This is a breed of relatively recent origin. It was developed in Germany in the 1860’s, presumably by crossing among the old shorthaired shepherds. The creator of this mixture was a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann. Dobermann had to travel frequently through bandit-infested areas, and decided to develop a watchdog and bodyguard capable of handling any situation that might arise.

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This breed is not for everyone. The Doberman needs an owner who is willing and able to display a natural authority over the dog. All family members must be firm, confident and consistent, setting rules and sticking to them. Learn to handle the dog properly, as Dobermans can become stubborn and willful if allowed to have their own way. Everything must be on the human’s terms. The dog is the follower, and the humans are the leaders. The dog will appreciate knowing his place in his pack and feel secure about it. Mental stimulation and a lot of daily exercise are important in order to produce a happy, stable-minded Dobe. Dobermans can be good family dogs if the alpha role belongs to the human and if they receive enough exercise, are well trained and are socialized with children. Although the Doberman has the reputation of being a very aggressive dog, this is just not the case.

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The Doberman is very energetic, with great stamina. They need to be taken on a daily, long walk and need to be made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead, as in a dog’s mind the leader leads the way and the leader needs to be the human.