The Doberman was originally bred in Germany by a man named Lewes Doberman. He had the dangerous job of being a tax collector and wanted a breed that was loyal and could protect him.
Over the years Dobermans were popular as watchdogs as well as guard dogs. They are highly intelligent and were widely used by the military, police, as well as search and rescue.
These are elegant and beautiful dogs with powerful and athletic physiques.
| Weight (pounds) Male: 75-100 Female: 60-90 | Height (inches) Male: 26-28 Female: 24-26 | Lifespan (years) 10-12 | Dog Breed Group Working breed |
Characteristics Ratings
We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.
Highest Rated
- Good Family Dog
- Kid Friendly
- Low Drooling
- Friendly to Strangers
- Likes to Play
- Protective Nature
- Handles Change Easily
- Easy to Train
- High Energy Level
- Tolerates Hot Climate
- High Intelligence
Neutral Rated
- Good With Other Dogs
- Low Amount of Barking
- Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
- Good for Novice Owners
Lowest Rated
- Low Shedding
- Tolerates Being Left Alone
- Tolerates Cold Climate
- Good General Health
General Overview
Although many people fear Dobermans due to their intimidating looks, the truth is that they are sweet and affectionate. They make wonderful family dogs who are good with children of all ages.
The Doberman’s looks alone are enough to deter most intruders from even trying to enter your home. And if they do, the Doberman is a fearless protector that will give its life to make sure its loved ones aren’t harmed.
This means it’s important to train and socialize your Doberman early in life so it will know how to recognize an intruder from a visitor.
Dobermans are only moderately good with other dogs and can be aggressive when they are of the same sex, particularly with males. It’s not advisable to have another male dog in the household if you have a male Doberman, although it can work if they are raised together.
Dobermans are very attached to their families and don’t do well when alone. They are not a good choice for owners who are away from home a lot. If left alone for long periods they can get bored and depressed, which will lead to destructive behaviors.
From a grooming standpoint, Dobermans have short, low-maintenance coats, although they do shed quite a bit and need a quick brushing every day. But they are low droolers, so you won’t be cleaning up slobber very often.
They are moderate barkers and usually only if they sense a threat. When they do bark, it’s a dangerous sound and enough to ward off anyone with bad intentions.
Dobermans are not for meek owners. You must establish yourself as the alpha from day one. If you don’t, they can become dominant and disobedient. For this reason, they are not a good choice for a novice owner.
Dobermans are high-energy dogs who need lots of exercise and love to play. However, if given long daily walks and plenty of other exercise to burn off that excess energy, they can adapt to small yards or apartment living.
Although extremely powerful and fast runners, they are poor swimmers.
Dobermans score very high on the intelligence scale. They are the Einsteins of the canine world!
They are also eager to please, which makes them very easy to train if it’s done properly. This means firm but compassionate training with no punishment or training collars. They learn – and are willing to learn – much quicker than most other breeds.
Health, climate tolerance
Dobermans unfortunately don’t score well on the healthy scale. They are prone to several canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, wobbler syndrome, hypothyroidism, and cardiomyopathy.
They tolerate hot climates well but do very poorly in cold temperatures.