Doberman

This breed owes its name to the night watchman and tax collector Friedrich Louis Dobermann who lived in Apolda (Turingia) from 1834 to 1894. He needed a dog to defend himself and since he did not find one that suited him, he created its own breed, very aggressive, from dogs that he purchased in the market and captured. After his death, Otto Göller (Göllner according to other sources) continued the selection. He added to the breed the blood from shepherds, pointers, rottweillers, greyhounds and Manchester terriers, and in this way the characteristics improved. Later, the police got interested in the doberman since it was perfectly suitable for their needs. It is a loyal, brave and aggressive dog, and it has an excellent sense of smell. It faces unknown people, and defends its master in any circumstance. This dog needs a strong hand for training and it is not convenient for the people who do not want to make a strong training.

During the world wars, the Doberman dogs have rendered services to the army as a sanitary dog, courier and guard dog. It has demonstrated all its capacities in the tropical zones since it can bear well high temperatures. Its short, hard, dense and tight hair is advantageous because it does not need any special care.

Size: male 68-70 cm, female 63 - 66; 67 cm as a maximum. The weight is not indicated in the standard. Colors: black (1), dark brown (2) or blue (3) with clearly defined small red patches. These patches appear in the nose, forearms, cheeks and upper eyelids, the throat, the metatarsus and the feet, the internal part of the thighs, the anal region and the beginning of the buttocks. It has two small patches on the chest.

The Doberman has stiff and pointy ears. Generally, the ears are cut with a length proportional to the head. In some countries, this practice is prohibited (in England for example, there are not dogs with their ears cut). (4) Although the amputation of the ears helps giving the breed its characteristic aspect, the animals, which ears are not cut, do not have an advantage in exhibitions.