Are Doberman Pinschers Webfooted Dogs

Expert’s answer:

Doberman Pinschers and Webbed Feet

Doberman Pinschers are not typically considered webfooted dogs. They do not have webbed feet like some other breeds that are specifically adapted for swimming or water activities. The Doberman Pinscher breed is known for its sleek and powerful build, which is more suited for agility and speed rather than swimming.

While some dogs have webbed feet, which can be an advantage for swimming or other water-related activities, Doberman Pinschers do not possess this trait. Webbed feet are characterized by skin folds or membranes between the toes, which help dogs paddle through water more efficiently.

It’s important to note that not all dogs with webbed feet are necessarily excellent swimmers, and not all dogs without webbed feet are poor swimmers. Swimming ability can vary among individual dogs, regardless of their breed or foot structure.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Dogs with webbed feet pitbull
Dogs with webbed feet pitbull – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Doberman Pinschers form bonds with particular people?

A complete family. Dobermans typically form a closer bond with one particular person in the household than many other dog breeds, on average. However, because they are typically very hospitable toward strangers and thrive in family environments, this is hardly noticeable in male Dobermans.

Dobermans are known for developing close relationships with their owners. Of course, that only applies if the owner has made an effort to form a bond with their Doberman in a way that this unusual breed is open to. Yes, your Doberman is predisposed to bond with you naturally, but there are some things you can do to play into this breed’s natural tendencies that will help ensure a close bond forms between you too quickly and endures for years to come.

As a Family Doberman Specialist, I’ve assisted numerous families in forming bonds with their Dobermans that appeal to this breed’s innate instincts. A few of the most effective techniques I’ve found are listed below. Many of these Doberman owners have been utilizing these techniques for many years to truly forge that strong, enduring bond with their dogs.

Dobermans, particularly puppies, enjoy sleeping next to their owners. This explains why Doberman puppies adore dozing off next to their littermates and siblings. It gives them a feeling of security and is essentially their “happy place”.

How to tell if your dog has webbed feet
How to tell if your dog has webbed feet – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How do Doberman and pinscher dogs differ from one another?

In terms of weight and height, the Doberman grows considerably bigger than the German Pinscher. Additionally, the German Pinscher has a wider color range than the Doberman. In contrast to the German Pinscher, which was bred to hunt rodents, the Doberman was developed as a working or police dog.

The German Pinscher and the Doberman, also known as the Doberman Pinscher in North America, differ from each other despite having a striking resemblance in appearance. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the Doberman and the German Pinscher, you’re in the right place. However, aside from their obvious size differences, what other similarities bring them together, and what different traits drive them apart?

In order for you to fully comprehend both of these dog breeds as unique individuals, we will discuss all of the significant parallels and differences between the German Pinscher and the Doberman in this article. If you are interested in adopting either of these two breeds, we will go over their physical characteristics, ancestries, and temperaments. Start now, shall we?

The Doberman and German Pinscher differ from each other in a number of significant ways. In both height and weight, the Doberman matures into a much bigger dog than the German Pinscher. Additionally, the German Pinscher has a wider color range than the Doberman. The German Pinscher was bred to hunt rodents, whereas the Doberman was developed as a working or police dog.

Identify dog breed by paws
Identify dog breed by paws – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Which Doberman breed is the rarest?

Which color of Doberman is the rarest is a subject of intense debate. While some contend that the cream or white Doberman is the least common, others assert that the pure black Doberman, free of rust markings, is the most uncommon of all. Others, on the other hand, assert that the blue Doberman, which accounts for just 8–9% of the breed, is the least prevalent.

The Doberman pinscher is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous dog breeds, despite the fact that a properly trained individual can make a fun and devoted family pet. Several states, including Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Washington, have banned the Doberman under breed-specific legislation.

With a variety of animals, a husband, and five dogs, Nicky lives on a small holding on South Africa’s Wild Coast. With her Australian Cattle Dog, Koala, she spends every waking minute either walking, horseback riding, running, or just hanging out.

Dogs with webbed feet, and dewclaws
Dogs with webbed feet, and dewclaws – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why does my Doberman touch me with his paw?

Your dog is essentially petting you back when he places his paw on your arm or leg while you are petting him. Despite the fact that most dogs are unable to actually stroke you, they can express their love, trust, and closeness by placing their paw on yours. This is his way of forging a unique connection with you. If you’ve been petting him for a while and stop, especially if he reaches for your hand and says, “Tell me more,” it can also mean that I like that, don’t stop.

Their body language signals include pricked ears, a wagging or upright tail, an alert gaze, and a relaxed mouth. This indicates that they are excited and want to interact with you and, most likely, play. They may want to play with their chew toys, chase their ball, or even go for a walk.

Prickly ears, a lowered tail, a shifting of the gaze, a tight mouth, and panting may be signs of anxiety or a sign that your dog is experiencing pain, particularly in relation to a paw. Consult your veterinarian as soon as you notice any other odd behaviors or indications that your dog is in pain.

Dog breeds with webbed feet
Dog breeds with webbed feet – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Should I let my Doberman join me in bed?

Should my Doberman sleep next to me in bed? A Doberman puppy should typically spend the night in a crate n
ext to its owners, but not on the bed. However, there is no risk of serious behavioral issues developing when an adult Doberman occasionally sleeps with their owners.

A Doberman puppy should spend the night in a covered crate close to its owner’s bed, preferably where the puppy can see its owner. An adult Doberman can snooze wherever they feel safe, secure, and at ease in the house.

Why does my Doberman lean against me while sleeping? A Doberman leans against their owner while sleeping as a sign of affection. When a dog wants to be by your side, it shows that it trusts you.

Types of dog feet
Types of dog feet – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Should you allow a Doberman to share your bed?

The AKC doesn’t have anything against you sleeping with your dog because it reduces anxiety and has other advantages. In fact, according to 45% of owners, dogs sleep in beds with their owners (source).

We always want to ensure that our Dobermans are in good health and are content as their owners. To accomplish this, we keep an eye out for actions that stand out from the norm. So how can we tell when our Dobermans are getting the appropriate amount of sleep versus when they might be sleeping too much when it comes to their sleeping habits?

Dobermans generally need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day, including the night.

Even though they haven’t fully awakened, they are still aware of sounds in their environment, such as passing cars or strange footsteps, which could be signs of danger. This indicates that over a 24-hour period, it takes 12 to 14 hours for them to fully recharge their energy.

Dog webbed feet vs non webbed
Dog webbed feet vs non webbed – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Which two breeds combine to form a Doberman?

Nobody is certain, but it is believed that Dobermann crossed numerous breeds to create the Doberman pinscher. The Great Dane, German Pinscher, Rottweiler, Manchester Terrier, and English Greyhound Shorthaired Shepherd are a few of the breeds that are thought to be affected.

Doberman pinschers have served as police, military, rescue, therapy, and guard dogs in addition to being initially bred for and still being used as guard dogs globally.

Dog breeds with hare feet
Dog breeds with hare feet – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

A Doberman is made up of what two dogs?

Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman was a tax collector in the German town of Apolda in 1890. He didn’t have a lot of fans, as one might expect. But fortunately for him, he was the owner of the neighborhood dog pound and could mix a variety of breeds to produce a guard dog to guard him. After fusing intimidating breeds like the German Pinscher, Rottweiler, Greyhound, Great Dane, Weimeraner, German Shorthaired Pointer, Old German Shepherd Dog, and others, Doberman produced his ideal dog: a canine that was powerful, quick, durable, devoted, intelligent, and, when necessary, ferocious.

The Doberman Pinscher, named after the breed’s inventor, is what emerged from years of development. The Doberman has a long history of serving in the military and police, and was recognized as a breed in the United States in 1908. He served as the official War Dog of the US Marine Corps during World War II as a sentry and messenger. The breed gained notoriety for its involvement in the Okinawa and Guam battles in the Pacific. When the World Trade Center towers collapsed in 2001, the Doberman was also used for search and rescue operations.

The Doberman is the thirteenth most popular dog breed in America, though he is used much less frequently for military and police work these days. Sizing UpThe Doberman is a medium- to large-sized breed, and these are some of their common physical characteristics.

A Doberman Pinscher is owned by what kind of person?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

A Doberman Pinscher is owned by what kind of person?

Dogs like the Doberman Pinscher are very serious, intense, and determined. Owners love to plan and organize a situation because they are leaders rather than followers. Dobermans are said to live with people who are very organized and who approach their goals in a friendly yet firm manner.

Dogs come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and temperaments, from Chihuahuas to Great Danes. According to studies, the kind of dog breed you choose can reveal a lot about your personality. The following generalizations about what owning a particular breed says about your personality are provided. How closely do you think you resemble your dog breed?

Bulldogs are tenacious, persistent, and they do not easily give up. Bulldog owners are perceived as silly, humorous people who occasionally exhibit stubbornness. They complete tasks in a methodical and extremely efficient manner. Bulldogs are gentle and loving members of the family known for being sentimental and hopeless romantics, despite their intimidating appearance.

Terriers make active, jovial, and playful pets. Terrier owners are supposedly adaptable and able to concentrate on the task at hand. Owners of terriers are frequently feisty, brave, and competitive, just like the dogs. They have a good sense of humor and are very talkative.

How does the Doberman show affection?

And a dog, especially one that lives in the wild, is in a very vulnerable position. Dogs are hardly ever seen in the wild. doing this extremely. Often. Because doing so only makes them vulnerable to attack.

What type of dogs are Doberman Pinschers?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What type of dogs are Doberman Pinschers?

Due to their low body fat, dobies are not naturally buoyant swimmers. However, if encouraged, some Dobermans will enter the water and pick up swimming, while others will relish wading to cool off on a hot day.

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Chelsea Vaughn

Chelsea is a former marine biologist who switched gears in her twenties to build a small house and start a business. She enjoys traveling and going on hiking adventures with her husband, their two Australian Shepherds and their African Grey Parrot.

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89 comments

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  • I have owned four Dobies in the last 20 years (all of them rescues) and I am amazed at how unbelievably INTELLIGENT and DUTY-BOUND this wonderful breed is. When someone would come to the door, every Dobie I ever owned would look at ME to see if I was happy that this person was at the door. If I was happy to see them, my Dobie would go into “Welcome to our home” mode and was playful and friendly to our guest. But the moment I was uneasy or unhappy with someone at the door or someone was skulking around our property, my Dobie would go into instant “Sentry” mode. They just knew something was up and could discern, instantly, if they were either going to slobber the stranger in wet kisses or make him regret he ever tried to come onto our property. RIP Orion, Damien, Moriah and Lady.

  • A Doberman is the ONLY breed I will have for a dog/companion. I love how intelligent, loyal and loving they are. I’ve had great luck and success with all my Dobies. My female (Dolly) recently passed away at the age of 11. She began to have seizures about 8 months prior to her passing. Dolly passed away in my home with Charlie (male Dobie) at her side. It was quite hard witnessing her passing. I cried like a bay. And Charlie howeled and for about a week seemed lost. Well, Charlie is now 12 years old and for an old boy, he’s doing rather well. He’s slower, not as stable in his walk. However, he still likes to chase cats and be outside. It should be noted that Charlie literally goes “everywhere” with me. I was considering a puppy. But in his older years, I want him to be relaxed and remain confident. In which all my attention goes to him (Charlie) and not have to share that attention with a new house member. When Charlie’s time comes. I will give it some time, till I get another Doberman. Charlie is very exceptional and man do I love this boy.

  • It’s true what she says about them being protective. If I play fight with my wife, my Dobie will go crazy and start barking at me. Even though he knows me and respects me, he still recognizes my wife as being vulnerable to harm. If I was an unknown person he would likely attack. He does this by default, we did not train him to do this. I’ve had 7 Dobermans and they are amazing dogs. Super smart, easy to train, sweet, protective, loyal, athletic, elegant, handsome, etc. They’re always working. They’re always aware. They’re always worried about their owner’s well-being. I refuse to own another breed.

  • My dobermann Duke was like this. Even same brown colour. He’d make noises if I’d stop massaging him and then would purr like a cat when I did. He’d often jump and sit on me, or would prop himself up with his front legs on the couch beside me and look at me while sitting like a human. He loved listening to music, especially opera, and would even hum along. He also loved movies. He died in my arms on April 24, 2018. He had cancer and congestive heart failure. He walked out into my backyard, stumbled left and right and jolted forward then fell onto his belly. I immediately tried to pick him up and his breathing subsided and he became like a piece of rubber. I started furiously doing CPR for 5 minutes until I was covered in sweat, but it was no use. I watched his eyes extinguish several cms from my face, and his eyes roll back… I miss you Dukey. Rest in peace my little friend. I hope I will see you again, in a different world, without all this pain

  • In regards to docking the tail, as a greyhound owner, I can 100% see where she’s coming from. My greyhound’s tail isn’t docked but she tends to whip it (unintentionally) at anything in the way when she’s shaking out or very excited. In the greyhound community we call it “happy tail” and if your grey breaks his/her tail it’s recommended to dock the tail because it’s a painful break and it’s hard to heal/prevent another break after that.

  • This woman is excellent. I have about 30 years experience with Dobermans and she is right about everything she has said. I prefer my dogs a touch lighter than she mentioned at the beginning of the article (maybe 5 lbs. or so) but other than that she is a wealth of accurate knowledge. Her dogs in the article look outstanding. Great article. Thanks for posting.

  • Linda, I loved this article. As an owner of 2 dobes I can say that my world without a dobe would not be worth living. Such a wonderfully fact based article that I wish more people would see. Thank you for the time and effort in the education of this most spectacular breed. I wish more breeders of your caliber were around!! I had to search high and low before I found the best one for my two babies!

  • I totally enjoyed experiencing your article, Linda. We have welcomed four Dobermans into our family over the years and can’t imagine ever “crossing over” to a different breed. More than any other breed I have been around–beginning in childhood–Dobermans can communicate with their humans through their eyes, ears, movements, voices, etc. Our current boy is an athletic streak of energy when playing and a giant lap dog in the evening. He can now execute commands in three languages, which I taught him to keep his mind active. He has also taught me his “language,” which I am still learning. He is simply a joy to live and enjoy life with.

  • We got my first Doberman about 6 years ago and she was the most skiddish neurotic little girl due to most of her childhood being full of abuse. She became my mothers dog and they bonded so hard. I recently had an accident and some situations crop up that required me to get a service dog. Along came Sammy, our second Doberman, he’s my best friend. He’s awkward and gangly as all get up but he’s so caring and gentle with me and those around him. Such a smart loyal breed. I don’t think I’d go any other way.

  • Linda got it spot in for us. We first had an American bloodline Dobe, very relaxed, great user friendly pet. Now we have a Vonforell (in Australia) Italian line dobe and she is extremely intense. I’d never recommend her as a pet for novices, we had a battle for the first few years, but now she’s turned out brilliant for our requirements. Feels very secure here.

  • Hi Linda! Good to see you here and I hope you are doing well. The blood lines from Danzig and Hera is still active here in Sweden. Last puppies are now a bit over one year and they are doing great. Birgitta used two brown Dobermann’s and the puppies have that deep rich Brown color. First people were sceptical but it turned out great. I still miss King though very much. If you see this, please get hold of me.

  • As someone who has been researching dobermans — and their breeders for over 10 years, I cannot say enough about the quality of this work. Thank you for your attention to this breed. As a consumer, a realistic consumer, I would add, I am interested in a show temperament dog. You can always tap into the “watchdog” aspect of their genetic makeup, but I strongly prefer the predictability and stability of the show bred dogs. Much respect to the working dogs and their lineage though.

  • Being the proud owner of 3 dogs from Linda and Phillip would have to say that we have been nothing but delighted to be the proud owners of dogs from Adlercrest. Linda is very knowledgeable about the breed, if we ever have a question we ask them for advise. My only regret is that Linda is in Southern California and we live in Washington state.

  • I have had several Dobermans in my day, by far my favorite breed. My previous Doberman I got from the Humane Society as its owner, a police officer-only 32- was checking into a hospice. The dog was about 2 years old. Its tail was cropped, but not its ears. She told me that the dog had ear mites- never had these before. I took the dog to the Vet regularly, always told them about the ear mites- and they could not cure it. So much for those who do not believe in cropping ears! My dog would scratch and whine. Circumcision does not hurt babies much-but I had an adult client who had this done and was in total agony. The Doberman is the official K-9 of the US Marine Corps. K-9 units reduced casualties in Vietnam in rifle platoons by 85%. I don;t know why they switched over to German Shepherds. I have always heard that Dobermans were loyal to one person- perhaps this is why. Dobermans are #14 for bites- over feared- not such a bad thing. They intimidate people with their looks alone. Mine have been friendly- I believe the socialization when young is key.

  • The Bueceron is a likely contributor as well as Great Dane. I owned a direct descendent of the first registered Doberman (a favorite of the good doctor) and there was a Manchester Terrier on his pedigree. As to cropping, there was very little guesswork as to my boy’s intentions. He once stood down a 9’cougar we walked up on with a kill. I think American breeders just being lazy about breeding for short, erect ears. Going to bite us in the rear someday as Europeans take up the slack.

  • So glad to see that Doberman’s are finally getting the respect (and popularity) that they deserve. I do think that Dobies in the 50s > 70s were often prized for their defensiveness and aggression, breeders quickly learned that most people wanted a family dog — so dozens of generations later, we have the family loving (and couch loving) Doberman of today. Such an awesome family pet… I’ve had four Dobies over the past 23 years, and just lost my 12 year old female (Zoe, RIP). Anyone thinking about getting one: if you meet the fairly basic checklist for these loving dogs, I can’t encourage you enough to bring one into your family.

  • I’ve been worried about my little girl (rottie/doberman mix). She’s just about 5 months and she is only 35 lbs. I met an AKC Rottie that was much smaller than the Rottie that you normally see. She has the Rottie tail and we are not sure about her ears, but leaning towards pointing them, as my pug gets infections constantly.

  • Would love to hear a story like this one for miniature pinscher (which I own). He acts exactly like she described a doberman but I know they have no link with the doberman itself. Very protective, very playful, would do anything in order to protect me as when people act like if they are attacking me then his natural reaction is to defend me even though he’s a smaller dog 🙂

  • Very informative article – I’m a HUGE Doberman fanatic and had two during my childhood, in my opinion are the smartest & caring dog(s) to have as long as you spent time on training the dog and taking good care just like you would when any other breed. I currently have two Maltese dogs however I’m contemplating getting two dobs for my new property as I miss having at athletic dog like a Doberman. Is it possibly to get a contact info on this lady to go about getting more information in acquiring two of her breeds?!

  • The dogs in this article are wonderful examples of the breed! A true Doberman Pinscher should be graceful and agile but also with substance and strength. Too many Dobermans today are, as Linda from Adlercrest says, too tall – approaching the size of a Great Dane. Many of the Dobermans today are physically unbalanced- too leggy, and/or too narrow or shallow in the chest. Overall, too refined, and lacking in substance. The best Dobermans have both!

  • My favorite dog in the world right next to the German Shepherd. I had a DPincher growing up in my teen years. He went through a military academy, was fed vitamins and got the best of the best as far as food went. When I would walk him, people would pull over and talk to me in absolute awww of the posture, poise, and just sheer confidence of the stud. He was much bigger than ur avg Dob. Suspicion that he was given steroids before I got him from my Aunt, who had a son at the time that was 21/22 years old. I had absolutely ZERO worries when he was around. One helluva dog to own as a teen. The biggest issue I had was, I always had to let him outback when friends came over. I could then let him in afterward. He would proudly and confidently walk over and sniff whoever hand then, he would walk away. After that you where ok but, still not friends. There was only a few people that could actually pet him, wrestle with him or show him affection. The only way to exaggerate about him is to say he could fly. His manners where impeccable as he wouldn’t go into the kitchen, sit on the couch, beg for food etc etc. His name was Sinbad. Easily the best dog in the world! RIP Sinbad. I’m now in the market for a new DP pupp.

  • Awesome article Linda. I’m a trucker who lives on the road with my Dobie. She has never left my side except for the obvious occasions. Unfortunately the reputation of the breed has set it back. Truth be told. You get exactly the kind of dog you want by teaching what you want out of it. I’d like to think my dog is a great ambassador for the breed. She meets new people and new dogs every day. People are blown away by how sweet and loving the dog is. The dog when in my presence shows no sign of trust issues whatsoever and will automatically nuzzle a strangers hip wanting affection. It’s actually funny to watch someone stick out their hand thinking the dog might want to smell it and the dog straight away nuzzle their hip. Words can’t describe what this dog means to me. And I know the dog feels the same about me. Again, great article

  • Great article…I have owned 4 Dobermans. She knows her stuff. I have dealt with breeders, and owned a Dobe who came from Western Euro lines, and he was very sharp. I actually adopted a Dobe from the local shelter. I found one that was very energetic and young and I will be darned if he was not super sharp and healthy and such a great protection dog. I am so very happy I took the time to work with this Dobe that someone abandoned because he had so much energy and drive…once I harnessed it and got him focused, he put on weight and tons of muscle and is a beautiful Dobe named Banzai. They need exercise and attention, they are the velcro dog. A good Doberman will be loyal and fearless, will be obedient and smart and very agile and strong. They have an explosive power that should be under the owner’s control. She is right about testing for health, about how much of the American breed has had its sharpness bred out of it, and so forth. Good article…

  • Nice article. Some good info. I would not hesitate to own an Aldercrest dog. With that said, I’m on my 3rd male and second female Doberman from American showlines. And I can say for a fact, not all of the protective drive is gone. Not even close. My newest boy has to be closely supervised with any new person on the property or in the house. He’s extremely intelligent and very loving to us. He’s just very protective. It’s just what they do. The “Show people” don’t stimulate those drives because they have to prance around the ring and get along with everybody. In a non show environment it doesn’t take much to get them up and running for protection. But don’t believe for one second those drives are completely gone. It’s just not the case.

  • very good article. she makes some very good points. my dad has one story about our old Doberman Mooser. my dads best Friend came over every day and knew him very well and actually was the one who bought hom as a wedding gift. however I guess he came over to grab the generator or something from inside the house when no one was home but him and he let him in but when he went to leave I guess ghe just sat in front of the door growling at him so my dads friend just sat there until someone got home. it just amazes me how protective/smart they are or any dogs are.

  • Good Day Linda: I was trainer and breather of Dobermans, in South Africa for many years, and I also lived, and travel extensively in Western EUROPE, but I noticed several main differences when I came to the U.S. regarding BREAD of the DOBERMAN, the dogs here have been DILUTED DOWN, and in my opinion and URBANIZED, in there character and BULK, there more MELLOW, lighter from the original BREAD, because you’ve are not using the BREAD as FARM/WORKING/GUARDIAN DOG, I still believe that the German DOGS are still looking more like the original BREAD, but I have see Dogs coming from Easter EUROPE wish are MAGNIFICENT, The other thing that I WOOD like to point out is that I NEVER hade there EARS CROP, and I trained with the ARMY and Police Force, and still they were show Dogs, another point about the CROPING is the FACT that ones you CREATE a WOUND though surgery, it NEVER is the same, and when you’re in Tropical region, FLIES are a problem in those areas were there WAS surgery, my LAST male DOBERMAN that I had in S/Africa was a fantastic specimen, almost 31-Inches and 117 pounds, good temperament and EXCELLENT GUARD DOG, but thanks for you’re article….

  • I like how she described the improved body language with dogs who have cropped ears, I can personally relate to that with my two dogs one with and without, when my dogs are alert I look to my dog with the cropped ears because they are easy to read. Most men in America are circumcised get over it sheesh.

  • Got my 8wk old Dobie pup on the 17th of April, and I have been devouring these articles prior to and even after getting him. This woman really knows her Dobies. And I am glad that she brought up that the floppy ears and tail are unnaturally natural (now) due to human interference. A lot of people give owners shit for doing either/both stating its cosmetic only or it hurts them. A reputable vet will use anesthetic, the dog will be completely put under and will feel nothing. Also as she said, their tails are very long and brittle. Easy to break and injure, and their ears being floppy and as long as they are can easily be injured as well. Having both altered also gives intruders or otherwise unsavory people 2 less things to grasp in an altercation giving the dog the upperhand. If youre thinking about cropping, do your research. Its not a one and done procedure. Ear posting takes months and can be alot for new owners. So far my boy is the best dog Ive ever had. Full of personality, sass, but also extremely smart with a wonderful temperament. Wonderful dogs for the right person.

  • that story about the dog with the broken tail reminds me of my old dog (r.i.p) Sissy. she was an 11 year old lab and we had to have her tail aputated because she would wag her tail so much that her beating against doorframes and things broke it twice and then all the blood on the walls constantly. at 11 it was hard on her for about a week but as a kid when we had litters of puppies the cattle dogs we kept my mom would dock thier tails with a rubberband when they were a few hour old. they never got upset or even wimpered and brand to puppies are wimps about EVERYTHING. im sure they would have protested if it hurt badly.

  • the most perfect and argumentated statement for dobs (and dogs in general ) I ve ever heard or seen in my life !!!!! great documentary by the way !!!…congrats !!….in Romania (Europe) we still crop and dock the dobs …unfortunately they die because of DCM one by one….and I mean tested dogs …from recognised breeders….I have an akita inu female 6 years old and look for a next dog ..for guard but unfortunately because of health conditions dobermans are out of the question ……

  • hi from Greece. Lately I see more and more Dobermans being walked by their masters. I don’t know the origins of the dogs. They are obvious European dobermans and they are Huge! I have to say they look impressive despite being uncropped and undocked. They look more family friendly and yes it’s obvious despite the more gentle look that someone shouldn’t harm their masters.

  • I have a red dobie and love him so much! He is a year old but when he was 5 months old? I took him outside…it was snowy and icy and I fell down flat on my face! I have bad knees so getting up was next to impossible! I was shocked when my “playful pup” literally came to my rescue without any prompting from me at all! He came over and squeezed his head under my stomach and helped to lift me up enough that I could get my hands out in front of me and then let me use his back for support as I tried to get myself upright on my feet again! LOVE my dobie boy! I didn’t crop anything on him….most vets in Tennessee will not do it. He is beautiful as he is…floppy ears and a tall curly tail….

  • The last Doberman Pinscher I had was a while back (mid to late 90’s) and she had a problem with eye “snot” or eye slime build-up. It wasn’t a constant thing but I was wondering what was causing it. Poor quality dog food? I live in northern Nevada so could it be the environment? An allergic reaction to something?

  • Great lady and what a good way yo spend your life working with Dobermans! I raised Dobermans when i was younger and they are such an awesome breed! I also raised German Shepherds and loved them as well. People often ask me about which i like better ect. I always tell them i love both but ended up raising Dobermans longer because the Shepherds are just a little more aggressive breed and it takes a little more work to deal with them overall. But, both are so smart and intelligent they are awesome to have for pets and protection!!

  • I adopted a dobi mix when he was a baby and I didn’t know till he was older that he was a dobi mix. anyway he broke his tail so many times that I didn’t know that eventually he screamed and cried and so I took him to the vet and we found out he had broken his tail numerous times and it was fracturing close to his hips. now his tail is docked and he his so much happier than he was with a tail.

  • Good information about the dobberman breed. She is certainly passionate about her dobbies! However, she does not understand the definition of the term mutation. Albinism is a condition present in all verterbates including humans. Albinos are hardly mutatants or genetic defects. I respect “pure breed” dogs, and even have one myself. But make no mistake, genetic diversity always leads to healthy more adaptable dogs. Her rationalizations about docking and cropping aside, great watch. Keep them coming.

  • Mine is very protective of us I have 2 kids he protects them as if they were his own at the same time he’s extremely loving and smart ! He is the easiest dog to train I mean it’s almost like they speak the language, you do need a large fence because they can react to strangers really easy and they are fearless mine likes to patrol the house on the backyard at night even if it’s completely dark but you can’t leave them out on extreme temperatures. They are very strong dogs can be up to 100 lbs so you need to understand that they require a space to run because they are very energetic. One of the best breeds ever.

  • This lady KNOWS whats she’s talking about! Everything she stated is FACT about Dobermans. I had one for 10 1/2 years from age 6 weeks. Thor was the ABSOLUTE BEST Friend I ever had, or ever will have! He loved me 1000 times more than I loved him, and I loved him MORE than ANY HUMAN the entire time he was with me! He was my CONSTANT Companion; everywhere I went, he went! If he was not welcomed, neither was I! It’s been 42 years since Thor died, and I still can’t look at my Photo album of him or talk about him without shedding tears! He was 1 in 100,000,000! After all, Dog is mans Best Friend, and it’s GOD spelled Backwards!

  • I had a dobie w ears and tail I was very young —now at 65 yrs old I miss his terribly get at least the tail cropped its not torture and even cropped ears I would go for …..as the dog is 100% elegant and the most loyal dog in the world and the GREATEST friend you could ever have and your children too

  • Such an intelligent dog… here’s a cool/mind blowing example: We have a male Doberman/19 months old, and a tiny 4 yr old chihuahua mix……. When the tiny chihuahua plays rough with us, and play bites at us, our Doberman runs around frantically until he finds one of his chew toys or a bone, and runs over and tosses in her face… continuously jams it her face… we believe this is because he’s telling her what he knows, which is, “we don’t bite people, we only bite toys” It’s absolutely phenomenal, and it’s consistent. He does this every time.

  • Linda you have nailed it. You know your Doberman business. I bought a female black and rust 6 years ago from a good breeder She is completely docked and cropped. Before perusal this article I knew why they cut the tails. Dobermans have natural tails that are elevated. If you don’t cut the tails its basically a battering ram and they can hurt themselves. Dobermans are not the only breed. Great Danes, Boxers and many other breeds do this for the same reason. She is dead on when she says its a protective dog and a family dog. I named my female Nephthys after the ancient Egyptian goddess of the same name. Dobies are great with children and are in the top 5 for watch dogs. Linda mentioned that they will follow you into the bathroom. This is true. They are always on guard. There are only 2 real breeds of Dobermans. Black and Rust and Red and Rust. The blues and the fawns are a result of inter breeding. They have major skin issues. If you are serious about getting a healthy Doberman stick with the main breeds. You cant go wrong with a Doberman, they are a great dog breed.

  • I’e begun to run into insurance restriction looking into owning a new dog. You can own a “dog” just no Pit Bulls, Am Staff, no Dobermans or German Shepard’s, literally any working protection dog which is also a great family pet has been put on their ban lists. Golden retrievers, Labrador’s and poodles are ok though. I really enjoyed your article. Lots of great information. I owned a Doberman for almost 10 years took him All over the world and he grew up with our children when they were young. A fabulous breed! Your comment on our diminishing rights really struck a cord though rights are chipped away little by little and usually driven by fear and ignorance of those who have very limited knowledge or understanding of what they are banning and why. Like with firearms, ownership of working and guard dog is slowly being legislated away. Thanks again for a great article!

  • i have an american doberman she came from champion showline. shes extremely protective of me. an ive always socialized her. i moved out of my parents house 3 years ago an i live in a 1 bed room apartment. i was perusal football my foot was broke. an this guy just opened my door stumbled in an sheva just dove at him. she was not back doing. i always protected her when she was younger. never expected her to step up. but im thankful

  • I think that the Dobermans look better with the docked ears and tails. I saw a Doberman many years ago and it wasn’t docked, and in that case, it looked more like a hound with long floppy ears and a long spindly tail. Almost the look of a Catahoula which I own at present. He has long floppy ears and a long spindly tail. He comes from a line of quad champions and every bit as agile if not more than a Dobie, as for a guard dog, no one who comes to the door would try to enter without one of us adults home. They have the drive and ability to bay-up wild boars and bears, yet have the ability to know when you are hurting, they are very special dogs. Anyway, my beautiful Jake at 10 years old is getting older now and will soon in a little while be going to Doggy Heaven as all good dogs do. I have raised different dog breeds throughout my life. I am now becoming much more interested in the Doberman breed of dogs for protection and companionship as I’m older also. So, with that said, I am learning more about the Dobermans, they too are an amazing breed. Learning more and more about these dogs is making a very informative decision for me in the end.

  • (Calhoun) abort docking the tail im sure youre right. (I had an episode with my dog) running towards another unknown dog. My Dobie Got bitten (just a bit). The owner (who was a dogtrainer) Said that her dog couldent read the dog cause of the docked tail. So in that point im sure youre right. About the docked ears i belive the authour on this article is right. Sorry my pour english 😉

  • my mother won’t get any other dog. She grew up in the back country of Nevada and by God those dogs saved her life MULTIPLE times. at four she was attacked by a blue heeler pack, her Doberman heard her across the town and saved her. Another one took out a rattle snake and kept a mountain lion away from her when she got lost in the mountains. I’m getting ready to jump on the Doberman tail myself, I’m getting my first Dobbie pup in two weeks. My mom still owns them to this day in her old age (has two and man is she able to control them at 67). They are wonderful family dogs but you must socialize that dog and train them well while they are young.

  • 4:16 i make a noise to my little puppy doberman and that mofo makes the cutest face i have ever seen without cropped ears. I had bought my doberman puppy intending to crop his ears but then I had him for a week and realized, this little guy is insanely cute with his facials, why would i put him through that pain for something I’ll never put him through(showing)

  • I rescued a brown and Tan Doberman in the early 80’s. It was me or he was going to be Shot. When i met him he was ready to tear me apart protecting his owners car. 5mins later he was in my car coming home 🙂 We were best Buds for over 10 years. He was so intelligent. I once saw him when a nasty rottweiler was asking for trouble while we were walking on the canal towpath. He put himself between me and the rottweiler then without growling he hit the rottweiler with his shoulder SPLASH game over. happy days

  • My parents were doberman breeders. We had such beautiful dogs. Almost all of them were show winners, and all of them were so sweet and good. Some of them were used as work dogs, they protected the house- watched my brother and i when we were kids. They were truly wonderful dogs- i miss having them. Since we live in europe we aren’t allowed to crop the ears or dock the tail. I honestly find the docked/cropped dobermans to be more beautiful. But the floppy eared ones are cuter. They have this charm you can’t resist

  • This woman is extremely knowledgeable and very well spoken. She’s a great ambassador for her breed. I’m the owner of a 9 year old American pitt bull terrier who is my companion service dog (Iraq war veteran) and constantly battle stigmas that the general public seems to have concerning my breed. Once they meet Anya (my dog), they are instantly a convert and understand that not all “pitbulls” are ferocious creatures to fear. Admittedly, Anya is very well trained and her disposition is that of a sweetheart and she loves kids, but I take pride in educating and exposing others to this wonderful breed. …. she is getting old enough I’m going to retire her from her working duties and just let her be my daughter and my best buddy. I’m thinking of possibly a Doberman to be my next companion dog and Anyas sister due to their intelligence, loyalty, and ability to by trained. I’m definitely going to check out this ladies kennels and breeding program. Not afraid to spend the big bucks to get a quality, healthy dog.

  • My dobbie puppy at 3 months developed something in its right shoulder which made it stick out and the right leg to face more outward…. he’s in no pain whatsoever I did research and took him to the vet for xrays they couldn’t find out what exactly was wrong with him but something about some excess liquid and a bone not being in the right place they told me to take him to a specialist but don’t have the funds at the moment. When I got him he seemed perfect don’t know why he developed this. He moves flawlessly still wonder if anybody has any ideas what could be wrong

  • The Doberman is one of the most loyal, playful and best active dog breeds. The thing is is that they need active participant ownership. Once properly socialised with other dogs, they are a marvel to be with but dangerous with lazy, slob like owners, methinks. Think oversized Jack Russell or Irish terrier before you choose.

  • I’ve had pit bulls more than 20 years and never have I docked and cropped. I clean their ears once a week myself and I’ve never had an infection issue with any of them. And I just don’t believe in cutting a dog’s tail off for any reason. Period. My biggest deal with pit bulls is people don’t want to be near them. A lot of people will cross the street rather than walk by my dogs and that’s a shame b/c pit bulls are very people-oriented. I have noticed a softening of that attitude in recent years though, especially after the Michael Vick bust. People saw those dogs as victims not killers.

  • I miss my MoMo everyday I lost her last year to wobblers syndrome at 6 years old she was a sweetheart she wasn’t cropped not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and miss waking to her head on my chest. I lost my German Shepard shortly after to old age 17 and now I still have my Rottie and considering another Doberman or Rottweiler.

  • The show circuit where dogs are “shown”, is the death-knell for working dogs. Some breeds have deliberately kept themselves out of the show circuit entirely, to enable the preservation of the working traits. The Doberman (specifically the American version) was ruined by the show circuit. The German Shepherd, the Labrador and a variety of other working breeds (except for a minority from the respective working lines) were also ruined by these knaves from the show-circuit. The show circuit is really a beauty contest, than a venue to assess the total dog, and should be treated like the plague by intelligent people..

  • ETA: I have had Dobes for over 30 years and am not an activist against docking, but I AM going to point out when people give out false info. The info she gave out about the nerve endings of the pups is false………Ok, I want to make something VERY clear. I am a Vet and it is FALSE that in a young puppy the tail is not part of the spine and doesn’t have the same nerve endings, that is a ridiculous statement that makes no sense. The spine is the spine and nerve endings once they are formed in utero (meaning before the animal is born) has the same feeling as an adult. Nerves don’t all of a sudden gain more feeling as an animal matures. So saying a puppy doesn’t feel as much in that area as an adult dog is false…..If people are going to argue for something then at least know basic anatomy. Saying that you can dock a puppy at a few days old because the “nerves” don’t “feel” the same way and you can do it without anesthesia is absurd. When a bitch steps on her pups by accident in the whelping box and that pup yelps in pain at just hours old, that is because the puppy does, in fact, feel pain. Many of these people dock the tails themselves instead of doing it properly at a veterinary office. No vet would doc without anesthesia, not any ethical vet. To save money many of these people do whats called the rubber band method which is, they tie a rubber band around the dogs tail until it loses circulation and falls off. Even more proof that pups feel just the same at just a few days old, nerves don’t change after they are formed in utero.

  • One mistake she repeated few times is about the cropping. Ear cropping is prohibited in most of the countries of EU, but not in all of them for certain reasons, but on the other hand the tail cropping is NOT prohibited and is actually still performed for the reasons she said on for example weimaraners or other hunting dogs, BUT Germany (The countrey of dovermans origin) changed the standard of the dobermans and it now says they prefer dogs with naturaly long tail and that is why most of the nowadays dobermans have long tales in Europe, eventhpugh they dont have too.

  • I live in the UK, really guts me that tails cant be docked. A Dobermann with a long tail just looks silly. I dont mind the floppy ears.. 🙂 Had Dobermanns with them and they were just fine. Just so crazy how these animal rights people can stop a very small procedure that affects the dogs whole future and the possibility of a broken tail in such an active dog.

  • Great article and so glad she brought up the animal rights groups trying to control our right to own animals and our choice to crop and dock. The ARG’s also try to interfere with raising and breeding horses and cows…it is ridiculous how far they have gotten over the years. As with everything it is like boiling a frog. You don’t just throw a frog into the boiling water, he will jump out. Put him in some nice room temp water and slowly turn up the fire! 😉

  • I lost my best friend of 17 years in Oct 2016. Now about ready to get another pup. Considering Doberman’s. You mention about ears and tails so I will ask. I hear from people in my area that Vet’s are no longer cropping ears or docking tails for this breed. Is that a new thing or just in my area? Is that a violation of standards? Thanks

  • I’m in need of some advice! My boyfriend saved an older doberman (Osiris) from being put down. So we adopted him from the previous owner. I love him to death! He’s very aggressive even with our children. For an example; my daughter who is only 2 throws herself on the floor when she’s having her “hissy fit”. Osiris had snapped at her. Osiris has also snapped at my boyfriend’s son who is 5 years old. Just. Because he was on the floor as well just playing with his cars.

  • There is a way for breeders to go around the tests and programs your’e talking about at 14:00. The breeders know what awaits their dogs in the mental test so they prepare them to pass the test. Many dobes i Europe are very jumpy, afraid of loud noises and nervous in general. This is because a lot of the breeding is done from BIS winners and not working dogs, since in Europe the Dobermann isn’t used as a working dog anymore – it’s all about Malinois nowadays… I bought a Dobermann from Estonia with russian blood in him. he’s the hardest and toughest Dobermann I ever seen! In the old soviet states, the breeding of Dobermanns was for protection and work – not dog shows! If you want an old school Dobermann that fears nothing, then you should import one from Russia, Estonia, Ucraine or some other old eastern european country. Who am I? I had Dobermanns for all my life and have a vaste experience working with them. I served in the french foreign legion as a doghandler, but that was a german shepherd…. A part from those years in the legion I always loved and preferred Dobermann. A real Dobermann is a hypersensitive dog that you should treat as a familymember and not keep in the backyard as so many americans do…

  • she makes such a valid point around the 12 min mark, IF your dog is protective of you and your family and you come over to its owner and sneak up for a bearhug or a slap on the back the dog will instinctively think you’re attacking its owner, probably shouldnt do that, which leads to my question, how many people are bitten by dogs because they think its clever to sneak up on somebody or act rough with somebody, and the dog thinks screw you this is my owner i aint having this and bites, maybe not with the intention to kill but to ward you off or get you away from its owner, who’s fault is it? Is it the dogs fault for biting and doing what it instinctively thinks is the right thing at that particular moment, is it the owner for having a ‘dangerous dog’ (lmao at that by the way lol too much of a stereotype) and not mentioning it previous if possible or is it the persons fault for sneaking up on somebody trying to be clever while knowing there is a dog there in the first place? i personally think its the persons fault for sneaking, you know theres a big dog there, why even risk a confrontation because what? you want to have a joke and a laugh, but then cry foul when you get bitten. idk just gets me a bit

  • A lot of very good information; however, I feel that some of her facts might need to be re-checked. For instance, the ears and tail cropping. They still do the ears and tails in the Netherlands (which is a Western European country). With proper papers and handling, you can have an 8 week old European Doberman shipped to the US legally with full AKC and UDC registration. Other than that, I loved hearing a lot of her great information.

  • She definitely knows her dobermans and knows her stuff. I will have to disagree about tail docking and ear cropping. It is done for looks not functionality, and old school trainers and breeders will always prefer the look of the crop and dock. For a family dog, I don’t think it is necessary. I have known many dobes and dogs with floppy ears who have never had ear infections. Obviously it can happen, especially in spaniels, but it’s a bit of a stretch to say dobermans are cropped because they’ll get an infection. Labradors are notoriously aggressive tail waggers and “high risk” for broken tails – and yet, their tails have never been docked. What I HAVE seen, are great dane puppies with cropped ears who get horrendous infections.

  • no, the reason why the ears are cropped on doberman’s vs rotties is because the doberman’s ears are big enough that in protection they flop over their eyes and interfere with their vision, so they are cropped…the rottie for example their ears aren’t big enough to flop over the eyes so they don’t need to be cropped. the issue with the tails is correct, they are docked to prevent injury to the tail.

  • I support docking and cropping but I think this lady is way off. The statistics of ear infections or tail breaks in a regular home environment is so low. I agree with another commentor who stated the most likely reason is to remove any extra “handles” that an assailant could grab. Another main reason is aesthetic.

  • Not that I know anything but I thought that docking was made to create a mean look and to prevent ventilation based issues in the ears. Docking is made to prevent the hard tail that stays erect from breaking/fractures. Which could cause serious nerve damage, which could cause nerve dmg, which could lead to phantom pain that can lead to aggression. Not taking sides but as I see there can be a real reason behind docking a tail or cropping the ears..

  • It’s funny that she talks for Serbia and Croatia, because both countries are members of IDC, which means it must be kept and their rules, but today are some of the strongest kennel even in the world are from the Serbian and Croatian, such as Bell, Betelges Blackmagic, Sawages and others who have set high standards of today’s Doberman.Western Europe had the quality dogs 80, 90 years of the last century, but have lost their primacy to the Doberman because they imposed the ban on tail docking and cutting ears. Today, in addition to DCM problems with race are problems with hip dysplasia and elbow, and regardless of the tests and what to exclude individuals with these problems from breeding again appear dogs with these problems. Today, the best Dobermans from Europe to Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Russia …

  • She manufactured the reasoning behind docking and cropping, just be honest and say you like the way it looks just like everyone else. Also American dobermans were tightly bred for reasons of confirmation, that in no way decreases the dogs intended purpose. It simply means someone took an eye for breed type within the Doberman and made better looking versions…

  • Wow, not only this lady has a nice voice to listen to, very engaging… Linda’s also sounds very, knowledgeable and detailed! First time I hear an American not referring to Europe as 1 country… (not to mention i.e.. Serbia, where most Yanks think it’s a swear word) Anyways, FINALLY someone who knows what they’re talking about! Thank you Linda 🙂 P.S. it’s so much nicer to hear a well informed / educated person, not the common BS(er)

  • Should I get one if I live in a big apartment? I have a experience in training German Shepherds of my grandma and my Ex GF had a Parson Russel which I trained for obedience when I couldn’t work and he shaped out pretty good but you know them they’re stubborn little bastards. Dobermans always fascinated me and since I live alone I’d love a company and protection of one. The intelligence of the breed is also a good thing because the breeds I trained (Sheps and Parson) are all stubborn but I guess Dobermans are the same thing and it’ll take a lot of hard work to train them right.

  • I am from Germany and I own a German Pinscher with natural ear and tail. I can read my dog’s bodylanguage with closed eyes. And she never had any problems with missing ventilation either. Comparing a natural, floppy ear with a hanging one like with bloodhounds is ridiculous. those are completely different types of ears. Educate yourself before saying this stupid stuff. The argumentation to cut off their ears and tails to avoid giving people a handle to grip the dog on it BS. You could still grab a standing ear. It’s simply animal cruelty and should be forbidden all over the world. P.S. I also owned dogs with natural standing ears and one of them still had floppy ears. It’s a variation of nature and not a man made thing. I can’t believe this!

  • I had a black and tan pitbull . He was about 32 lb. When he was a newly born puppy they cut off his thumbs or dew claws. Is that what they call it🤔. Well anyway those missing thumbs of his bothered him all his life.. I think that cutting off a dogs thumbs should be a crime. I don’t like the idea of cropping ears or tails. But I must admit these Dobermans look awesome. I have a female pitbull right now who is very prone to ear infections. My little Stumpy tail cattle dog cleans out her ears everyday. Since this has been happening now for the last 6 years she has had no problems at all. Her ears are nice and tidy and clean all the time.

  • Recessive gene(s) and mutations are not the same. Otherwise, a comprehensive presentation, given the allowed TV time. All things, i.e., performance, etc., being equal – it is the right thing not to crop body parts just to please the human eye. If you want a nice pic. draw one. If you want a capable performing dog leave body morphology alone. The soul and performance of the dog are what should count. Like with humans, you will always get used to looks, but the actions, spirit, and performance are ever challenging and lasting.

  • Hi, Linda! I just wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed perusal your article on Dobermans. I am 71 years old now, but many, many moons ago I had Dobermans and I really enjoyed them. Now, after all these years (and reflecting on many things in my present life) I still cherish the fond memories I have of my Dobermans. I presently live in South Florida (where I don’t see many people with Dobermans) and I believe I could appreciate a Doberman more, now, than in the past. Unfortunately, my present partner does not care to have any kind of dogs in our one bedroom apartment so for now, having one is not in my immediate future. Nevertheless, I started looking at all the Doberman Youtube articles and I get very sentimental each time I do. I truly envy you Linda (in a positive, happy way). Sincerely, Joe

  • I used to have a dobermann as kid its name was Argo, most intelligent dog I ever had I could tell hundred of stories about him and its intelligence, it was gentle with my little brother and all my friends as well it never been aggressive toward nobody it just couldn’t stand stray cats, as i used to live in the country there were a lot of stray cats R.I.P. and R.I.P. Argo

  • 100% agree with her about cropping & docking. I used to be on the other side of the fence on this, but have fully changed my mind. The main reason is because she is right – dogs are simply NOT natural; they are OUR creation and we are completely responsible for them for this reason. For example, most English Bulldogs have skeletons that are so convoluted that they cannot even give birth anymore without a cesarian! A cesarian isn’t ‘natural’, but what are we supposed to do in that situation, just say ‘let nature take its course’? I rescued a 1 year old Great Dane that was natural for both ears and tail and let me tell you her tail was vicious (while the rest of her was a sweet baby). She also had a lot of ear infections, and she actually survived bloat. I tacked her stomach after that – which is not natural but stopped it from ever happening again. She was, thus far and due to her wonderful personality, the best dog I have ever had even though she cost me more than any other one. Were I to ever get another Dane, I’d rescue a puppy this time and would dock/crop/tack/dewclaws/and neuter, for sure. However… I hope to get a Doberman for my retirement because I can’t handle the size of a Dane again but I still want a larger dog that is also a velcro breed like the Dane was, and I know that Dobies are as well. The tail is obvious as to why docking is good for this breed – not all breeds have this issue with thinness and injury, but Dobies do. Docking properly happens before the nerves are awake, and it is not cruel.

  • Deutsch wechseln hello, first it was a very good documentation. I get my first own Doberman in 4 months. as a child, my family also had one. I am also familiar with handling dogs, I am not a “professional” but a lover. I love dogs. I am now after two years for a doberman decided. Why? In the last 9 months I was broken into. a month later my girlfriend sexually abused in the park in the evening. and before winem month, a man was stabbed before my front door. From these and other reasons, I decided for a doberman … I’ve read 6 months a lot, 3 books about the breed … I was on dog shows … I talked to breeders and cynologists. even with a policeman with a working dog doberman. I love this breed … and I want to be a good owner. but one thing bothers me with this dog. why the hell do all people outside of western europe want to crop their dobi? Why do you want to cut off your darling’s ears and tail? EACH of you loves your dog and everybody knows that this is pain for the dog … why do you do that? because it looks better? if that is the case, your women should be “made” their breasts without being chewed … the men will be circumcised without anesthetic … why do I say that? Well … siwht but hornier, right? and you do not remember the pain later … is not it? I stand for it … a real doberman has long ears and a long tail … I love these dogs because they have a great being. a great character. and of course nice too … so why crop? just so you have his “status symbol”?

  • I just got a doberman puppy with a docked tail and I’m going to crop her ears next week. I’ve tried to come up with reasons to justify that this isn’t cruel but came to the conclusion that there are none. Floppy ears do not cause more ear infection. They do not feel pain is not a good reason do to something like this. Docking the tail because it might break is the dumbest argument ever. Should I cut off my arm because i might hurt it one day? Anyways, I’ve accepted the fact that docking and cropping is not moral. I’m still doing it because I want my dog to look good so yeah I’m selfish and assume my sins. However, I promise my dog that no one will love and treat her better than me. It does not justify the forced cosmetic surgeries to pleasure humans but it makes me feel a little better. More doberman owners should just assume their guilt.

  • Cropping allows the dog to focus his ear on the sound and enhances their ability to detect and locate sounds. This is obvious in nature, fox, wolf and other mammals . Watch them use their ears to locate and also to telegraph their mood. No brainer. The tail is a mutation. Set too high and to thin for usefulness and subject to injury. The animal is almost perfect for its use.

  • It’s weird to hear someone who loves animals hate on the folks who want animals to be treated fairly. As an “animal rights person” I would hate to see a future where no one has pets, that sounds awful. I just want people to be more informed and make responsible decisions in the care for their pets. I advocate for training, leashes, and education on breed tendencies, body language, and behavior.

  • The Dobermans in this article are wonderful examples of the breed. Too many Dobermans today are, as the lady says, too large, almost the size of Great Danes. Many are also physically unbalanced, being too refined and lacking in substance, often with legs to long for the body, etc. The dogs from Adlercrest Dobermans are correct – and gorgeous to watch in action!

  • Respectfully,To bad you don’t understand dobermans a little better,otherwise you’d noticed cropping the dogs ears doesn’t improve the dogs ability to hear one bit better ! Owning blue black or a red,working,living and training them one might notice this or maybe not ?So why do it ? I know the other reasons why and depending, to crop isn’t actually done so they are able to hear better as people think.They can hear just fine,sugar.Lol.

  • Genetically she isn’t wrong about docking and cropping. Besides Elephants, floppy ears are unheard of in most species, especially predatory species. Floppy ears are a sign of domesticity and have evolved through human domestication. Now, is it fair? That’s a different point to argue, being that humans have bred them from the begininning.

  • that whole thing of not cropping tails and ears is ridiculous. if you ever had a rottie with a tail you will soon find that everything in your house at tail level is broken – their tails are so strong they will break tables, and knock people down with their tails. Dobies and Shepherds look better and more alert with Dobies, and I think it’s up to the owners. If you’re going to show them, they will insist you dock the tails. You can put a rubberband on their tails at a day or so and they’ll just fall off – people are as usual getting way too carried away. I happen to like my crystal, and glass, and kids don’t like getting knocked down by dog tails. We already have a golden retriever whose tail has broken my house plants, and goldens will also have their tails docked depending on the areas they hunt. Unless you want them to come back with their tails beat until they bleed from wagging them on the hunt. We only have one person who can get in this house when we are not home because of our Rottie. He simply will not let anyone in the door even if he knows them well. He will do service work in the stores with me, but at home Rotties will never let you in if the family isn’t home.

  • I can a appreciate that she loves her dog but the more she spoke the more i said BS. To say the larger dobermans are not right and are another dog, then to say the original dobies were rough and imply dobies of today are correct and more elegant is hypocritical. Others have pointed out the BS on tails and ears. Oh, i had both cropt and floppy ears. In my observation, many breeders (because of their passion) are blind to how conceited they sound at times. Not saying that she’s an evil person. Edited: Giving her props on how we’re breeding the dobernan out of the doberman. Also her stance on shutzund. A trained dobie is a happy dobie.

  • Nice dogs but some misinformation in here. Puppies most certainly do have nerve endings in their tails, they are there before they are born. I own wolfdogs with a very high percentage of wolf. They use their ears AND THEIR TAILS for communication. So she makes a “medical” excuse for cropping ears and also throws in the communication excuse…then she docks their tails, also gives a really far fetched “medical” excuse but also leaves out the fact that they also use their tails to communicate.

  • A friend suggested the Doberman because I walk alot day and night in coyote country I don’t have a park near me. But I live in the country and have a biggish yard. The amount of training has me concerned. I need a bigger dog to walk and protect me. If I were to get one what would I need to do and it it safe to train it myself I don’t want to pay a bundle. Please reply