Doberman

A Dobermann can be a great choice for an active family if the dog is taught how to be around people, especially children, from an early age.

Training this big, strong dog is important so they have manners and self-control. Otherwise, they could easily knock over or injure small children. Like with all dogs, you should keep a close eye on them with children to prevent any accidents or inappropriate interactions. 
Managing a young Dobermann around young children might be demanding at first, but the effort will pay off once your Dobermann is mature. These sweet dogs tend to be gentle around their family.

If you have a busy household with lots of visitors, you need to be aware that this breed is naturally protective of property and their people. To keep everyone safe, it may be wise to install baby gates to ensure your Doberman cannot have access to unfamiliar visitors to the home. 

There are two varieties of Dobermann: 
European Dobermann
This variety is slightly larger and squarer than the American type. They’re highly driven working dogs so might not be the best suited for family life. 

American Dobermann 
This smaller variety stems mainly from show Dobermanns and is generally said to be calmer. 

Dobermanns are very affectionate and loyal to their family. They like to be around their humans and seem to forget how large they are, hopping up onto a lap for cuddles.

They’re not social butterflies with people they don’t know. It takes some time, but they can warm up to strangers if they’re introduced correctly. 

With such a strong family bond and lots of energy to burn, Dobermanns find it hard to be away from their humans and may show anxiety or attention-seeking behaviour, like barking to demand attention or stealing items. Early training will help them stay happy when left home alone. 

Dobermanns can be wonderfully goofy and playful! They love to follow their nose in scent work games and fetch toys. But their absolute favourite game is tug-of-war. 

Due to their power and size, it’s important to teach your Dobermann some boundaries for playtime so they don’t accidentally hurt the human on the other end of their toy. 

As a boisterous breed, they can also get frustrated easily. You can help by teaching your Dobermann a ‘settle’ cue so he can calm down and relax. Providing a long-lasting chew they can enjoy on their own may also be beneficial.

They’re not known as a very barky breed, but Dobermanns will use their voices at home when their guarding instincts kick in. This could be when they hear an unfamiliar noise, when people pass by, or when the doorbell rings, for instance.

If a Dobermann has a problem being away from their owner, they’re likely to show stress or frustration by barking and/or howling.

Dobermanns are great working dogs! They’ve been used in the police force, army, and sports trials for many years. 
So, if they don’t get enough exercise, training, and the chance to use their brain, a Dobermann can become frustrated and show unwanted behaviours.

They tend to guard, meaning they could be stand-offish with strangers and protective of their family home. 
Dobermanns may instinctively chase small animals, making them more suited to homes with large animals such as horses.
While they can get along well with other dogs, they need to be taught how to interact with other animals and people early on. Otherwise, they may show aggression.

Dobermanns can develop habits like flank sucking, which is when they suck on their skin. Flank sucking may be genetic, and is brought on by stress, anxiety or boredom. Usually, it starts as a way to help them cope with something, but it can become repetitive and compulsive over time.

Dobermanns would be most at home with active owners who can give them the training they need. This includes owners interested in dog sports and those who enjoy long and adventurous walks. 

This active breed needs a large garden to burn off some of their bouncy energy and isn’t best suited to apartment life. 

They aren’t always comfortable with strangers, so they would be better living in a rural or semi-rural environment rather than a busy city centre.

Because they need lots of company and exercise, they aren’t the right breed for those who always work out of the house and need their dog to spend lots of time alone.

In general, Dobermanns can happily share their home with another dog, especially if they’re raised together from a young age and are opposite sexes. 

They can live with other pets, too. But ideally, they need to be introduced to each other from a young age. 
Like any dog, it’s important to help Dobermanns learn to be around people and animals in the right way from the start.

Dobermanns have plenty of energy to burn. Daily walks, training, and fun playtimes are a must!

They’re an incredibly fit and agile breed, having worked with the police force and army, and trained in dog sports and trials. They need to be given lots of exercise and training, otherwise, they might become hard to manage, over-the-top excited, or even frustrated. 

Dobermanns can run extremely fast and need open space to fit full speed. An enclosed, secure dog field is perfect for this, so it’s worth researching what’s available near you. They also love to use their nose and enjoy tracks and obstacles set out by their owner with treats to find. 

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Dobermanns are bright and pick up new things quite quickly. But always use kind, fair and effective reward-based training methods. Dobermanns get very attached to their handler and are sensitive to hard training methods and being scolded. It can make them anxious and unhappy.

It’s important to help them get used to people, dogs, traffic and all the sights, sounds and smells they will encounter in daily life. If this is missed, they can become reactive or aggressive.

As this breed is powerful and energetic, owners need to spend time training and managing them so they’re safe in public and at home. Anyone training them needs a good understanding of dog training and should feel confident in their skills. 

You can gradually build their confidence to be away from their owners and spend time home alone. This is an important step in making sure they don’t develop problems with you being away.

Clear communication, boundaries and a positive relationship are important. This helps your Dobermann avoid attention seeking behaviours in the home such as nuisance barking, stealing items and becoming destructive. 

Dobermanns have a short coat and don’t shed lots. But, like most breeds, they do shed more in the spring and fall.
Brush your Dobermann once a week with a rubber grooming mitt or bristle brush. Brushing helps distribute the natural oils in their coat and removes dead hair. 

You can give your Dobermann a bath, but not too often. A good rule of thumb is once every two months. 

These dogs also need their ears cleaning regularly as they’re prone to ear infections. Historically, Dobermanns were subjected to the cruel practice of ear cropping, and their tail was docked to give them a more fearsome appearance. Thankfully, this practice is now illegal in many countries, and we’re seeing more Dobermanns with lovely floppy ears and long tails, as it should be.

Dobermanns can be prone to several diseases. If you buy from a breeder, it’s wise to make sure their parents were health tested and aren’t carriers of certain diseases.

Here are some conditions found in Dobermanns: 
Von Willebrand’s disease: A disorder where the blood doesn’t clot properly. There’s no cure for this disease, but it’s important to know whether your dog has it in case they get injured or need surgery.  

Dilated cardiomyopathy: A disease that stops the heart muscle from pumping blood well. The outlook isn’t always good as sometimes symptoms show up too late. 

Head tremors: Also called Head Bobbing Syndrome, the dog will sometimes have a shaking head and/or chattering teeth. Experts don’t know exactly why this happens, but it’s usually not harmful.

Intervertebral disc disease: A disease that affects the spinal cord and causes mobility issues and pain, which gets worse over time. 

As with all large breeds, Dobermanns have an increased risk of gastric torsion (which affects their digestive system), hip or elbow dysplasia (a joint problem), arthritis, and an underactive thyroid.