How to Care for Dobermans

The Doberman Pinscher is a large, muscular breed of dog that was traditionally bred and trained to work as a guard dog with the military or police. Dobermans are considered a highly intelligent and loyal breed that can be trained to be an affectionate family pet. To care for a Doberman, all you need is time, space and an open heart.

Instructions

    • 1

      Exercise your Doberman. Doberman Pinschers were bred as working dogs and can remain active for long periods of time without tiring. This breed needs open space to run and a rigorous daily exercise routine to stay healthy and content. Jogging, playing with other dogs and fetching a ball or Frisbee are all good options to keep your Doberman fit. The more active your dog is, the calmer and easier to train it will be.

    • 2

      Treat your Doberman's ears with care. If your dog's ears are newly cropped, they will be bandaged for about 10 days until the stitches are removed. After the ears heal, keep them clean by occasionally swabbing them with wet wipes or cotton swabs. Dirt will collect in a Doberman's cropped ear. If the ears have not been cropped, their floppy form is likely to trap moisture and invite infection. More frequent ear cleaning will help keep infection away. Ask your vet for ear-cleaning solution to enable you to do a more thorough job. If you see a dark discharge in the ear, your dog may have an infection and you should seek veterinary care.

    • 3

      Groom your dog. A healthy Doberman's coat is short, shiny and relatively easy to care for. Brush your dog weekly to keep the coat healthy and rid your dog of excess hair. Occasional baths will help maintain the coat and keep your Doberman smelling sweet.

    • 4

      Trim your Doberman's nails. Begin this routine when your dog is a puppy to get it used to the process. Trim only the very tip of the nail, as cutting too deep into the nail can be painful to the dog.