The Jaded Dog Trainer: The Truth About Doberman Pinschers

This time, The Jaded Dog Trainer discusses the Doberman Pinscher dog breed.

What Is A Doberman Pinscher?

We’ll start by taking a look at the American Kennel Club’s Doberman Pinscher breed description. “Sleek and powerful, possessing both a magnificent physique and keen intelligence, the Doberman Pinscher is one of dogkind's noblemen. This incomparably fearless and vigilant breed stands proudly among the world's finest protection dogs.”

According to the AKC, Dobermans were first bred in 19th-century Germany by Louis Dobermann, a breeder and tax collector. They emerged as a combination of a Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier, and Smooth-Haired German Pinscher. His intent was to breed a dog to protect him as he made his rounds collecting taxes, and Doberman’s quickly got the nickname “The Tax Collector’s Dog.”

Dobermans grew in popularity worldwide over the years and have been used as working dogs for police and military K9 duty. In fact, Dobermans served as the Marine Corps terrifying “Devil Dogs” in World War II. The breed’s muscular appearance, glistening coat, and athletic prowess have even won the breed Westminster’s Best in Show award several times.

So, the question remains. Are these dogs protectors? Man-eaters? Show dogs? Service dogs? ... Or something else? Let’s see what  The Jaded Dog Trainer has to say.

The Jaded Dog Trainer’s Hot Take On Dobermans

Dobermans are a breed The Jaded Dog Trainer is passionate about. He’s had several throughout the years and calls them real ass-kickers. But are Dobermans “noblemen” and one of “the world’s finest protection dogs” as the AKC suggests? Not so much.

Despite what you read online, these dogs were never meant to protect anyone. The tax collector bred them to be scary monsters. After all, a taxman doesn’t need protection from anyone. He needs someone (or something) to chase people down to pay their taxes. Today, the IRS has law enforcement officers to track down delinquent taxpayers. But back in the 1800s, Dobermann were the choice of tax collectors, as the man-eating dog.

These dogs have been selectively bred and genetically engineered over a "bazillion" years (that’s a rough estimate) to hunt and eat people. The Jaded Dog Trainer calls this breed a “bad mama jama.” For dedicated K9 trainers, that’s pretty badass. But for an average homeowner who doesn’t have the know-how, time, or dedication to training, it’s a total waste of a dog.

The Jaded Dog Trainer says while Dobermans from a few hundred years ago were monsters, today’s Doberman are “the world’s most marginal ottoman with legs.” Most Doberman breeders aim to create a docile dog that’s good for the whole family, which The Jaded Dog Trainer believes is a shame.

All of that said, there are still some reputable Doberman breeders who provide fearsome companions to the right owners. Finding these breeders can be like looking for a needle in the haystack, so be sure to do your research on the breeding facility before you start looking for a Doberman to serve as a personal protection dog.

Just because a Doberman is genetically engineered to be aggressive doesn’t mean it won’t make a great pet. Owners need to take time and put effort into  obedience training and attend a dog training class to learn how to care for their Dobermans. If trained properly, you can trust that your Doberman will be a fearlessly loyal companion and will have plenty of energy for long hikes, hours of fetch in the backyard, and much more. Just don’t be surprised if your dog tries chasing down your neighbors!

Simply put, if you’re looking for a noble protection dog, a Doberman isn’t right for you. But, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort it takes to properly train and care for a highly intelligent dog, consider bringing a Doberman home.

Advice On Your Doberman

To sum it up, Dobermans demonstrate these traits:

1. Fearless and fearsome
2. Takes dedication and a certain amount of expertise to train
3. Perfect for hunting down taxpayers

If you’re not willing to put in the time and effort to train your dog or if you’re afraid that it might bite a neighbor, choose a friendlier breed, like a Golden Retriever. But if you want a fearless companion and adventure partner, a Doberman could be a good fit for you.

As with any breed, be sure to take a look at your life choices, make sure you’ve got the right dog. No matter what you need, be sure that you go to RayAllen.com, and get all of your dog training equipment and supplies today!