Due to Hollywood and a lot of misinformation, the Doberman is often seen as a fierce, protective, intimidating breed. While they are excellent guard dogs, the Doberman also makes an excellent pet.
Here are 30 facts to help better inform you about this majestic breed.
1. The Doberman is a fairly new dog breed. The Doberman breed is less than 150 years old. Originating in Germany in the early 1880s.
2. The Doberman was first bred by a Tax Collector by the name of Herr Karl Louis Dobermann.
3. Herr’s career took him to some rather shady parts of town and he felt he needed a travel companion to protect him, resulting in the Doberman.
4. More than two dogs went into creating the Doberman. The German Shorthaired Pointer, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, Manchester Terrier, Great Dane, Beauceron, Black and Tan Terrier, and Greyhound are all part of this dog breed.
5. Tail and ear docking once had a purpose. Bred to be guard dogs, the tail and ears were the Dobermans weak point. A threat could pull the dog to the ground by pull of the ears and tail.
6. Dobermans can do any job. Dobes have been used for police work, coursing, scent tracking, diving, therapy, search and rescue, as well as guiding the blind.
7. The Doberman is a Film Star. In the 1972’s a film called, The Doberman Gang was made. It’s a film about “six savage Dobes with a thirst for cold cash that leaves banks bone dry.” two sequels were made of the film.
8. The Doberman is a war hero. A Doberman named Kurt was the first canine causality in the 1944 Battle of Guam during WWII. Kurt ran ahead of the troops to warn them of approaching enemy soldiers. The brave dog saved the soldiers but was killed by an enemy grenade. Kurt became the first dog buried in the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery.
9. Dobermans are intelligent. Dobermans are ranked the 5th smartest dog breed.
10. Doberman dogs have been a part of Drill Teams.
11. The Doberman Drill Teams were started by Tess Henseler, showcasing the dog’s intelligence and agility. The first of these performances was in 1959 at the Westminster KC dog show in Madison Square Garden, New York.
12. Decades of breeding have made the Doberman gentler. The first Dobermans were bred to be fierce and only the toughest dogs were selected to carry out the breed.
13. Today, however, breeders are selecting a more loving group of dogs to carry out this species.
14. The Doberman dog breed originates from Germany.
15. The Doberman was originally bred to be used as a guard dog.
16. Dober is medium in size. Reaching heights between 25-27 inches tall.
17. The Doberman has a smooth, shorthaired coat with no undercoat.
18. Unlike other short-haired dog breeds, this dog’s hair coat molts.
19. Black and tan are the traditional hair coat colors of the Doberman, but they can also be seen in fawn and tan, blue and tan, as well as liver and tan.
20. The Doberman is happy living anywhere just as long as he has plenty of room to be active and human companionship.
21. Dobermans hate the cold.
22. Dobermans do not like to get wet and often refuse to go outside in the rain.
23. Heat stroke is common in black and tan Dobes, as the black coats draw heat.
24. Despite their larger size, Dobermans prefer living inside the home. For other dogs that love living inside with their human companions check out this article.
25. Dobermans are in your face dogs, they always want to be involved in what the family is doing.
26. Dobermans must be treated with respect and never mishandled, or they will become aggressive.
27. Dobermans are extremely loyal, proud, and affectionate dogs.
28. The Doberman dog breed is prone to Cervical Spondylitis also known as Canine Wobbler Syndrome.
29. The Doberman is prone to Dilated Cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
30. Von Willebrand’s Disease, a condition in which the dog’s body slowly becomes paralyzed over time, is a hereditary defect of the Doberman.
