The Doberman Pinscher is a large dog breed that originated in Germany in the 19th century.The Doberman was developed as a guard dog from breeds such as the Rottweiler, German Pinscher and the Black & Tan terrier, and this heritage is still evident today in their strong guarding instinct and territorial behavior.
Step 1: Do you like the temperament of a Doberman?
The temperament of the Doberman is described by the AKC as energetic, determined, watchful, loyal, and fearless.The alert intelligence of the Doberman is described in this way.They are a potent working dog and a great pet because of their energy and willfulness.
Step 2: There is a need for consistent and thorough training with a Doberman.
The Doberman has the potential to become dangerous if its handler is not knowledgeable and confident.The Doberman isn't a good breed for a first time owner.An experienced dog owner who is prepared to devote time and attention to the correct training and exercising of their dog is the ideal owner.A Doberman is likely to be a wonderful, attentive, and loyal companion if this happens.In the wrong hands a Doberman could become fearful or territorially aggressive in order to protect himself from perceived threats.An out of control doberman is a danger to life and limb.A well-trained Doberman can make a great family dog, but supervision is essential around small children as this dog is very energetic and if a small child gets in the way, the dog may push them over.
Step 3: Determine if your home and yard are large enough for a large dog.
Being a large dog, and an athletic one at that, Dobermans need adequate space to move around.It's not a good idea for a large dog to live in an apartment unless you give it enough exercise to burn calories.Don't try to hide a dog, make sure your land lord allows it.In order to stretch its legs between walks, the Doberman needs access to a decent sized yard.A Doberman may become defensive if a stranger wanders over its territory, so the yard should be fenced.
Step 4: It's important to make a significant time commitment.
It will take you at least 2 hours a day to exercise your Doberman.They have a high requirement for exercise.
Step 5: How much does it cost to own a Doberman?
The costs associated with keeping a large dog should be weighed.Cheap foods bulked up with cereals may ferment in the dog's gut and cause it to bloat, so you need to provide a good quality food.Good quality food is more expensive than cheap food, and the cost of feeding the required amount can be considered.Deworming and anti-parasite treatments will cost more than a small dog.
Step 6: Understand how a full-grown Doberman will look.
Males are taller than females when it comes to the Doberman's height at the shoulders.The classic color is black with tan markings, but red, blue, and fawn are also permissible.The Doberman has an average lifespan of 10 - 13 years.In the US, the ears are usually trimmed, while in the UK it is frowned upon.
Step 7: The choice is between buying a puppy from a breeder or adopting an adult dog from the shelter.
There are pros and cons.There are many dogs in shelters.These dogs can be great companions, but they are less likely to be pure bred dogs.If you get a puppy from a breeder, you can mold it into a mature adult.A puppy is ideal if you are committed to training the dog.
Step 8: Carefully choose the person you want to marry.
Never buy a puppy from a mill.The reason the mother dog is not available to view is a sign of a puppy mill.The mother dogs are hundreds of miles away, waiting to be bred to produce more puppies.In the meantime her litter are taken away far too young and transported large distances to places for sale.Buying puppies and creating a demand is unethical and immoral, and should not be encouraged.
Step 9: Be aware of the importance of socializing.
A good breeder will make sure to socialize his or her dogs in order to ensure they grow into confident well-adjusted adult dogs.This is important for the Doberman, who can be prone to territorial behavior.As a puppy, proper socialization makes the youngster accept strangers, rather than be suspicious of them.It is better adjusted to life with people because it is less anxious.Young dogs are used to people of different heights, appearances, and tones of voice, so the breeder should try to get as many different people to meet the puppies from around 3 - 4 weeks of age.The puppies should not be exclusively reared in a kennel as this will make it more difficult for them to adjust to family life.
Step 10: You should check the family history of the dog you are considering adopting.
The Doberman is prone to a number of genetic health problems, some of which the parents can be tested for.Dobermans are prone to Von Willebrand's disease.Responsible breeders will screen the parent dogs for hip dysplasia and have certification to show what their score is.It's not a guarantee that the puppies won't have poor hip anatomy, but a low hip score reduces the risk.Ideally, the parents should be negative on the Von Willebrand's disease blood test.
Step 11: Dobermans can have genetic health problems.
There are a number of genetic health problems for the Doberman breed.Hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand's disease (a disorder affecting blood clotting), cardiomyopathy, and bilateral flank alopecia are included.The wise Doberman owner has a pet insurance policy.There are some excellent drugs that can extend the life of a Doberman suffering from cardiomyopathy, but they are expensive, especially given the size of the dog.
Step 12: Your dog needs to bevaccinated.
Your puppy will need vaccinations against infectious diseases.It's not clear which diseases are prevalent in your area.Your vet should tell you what vaccinations your dog needs.Distemper, parvovirus, canine adenoviruses, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis, parainfluenza virus, and Lyme disease are possible vaccinations that your vet may suggest.You will be breaking the law if you don't comply with the vaccine requirement.Different vaccines are given to different people.Depending on the manufacturer, the vaccine can be given as a single dose after 12 weeks of age, repeated every 1 to 3 years, or if given earlier.The final vaccine dose is always around 16 weeks of age, with other vaccines being given in 3 - 4 weeks apart.The puppy gets protection from the vaccine at a young age, but not so early that it doesn't benefit from its mother's antibodies.Booster injections should be given to your Doberman every year according to the advice of your vet.The vet will discuss with you which diseases are most appropriate for your dog and which are less common.
Step 13: Get your dog treated for parasites.
Deworming and treatment for parasites is important for dobermans, who spend a lot of time outdoors.There are different types of deworming medications, including tablets, oral liquids, and spot on treatments.Discuss with your vet which product is best for your pet.A quarterly broad-spectrum dewormer should be given to your dog to stop whipworms and tapeworms.Either a six-monthly injection or a monthly spot-on treatment at home is advisable.Fleas and ticks should be treated for your dog.The Seresto collar is a product that is effective against fleas and ticks.You should check your dog every day for ticks and remove them with a tick hook.
Step 14: Do you want to desex your dog?
The advantage of neutering is that it prevents breeding.If surgery is performed before the bitch's second heat, it can protect her against mammary cancer.Neutering or spaying should be discussed with your doctor.It is normal to operate on females from 4 to 6 months of age and males from 6 to 10 months.
Step 15: A good quality food is what you should give your Doberman.
The first and second ingredient on the bag should be named meat.Don't feed your Doberman a cheaper food that is bulked up with soy or cereals.The ingredients ferment in the bowels and produce gas.The Doberman is renowned for suffering from a serious condition called bloat, where gas builds up in the stomach and then flips over on itself.The dog can be killed by this condition.The extra gas generated by a rich diet is something to avoid.
Step 16: Do not exercise your dog after eating.
After feeding your dog, wait at least 90 minutes before exercising it.Exercising too quickly could cause the dog's stomach to flip over.bloat is a life-threatening condition.Non-productive retching is one of the signs of bloat.Take your dog to the vet if he is trying to throw up.If you want to increase the chances of bloat, place the dog's food bowls on the floor.The dog is likely to swallow air when eating quickly and gulping down food.Try to slow the dog's eating if it is greedy.If you want to slow the dog down, you can purchase a commercial slow-feeder or put large rocks in the feeding bowl.
Step 17: Feed your dog the right amount of food.
Follow the portion sizes recommended on the package.To make sure your Doberman isn't gaining too much weight, regularly weigh it.It's important to know what a healthy body shape is for your dog.You can judge whether your dog is under, over, or just the right weight if you know the ideal.
Step 18: Get your Doberman used to your touch by brushing it once in a while.
The Doberman is short-haired and requires minimal grooming attention.It is possible to burnish the coat with a rubber mitt.
Step 19: It is a good idea to check your Doberman's body on a regular basis.
After each walk, be sure to check it for ticks and awns.Remove them if you find any.When there is something wrong with your dog's body, you can check it regularly.You will be able to identify problems more quickly if you know the dog's shape and function.
Step 20: Take care of your dog's teeth.
You should get in the habit of brushing your teeth.A special toothbrush, finger mitt, and dog toothpaste is needed.To get your dog used to the process, wet the brush with water and rub it on the teeth.A blob of dog toothpaste can be put on the brush once the dog is happy with it.These pastes are free from harmful substances and tasty to dogs, so they don't need to be washed.
Step 21: Positive-reinforcement training can be used.
Dobermans respond well to training.The idea is to have the dog associate the click-clack sound with a reward.The dog will earn a reward for repeating the behavior if the clicker is used to mark the exact moment the dog shows a desired behavior.
Step 22: Your dog should be trained to respond to basic commands.
Sit, stay, and recall are good basic commands to start with.You can build up to more complex training once your dog has mastered those.It is useful to teach Dobermans to fetch, carry, and drop objects because of their possessive nature.If you are worried about the dog barking or snapping at people, holding something in his mouth is a good way to distract him.
Step 23: You should train your Doberman on a regular basis.
Depending on your dog's attention span, start with two 10 - 20 minute sessions per day.If your dog has a hard time concentrating, take it for a short walk before a training session.Keep training fun for the dog.If the dog is having a hard time with a command, and you want to end the session, go back to the command they are good at.This will make the dog happy to return to training later.If you want to avoid driving undesirable behaviors underground, avoid using harsh punishments with your Doberman.