.
There are no standards for the weight of the Doberman Pinscher. The ideal dog
must have sufficient size for an optimal combination of strength, endurance and
agility.[3] The
male generally weighs between 70 and 90 pounds (34 and 45 kg) and the female
between 60 and 90 pounds (27 and 41 kg).
[edit] Color
Traditional "Black and Tan / Rust" Doberman
Pinscher
An example of one black and one blue Doberman
Pinscher
Two different color genes exist in the Doberman, one for black (B) and
one for color dilution (D). There are nine possible combinations of these
allelles (BBDD, BBDd BbDD BbDd, BBdd, Bbdd, bbDD, bbDd, bbdd), which result in
four different color phenotypes: black, red, blue, and fawn
(Isabella).[4] The
traditional and most common color occurs when both the color and dilution genes
have at least one dominant allele (i.e., BBDD, BBDd, BbDD or BbDd), and is
commonly referred to as black or black and rust (also called black
and tan). The red, red rust or brown coloration occurs when
the black gene has two recessive alleles but the dilution gene has at least one
dominant allele (i.e., bbDD, bbDd). "Blue" and "fawn" are controlled by the
color dilution gene. The blue Doberman 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 (Isabella) 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.
Expression of the color dilution gene is a disorder called Color Dilution
Alopecia. Although not life threatening, these dogs can develop skin
problems.[5]
In 1976, a "white" Doberman Pinscher was whelped,[6] and
was subsequently bred to her son, who was also bred to his litter sisters. This
tight inbreeding continued for some time to allow the breeders to "fix" the
mutation. White dobermans are a cream color with pure white markings and icy
blue eyes. Although this is consistent with albinism, the proper characterization of the
mutation is currently unknown. The animals are commonly known as
tyrosinase-positive albinoids, lacking melanin in oculocutaneous structures,[7] but no
known mutation has been identified.
[edit] Tails
Doberman with undocked tail
The Doberman Pinscher'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.
The practice of docking has been around for centuries, and is older than the
Doberman as a breed.[8] The
putative reason for docking is to ensure that the tail does not get in the way
of the dog's work.[8]
Docking has always been controversial.[9] The American Kennel Club standard for Doberman
Pinschers includes a tail docked near the 2nd vertebra.[1]
Docking is a common practice in North America, Russia and Japan (as well as a
number of other countries with Doberman populations), where it is legal. In many
European countries, docking has been made illegal, and in others it is
limited.
[edit] Ears
Doberman with natural ears.
Posted doberman ears with backer rod and
tape.
This section needs
additional citations for verification.
(January
2012)
Doberman Pinschers often have their ears cropped, as do many other breeds, a
procedure that is functionally related to breed type for both the traditional
guard duty and effective sound localization. Like tail docking, ear cropping is
illegal in some countries,[specify] and in these
pictures Doberman Pinschers have natural ears. Doberman Pinscher ear
cropping is usually done between 7 and 9 weeks of age and is done
under anesthesia. Cropping done after 12 weeks has a low rate of success in
getting the ears to stand.
In some countries' conformation shows,[specify] Doberman
Pinschers are allowed to compete with either cropped or natural ears. In Germany
a cropped or docked dog cannot be shown regardless of country of origin. Special
written exception to this policy does occur when Germany is the location for
international events.
[edit] Temperament
Although they are considered to be working dogs, Doberman Pinschers are often
stereotyped as being ferocious and aggressive. As a personal protection dog, the
Doberman was originally bred for these traits: it had to be large and
intimidating, fearless, and willing to defend its owner, but sufficiently
obedient and restrained to only do so on command. These traits served the dog
well in its role as a personal defense dog, police dog, or war dog, but were not
ideally adapted to a companionship role. In recent decades, the Doberman
Pinscher's size, short coat, and intelligence made it a desirable house dog.
Their aggression has been toned down by modern breeders over the years, and
today's Dobermans are known for a much more even and good natured temperament,
extreme loyalty, high intelligence, and great trainability.
They can easily learn to 'Respect and Protect' their owners, and are
therefore considered to be excellent guard dogs that protect their loved ones.
They are generally sociable toward humans and can be with other dogs. However,
Dobermans rank among the more-likely breeds to show aggressive behaviour toward
strangers and other dogs, but not among the most likely to do so. They are very
unlikely to show aggressive behaviour toward their owners.
There is 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.[10]
Because of these differences in breeding strategies, different lines of Doberman
Pinschers have developed different traits. Although many contemporary Doberman
Pinschers in North America are gentle and friendly to strangers, some lines are
bred more true to the original personality standard.[11]
Although the aggressiveness stereotype is less true today, the personality of
the Doberman Pinscher is unique. 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.[12]
Subsequently, there have been numerous scientific attempts to quantify canine personality or temperament by using 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.[13]
Another such study ranked Doberman Pinschers low on reactivity/surgence, and
high on aggression/disagreeableness and openness/trainability.[14]
[edit] Intelligence
Two Dobermans
A Doberman Pinscher in a dog
park in Hod Hasharon, Israel
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 ranked
amongst the most intelligent of dog breeds in experimental studies and expert
evaluations. For instance, Psychologist Stanley Coren ranks the Doberman as the 5th most
intelligent dog in the category of obedience command training, based on
the selective surveys he performed of some trainers (as documented in his book
The Intelligence of Dogs). Additionally, in
two studies, Hart and Hart (1985) ranked the Doberman Pinscher first in this
category.[15] and
Tortora (1980) gave the Doberman the highest rank in trainability.[16]
Although the methods of evaluation differ, these studies consistently show that
the Doberman Pinscher, along with the Border Collie, German Shepherd and Standard Poodle, is one of the most trainable breeds of
dog.
[edit] Aggression
In addition to the studies of canine personality, there has been some
research to determine whether there are breed differences in aggression. In a
recent study, aggression was divided into four categories: aggression directed
at strangers, owner, other strange dogs and rivalry with other household
dogs.[17] 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, Border Collie and Great Dane). This study concluded that aggression
has a genetic basis, that the Doberman shows a distinctive pattern of aggression
depending on the situation, and that contemporary Doberman Pinschers are not an
aggressive breed overall.[17]
Although recent studies do not rank Doberman Pinschers as the most aggressive
breed, their size, strength and aggression towards strangers makes them
potentially dangerous.[18]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
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-type dogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Rottweilers, Husky-type, Wolf-dog hybrids and Alaskan Malamutes.[18][19]
According to this Center for Disease Control and Prevention study,
one of the most important factors contributing to dog bites are related to the
level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.[20]
[edit] Health
The Doberman's lifespan is about 10-11 years, on average.[21] They
may suffer from a number of health concerns. Common serious health problems
include dilated cardiomyopathy,[22][23][24] cervical vertebral instability (CVI),[25] von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder for
which genetic testing has been available since 2000; the test enables both
parents of a prospective litter to be tested for the carrier gene, thus
preventing inheritance of the disease ),[22] and
prostatic disease.[26] Less
serious common health concerns include hypothyroidism and hip
dysplasia.[27]
Studies have shown that the Doberman Pinscher suffers from prostatic diseases,
(such as bacterial prostatiti, prostatic cysts, prostatic adenocarcinoma, and
benign hyperplasia) more than any other breed. Neutering can significantly
reduce these risks (see Dog for information).
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a major cause of death in Doberman Pinschers. This
disease affects Dobermans more than any other breed.[28]
Nearly 40% of DCM diagnoses are for Doberman Pinschers, followed by German
Shepherds at 13%.[28]
Research has shown that the breed is affected by an attenuated wavy fiber
type of DCM that affects many other breeds,[29] as
well as an additional, fatty infiltration-degenerative type that appears
to be specific to Doberman Pinscher and Boxer breeds.[29] This
serious disease is likely to be fatal in most Doberman Pinschers affected.[30]
Across multiple studies, more than half of the Doberman Pinschers studied
develop the condition. Roughly a quarter of Doberman Pinschers who developed
cardiomyopathy died suddenly from unknown causes,[29][31][32] and
an additional fifty percent died of congestive
heart failure[32] In
addition to being more prevalent, this disease is also more serious in Doberman
Pinschers. Following diagnosis, the average non-Doberman has an expected
survival time of 8 months; for Doberman Pinschers, the expected survival time is
less than 2 months.[28]
Although the causes for the disease are largely unknown, there is evidence that
it is a familial disease inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.[33]
Investigation into the genetic causes of canine DCM may lead to therapeutic and
breeding practices to limit its impact[34][35]
[edit] History
Dobermann Pinscher, 1909
Doberman Pinschers were first bred in the town of Apolda, in the German state of Thuringia around 1890, following the Franco-Prussian War by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Dobermann served
in the dangerous role of local tax collector, and ran the Apolda dog pound. With
access to dogs of many breeds, he aimed to create a breed that would be ideal
for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many
bandit-infested areas. He set out to breed a new type of dog that, in his
opinion, would be the perfect combination of strength, speed, endurance,
loyalty, intelligence, and ferocity. Later, Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening
continued to develop the breed to become the dog that is seen today.
Dobermann Pinscher, 1915
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
German Pinscher, the Beauceron, the Rottweiler, the Thuringian Sylvan Dog, the Greyhound,
the Great
Dane, the Weimaraner, the German
Shorthaired Pointer, the Manchester Terrier and the Old
German Shepherd Dog. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the
exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain to this day, although many experts
believe that the Doberman Pinscher is a combination of at least four of these
breeds. The single exception is the documented crossing with the Greyhound and
Manchester Terrier. It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd gene
pool was the single largest contributor to the Doberman breed. Philip
Greunig'sThe Dobermann Pinscher (1939), is considered the foremost study
of the development of the breed by one of its most ardent students. Greunig's
study describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, whose hand
allowed the Doberman to become the dog we recognize today.
After Dobermann's death in 1894, the Germans named the breed
Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the 'pinscher'
on the grounds that this German word for terrier was no longer appropriate. The
British did the same a few years later.
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.