BREED HISTORY
The Dobermann
breed bears the name of its first known breeder Friedrich Louis
Dobermann (January 2nd, 1834 - June 9th,1891). According to
tradition, he collected taxes, administered a knacker's yard,
and moreover he was municipal dog-catcher legally authorized to
catch all straying dogs. From this reservoir he mated especially
sharp dogs. The so-called "butchers dogs" surely played the most
important role in the formation of the Dobermann breed. Under
the circumstances at that time, those dogs can be considered as
a relatively homogenious "breed". the dogs were a kind of
precursors of today's Rottweilers mixed with a kind of shepard
dog with rust-red makings as they used to live in Thuringia at
that time. With this mixture of dogs. Dobermann bred in the
seventies of the last century. He created "his breed". i.e.
working dogs that were not only alert, but also "men-firm yard
and house dogs". They were used a lot as guard dogs and police
dogs. As a large number of these dogs were used as police dogs,
they were also called "Gendarm dogs" (country constable dogs).
When used as hunting dogs they were mainly used for game (predaceous
animals). Due to the conditions mentioned above, Dobermanns were
almost inevitable officially acknowledged as police dogs already
at the beginning of this century. The Dobermann breed aims at a
medium-sized, powerful, and muscularly built dog that shows
elegance and nobility in his body lines despite of all substance.
He must especially be suitable as a companion dog, protection
dog, working dog, and as a family dog.
BREED STANDARD FCI
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Medium size, muscular and elegant, with well set body. Of proud
carriage, compact and tough. Capable of great speed.
CHARACTERISTICS
Intelligent and firm of character, loyal and obedient.
TEMPERAMENT
Bold and alert. Shyness or viciousness very highly undesirable.
HEAD AND SKULL
In proportion to body. Long, well filled out under eyes and
clean cut, with good depth of muzzle. Seen from above and side,
resembles an elongated blunt wedge. Upper part of head flat and
free from wrinkle. Top of skull flat, slight stop; muzzle line
extending parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat, lips tight.
Nose solid black in black dogs, solid dark brown in brown dogs,
solid dark grey in blue dogs and light brown in fawn dogs. Head
out of balance in proportion to body, dish faced, snipy or
cheeky very highly undesirable.
EYES
Almond-shaped, not round, moderately deep set, not prominent,
with lively, alert expression. Iris of uniform colour, ranging
from medium to darkest brown in black dogs, the darker shade
being more desirable. In browns, blues, or fawns, colour of iris
blends with that of markings, but not of lighter hue than
markings; light eyes in black dogs highly undesirable.
EARS
Small, neat, set high on head. Normally dropped, but may be
erect.
MOUTH
Well developed, solid and strong with a complete dentition and a
perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth
closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Evenly placed teeth. Undershot, overshot or badly arranged teeth
highly undesirable.
NECK
Fairly long and lean, carried with considerable nobility;
slightly convex and in proportion to shape of dog. Region of
nape very muscular. Dewlap and loose skin undesirable.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulder blade and upper arm meet at an angle of 90 degrees.
Shoulder blade and upper arm approximately equal in length.
Short upper arm relative to shoulder blade highly undesirable.
Legs seen from front and side, perfectly straight and parallel
to each other from elbow to pastern; muscled and sinewy, with
round bone in proportion to body structure. Standing or gaiting,
elbow lies close to brisket.
BODY
Square, height measured vertically from ground to highest point
at withers equal to length from forechest to rear projection of
upper thigh. Forechest well developed. Back short and firm, with
strong, straight topline sloping slightly from withers to croup;
bitches may be slightly longer to loin. Ribs deep and well
sprung, reaching to elbow. Belly fairly well tucked-up. Long,
weak, or roach backs highly undesirable.
HINDQUARTERS
Legs parallel to each other and moderately wide apart. Pelvis
falling away from spinal column at an angle of about 30 degrees.
Croup well filled out. Hindquarters well developed and muscular;
long, well bent stifle; hocks turning neither in nor out. When
standing, hock to heel perpendicular to the ground.
FEET
Well arched, compact, and cat-like, turning neither in nor out.
All dewclaws removed. Long, flat deviating feet and/or weak
pasterns highly undesirable.
TAIL
Preferably docked at first or second joint; appears to be a
continuation of spine without material drop.
GAIT
Elastic, free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in
forequarters and driving power in hindquarters. When trotting,
should have strong rear drive, with apparent rotary motion of
hindquarters. Rear and front legs thrown neither in nor out.
Back remains strong and firm.
COAT
Smooth, short, hard, thick and close lying. Imperceptible
undercoat on neck permissible. Hair forming a ridge on back of
neck and/or along spine highly undesirable.
COLOUR
Definite black, brown, blue or fawn (Isabella) only, with rust
red markings. Markings to be sharply defined, appearing above
each eye, on muzzle, throat and forechest, on all legs and feet
and below tail. White markings of any kind highly undesirable.
SIZE
Ideal height at withers: Dogs 69 cms (27"); Bitches 65 cms (25
½"). Considerable deviation from this ideal undesirable.
FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a
fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
FCI - 2 group
AKC - Working group
KC (UK) - Working
