Doberman Pinscher Standards

Doberman pinschers are medium-sized, lean, short-haired domestic dogs. They were bred as guard dogs in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. The breed likely comes from a mix of one or all of the following dog breeds: German pinscher, black and tan terrier, short-haired shepherd and rottweiler. Doberman pinschers have high energy levels, but are obedient to their masters. This makes them a popular choice for working dogs.

  1. Appearance

    • Doberman pinschers are muscular and give the impression of constant alertness. They have pointed erect ears, through clipping, and carry themselves in a manner that suggests courage and vigilance. The tail is docked, cut, around the second joint, but is naturally long and slightly tapering from the base. Doberman pinschers' heads are long and taper slightly toward the nose. Their bodies are lean and carried on straight, parallel legs. They should have 22 teeth in the lower jaw and 20 in the upper with a scissor bite. Doberman pinscher height is between 24 and 28 inches from shoulder to floor. Females are typically 2 to 4 inches shorter than males.

    Coat and Color

    • Doberman pinscher fur is short, thick and stiff. The coat on Doberman pinschers may be red, black, fawn or blue. There are rust red markings above the eyes, on the chest, neck and muzzle, as well as the legs, feet and under the tails. There may also be a small white patch of fur on the chest, but it must not be larger than 1/2-inch square on show dogs. The color of their noses will depend on the color of their fur. Black noses appear on black furred Dobermans, tan noses on fawn, grey noses on blue, and brown noses on red.

    Temperament

    • The breed standard temperament for Doberman pinschers is high energy, but in control. These dogs are loyal to their owners and should obey commands. Dobermans should also be brave and diligent. Dobermans are loving with their families. They will also defend a household by barking at perceived threats. They may also attack the threat, so they must be trained to prevent unwarranted attacks.

    Faults and Disqualifications

    • The standard temperament for Doberman pinschers is important for dog shows. Dobermans that show fear and are shy will not be able to complete shows. Aggressiveness towards people or attempted attacks on people is an automatic disqualification. However, it is normal for Dobermans to display aggressive behavior toward other dogs.

      Colors not in keeping with the breed standards are not acceptable. However, deviant markings are only faults and not disqualifications.

      An overshot jaw by 3/16 of an inch or more, or undershot by 1/8 of an inch or more, is a disqualification as is more than four missing teeth.

      All other differences from breed standard are faults rather than disqualifications.