Doberman - breed description and dog character

The appearance of the Doberman breed dates back to the end of the 19th century. If we compare with the time of the appearance of other breeds, the beginning of the history of this origin is quite close to the events of our days. However, this fact is not the basis for the first stages of its genesis to be known to the smallest detail. The century separating us has enveloped them in mystery. The presence of riddles and inexplicable facts is due to the fact that the breeder who invented the Doberman did not keep phased documentation and a diary of observations. Therefore, today we can only guess the real causes of some events.

The history of the origin of the Doberman breed

F.L. Doberman, who made a huge contribution to the development of cynology. The country of his residence was Germany, by profession he was a tax collector. It was the position that prompted F. L. Doberman to breed a new breed of dog. Let's find out in more detail how this happened.

The obvious fact is that many people often avoided paying taxes, thereby preventing the collector from doing his job properly. Reluctance to give money to Doberman was often accompanied by aggression from the debtors in his direction, from which it was necessary to somehow defend. In addition to this, on duty, he had to carry large amounts of money with him, which in itself was unsafe. In connection with these circumstances, Doberman decided that a dog could protect him. However, in the nursery financed by him, where homeless animals huddled, there was no loyal companion able to fulfill the tasks set by Doberman. After that, the tax collector decides to independently create a new breed of dog, representatives of which would meet his expectations. To do this, he became a regular at local fair festivities, as well as exhibitions of nearby cities. On them it was possible to find different animals, dogs were no exception. So, after some time, F.L. Doberman acquired several Pinschers, whose offspring became the basis for the creation of a new breed. On this, the real evidence of the breeding of the Doberman breed ends. All other information about the degree of participation of other dogs in this process is not known. Numerous dog breeders and dog handlers call the ancestors of the Doberman terrier, blue dog, and even a shepherd dog.

Researchers note that dog breeding was not the profession of F. L. Doberman. But the lack of special knowledge did not prevent him from achieving an excellent result in such a short time. After several decades, the same dogs began to appear in his world, both in appearance and in character. These were the fearless Dobermans, then called the breeder by the Thuringian pinschers. Of course, they differed about those that are today, but most importantly - the beginning was laid. The success of the tax collector is interpreted differently. Only one statement is obvious and not amenable to discussion - F. L. Doberman managed to go down in history and achieve his original goal.

Later, adjustments were made to the Doberman breed by O. Geller, who sought to make the ferocious nature of the animal softer. He considered the argument in favor of his decision to be that the breed would not spread well. Thus, we got the Doberman that we are so familiar with today: a hardy guard who can be trained and respects the authority of the owner. The first official appearance of the breed took place in 1897. Subsequently, the number of specialists in the field of breed breeding steadily increased, which led to the emergence of a whole unification of Germany under the leadership of O. Geller.

The next country, which was conquered by representatives of this breed, was America. It was in the New World that the Doberman was named the dog of the devil. This name became winged and migrated to other continents. After an overseas trip, the breed gradually spread throughout other countries. Dobermans dogs reached the Russian Empire by the beginning of the 20th century. Here they immediately entered various departments where guard dogs were required.

Characteristics of the official Doberman breed standard

Dobermans have an elegant appearance. These are strong dogs, whose muscles are very developed, but they are not rude and heavy, which makes the animal graceful. A distinctive feature of the Doberman is harmony in a combination of body proportions.

1. The average height of the Doberman (at the withers) reaches 70 cm (+/- 5). Body length should not exceed height more than 5%. Oversized animals are not the standard of beauty of this breed. With respect to Dobermans, preference is usually given to medium sized dogs.
2. The hallmark of a thoroughbred pet is a slightly elongated square head shape. In general, the skull is proportionate to the rest of the body. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle of the dog is clearly pronounced. The cheekbones are pronounced and tightened, cheeks in dogs of this breed do not exist.
3. The ears are set very high, which allows them to stand upright.
4. The nose is wide, triangular in shape, always painted black. The exception is brown noses of dogs whose color is lighter.
5. The slit of the pet’s mouth is cut wide enough - it reaches the molars.
6. The iris of the dog’s usually oval eyes is painted in dark colors, with the exception of light shades found in individuals of brown color.
7. The neck of the representatives of this breed is different in length. In addition, the elegance of the breed is achieved by the muscularity of this part of the body.
8. The Dobermans chest is wide, protrudes slightly due to the ribs. The stomach is tightened and picked up.
9. The tail also has a high landing. Sometimes it is stopped, however, there are countries where this procedure is strictly prohibited.
10. Forelegs are straight and strong. The same characteristics apply to the hind legs. Hips have a rounded shape. The length of the limbs is in perfect harmony with the general proportions of the dog's body.
11. Dobermans skin is covered with tight-fitting short and stiff hair. The undercoat is missing. The color of the coat is different. It ranges from black to reddish red.

Interesting fact! A world celebrity among dogs is rightfully considered a Doberman named Tref. In the first decades of the 20th century, he uncovered 1,500 crimes. The shooting of its owner by the Bolshevik authorities left an animal with a negative memory. The detective ceased to search without his ally.

Character Features

Truly legendary is the idea that Dobermans are evil dogs. This misconception is often reinforced by movies or books. Such thoughts push people away from acquiring Doberman dogs, especially if the family has small children.Specialists involved in breeding pets of this breed try to upload video clips to the network where Dobermans behave good-naturedly. What are the causes of this stereotype?

The answer lies in the history of the breed. The first Dobermans were evil, and made so intentionally, since their main purpose was to protect people and institutions. However, the breed's growing popularity has made changes to it by the hands of breeders - Dobermans today do not have the former ferocity.

Of course, the aggressiveness of Dobermans cannot be denied, since this is primarily an animal. But at the same time, we must not forget that the psyche of these dogs is much more balanced than the fighting breeds. Therefore, it is easier to train and control Dobermans. Although dog handlers emphasize that there are overly nervous and excitable Doberman dogs. The reason for this may be a genetic malfunction or poor parenting.

But in general, representatives of this breed these days are peaceful and very attached to humans. They love children and will never allow themselves to offend them. Dobermans lack the habit of ignoring the weak, familiar to a large number of dogs. So, they will not knock the baby off his feet and will not take away from him something interesting or tasty. Dobermans respect the owner and all household members.

The kindness of the Dobermans is not suspicious. Their good behavior is determined by a calm atmosphere. If an emergency occurs, the dogs are determined and ready for any action that will save the owner or help him. This indicates that the protective and fighting instincts are developed in dogs at a high level. With the right approach in education and training, the pet will become your personal guard, with whom no one can compare.

Speaking about the features of the intellectual development of the breed, it is worth noting the ingenuity and attentiveness of the dog. Dobermans do not strive for independence, easily establish contact with different people, respect and obey the owner, implicitly execute his commands. This is facilitated by the absence of harmfulness and obstinacy in the character of the pet. The most important thing for the dog is the benefit it brings to its owner.

Interesting fact! "Give me, Jim, luckily a paw for me." These famous poetic lines S.A. Yesenin is described by a dialogue between actor Kachalov and his Doberman dog.

How to bring up a Doberman?

If your pet is a Doberman, then remember that, among other things, you have a huge responsibility for his behavior. The seriousness of the educational processes in the life of this dog must be realized from the first moment that comes after the purchase of a puppy. Proper pet upbringing should be based on trust and authority. If there is no warm relationship and love between you, if the dog does not understand that you are dominating this friendly union, then the process of education will be difficult. The pet will not listen to you without a wrangle, because he will not be able to trust you.

You should not dump the entire complex of educational exercises on the animal on the first day of your acquaintance. It is necessary to work with the Doberman in this direction gradually. Pay attention to mode and place accustoming. Teaching Doberman to walks has its own specifics. For the dog, it’s important not to be outdoors, but to get used to the variety of places. You can not be limited to walking a dog in a closed territory of a suburban area. This can lead to the fact that when you need to take an already adult dog to a noisy and crowded city, this atmosphere will be regarded by him as critical, and it will be difficult for him to cope with his excitability. The same goes for cars. From childhood it is necessary to teach a dog different situations and means of transportation.

Be attentive to the relationship between your pet and other dogs. Dobermans can be aggressive towards other dogs.

If you want to develop some of his natural abilities in a pet, do it from childhood. To do this, in a game form, teach him the necessary skills, for example, the ability to look for things, people, and so on. For the usual education of the Doberman, you need a set of standard commands. However, do not deprive the dog of happiness to develop, use its unique capabilities for your own benefit. So, the Doberman can become an excellent companion in some sports games. Joint sports will help both the owner and the pet to remain in excellent physical shape.

How to care for a Doberman?

Doberman will be equally comfortable both in the apartment and in the house. If you prefer the latter option, do not forget to walk the dog, taking him outside your site. The pet does not strive for independence, it requires constant communication with the person. Go with a dog on new walks filled with adventures and discoveries, pay enough attention to the dog.

Feeding Dobermans is a pleasure, because the representatives of this breed are unpretentious in food. The simple way is dry food. However, one should not forget about natural products. Meat is an important source of protein for a dog; its ratio with other products should reach 50%. To maintain the health of the dog and its activity, give your pet mineral and vitamin supplements.

How to choose a Doberman?

When choosing a puppy, pay attention to its pedigree. Many say that it is necessary only for those dogs who plan to make an exhibition career. However, information about the parents of the future pet will be a guarantee for you that the puppy you purchase will grow up with all the characteristics characteristic of the breed. The pedigree will protect you from buying too cowardly or too aggressive Doberman.

Before buying an animal, you should talk with various breeders and go to nurseries. Honest breeders always warn of possible litter defects, help to choose the one that suits you and your requirements. Personal trips to nurseries will help you make sure that the breeder is responsible for his business. If you decide to buy a puppy on an ad, seek the help of an experienced dog handler or a specialist in the field of Dobermann breeding to verify the breed according to all established standards.

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