How to Identify a Dobermann Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher has a free and balanced gait with good driving power in the hindquarters. The rear leg moves inline with the foreleg on the same side. A properly built Doberman will single-track in a fast trot. The Doberman Pinscher is an energetic dog, watchful and determined. The breed is also fearless, loyal and obedient. It should not show any shyness or fear at sudden and unusual noises. The breed may be aggressive or belligerent in attitude towards other dogs, but should not show these traits to humans. Doberman Pinschers should be socialized at an early age to prevent dog and human-aggression tendencies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the Doberman Pinscher’s general appearance and size. The breed is a medium-sized breed with a square body. It is a compact breed, and very muscular and powerful. The Doberman Pinscher has excellent endurance and speed. The breed is very elegant in appearance and should reflect great nobility and temperament. The Doberman Pinscher male should be 26 to 28 inches and the female should be 24 to 26 inches. The height at the withers should equal the length as measured horizontally from the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh.

2. Make sure the head resembles a blunt wedge in views from both the front and the profile. When viewed from the front, the head should widen gradually toward the base of the ears. The eyes are almond-shaped and moderately deep set. They should have an energetic expression. The iris should be uniform in color, but will range from medium to dark brown in black dogs. In reds, blues and fawns, the color blends with the markings. The ears are normally cropped and should be carried erect. The cheeks are flat and muscular and the nose is solid black dogs, and dark brown on red dogs. The nose will be dark gray on blue dogs and a dark tan color on fawn-colored dogs. The jaws are powerful. The neck is well-muscled, well-arched and widens gradually toward the body. The chest is broad and well-defined. The brisket reaches deep to the elbow. The belly should be well tucked, and extend in a curved line from the brisket. The tail is docked near the second joint and appears to be a continuation of the spine. It is carried just above the horizontal when the dog is alert.

3. Check the fore and hindquarters. The shoulder blade should slope forward and down at a 45-degree angle and meet the upper arm at a 90-degree angle. The length of the shoulder blade and the upper arm are equal. The legs should be perfectly straight and parallel to each other as seen from the front and side, and should be muscled and sinewy with a heavy bone. Dewclaws may be removed. The feet should be well arched, compact and should not turn in or out. The angulation of the hindquarters balances out the front. The hip comes off the spinal column at about 30 degrees and produces a slightly rounded croup. The upper shanks are long and wide, and should be well-muscled. If there are dewclaws, they are generally removed. The feet should be as the front, cat-like and they should not turn in or out.

4. Make sure the coat is smooth, short, hard and thick. It should lay close to the skin. There may be an “invisible” gray undercoat on the neck area. Doberman Pinschers can be red, black, blue and fawn. The markings are sharply defined rust marks appearing above each eye and on the muzzle, throat and forechest. The rust should also be on all legs and feet, and just below the tail. Some dogs may have a white patch on the chest, but it should not exceed ½-inch square.