- Social
- Natural Guardians
- Low ability to stand Cold
- Good with Children
- Good with Seniors
- Excellent Family Dogs
- Can be Aggressive with Other Dogs
- Trained to Hunt
- Act Like Puppy – till 4 Years Old
- Very Energetic
- Loyal
- Trustworthy
Doberman Behavior/Temperament / Doberman Pinscher Traits
Doberman pinschers are large, active dogs who require a lot of activity. They will grow angry or even hostile if they are not exercised. From a young age, careful socialization and obedience training are required.
The Doberman pinscher was created to be the perfect companion and guard dog. Dobermans in the past were more aggressive than the dogs of today. When the Doberman Club realized that the Breed had gained a reputation for ferocity, they decided to breed aggressiveness out of the Breed.
As a result, American Dobermans now have a considerably more stable temperament and are no longer classified as aggressive dogs. The Doberman has become friendlier in recent years, but it is still a good guardian. The Doberman pinscher, when properly socialized, is warm and devoted and will protect his master to death.
Doberman At a glance
Weight Range:
- Male: 66-92 lbs.
- Female: 66-90 lbs.
Height at Withers:
- Male: 27-28 in.
- Female: 25-26 in.
Other Body Features:
- Ears: Floppy ears (naturally)
- Exercise Requirements: >45 minutes/day
- Energy Level: Highly energetic
- Longevity Range: 11-13 yrs.
- The Tendency to Bark: Low
- The Tendency to Drool: Low
- The Tendency to Snore: Low
- The Tendency to Dig: Low
- Social/Attention Needs: Moderate
- Bred For: Guardian
Doberman Coat Characteristics
- Coat Length: Short
- Coat type: Flat
- Coat Colors: Black, blue, red, fawn (all with tan markings)
- Overall Grooming Needs: Low
Club Recognition:
- AKC Classification: Working Class
- UKC Classification: Guard Dog
- Prevalence: Common
Males stand around 27 or 28 inches tall and weigh about 70 pounds (32 kilograms), while females stand an inch or two shorter and weigh approximately 60 to 65 pounds (27 to 29 kilograms).
Doberman History
In the late 1800s, a German named Louis Dobermann is best known for creating the Doberman pinscher breed. He wanted a fearsome guard dog to accompany him on his rounds as a tax collector. Dobermann also ran the local dog pound, giving him access to a large number of stray dogs.
Nobody knows for sure, but the Dobermann pinscher is supposed to have been created by crossing many breeds. Doberman pinschers have also served as police and military dogs, rescue dogs, and therapy dogs, despite their origins as guard dogs.
Doberman Pincher Temperament
When you get a Doberman Pinscher, you get a super-intelligent and super-active dog. You’ll also get a dog that is extremely loyal and trustworthy, as well as a playful and fun-loving member of the family. They’re one of the best natural protectors who won’t hesitate to act if they believe their family is in danger, but their aggression isn’t unjustified.
The Dobie enjoys being active, both physically and mentally. They are easy to handle, train and learn quickly. It’s challenging to keep lessons fresh and exciting for them because they know so quickly. They can have their own opinions, but they are usually not overly stubborn or willful with a consistent, kind leader. The Dobie takes a long time to mature. Until they’re three to four years old, they still act like puppies.
A variety of factors influence temperament, including heredity, training, and socialization. Puppies with good character are curious and playful, and they enjoy approaching people and being held. Meeting the puppy’s parents, siblings, or other relatives can also be beneficial in determining what a puppy will be like as an adult.
When they’re young, the Dobie, like all dogs, needs early socialization—exposure to various people, sights, sounds, and experiences. Socialization ensures that your Dobie puppy develops into a well-rounded adult dog.
Enrolling them in puppy kindergarten is a great place to start. Regularly inviting visitors over and taking your dog to busy parks, dog-friendly stores, and strolls to meet neighbors will help them improve their social skills.
What is Temperament of Doberman Pinchers – Kids / Seniors
A well-bred Doberman is an excellent family pet. He is dependable and protective of his family’s kids, as long as they have been adequately socialized and trained. Children must treat the Dobie with respect and kindness, and the dog will return the favor.
As with any breed, teach children how to contact and touch dogs, and always supervise any encounters between dogs and young children to avoid biting or ear or tail pulling on either party’s part. Teach your kid never to approach a dog eating or sleeping or to try to steal the dog’s food. No dog should ever be left alone with a child, no matter how friendly it is.
They’re also good with other dogs and pets in the house, mainly if the dog was reared with them. Dobermans can be aggressive toward dogs who aren’t part of their family if they believe they threaten them.
Can a Doberman Stay Home Alone?
While each Doberman’s personality is unique, an adult Doberman should not be left alone for longer than 8 hours, and a puppy should not be left alone for longer than 4 hours. Puppies under the age of four months may require extra care. Separation anxiety is common in Dobermans.
This is the best advice I can give you, but many of us who work 8-hour shifts need to be able to leave our dogs alone at home for 9 to 10 hours. There’s travel time to and from work, and we frequently have an hour lunch break at a job that’s too far away for us to get home in that time. Fortunately, if you plan carefully, you can still make it work.
Even remote pet cameras are available now that allow you to see, talk to, and even treat your dog while you’re at work.
Are Dobermans Good with Children?
Doberman Pinschers are family dogs who are exceptionally loyal and people-oriented. They get along with youngsters of all ages once they’ve been properly socialized. When it comes to children, they are soft, patient, and compassionate. This is especially true if they have been reared with children since birth.
Many Doberman owners don’t realize some intriguing aspects to raising a Doberman with young children until they try it.
Are Dobermans Good for Seniors?
Doberman Pinschers are generally tolerated by the elderly. Senior Dobermans are ideal for senior citizens since they are less likely than younger Dobermans and require less exercise. Also, as Dobermans become older, their disposition becomes more reserved with strangers.
Common Doberman Behavior Problems/What behavior Changes are Common to the Breed?
Here are some common Doberman behavior issues:
Sociability
Doberman pinschers are loyal family dogs. They require access to their owners’ homes and participation in their activities. A young Doberman that is kept outside and away from family activities grows up to dislike people and shows fear-based violence. It is critical to properly socialize your Doberman so that he is confident and understands how to behave among new people and pets. When you leave the house, bring your Doberman with you.
Ascertain that the dog’s interactions with people are favorable. To reinforce such pleasant thoughts, give your dog goodies. Dobermans get along well with other animals and children in general, although young children who disturb them with unwanted attention might irritate them. Maintain a cheerful attitude when visiting with children and constantly supervise. All children who come to visit should be taught not to annoy or tease your dog.
Energy Level
Doberman pinschers are highly energetic and athletic canines. Dobermans require physical and mental stimulation because they are bred to work as guard dogs, police and military dogs, or in professions such as search and rescue. Dobermans get bored quickly if they aren’t given something to do.
Participate in a range of activities and games with your dog, such as fetch and hide-and-seek. To keep your dog’s attention engaged, utilize games to teach fundamental obedience instructions and vary the training. Joining local dog training classes or a dog training club where you may train and socialize your Doberman is a fantastic option.
Obsessive Behaviors
Some Doberman pinschers engage in habits that might lead to self-inflicted injuries, such as sucking and licking a specific region on a leg obsessively. This anxiety-related activity leads to a disorder known as acral lick dermatitis, or lick granuloma, which are infected open sores. Separation anxiety, a lack of sociability, a lack of sufficient exercise, or abusive treatment are possible causes of such behavior.
If your Doberman exhibits such behavior, talk to your veterinarian about probable causes and anti-anxiety drugs that might assist. While you make improvements to your Doberman’s environment, medication can help relieve the dog’s stress. Increase the amount of exercise and activities your dog gets. To assist prevent or stop compulsive tendencies, provide your dog with various fascinating toys to play with.
Aggression
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dobermans are prohibited in various cities due to their imposing size and occasional incidences involving aggressiveness. Dobermans are courageous and intelligent dogs, but they should not be aggressive. Aggression and dominance difficulties can be avoided by exposing children to other people and animals through obedience training lessons.
Never use harmful training methods like a harsh reprimand or yelling when training or dealing with your Doberman. Such approaches do not sit well with Dobermans, and they may even drive your dog to become aggressive toward people. To encourage the desired behavior, use positive techniques such as praise and treats.
Dominance
Many Doberman pinschers will demonstrate authoritarian behavior in their relationships with other dogs and occasionally with their owners. Dobermans require experienced dog owners who can deal forcefully and fairly with dominance concerns.
Food and toys may be aggressively guarded by some Dobermans, a habit known as resource guarding. Anyone who approaches such dogs while they are eating may be threatened or attacked. If you observe the beginnings of resource guarding behaviors, you can use several measures to prevent them.
Hand-feeding your young Doberman while keeping the food bowl in your lap teaches your dog that you are in charge of the food. Teaching your dog basic obedience instructions like “sit” and “Leave it,” as well as rewarding your dog for dropping a toy or sitting to get a meal, can help guard dominant behavior.
Prey Drive
Doberman pinschers have a strong prey drive and enjoy chasing small creatures like cats, rabbits, and small dogs. Dobermans may not be the best pets for multi-pet households, mainly if cats are present. Dobermans can be aggressive toward other canines. When out for a walk, keep your dog on a leash.
Do Dobermans have Separation Anxiety?
If a Doberman pinscher is left alone at home, he or she will experience separation anxiety and boredom. An anxious, lonely Doberman who has free reign of your home is likely to take solace in biting your furniture and things. It’s critical to provide a safe and secure environment for your Doberman to reside in while you’re away.
When you initially bring a Doberman puppy into your home, it’s a good idea to put a spacious, comfortable dog kennel in your bedroom so that your puppy may sleep with you at night during the crucial bonding period. This cage then serves multiple purposes, including offering a familiar, cozy den-like sanctuary for your dog, as well as aiding with housebreaking and giving a safe and secure area for your Doberman to stay when you have to be gone for an extended period of time.
Be conscious of your dog’s needs, such as water and the need to go potty, so that the crate does not become a source of frustration. Never use the crate to train your dog. If your Doberman is alone for several hours, have a dog walker come by at regular intervals to give him some exercise.
Are Male Dobermans more Aggressive than the Female?
Yes, they are generally more aggressive because they are territorial and comparatively large than their female counterpart. The higher testosterone level also increases aggression in them with age.
Male Doberman Behavior
Males are more assertive than females and require explicit, solid instruction from their owners. They can also be a little more forceful when it comes to receiving attention when they want it, and some people believe they are much more “on top of you” throughout the day than women are.
Dobermans are excellent protectors and guardians. Males are more prone to have strong bonds with their entire family and be more protective of their house and belongings. On the other hand, female Dobermans are more anxious about protecting one single individual with whom they have formed a bond.
Female Doberman Behavior
Female Dobermans are more severe and intense in everything they do, according to several Doberman owners who have both male and female Dobies. Because of this, they’ll mature faster and be easier to housebreak and train early on. Female Dobermans begin acting like adults around the age of two, which is about half the time it takes a male Doberman. This means they can be left alone at home earlier than men. Many people believe that a female Doberman is more straightforward to own as a first dog.
Females will be less tolerant of strangers in public, which can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the circumstances. When they meet new people or pets, they are less social. They may take a little longer to warm up in the dog park as a result of this. When they’re in a casual setting like a dog park, they don’t have issues with same-sex hostility like males do, but it’s a different story when two female dogs live together in the same house.
They’re also cleaner than males since they’ll wait until they’ve finished drinking from their water bowl before running around the house with water and drool dripping from their lips, which is a beautiful thing.
How do the Doberman Puppies Behave?
Puppies of Doberman pinschers are robust, lively creatures who require a lot of exercise right from the start (after the 12th week). They are more likely to get irritable or even angry if they are not exercised. If they are exercised daily, they can adapt well to apartment living. This Breed requires careful socialization and obedience training from a young age.
What Behavior Changes does a Male have after being Neutered?
While neutering male dogs can cause them to become more aggressive shortly after the treatment, neutering can also make them less aggressive over time. Neutering a male dog has been shown to make him happier and calmer over time.
What Behavior Changes does a Female have after being Neutered?
Females rarely change their conduct; however, many adopt a more laid-back attitude. Spaying and neutering can reduce activity levels in both males and females, although this is not guaranteed in all dogs.
What is some Doberman Puppy Bad Behavior?
Lack of housetraining, hyperactivity, nipping, chewing, ingesting feces, and getting sick in the car are frequent Doberman puppy behavior concerns. Giving the dog too much sovereignty too soon leads to a lack of housetraining.
How to Discipline a Doberman?
You can discipline/ train Doberman by many training methods. An instant discipline Doberman technique includes the following:
- Refrain from pulling. When they’re learning to walk, most dogs will yank on the leash.
- Shift your focus. Walking in the opposite direction and encouraging your dog to join you is an even more successful strategy.
- Make being by your side enjoyable.
- Accompany the action with a verbal command.
Is it true that Dobermans go Crazy?
The most frequent misconception is that a Doberman’s brain grows too big for their small skulls, causing them to “go insane” and turn on their owner. While it is true that Dobermans have a smaller head than many other breeds, they will never go insane if they are well socialized, adequately cared for, given enough love, and educated sufficiently with obedience training from the start.
Female Doberman in Heat Behavior
The female genitalia will be the first to enlarge and discharge. The first time they see discharge is on the first day of their period. You may observe female Dobermans licking themselves more than usual around this period, or they may mark outside when they pee. On the 9th day of their cycle, they are in full heat or standing heat.
They are most fertile and desire to breed at this time. Females typically do not want to be bred until this point in their cycle. It lasts approximately 9-11 days. Females will not allow a guy to breed them unless they specifically request it.
Doberman Highlights
- The Doberman is a high-energy breed that requires a lot of exercise, and they may be protective, so don’t be shocked if they take on the position of the household guardian. If you aren’t a strong leader in your household, the Dobie will take over as the alpha. Establishing your status as a pack leader requires early and persistent training.
- The Dobie is cold-sensitive and requires proper shelter in the winter (they like to be in the house next to the fireplace).
- Because the Doberman Pinscher is a family dog, it should never be left alone. When they’re included in family activities, they thrive.
- The Doberman dog has a reputation for being a nasty dog. Even if your Doberman has a charming nature, strangers and neighbors may be scared of him.
- Never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill, or pet store if you want a healthy dog.
Final Thoughts
The Doberman pinscher has a sleek, muscular body and a long head. The tail is frequently docked short, and the ears are generally trimmed to stand straight. The black, dark red, blue, or fawn Doberman pinscher has a short, silky, and lustrous coat with rust-colored markings on the face, body, and tail. This dog sheds moderately and requires little grooming. Dobermans have a lifespan of 11 to 13 years.
If properly socialized and taught, Doberman pinschers are considered people-oriented dogs, loving and charming. They are devoted to their owners and, if raised with children, are fine with them; however, some Dobermans have a strong attachment with only one person.
Doberman pinschers are large, active dogs who require a lot of activity. They are more likely to get irritable or even angry if they are not exercised. If they are exercised daily, they can adapt well to apartment living.
This Breed requires careful socialization and obedience training from a young age. Positive reinforcement works wonders for Doberman pinschers. Anyone who wishes to be a good family guardian doesn’t need any specific guard training. Experts often advise against particular guard training in Doberman pinschers since it might lead to over-guarding and hostility.
