An Introduction To Doberman Pinschers

Dobermann pinschers have often been used as police dogs and guard dogs, and the dog breed is known for being loyal, alert and intelligent. Because of their use in society, they have become one of the most widely recognizable breeds, and are ideal for families because of their lively and energetic disposition. They prefer to live indoors, although many work outdoors regularly.

Many Dobermans have their long tail surgically removed after birth, a somewhat controversial procedure known as docking. Docking is common in japan and Russia as well as the United States, and the purpose is to ensure the long tail does not get in the way of the dog's work. The tail should be docked close to the second vertebrae, according to the American Kennel Club. Docking is limited or is downright illegal in various other countries.

Cropping the ears is also illegal in some countries, although in the US it is normal for dobermanns to have their ears cropped to improve hearing and work tasks, and to reduce the chances of ear infections. Cropping the ears should be done when the puppy is between 7 and 9 weeks old; any older than that and the procedure probably won't be successful. A Doberman pinscher can compete in a show or competition with either natural or cropped ears, depending on that country's policy.

Dobermann pinschers are today known for their even temperament and, intelligence and loyalty and for the fact that they are easy to train. In the past, the dog breed was originally bred for the traits often associated with it, such as aggression and intimidation. The breed's ferocious trait was ideal for being a police or guard dog. Today's Dobermans are obedient, loyal and watchful, making them the ideal family pet.

Dobermanns tend to be aggressive sometimes towards other dogs and to strangers, although they also often get along with other dogs and with people. They make great guard dogs because they are easy to train and can be taught to respect and protect their owner and property. Because of some of the practices adopted by American breeders, Dobermans in the US are generally calmer than those in Europe, although some lines are bred to emphasize the dog's aggressive tendencies.

Some studies dating back to the 1860s indicate that the Doberman pinscher has certain psychological traits, such as intelligence and personality. Since then, the same statistical techniques used with humans have often been used to measure canine temperament or personality, and these studies tend to rank the different dog breeds. Different studies have found that dobermanns rank high on aggression, are easy to train, show more curiosity and fear than most other dog breeds, and are very playful.

Dobermanns were originally bred after the end of the Franco-Prussian war during the late 19th century. Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann collected taxes and oversaw a dog pound in Apolda, Germany and wanted a tough and aggressive dog breed to protect him at work. He wanted a combination of ferocity, intelligence, speed and loyalty, and relied on several other established dog breeds to get what he was looking for, including the Great Dane, Rottweiler and German Shepherd, German pinscher and black and tan terrier. Many experts believe the gene most widely used was that of the old German Shepherd breed, although the exact mix of genes is still not known for sure. One certainty is that at some point, Dobermann combined the genes of the Manchester Terrier and the greyhound. A study by Philip Greunig in 1939 called The Dobermann Pinscher is considered to be one of the most important studies of the breed. Greunig describes how the Doberman became the breed we know today, largely due to the efforts of Otto Goeller.

The breed was named the dobermann pinscher in 1894, after Karl Dobermann's death, and the word pinscher, meaning terrier, was eventually dropped from the name. Dobermann pinschers were declared to be the official war dog by the US marine Corps during World War II.

No new litters were registered in Germany in the years following the war, and without the efforts of one man, Werner Jung, the breed would probably have died out. Jung risked his life to smuggle a black and red bitch from between what was then East and West Germany, having scoured German farms for pinschers and miniature pinschers. Today, although some dogs have a parentage that isn't accurately known, most German pinschers are descended from these dog breeds.

The Doberman pinscher was declared to be the 12th most popular breed of dog in both 2012 and 2013 by the American Kennel club.