If your vision is closer to the second version, you are probably not alone. Many people think of the Doberman as a vicious animal. In today's media-savvy world, it might be said the Doberman suffers from bad PR. For the most part, however, today's Doberman must learn this aggressive behavior from humans.
And although the negative image is rarely true, it's easy to see why it persists. Few dogs are portrayed as ferociously in movies and television as the Doberman - if there's a role for a canine villain, chances are the Doberman is at the head of the casting list. The Doberman's continued use as military, police and guard dogs perpetuates this attack-dog image.
Certainly the Doberman is a perfect guard dog, protecting its territory with an exuberance for which it is bred, but to understand the true nature of the breed, one must travel back to the German city of Apolda, where late in the 19th century a tax collector and night watchman began a quest for the ideal companion.
German Engineering
Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann was a man of many talents. Aside from his duties as a tax collector and night watchman, he ran the dog pound in Apolda, a city in Germany's eastern province of Thueringen. Despite Dobermann's talents, his unique career combination did not make him popular, and during the 1880s he decided to breed a dog to accompany and protect him in his duties.
Dobermann's dog pound provided a perfect resource for his breeding experiments. He was an admirer of the larger, more aggressive dogs in his shelter, yet realized the difficulty in managing such a large animal. He sought to produce a fearless dog of enough size to present an imposing picture, yet not so large as to become difficult to manage. Similarly, his canine experience had taught him that short-haired, smooth-coated dogs were easier to groom.
No one knows the exact recipe Dobermann concocted for his famous brew, however we can take a good guess at his ingredients. Most experts believe the early Rottweiler and a smooth-haired German pinscher, no longer in existence, were significant components.
The Manchester terrier, then a much larger breed known as the black-and-tan terrier, was introduced into the gene pool, creating the Doberman's smooth lustrous coat and the distinctive black and tan markings. The black English greyhound was also introduced to improve the dog's appearance. The early German shepherd dog, Great Dane, schnauzer and Weimaraner are also mentioned as influences.
Dobermann died in 1894, with some minor adjustments left unfinished in his ideal comrade. His protégé, Otto Goeller, continued his mentor's plans and is credited by many as the true architect of the breed. Goeller organized the National Dobermann Pinscher Club in Germany in 1899. Shortly thereafter he and his committee members wrote the first breed standard.
Hero's Welcome
The Doberman pinscher quickly gained a following in Germany and was soon being exported around the world. Dobermans began arriving in the United States around the turn of the 20th century. In 1908 Theodore Jager and a W. Doberman - said to be a relative of Louis Dobermann - opened the Doberman Kennel in Pittsford, New York.
That same year the kennel registered the first Doberman in the American Kennel Club Stud Book, Doberman Intelectus, whelped June 20, 1908. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America was founded in 1921. Dobermans also became popular in other countries, especially Holland and South Africa. Strangely, though, the Doberman did not initially develop a following in England, where less than a dozen were imported before World War II. The reason for the Dobermans' failure to become popular in England is not apparent, although strict quarantine regulations and the two world wars undoubtedly played a role.
Ironically, the two world wars were exactly what propelled the Doberman to star status in the rest of the world. By the start of World War I, the Germans had trained several thousand dogs, including a large number of Dobermans, for guard and rescue duty. These dogs performed admirably, but real strides in the art of canine warfare came during World War II, when dogs - the Doberman prominent among them - were used in great numbers for a variety of purposes by both sides. War dogs were trained to do all kinds of work: tracking, scouting, sentry duty, locating wounded in the field, detecting mines, physically assaulting and subduing the enemy, and guarding prisoners. It is estimated that the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marines) commissioned at least 250,000 dogs during World War II years, many of them Dobermans. The Doberman performed so exceptionally for the Marines, it was later adopted as the organization's official mascot. The same qualities that made the Doberman an excellent military dog make it an outstanding police dog. Today the breed's military heritage is evident in the police work it performs throughout the United States and Europe.
A Fierce Friend
With the Doberman's long history of guard, military and police duty, it is not surprising that the word fierce is often associated with the breed. But any Doberman owner will tell you the word more accurately describes the breed's loyalty and affection than its demeanor. As old Herr Dobermann might say, the Doberman was bred to be an ideal companion, not just a guard dog.
As such, the Doberman is very loyal, faithful and loving to its family, wanting to be with it constantly and expecting to follow it everywhere. This intense love and affection is something that cannot be imagined by someone who has not lived with a Doberman and is one of the unexpected joys that awaits the first-time owner. The Doberman also is extremely intelligent, meaning that the dog will quickly learn the routines of the home.
Of course, the Doberman is a natural guard dog and is often protective, even overprotective of its family. This is primarily because of its intense loyalty, not viciousness. Most Dobermans seem to have an uncanny knack of knowing who is allowed in the house and who is not, and will welcome those welcomed by its owners.
Gumption Galore
Doberman owners must accept from the beginning that Dobermans can be mischievous - they can cause damage to your house and garden, and they can be noisy. If you are particularly house-proud and can't bear the thought of a dog helping to make everything untidy, then you would be better off not owning a Doberman.
Someone who desires an independent dog that requires minimal owner interaction should also, in all fairness, look to another breed. The Doberman must have constant human companionship and social interaction, not only with its owner but with all kinds of people and other dogs. This is essential to the well being of the breed.
A Doberman needs plenty of exercise to maintain top physical condition. Most Dobermans require about an hour of exercise a day to keep fit. At least part of that time should be spent running, preferably off the leash in a safe, confined area. Other exercise alternatives can include swimming or hurdle jumping. The Doberman that is given plenty of opportunity to exercise is a much happier and healthier dog.
One area where the Doberman doesn't require a lot of attention is grooming. Brushing the dog regularly - if not every day, at least twice a week - will keep both coat and skin healthy. Regular brushing practically eliminates the need to give the Doberman a bath, which should be administered rarely, only when necessary.
Unfortunately, disease is one of the few forces that can get the better of the Doberman. Von Willebrand's disease - a bleeding disorder - was once a significant danger. Responsible breeding has reduced the threat of Von Willebrand's disease, although it remains a concern. Two other serious maladies are still associated with Dobermans. One is Wobblers syndrome - a disease of the spinal column of the neck - otherwise known as cervical vertebral instability (CVI). This causes the dog to stagger or wobble as it walks. It is thought to be a heritable disease, and the condition may or may not respond to surgery. The second problem is a lethal heart disorder known as cardiomyopathy.
This is a progressive deterioration of the heart that eventually results in congestive heart failure and sudden death. All breeding stock should be tested for cardiomyopathy before breeding. Albinism is occasionally seen in Dobermans, although there is a debate as to whether this is good or bad. Albino or "white" Dobermans are at increased risk of solar skin damage, including cancer. A healthy Doberman can be expected to live 10 to 12 years.
Image Overhaul
The next time you visualize the Doberman pinscher, forget the television shows, the movies and the bad PR. The breed may play the villain on-screen, but a happy, healthy Doberman is a lover as much, if not more, as it is a fighter. And the next time you see a Doberman pinscher, even if it barks at you, remember that underneath that imposing frame is the heart and soul of a loyal, sensitive creature who lives and breathes to please its owner.
"In this month's issue on Dobermans you indicated that Rottweilers and German Pinschers were used to breed the Doberman. I agree with this, but you also noted in the article that the German Pinschers are no longer in existence, with this, I disagree. You need to check with UKC. German Pinschers are still being bred in the U.S. and other countries. As a matter of fact, I have purchased a red female puppy that will be ready to come home the week after Christmas. BLOODLINES magazine (which is published by UKC) has an article in this months issue on German Pinschers written by Diane Austin (a GP breeder)."Thanks for your input and we're glad to know this particular forefather of the Doberman is still alive and well. We wish you the best with your new addition.
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