Dobermans

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.

Description: This breed, the Miniature Pinscher stands 10 to 12 inches in height for the dog and 10 to 11 inches for the bitches. Their weight is 8 to 10 pounds for the dog and slightly less for the bitches at 8 to 9 pounds. This is a compact dog thats head is in proportion to the body. The skull appears flat, tapering towards the muzzle. Here the muzzle is good and strong, and in good proportion to the head. This breed has a scissor bite. They have dark eyes slightly oval in shape. The ears are high and cropped if in a country that allows this. With front legs being straight, they have small feet that are catlike in shape. Their tail, if it is allowed, is cropped. The coat is short, smooth, and hard to the touch and lies close to the body. Colouring is; stag red, it is red with black hair, black with rust markings and chocolate with tan red.

History: The Miniature Pinscher dog breed comes from Germany and in its genetic pool, we find Italian Greyhound, Dachshund and the short haired German Pinscher. This breed looks very similar to the Doberman, and this is due to the fact that German pincher is in the gene pool of both these dog. The Miniature Pinscher was used to control the rodent population in barnyards and farms, and later in stables in the cities. Some of this breeds’ talents lie in competitive obedience and agility and have also been used as a watchdog.

Temperament: The Miniature Pinscher dog is generally of good health and is a proud and courageous dog. With high energy, great spirited and enthusiasm the Miniature Pinscher shines with life. They are loyal dogs to their owners. This dog is generally good with other pets, and is good with children. As with all small dogs, dependant upon how you treat this dog will have a vast impact on their temperament; small dog syndrome is something to be avoided as this will lead to a demanding dog that can be incredibly headstrong, becoming protective and openly aggressive with other dogs, and possibly people. At the least your dog will bark far more than you wish for. This dog, like all others require a good pack leader, this is the owner. This breed is a fast and good learner, and it is very beneficial to socialise the dog well as a puppy. Here, the dog can meet new people and new dogs, allowing for better understanding throughout their lives. If this dog is given good, fair boundaries, and a good pack leader, that understands how fast this dog can learn, exercising both their physical and mental needs, including daily walks. This can be a magnificent family companion.

Health issues: The Miniature Pinscher has no problems and is of good general health.

Grooming: Using a firm bristle brush or comb, brush twice weekly or more often as needed. This breed is easy to keep clean. If required using a damp warm cloth, wipe the coat down to keep the coat clean.

Living conditions: The Miniature Pinscher breed is a good choice for apartment life. It is active indoors and can live without a garden. Always make sure your dog has a walk daily, as it is not just good physical exercise, but also gives the mind something to do, which is important for this breed.

The Doberman Pinscher, bred to be an outstanding guard-dog, is very energetic. The Doberman, unfriendly and ferocious as it might seem, loves to be physically close to its family members.

Highly intelligent, fearless and loyal, the Dobe needs an owner that is willing to discipline him without being afraid of him. He needs to be properly socialized to prevent over-protectiveness.

This breed needs consistent mental stimulation through positive reinforcement to stay happy and in good health.

Dobermans are generally healthy. You would hardly ever find him giving in to temperature differences or to mild ailments. All it takes are quick medication and appropriate exercise to get him back on his feet.

However, cervical spondilytis due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord, commonly referred to as the “Wobbler’s syndrome” might affect this dog. This disorder is rampant among these dogs and starting with the hind legs, it might even lead to complete dysfunction of all four limbs.

The common symptoms are a wobbly gait, (which gives the disorder its name), a stilted manner of walking on the front feet, a dragging of the hind feet, severe neck pain and the neck hanging in a downward position.

These symptoms might even grow into the worst possible situation where the dog would be rendered completely motionless.

Commonly seen in older Dobermans, from 3 to 8 years of age, it is known to have affected smaller dogs as well. The younger dogs may often die as a result of this disorder, as they are less capable of coping with it. The spinal cord compression occurs mostly in the vertebrae c5, c6, and c7.

There are treatments to take care of this disorder but it depends on the severity of the spinal compression. Cortisone treatment helps reduce inflammation of the spinal cord, while acupuncture is said to work as a pain relief. Chiropractic adjustment too cannot be ruled out but it might lead to severe complications in certain cases.

In severe cases, surgery would be the most plausible resort, but one is advised to always to go in for a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) before doing a surgery.

An alternative to surgery is Gold Beads Implant, when magnetically charged gold plated Beads are implanted in the dog wherever pain needs to be relieved.

The major cause of Wobblers Syndrome is yet to be known but some of the causes are genetics, conformation of the neck, malnutrition, or injury.

Preventative breeding can be an option but because dogs don’t show symptoms before their breeding age, it cannot be entirely relied on. Therefore, one can only gather complete information on Wobblers in Pedigrees and thus, breed responsibly, so that one can get a perfectly healthy Doberman later.