• General
• Feeding
• Veterinarian
• Ear Cropping
• Grooming
• Toys

Dobe pups have a propensity to put "everything" in their mouths. Be sure to clear the yard/floor before letting a puppy out/down to play.

Living outside in a kennel or expected to stay in the backyard without constant attention and in a position as an important member of the family causes a host of problems with a Dobermann. Often a Dobe that is relegated to this type of living arrangement goes hand in hand with poor training and these Dobes often show evidences of shyness, fear, and nervousness.As with any breed there will be dogs that exhibit these traits even when the breeding/training are correctly administered.

Dobes are people dogs - showing an extraordinary devotion to their family or owner. A Dobe is very happy to settle down once inside (providing he has had time to exercise) to share your home, your bed (takes it over), and your food. It is also very normal for your Dobe to smile, lean on you, bump your hand for more attention, and follow you from room to room. For these reasons, Dobes are often referred to as "Velcro" dogs and one of the advantages of such a dog is; you never have to go to the bathroom alone again.

A Dobe is not a dog that does well outside. They are a people dog and do well in the same environment that you prefer. If you are too hot, so is your Dobe. If you are too cold, or don't like standing in the sun, you can bet your Dobe is uncomfortable too.
A fenced yard is a big plus (some breeders require it) but a Doberman can do well in a small yard or even in an apartment as long as the owner realizes that the Doberman loves (demands) exercise and must be willing to provide daily walks and or runs.

The Dobermann is no different in their reactions to children than any other breed of dog. Interaction with children when the Dobermann is a puppy often enables the dog to develop a strong loving bond with the child and family. There are also stories of rescued and older dogs adapting well to children. However, as with any dog, any breed, it is advisable not to leave dogs and small children unsupervised.

Many Doberman breeders recommend a lower protein puppy food (less than 28%) for the first months of puppyhood. They also discontinue feeding puppy food at an early age, around 4 months. This practice is thought to help reduce the incidence of Panosteitis (wandering lameness) and reduce the rapid growth produced by a higher ratio of protein found in most commercial puppy foods. Many also recommend raising the food dish off the floor to lessen neck strain while feeding.

Your dobermann needs a high quality dog food to remain healthy and happy. The amount of food each dog needs varies with the dog, his activity level, and the food. You should start off feeding the quantity recommended on the package of the food you feed, and adjust up or down depending on the way your dog gains or loses weight. Many people overfeed their dogs. This is very unhealthy for the dogs and can shorten their lives. Please be careful to avoid having your dog become obese.

How many meals you give your dobermann each day is largely a matter of your preference. Many people believe that it is healthier for a dobermann to eat two small meals each day rather than one large meal. This is because they believe that "Bloat", a life-threatening condition where the dog’s stomach twists trapping food & gas and obstructing the blood flow in the abdomen, is more likely if the stomach contains a large amount of food, but there is no solid evidence on this.

Some dobermanns have poor coats. Fawns and Blues are susceptible to a condition called Color Dilution Alopecia, or CDA. If your dog suffers from a thinning coat be sure to have a thyroid check done. Very often a thinning coat is a sign of hypothyroidism. When the coat problem is something other than thyroid, a richer diet could help.

When faced with sickness, Dobermanns can be quite stoic, concealing their pain long before you know something is wrong. A healthy Dobermann comes to you, or moves around in the yard, with a special little trot, while a sick Dobe does more walking or plodding, perhaps holding its head and neck level or down. Some Dobes curl up and don't want to move. Their eyes are sometimes sad and almost soul searching.

Depending on the illness, some Dobes don't eat and may pace or move from one spot to another, restless and panting. Others may stretch a lot or try unsuccessfully to urinate. Dobes have been known to swallow items that can block the digestive track. If this is the case, your Dobe may not want to eat, or if he does eat, he will throw up, and pace and stretch again. Check with your vet if your Dobe shows any of these symptoms.

We cannot emphasize strongly enough how important and beneficial it is to have a good relationship with your dog’s veterinarian. One of the best ways to establish this relationship is through regular visits to your vet’s office for something as simple as a toenail trim once a month. It’s inexpensive and gives the vet and the staff regular opportunities to get to know your dog and for your dog to become comfortable in your vet’s office. Should your Dobermann ever need serious or emergency medical attention, the familiarity that your vet and the staff have with your dog will only work in everyone’s favor.

This is such a critical area of care for a Doberman owner that our first advice is to make sure you understand ear cropping should ONLY be done by those that are very experienced in this procedure.

If you have not purchased your Doberman from a knowledgeable breeder or are thinking of purchasing a Doberman please make inquires to your local kennel club in order to contact a Doberman breeder/handler/vet in your area. This will enable you to see adult dogs, the length of ears, the style of the crop, and seek advice about who did the cropping and learn about the amount time and commitment it takes for the ears to stand. If you plan on showing your Dobe, make sure that you find out about a show crop. See the descriptions below:

Military/Pet Crop:

This ear is shorter in length and has a wider base (bell). Does not (usually) take very long to stand. Not seen on many Dobes today.

Medium Crop:

A longer ear with a little less bell.

Show Crop:

This crop is longer and a little narrower than the other two crops.

Aftercare of the Doberman ear should only be done under the guidance of an experienced Doberman vet/breeder/handler. It requires time and commitment on the part of the owner. Most agree that the ears should be taped for a week, then untapped long enough to allow the ears to breathe and dry out, then taped back up again. The longer the ears are left untapped, the longer it will take for them to stand on their own. By the time the pups permanent teeth come in (around 6 months), or before, they should be able to stand upright with no artificial support.

Important things to remember when taping the ear:

• Check for odors (should not have a foul smell)
• Don't allow the ear become wet. If this should happen, rewrap with dry tape.
• DO NOT take the ears down and let the ears "hang" for any length of time.
• When the ear(s) fall -- put them right back up in the roll

Grooming

Nails

Nail care is best handled by grinding due to the dark color of the Dobermans nail. With grinding you won't run the risk of cutting into the quick. Grinding should be started as early as possible and may need to be done weekly or bi-weekly when the nails are under control.
NOTE: If you turn the dog's foot over and look underneath the toenail you will "see" where the quick comes to the end of the nail (there is a little "v") and beyond that is the part that you want to grind down/off. Knowing where the quick stops and the nail begins will eliminate "quicking" the dog.

NOTE: If grooming nails of your Dobe resemble a wrestling match or it has become a traumatic event - please seek help from a Dobe breeder/handler. Done properly, your Dobe will stand/sit/lie down to have their nails done.

Teeth

Coat

The Doberman's coat should not require very much attention. Rubber (Premo) brushes work well. Also, a quick brush with a wool sock works to get a great shine and put all those little hairs in just the proper place. To get a fast shine and great smell on your Dobe (good for company or the ring), mix a little Listerene and water in a spray bottle and apply a small mist to your Dobe, then wipe down with a soft towel. Always wipe/brush with the growth of the coat. Bathing should be kept to a minimum, using a very mild shampoo and rinsing thoroughly.

Eye

Eye "goobers" (mucus build-up) are common in Dobes and should be wiped out daily. The color of the discharge should be gray. Yellow or green discharge signals an infection and your Dobe should see a vet.

The Doberman is likely to be able to destroy most toys suitable for other breeds. Dobes also have a love of tennis balls but these should only be provided with supervision. There are known cases of Dobermans choking on tennis balls. Beware of products stating they can be "ingested" safely. This DOES NOT mean they can be digested successfully.