Are Dobermans Dangerous?

Breed Origin

• Not much is known about the Doberman Pinscher's exact origin, but according to the American Kennel Club, the Doberman Pinscher first appeared in Germany around 1900 and was named after the German tax collector Louis Dobermann of Apolda. Dobermann was searching for a breed that could act as a guard dog and companion. The AKC explains that the Doberman Pinscher was probably created from "the old short haired shepherd, Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier and the German Pinscher."

Appearance

• Doberman Pinschers are one of the most recognizable breeds because of their unique, striking features. The Dog Breed Info Center describes the Doberman's body as "medium sized," "squarely built" and "muscular." The Doberman's head is long and wedge-shaped. The breed's coat may be black, black with tan markings, blue-gray, red, fawn and white. Its eyes are almond-shaped and the eye-color depends on the coat. The Doberman's tall, pointed ears are one of its identifying features, but Doberman pups are born with hound-shaped ears. Around 12 weeks of age, the puppy's ears are cut and then taped to create the upright, triangular ears. The other part of the Doberman that is altered by man is its tail. When a puppy is three days old, the tail is cropped to create the small, short tail we recognize on most Doberman Pinschers. If left untouched, the Doberman would have a tail similar to that of a hound.

Misconceptions About Temperament

• Much like humans, it is impossible to determine how much of a dog's personality can be attributed to it's genetics. The dog bite statistics generated from the study by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC and the Humane Society "showed that the most popular large breed dogs at any one time were consistently on the list of breeds that bit fatally." With regard to Doberman Pinschers, the high number of fatal bites in the 1970s can be attributed to their massive popularity at that time. Since there were so many Dobermans in existence, they naturally were responsible for the the most bites. And because they are such large, powerful dogs, their bites are more likely to be fatal than those of smaller dogs.

  The Doberman Pinscher Club of American recognizes the common perception of Dobermans as being fierce, dangerous guard dogs. The DPCA states that "the dog of yesterday's scary movies has been transformed ... into a fun-loving, exceptional athlete and a watchful, protective, and above all, discerning companion." The DPCA explains that because of the Doberman's exceptional intelligence, sensitivity and intuition, the breed has "no trouble accurately distinguishing between friend and foe." The DCPA does warn that unless you assert yourself as the dominant and calm pack leader, the Doberman will try to take that role from you. It is true that Dobermans are prone to behavior issues because they are one of the smartest and most energetic dog breeds. However, JustDogBreeds.com says that "a Doberman who is provided with exercise, care, attention, and training should be a perfect gentleman in the home."

Uses

• Perhaps many of the misconceptions of the breed are caused by how man uses the breed. Dobermans are frequently used as guard dogs because they are intelligent enough to determine if someone is a threat. Like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers get much of their stigma from their work as police dogs, but both breeds are also widely used as service dogs to the blind and others with special needs. It might sound contradictory that a dog could be tough enough to chase down criminals but gentle enough to assist those with special needs, but this versatility is what makes Doberman Pinschers a desirable, albeit, misunderstood breed.