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Sunnybrook Dobermans |
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Doberman Health History: The Doberman is a German breed and traces its heritage back to some of the old German dogs such as the Rottweiler and the smooth haired German Pinscher, as well as the Black and Tan Terrier of England. The word pinscher in German actually means terrier. Herr Louis Dobermann (note the original spelling) of Apolda, Germany developed the breed in the 1890's to use as a guard dog and a watchdog. At first the Doberman was used almost exclusively for this purpose. Having an excellent nose adapted the dog to criminal tracking and also has led to its use as a hunting dog. The breed was officially recognized in 1900 by the American Kennel Club. The Doberman has been fortunate with the aid of selective breeding to have absorbed the good qualities of the breeds which have made a contribution to its heritage. It has been from the beginning, a working dog devoted to the service of mankind. See also, the DPCA's Background of the Doberman page. Temperament: The Doberman, as described in the written standard for the breed, is energetic, watchful and determined. They are guarded with strangers, but excessive shyness or aggressiveness should not be tolerated. The Doberman is naturally protective and should never be trained to attack. Bred to work, the intelligent, easily trained Doberman has been used extensively as a guard dog and a dog of war. Its ability to track a scent has made it a favorite among many police departments and even for the sport of hunting. A superb family dog noted for its devotion to the family, the properly bred and trained Doberman has a sound mind and body, and the heart and spirit of a gentleman. Appearance: The Doberman is a medium sized dog of clean cut appearance with males reaching 26 to 28 inches tall at the withers, and bitches 24 to 26 inches. Dogs not within this size range would not be considered correct according to the breed standard. Males usually weigh 70 to 75 pounds; bitches 60 to 65 pounds. The Doberman has a smooth, muscular body with a short, fine, close laying coat. Ears can be cropped and erect or natural. The tail is docked short. Permissible colors are black, red, blue and fawn (Isabella). White is not an allowed color although white patches on the chest not exceeding 1/2 inch square are permissible. All colors have sharply defined rust markings above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, forechest, legs, feet and below the tail. See also, the written standard for the breed. Care and Maintenance: The Doberman is an athletic breed and must have regular exercise to maintain its look, condition and agility. Many behavioral problems can surface due to boredom or lack of exercise. The Doberman is a "people" dog often called a "velcro dog" and does not do well with lengthy stints alone. Your Doberman while enjoying the freedom to play outside daily, needs to sleep indoors. Obedience training, even just the basics, is very important to make a Doberman a viable member of the family. Health: The Doberman is generally a healthy breed, although as with all breeds, there are some problems which occur more frequently in the breed than in the general dog population. von Willebrand's disease (vWD).
When considering some of the other health problems in the breed, this disease is
not the most serious problem in the Doberman, we now have a definitive test to
screen for the problem and eventually eliminate it in our breeding programs.
Von Willebrand’s Disease comes in three types and Doberman’s usually are
affected by Type I. This particular type is considered the mildest of the
various types.
Clinical
trials
conducted on 15,000 Dobermans showed seventy percent of them were carriers of
the disease. Of these 15,000 Dobermans, the majority of them didn't’t show
clinical signs. Another study estimated 68%-73% of Dobermans had the disease.
Type I vWD is a splice site mutation, a characteristic of a mutation at
a splice site, which in this case is such that the protein vWf (von
Willebrand's factor) is produced some of the time, but not all of the
time. vWD affected dogs have two copies of the mutated gene. Each one of
these genes is capable of producing 5-10% of normal vWf, because the
mutated splice site works correctly just some of the time. For 90-95% of
the time when the mutated splice site is used, no useful vWf is
produced. Since each of the two mutated genes is producing 5-10% of
normal vWf the affected Doberman ends up with twice that amount, or
10-20% of normal vWf in their blood. This means that these dogs are able
to produce enough protein (clotting factor) to get by, even through
surgery or whelping until such time that the small amount of vWf is used
up through stress or trauma, may this be surgical or injury, at which
time a dog can becomes a bleeder. For further information please read
Dr. G. Brewer's article at: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM or cardio) is a serious heart condition. It is thought to be inherited, and the genetics of the disease are currently being studied by the same researchers who developed the test for von Willebrand's disease. Wobbler's Syndrome, or CVI, also occurs in the Doberman at a higher incidence than the general dog population. CVI is a painful condition caused by an abnormality in the spine. There is currently no efficient way to screen for this problem. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is also common in the breed. Every Doberman's thyroid level should be tested (including breeding stock before breeding). Hypothyroidism is generally very easy to treat once diagnosed. Hip dysplasia in the Doberman is much lower than in many other breeds, and continues to decrease as a result of testing prior to breeding. Dogs can be certified free of hip dysplasia at two years of age by a veterinarian with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). It is important to remember that all breeds have certain problems that tend to occur at a higher incidence than the general population of all dogs. The Doberman is no exception. However, you should not conclude that the Doberman is an unhealthy breed. The Doberman is not an unhealthy dog. It is only through the efforts of conscientious breeding programs that the genetic diseases and conditions listed above will at least be controlled if not actually eradicated. Information about the Doberman Pinscher from the DPCA. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America's
Code
of Ethics. All DPCA member breeders must adhere to
these minimum standards. .
information for puppy owners.
Nutrition Related Sites
Pet Food Dobermans Our Male Our Females Litter Box Ear Cropping Feeding your Doberman Doberman Commands Crate Training Vaccinations Doberman Protection Introduction to the Doberman General Health Doberman Temperament Doberman Food Doberman Pinscher Club of America Breed Standard
Sunnybrook Ranch Central Oregon
Inner Strength He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. If a Dog Were Your Teacher....You would learn stuff like..... --Author Unknown--
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