History and Appearance - A member of the Working Group in the AKC, Doberman Pinschers were originally developed to be police and law enforcement dogs. They are commonly employed in the German military and many quake with fear at the sight of them. After all, they are big and dangerous-looking creatures, and extremely powerful as well.

The Doberman Pinscher has a large, square head with a powerful chest and bullet-shaped head. Doberman Pinschers weigh between 55 to 90 pounds and stand at a height of 24 to 28 inches; they have a black coat with blue, red or fawn markings. They might spot white patches on their chest and almond-shaped eyes. The Doberman Pinscher's tail is commonly shortened or docked and it seems heartless to do so. This action is taken in order to prevent future painful accidents. They are apt to break an undocked tail and the pain associated with this is immense.

Characteristics - Doberman Pinschers do not have a lot of energy, but they have a lot of endurance. These dogs do need exercise in order to stay in shape and are not happy in small, apartment settings. They like to have spaces like a fenced yard that allows them space to discover and move around. They also love long walks with their owners even if they have a yard to run around in.

Doberman Pinschers get along great with other children and other pets, despite how they are frequently depicted. It is all about the training. They are loyal dogs and want to make owners happy. If you train your dog to love the family, it will definitely do so. Puppies can accidentally knock over children before they realize their strength and are very energetic at that age, but this is a very easy problem to fix.

Before you train your dog, you must socialize them enough to avoid any issues. They are very intelligent and can get into a lot of trouble whenever they become bored with too much energy. They are large, strong dogs and can eat a fair amount of food. They must be given large dog formula to ensure they have a nutritious diet.

Health Problems and Grooming - Doberman Pinschers can suffer from hypothyroidism and a certain hereditary disease called "Von Willebrand's disease." You will have to ask your vet to give you more information on these diseases to be sure your pet does not suffer from these ailments. They can also develop heart problems. You will need to also make sure that your dog does not become overweight as you will have to deal with problems related to weight gain.

It is fairly simple to groom a Doberman Pinscher. They require just one weekly brushing and you will have to make sure their nails are short, but that is the extent of their grooming. They may look like tough animals, but Doberman Pinschers are actually overgrown lap dogs with their families and love to protect you and their homes.