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If your vision
is closer to the second version, you are probably not alone.
Many people think of the Doberman as a vicious animal. In today's
media-savvy world, it might be said the Doberman suffers from
bad PR. For the most part, however, today's Doberman must learn
this aggressive behavior from humans. And although the negative
image is rarely true, it's easy to see why it persists. Few
dogs are portrayed as ferociously in movies and television as
the Doberman - if there's a role for a canine villain, chances
are the Doberman is at the head of the casting list. The Doberman's
continued use as military, police and guard dogs perpetuates
this attack-dog image.
Certainly
the Doberman is a perfect guard dog, protecting its territory
with an exuberance for which it is bred, but to understand
the true nature of the breed, one must travel back to the
German city of Apolda, where late in the 19th century a tax
collector and night watchman began a quest for the ideal companion.
German
Engineering
Karl Friedrich
Louis Dobermann was a man of many talents. Aside from his
duties as a tax collector and night watchman, he ran the dog
pound in Apolda, a city in Germany's eastern province of Thueringen.
Despite Dobermann's talents, his unique career combination
did not make him popular, and during the 1880s he decided
to breed a dog to accompany and protect him in his duties.
Dobermann's
dog pound provided a perfect resource for his breeding experiments.
He was an admirer of the larger, more aggressive dogs in his
shelter, yet realized the difficulty in managing such a large
animal. He sought to produce a fearless dog of enough size
to present an imposing picture, yet not so large as to become
difficult to manage. Similarly, his canine experience had
taught him that short-haired, smooth-coated dogs were easier
to groom.
No one
knows the exact recipe Dobermann concocted for his famous
brew, however we can take a good guess at his ingredients.
Most experts believe the early Rottweiler and a smooth-haired
German pinscher, no longer in existence, were significant
components (see end of article). The
Manchester terrier, then a much larger breed known as the
black-and-tan terrier, was introduced into the gene pool,
creating the Doberman's smooth lustrous coat and the distinctive
black and tan markings. The black English greyhound was also
introduced to improve the dog's appearance. The early German
shepherd dog, Great Dane, schnauzer and Weimaraner are also
mentioned as influences.
Dobermann
died in 1894, with some minor adjustments left unfinished
in his ideal comrade. His protégé, Otto Goeller,
continued his mentor's plans and is credited by many as the
true architect of the breed. Goeller organized the National
Dobermann Pinscher Club in Germany in 1899. Shortly thereafter
he and his committee members wrote the first breed standard.
Hero's
Welcome
The Doberman
pinscher quickly gained a following in Germany and was soon
being exported around the world. Dobermans began arriving
in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.
In 1908 Theodore Jager and a W. Doberman - said to be a relative
of Louis Dobermann - opened the Doberman Kennel in Pittsford,
New York. That same year the kennel registered the first Doberman
in the American Kennel Club Stud Book, Doberman Intelectus,
whelped June 20, 1908. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America
was founded in 1921. Dobermans also became popular in other
countries, especially Holland and South Africa. Strangely,
though, the Doberman did not initially develop a following
in England, where less than a dozen were imported before World
War II. The reason for the Dobermans' failure to become popular
in England is not apparent, although strict quarantine regulations
and the two world wars undoubtedly played a role.
Ironically,
the two world wars were exactly what propelled the Doberman
to star status in the rest of the world. By the start of World
War I, the Germans had trained several thousand dogs, including
a large number of Dobermans, for guard and rescue duty. These
dogs performed admirably, but real strides in the art of canine
warfare came during World War II, when dogs - the Doberman
prominent among them - were used in great numbers for a variety
of purposes by both sides. War dogs were trained to do all
kinds of work: tracking, scouting, sentry duty, locating wounded
in the field, detecting mines, physically assaulting and subduing
the enemy, and guarding prisoners. It is estimated that the
United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marines) commissioned
at least 250,000 dogs during World War II years, many of them
Dobermans. The Doberman performed so exceptionally for the
Marines, it was later adopted as the organization's official
mascot. The same qualities that made the Doberman an excellent
military dog make it an outstanding police dog. Today the
breed's military heritage is evident in the police work it
performs throughout the United States and Europe.
A Fierce
Friend
With the
Doberman's long history of guard, military and police duty,
it is not surprising that the word fierce is often associated
with the breed. But any Doberman owner will tell you the word
more accurately describes the breed's loyalty and affection
than its demeanor. As old Herr Dobermann might say, the Doberman
was bred to be an ideal companion, not just a guard dog.
As such,
the Doberman is very loyal, faithful and loving to its family,
wanting to be with it constantly and expecting to follow it
everywhere. This intense love and affection is something that
cannot be imagined by someone who has not lived with a Doberman
and is one of the unexpected joys that awaits the first-time
owner. The Doberman also is extremely intelligent, meaning
that the dog will quickly learn the routines of the home.
Of course,
the Doberman is a natural guard dog and is often protective,
even overprotective of its family. This is primarily because
of its intense loyalty, not viciousness. Most Dobermans seem
to have an uncanny knack of knowing who is allowed in the
house and who is not, and will welcome those welcomed by its
owners.
Gumption
Galore
Doberman
owners must accept from the beginning that Dobermans can be
mischievous - they can cause damage to your house and garden,
and they can be noisy. If you are particularly house-proud
and can't bear the thought of a dog helping to make everything
untidy, then you would be better off not owning a Doberman.
Someone
who desires an independent dog that requires minimal owner
interaction should also, in all fairness, look to another
breed. The Doberman must have constant human companionship
and social interaction, not only with its owner but with all
kinds of people and other dogs. This is essential to the well
being of the breed.
A Doberman
needs plenty of exercise to maintain top physical condition.
Most Dobermans require about an hour of exercise a day to
keep fit. At least part of that time should be spent running,
preferably off the leash in a safe, confined area. Other exercise
alternatives can include swimming or hurdle jumping. The Doberman
that is given plenty of opportunity to exercise is a much
happier and healthier dog.
One area
where the Doberman doesn't require a lot of attention is grooming.
Brushing the dog regularly - if not every day, at least twice
a week - will keep both coat and skin healthy. Regular brushing
practically eliminates the need to give the Doberman a bath,
which should be administered rarely, only when necessary.
Unfortunately,
disease is one of the few forces that can get the better of
the Doberman. Von Willebrand's disease - a bleeding disorder
- was once a significant danger. Responsible breeding has
reduced the threat of Von Willebrand's disease, although it
remains a concern. Two other serious maladies are still associated
with Dobermans. One is Wobblers syndrome - a disease of the
spinal column of the neck - otherwise known as cervical vertebral
instability (CVI). This causes the dog to stagger or wobble
as it walks. It is thought to be a heritable disease, and
the condition may or may not respond to surgery. The second
problem is a lethal heart disorder known as cardiomyopathy.
This is a progressive deterioration of the heart that eventually
results in congestive heart failure and sudden death. All
breeding stock should be tested for cardiomyopathy before
breeding. Albinism is occasionally seen in Dobermans, although
there is a debate as to whether this is good or bad. Albino
or "white" Dobermans are at increased risk of solar skin damage,
including cancer. A healthy Doberman can be expected to live
10 to 12 years.
Image
Overhaul
The next
time you visualize the Doberman pinscher, forget the television
shows, the movies and the bad PR. The breed may play the villain
on-screen, but a happy, healthy Doberman is a lover as much,
if not more, as it is a fighter. And the next time you see
a Doberman pinscher, even if it barks at you, remember that
underneath that imposing frame is the heart and soul of a
loyal, sensitive creature who lives and breathes to please
its owner.
A
reader writes to us:
"In
this month's issue on Dobermans you indicated that Rottweilers
and German Pinschers were used to breed the Doberman. I agree
with this, but you also noted in the article that the German
Pinschers are no longer in existence, with this, I disagree.
You need to check with UKC. German Pinschers are still being
bred in the U.S. and other countries. As a matter of fact,
I have purchased a red female puppy that will be ready to
come home the week after Christmas. BLOODLINES magazine (which
is published by UKC) has an article in this months issue on
German Pinschers written by Diane Austin (a GP breeder)."
Thanks for
your input and we're glad to know this particular forefather
of the Doberman is still alive and well. We wish you the best
with your new addition.
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