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The Dobermann | |||||||
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Here you will find more
information on the Dobermann temperament, Is the Dobermann Right For You?? From The Doberman Pinscher, by Rod Humphries and Joanna Walker One of the time-worn statements you’ll find when you read almost any literature on the Doberman Pinscher is “The Doberman is not for everyone.” We planned to avoid the phrase here, just because it is so well-used, but it is the quickest way to bring into focus the fact that the Doberman is not a generic dog that just happens to have a different look - albeit a pretty appealing one.
Doberman fanciers love to describe the overall appearance of the breed as The Look of Eagles. This elegance is a major reason for the visual appeal of the Doberman in the show ring, in the obedience ring, or in any of the sports that Dobermans and other canines love to play. There is no such thing as an ugly Doberman Pinscher - some are just more beautiful than others. The square, chiseled appearance, with athleticism oozing from every well-defined muscle, gives the impression that the Doberman might be the Michael Jordan of any canine league. In fact, people who are sports nuts invariably fall in love with the Doberman because physically and aesthetically it is the canine equivalent of the athletes they see on the small screen any night of the week. And if your momma wouldn’t let you grow up to be a cowboy and have a horse, then maybe you see the Doberman as the nearest canine to the equine. Many do, and it is quite amazing the number of people who can’t get a horse for whatever reason, but end up owning a Doberman. It’s also quite common for people with horses to have Dobermans. But while this magnificently muscled animal with a majestic gallop and a statuesque appearance may be overwhelmingly appealing, especially because it is a “wash and wear” kind of dog with that easy coat, the question is: Are you ready to live with a Doberman Pinscher? Devoted and Demanding!! This animal is not an ornament. It is as complex a being as any on this planet, with, we might add, an inherent ability to guard and protect. It is demanding - oh how it can be demanding! It is so devoted that it wants to be with you at all times: in the car, on the couch and in the bed. It wants to back up and sit on the couch next to you, or just on your lap. The head will always be pushing into your hand for a pat, invariably when you are about to sip a steaming cup of coffee. The dog just wants to be with you and be touched by you. For some this is a blessing in a pet; for others, it could well be a nuisance. This can be an extremely energetic breed, quite rambunctious, especially when with a playmate. These dogs know how to play rough. They jump and twirl in a circle and hit with their rump. Their reckless abandon in the open field, and quite often in the house, illustrates a fearless attitude toward injury - and a mighty disregard for the table lamp. When a Doberman runs at you in fun, turn backwards to protect your knees, making sure that your legs bend the right way. Then, if the dog runs into you, or believes that you are as indestructible as the dog thinks itself to be, at least you wont be in the hospital with a seriously hyper-extended knee or worse. Intelligence to spare and energy to burn!!
The Doberman needs exercise to burn energy. It is not sufficient to lock your dog in a small yard and expect it to run on its own. An energetic Doberman deprived of an outlet for that energy and left to its own devices can he a very destructive animal, indeed sometimes to its own detriment. Bored Dobermans have a penchant for eating things that are not good for them: blankets, balls, sticks and many other objects that can cause obstructions. One could write a book on the foreign objects swallowed and surgically removed from within the Doberman; they are legendary. Otto Goeller, the first authority on the breed, promoted the Doberman as ‘‘the dog with the human brain.’’ We wouldn’t go that far, as we’d like to think that we have an edge when it comes to gray matter over our pet dogs. But if as the scientists say a dog has the intelligence level of a five- or six-year-old child, then the Doberman is magna cum laude in the canine kindergarten class. This breed is mentally quick, just as capable of learning obedience exercises at a record pace as it is of opening the kennel door, or any other door if it is humanly, or caninely, possible. The Dobermann Disposition And what of the Doberman disposition? The bond between Doberman and family is incredibly strong, and the dog’s willingness to protect that family is legendary. But as an owner, are you ready for a natural guard dog that will protect its family, barking at windows and doors, sometimes when you think it’s unnecessary? As we’ll explain in more detail in the next chapter, American breeders have purposely toned down the original temperament of the breed, but good breeders still want to retain boldness as a prime characteristic in their dogs. Boldness means being fearless, outgoing, and up for anything, anytime, anywhere. There are Dobermans that are not bold; dogs that are shy and use avoidance maneuvers when faced with unfamiliar circumstances. Conversely, there are dogs that are over-aggressive. These dogs are in the minority, however, and should be avoided at all costs. The American Doberman is not the untouchable, one-man dog of the past, but there are still strong protection drives that most breeders in this country are happy to maintain - up to a point. Many will argue that there is no fathomable reason to get into bite training with their dogs, nor to breed dogs generation after generation that will do hard protection work. After years of trying to make the Doberman a general-purpose family dog, they think it is counter-productive, and that dogs with generations of animals behind them who are selected for sharpness, prey drives, hardness and fighting spirit could lead to problems. We are of the opinion that most Dobermans from American lines still have an inherent suspicion of things that are “not right”, of strangers who may be acting inconsistently or threats to family or property. Dogs from good American breeding programs will act positively. They will patrol perimeter fences and bark and threaten when necessary. The Germans and their disciples say this is not enough, however, and that a Doberman must prove it can protect and be able to back it up with a bite, if necessary. The American breeders, on the other hand, say all dogs know how to bite because it is part of their hereditary disposition. The question is whether a breeding program should be based on dogs that are trained for generations to do so with gusto. There is absolutely no doubt that in America, where public suspicion of the Doberman is still deep-seated, the mere presence of a Doberman is sufficient in 99 percent of cases to deter any problem. There have been a number of times our dogs stepped between us and danger in life-threatening situations. Joanna Walker well remembers the time her dog, Ch. Marks-Tey Shawn, CD, handled two intruders who entered her Illinois home. Rod Humphries also recalls an intruder entering his home in Australia, forcing his way through a back door that led to a room where one of his Dobermans was sleeping. The dog flew at him and grabbed the would-be thief on the rear as he was scrambling over the fence. She had a piece of his pants in her mouth as evidence of a job well done. Neither of these dogs was trained in protection or bite work - they were just from a sound American breeding program (Humphries’ dog happened to be an all-breed Best-in-Show winner who had trotted quietly around the conformation ring earlier in the day). In a non-threatening episode at his home in Texas, three friends unwittingly entered Rod’s property late one night and were intercepted by three Dobermans. The dogs froze them with growling and barking until Rod extricated them. The dogs had met these people before, but these were unusual circumstances and the dogs were not taking anything for granted. Conversely, regular piece workers who come and go on the property are checked and then greeted heartily by the dogs, - making a rub behind the ear or a stroke down the Dobermans back a necessary entry toll. Rarely today do American Dobermans hit first and ask questions later—a very welcome trait indeed. Dobermans on the whole have strong prey instincts, which means they are stimulated to chase and bring prey to ground. No one should be shocked at such a statement; most breeds have strong natural prey instincts. They are dogs, after all. The difference, though, is that many dogs do not run at such high speed and have as much single-minded determination as the Doberman. Dogs that chase tennis halls and sticks and fly through the air to pull down Frisbees are, for the most part, exhibiting their prey instincts. That said, Dobermans and cats do get along, especially if the dog is raised from a pup to accept a cat. Joanna Walker’s family has always had cats, particularly Siamese, who have lived in peaceful coexistence with their Dobermans. Rod Humphries had a dog of American breeding in Australia who illustrated both protection and prey instincts in one memorable incident. A deadly poisonous snake, ready to strike, confronted Rod and his dogs in the Australian bush. His male Doberman immediately took charge, grabbing the snake and smashing it incessantly on a rock until he had crushed the head. The dog’s instinct to keep the fangs away from his body during a five-minute bashing was quite extraordinary. But the Doberman can also have a soft side. The Walkers’ Ch. Mesmerol Bari of Marks-Tey, CD, ROM, rescued a baby squirrel that had fallen out of a nest and took it to his owners. The squirrel became his good buddy, living with the Walkers until he was 11 years old. We mention the prey instincts of the Doberman because the dog loves to chase, and sometimes it might be the neighbor’s kid who runs screaming to mommy that the dog was trying to eat him. Most of the time this is in fun, a harmless escapade, but some highly stimulated dogs will nip or bite when they finally reach the person they have been chasing. And although the dog may have meant no harm, the neighbor doesn’t want to know about prey instincts. Some Dobermans, like many breeds of dog, will stalk a person in play. This can also be misinterpreted by protective parents. Dogs and kids are trainable, but a prospective owner must know from the start that the prey instincts of Dobermans and countless other breeds have severely jolted unwitting owners. Too many people who buy a dog, including a Doberman, expect it to act and behave with human logic and instincts. Dogs most definitely do not. And prospective dog owners, no matter the breed, have to accept the fact that they are dealing with animals that are descended from the wolf and are just a few genes removed from the wild. The Doberman is a dog that requires intelligent handling. It is a very proud animal that is likely to react negatively to any person who does not show it reasonable respect. Rough handling will be met with stubbornness or confrontation. This is a super-intelligent and loving protector, an athlete extraordinaire who needs training and an outlet for its physical energy. This is a super dog, a super breed, but, as we said in the beginning, it is not for everyone. |
