The Doberman Pinscher is a highly versatile breed that functions as both a working dog and companion. They excel in a wide variety of tasks and need to be in homes where they are given jobs to do. Given those outlets, they make exceptional family pets. Dobes are incredibly loyal and obedient – they also prefer being with their people at all times (a true velcro breed). When well-bred and well-trained they are one of the best breeds when it comes to personal protection – fully capable of distinguishing a threat from a non-threat. With brains, beauty, courage, love, and even a good sense of humor – they have it all!
Dobes are often near the top of the list when it comes to intelligence. While they can be trained quickly, they retain the ability to think on their own and make decisions. They are also incredibly perceptive and intuitive, sometimes making it seem as though they can read minds! The Doberman is one of those breeds that needs a job to do – without regular obedience training they can become destructive. They need some form of training every day, even if it’s only a 10 minute session.
Like any breed, the Doberman isn’t for everyone, however. They require an owner who knows how to take charge and set boundaries. Without rules, a Dobe might assume the role of leader himself. Their acute sensitivity means that they also should only be owned by level-headed people – they don’t mesh well in homes with explosive personalities or chaos. Finally, these athletic dogs need someone who can provide them with plenty of outdoor exercise – just throwing them in the backyard is far from ideal. They need to get out and really run or jog every day. Even with exercise, they tend to have a medium-high activity level in the house, and when young will constantly get into everything.
Coming in four official colors, it is worth mentioning the unofficial fifth. The white Doberman, while sometimes sold to unsuspecting buyers as a “rare and special color”, is in fact an albino suffering from the same health conditions of other albino animals. Eye problems, skin problems, tumors and temperament issues are all associated with this mutation color. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America urges buyers not to fall into the scam of buying a white puppy simply because it is being touted as rare.
Supremely trustworthy when raised right, Dobermans are great with children, although might be too exuberant for very small kids. It is important however (especially if one has kids) to research the breeder of the dog before acquiring a puppy. Although most Dobes have rock-solid temperaments, not all of them do. The more popular the breed, the more there are unscrupulous breeders. This means that some people are breeding to make money and nothing else. They aren’t health testing or temperament testing their dogs, which often leads to heartache for the buyers later on. A good breeder often exhibits their dogs in conformation (dog shows), obedience or other events. They can provide health test results and sometimes even temperament tests results. They want to each puppy to end up in the best home possible.
Dobes are not outside-only dogs and need to be given plenty of house access. They should also be provided with plenty of soft blankets and/or dog beds to lay in to keep from getting pressure sores on their elbows and other joints. For the most part, however, they are very hardy dogs and don’t need intense pampering. Their biggest requirement comes in the form of mental and physical exercise, as well as giving them enough love and affection.
