Dobermann (Doberman Pinscher): how to recognise one
With natural drop ears and a long tail, a Dobermann can look quite different from the cropped dogs in films. Upload a photo above, then check the points below.
Also known as: Doberman, Doberman Pinscher, Dobie
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About the Dobermann
The Dobermann was created in Apolda, Germany, in the late nineteenth century by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector who wanted a fast, alert companion for his rounds. Germany holds the FCI standard, which spells it Dobermann; the AKC calls it the Doberman Pinscher. It is a working breed in FCI group 2, used in police, protection, search and assistance work. Dobermanns are intelligent, sensitive and very attached to their people, with plenty of energy and a strong wish to stay close. They learn fast and respond best to calm, consistent training.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 27–45 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- Very high
How to recognise a Dobermann
- Short, hard, close-lying, glossy coat with little or no undercoat; it shows every muscle.
- Black or brown (red) with sharp rust markings above the eyes, on the muzzle, chest, legs and under the tail; the AKC also accepts blue and fawn.
- Long head shaped like a blunt wedge from above and from the side, with a flat skull, slight stop and dark almond eyes.
- Natural ears are medium-sized and drop forward against the cheeks, and a natural tail is long. Cropped ears stand tall; docked tails are very short.
- Square, elegant outline with a firm back, deep chest and well tucked-up belly; lighter and leggier than a Rottweiler.
Photo tip. Take a side-on photo with the head in profile. The wedge-shaped head and tucked-up waist separate a Dobermann from a Rottweiler or Beauceron, whether the ears are cropped or natural.
Dobermann or look-alike?
Rottweiler
Same black-and-tan pattern, but a Rottweiler is heavier and broader, with a big skull, a short, deep muzzle and a thicker coat with an undercoat.
Beauceron
Black and tan and similar in height, but with a rougher, thicker coat, double dewclaws on the hind legs, a heavier head and a long tail carried low in a J-shape.
Miniature Pinscher
The same colours and sharp outline in miniature: a toy dog with proportionally larger eyes, a shorter muzzle and upright ears. Despite the look, it is not a small Dobermann.
Dobermann mixes
Dobermann crosses are less common than Lab or shepherd mixes, but you will meet Dobermann × German Shepherd, × Labrador, × Rottweiler and × Husky. The rust markings over a black or brown coat survive well, as do the sleek coat, the long head and the tucked-up waist. Natural ears in a cross often sit higher or half-fold. Because tan points also come from Rottweilers, Beaucerons and many hounds, the identifier may name more than one black-and-tan breed for a cross. A DNA test separates them.
Health and care
- Dilated cardiomyopathy is the breed’s main health concern. Ask for the parents’ heart screening, a yearly Holter and echocardiogram, and their DCM DNA results; a clear DNA result does not rule it out.
- Ask the breeder for the von Willebrand disease DNA status of both parents. It affects blood clotting and matters before any surgery.
- Wobbler syndrome, an underactive thyroid and some eye conditions are also known in the breed; a yearly thyroid check is commonly recommended.
- Deep-chested and prone to bloat: feed two or three smaller meals and avoid hard exercise for an hour either side of eating.
- Very energetic, they need a daily run and training games that occupy the mind. The thin coat makes them feel the cold, so a dog coat helps in winter.