Dobermans & Agility Training

The Doberman pinscher originated in Germany in the 1860's by crossing German pinschers, rottweilers, beaucerons, Manchester terriers and greyhounds. The result was a lean, yet powerfully built breed that is now considered part of the "working" group. First presented as a show dog in 1876, Doberman pinschers were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1908. Due to their intelligence and physical stamina, this breed is used in police work, military work, search and rescue operations and competitive canine sports.

  1. Physical Attributes

    • Standing 24 to 28 inches tall and weighing 66 to 88 lbs, Doberman pinschers are medium-sized dogs with a long, squarely built body frame, long narrow head, rectangular muzzle, broad chest and narrow back end. While the most popular color is phantom (black and tan) Dobermans may also be red, fawn, blue merle and even albino. Typically, the ears are cropped, and the tail is docked.

    Temperament

    • Doberman pinschers are highly intelligent, easily trainable dogs that excel in agility and other competitive canine sports. That said, their intelligence can also make them willful or stubborn, hence the Dobe requires the stern hand of a strong-willed trainer at all times. Agility training provides an opportunity for dog and owner to exercise appropriate dominance and submission roles.

    Agility Competitions

    • Agility competitions require the dog to run an obstacle course, as directed by the verbal commands and physical cues of the handler. Obstacles include jumps, tunnel maneuvers, pole weaving, see-saws and designated pause stations, at which the dog must sit, stay or lie down. All obstacles must be negotiated within the Standard Course Time (SCT). Scores are determined by subtracting points for errors or failures, in addition to adding points for particularly seamless negotiations.

    Competition Sponsors

    • Agility competition sponsors include the AKC, United States Dog Agility Association and the North American Dog Agility Council. Sponsors organize competitions according to height, experience and age, in many cases. Experience levels include novice, intermediate and advanced.

    Doberman Health Problems

    • While Dobermans are typically healthy, physically vital dogs, there is some evidence that they may be prone to cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of the neck vertebrae and compression of the spinal cord. Regular physical exercise---agility included---and proper weight maintenance decrease the risk of wobbler syndrome development. Solid white or albino Dobermans may also be prone to blindness, deafness and skin conditions.