Dobermans

Archive for the ‘Dobermans Articles’ Category

Description: The Great Dane is a huge dog; it has a square body and a long neck, although females may be slightly longer than they are tall. They are a powerful dog but look elegant and noble; they have a short and shiny coat that can appear in a verity of colors including black, blue, harlequin, fawn, merle and stripped brindle. Despite their large size they are a graceful dog. They stand between 30 and 34 inches, though can be taller, and weigh between 100 and 200 lbs. They have a narrow head with a square muzzle and eyes that have a gentle and intelligent expression. They are deep chested with legs that are long, strait, and muscular.

History: The Great Dane is sometimes referred to as the ‘Apollo of all dogs’. Coins from Greece in 63 BC appear to have a dog that resembles a Great Dane on them and drawings of these dogs can be found on monuments, in Egypt, dating back to 3000BC. These ancient dogs are thought to be the origins of today’s dog. However the breed was fully developed in Germany. Although, exactly how old this breed is is unknown, though it was a common dog in the 16th century, anything beyond that has several different stories.

Temperament: Known as the gentle giant, the Great Dane, despite its huge size is actually a very friendly dog with a loving nature. They are people orientated dogs that need and love to be around their human family, they are also very loyal. Because they grow so fast, training them needs to start early. Although it is unlikely they will ever be aggressive, due to their size they can be difficult to handle if not well trained. They make great family pets as they are kind, patient and get on well with children and other pets. One habit they tend to have is to lean against you; this is their way of showing love, and obtaining attention. This is normal behavior and is nothing to worry about, but it can cause a problem with small children.

Health Issues: Unfortunately, like many large dogs, the Great Dane is prone to quite a few illnesses. Bloat is a common issue for them and up to 40% of cases are fatal, bloat is where the stomach twists and emergency surgery is needed immediately. Due to how fast they grow (from birth to a human adult weight in 12 months) they can suffer from a verity of bone problems, these can include hip dysplasia, wobblers syndrome, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), pano (panosteitis) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). They are also prone to cancer, though people say that a Great Dane fed on natural food rather than manufactured foods have a lower risk. In 2004 an American survey showed that the most common fatal condition in Great Danes is dilated cardiomyopathy, this is a degenerative condition that affects the heart, and unfortunately there is no cure. The average life span for them is around 10 years, though they have been known to live to around 13 years.

Grooming: The Great Dane is an average shedder that will need daily brushing; they will also need their nails trimmed regularly. They only need to be bathed when necessary, and due to their huge size this can be rather awkward, so it’s best to brush them often and well to help increase the time needed between baths.

Living Conditions: Great Danes need regular exercise, though should not do more than walking until they are over a year old. They will live fine in an apartment as they are relatively inactive indoors, due to the fact they are such people loving animals they will not cope with living alone outside.

A Doberman Pinscher owner sent me this question:

“Dear Adam: I loved your book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog
Trainer!” and your web site, Dogproblems.com.

They have been very helpful.

My biggest training problem right now has to do with potty
training. My dog is a 5 month-old Doberman female. About 2
months ago she had a bladder infection, so she started not
making it through the night. She would pee in her crate and then
whine that she had to go out. We have since taken her to the vet
and given her the entire dose of antibiotics and the infection
is all cleared up. She makes it through the night fine now, but
if we have to lock her in her crate during the day she pees in
her crate.

She doesn’t seem to have too much separation anxiety, although I
remember reading somewhere that Dobermans are prone to this. We
let her outside to do her business and then lock her up a few
minutes before we leave and she is quiet during that time. When
we get home she is asleep or quiet. We wait a few minutes after
getting home during which she is quiet, maybe whines a little,
before we let her out. The only problem is that there is a
puddle of pee at the bottom of her crate. We leave a few toys
for her to chew on while she is in there, but nothing else, no
bedding just the plastic of the bottom of the crate. She doesn’t
seem to mind laying in it and we usually have to give her a bath
when we get home. I’m not sure if I should punish her for this
cause I know the timing is WAY off, but it’s getting so
frustrating I don’t know what else to do.

I should also mention that we don’t have to be gone for this to
happen. If she is locked up because while we are home, she does
the same thing. She is generally quiet while she is in there,
but after an hour or so she will whine loudly and when we get to
her, there is already a puddle.

Thank you for your help. I look forward to implementing your
advice.

Sincerely, Tim

Dear Tim:

When you remove her from the crate after she urinates, be sure
to clean the area thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner. This will
break down the urine at the molecular level so its scent will be
completely gone, not just covered up.

You should also limit her time in the crate to lower the chances
of this happening. Only leave her confined when absolutely
necessary or when she cannot be supervised. Along with this, it
would be helpful to limit her water intake to a strict schedule
and when she does drink, take her outside and let her relieve
herself after a period of time.

Depending on the dog’s condition (hot and panting versus calm
and tired), water will go through their system in anywhere from
20-45 minutes. If you put her in the crate immediately after she
urinates outside, she might be less inclined (and able) to use
the crate as a bathroom

The Doberman pinscher is an extremely popular dog today as it is an affectionate, intelligent and loyal pet. This sleek, intense breed gets its name from the German tax collector who originated the breed – Louis Dobermann. Developed in the 1860s, the Doberman is a mix of German pinchers, Greyhounds, English Greyhounds, Rottweilers and the Beauceron. This beautiful intelligent dog has been a popular breed ever since its first dog show presentation in 1876.

Part of the American Kennel Club working group, the Doberman pinscher was recognized by the AKC in 1908 and has its own special club – the Doberman pinscher club of America which was founded in 1921. this sleek shorthair dog weighs in at between 66 and 88 pounds and grows to between 24 and 28 inches in height.

Well known for its muscular physique, the Doberman pinscher is an elegant looking dog – thin but powerful with a well proportioned chest and muscular neck. His dark eyes are lively and intelligent and easy as stickup straight from his head and are usually cropped. Along with the is being cropped, and detail is usually docked as well but these practices of come out in favor in England. he has a short code that is tight to his body and comes in fawn, white, red, blue-gray, black & tan and plain black.

Many people think the Doberman pinscher is vicious and aggressive but he really is not. This is a very intense dog that has a lot of energy along with tremendous stamina and strength. They are highly intelligent and easy to train, although the females can be more stubborn and maybe a bit difficult to train. They are fearless and determined and loyal and affectionate towards their owners. These dogs are naturally protective and make good guard dogs. This breed can actually have large variations in temperament with some being very submissive and others taking only to one person while still others are great with the whole family.

Doberman pinschers usually enjoy good health but they can suffer from an inherited blood disorder called Von Willebrands disease as well as cervical sodalities. Other problems that may crop up include hip dysplasia or, congenital heart disorders and bloating. These dogs can also get rather obese in their later years.

Dobermans do need sufficient exercise but they can live In apartments as long as they are exercised frequently. Although they are very energetic, it is not a good idea to keep them outdoors because they can be sensitive to the cold. As far as grooming goes, this dog is very easy to care for is they really don’t need any grooming and they shed very little hair.