Dog Breed Guide

Doberman

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Guard dog, Police dog, Military dog

Height

male 68 - 72cm (27 - 28in), female 63 - 68cm (25 - 27in)

Weight

male 40 - 45kg (88 - 99lb), female 32 - 35kg (71 - 77lb)

Life span

10 - 12 years

A sleek, powerful dog with a lean, muscular body and long legs. The short, glossy coat is black or brown with rust tan markings.

The Dobermann is exceptionally intelligent and quick to respond to training. It is deeply loyal and loving toward its family and has a cuddly side that makes it want to be with them all the time. It is also alert and highly protective. Because it can be sensitive, it does best with early socialization and reward-based training.

It needs a great deal of exercise and should get a good run every day. It does not handle cold well, so it may need protection in winter. The breed is known to be prone to a heart condition (dilated cardiomyopathy) and von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder.

Good to know

The breed was created in the late 19th century in Apolda, a town in eastern Germany, by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector. His rounds took him through dangerous areas, so he wanted a brave, intelligent dog to protect him, and he is said to have selected strong, clever dogs from the dog pound he ran and bred them. No record survives of which breeds he combined, and that remains a mystery. The breed bears his name.

In World War II, Dobermans served with the US Marine Corps as war dogs on the Pacific battlefields. During the Battle of Guam in 1944, a Doberman named Kurt is said to have warned of a large enemy force approaching, saving the lives of some 250 Marines.

In memory of the 25 war dogs who died in that battle, a bronze statue of Kurt named "Always Faithful" stands on Guam.