Doberman Pincher ownership should not be enter into
lightly. Doberman Pinchers are athletic, agile dogs
that make excellent family pets. It is a misconception
that Doberman Pinchers are mean by nature. Most Doberman
Pinchers are affectionate and even tempered dogs.
Because of the aggressive reputation of the Doberman
Pincher, some breeders have bred the trait on purpose
instead of breeding for an even, working temperament.
Doberman Pinchers bred for aggression are many times
more likely to focus their aggression on their handler.
Avoid breeders breeding Doberman Pincher puppies specifically
for protection work. Breeding a Doberman Pincher with
the end goal being aggression is dangerous, and breeders
uninformed enough to do so are likely to also be uninformed
about genetic screening and the hip problems common
to Doberman Pinchers. Buying from an irresponsible breeder
can leave you with a Doberman Pincher unable to walk
or with hundreds of dollars in medical bills.
Instead, seek a Doberman Pincher breeder breeding puppies
as all around pets and working dogs. Ask the breeder
if the dogs they breed hold titles in conformation,
obedience, or agility, or are working dogs. Ideally,
you should find a breeder who's dogs have excelled in
each of these areas, proving they look to standard and
have healthy hips (conformation), are even tempered
and demonstrate trainability (agility an obedience)
and are sound (working dogs).
If you choose to use your Doberman Pincher for protection
work, the best way is to foster the dog's natural protection
instinct from puppy hood rather than trying to pull
out an aggressive side. A dog provoked to aggression
can and will bite anyone at anytime, but a Doberman
Pincher that has bonded with you and your family will
naturally know to assess a situation and respond appropriately.
An alternative is to teach the Doberman Pincher intimidation
rather than aggression. That involves rewarding the
dog whenever it growls in play (never out of aggression)
and associating a cue word so eventually you can cue
your dog to growl when needed.
Should you choose to officially do protection training
or schutzhund with your Doberman Pincher, be sure to
find a reputable trainer. Call an area vet, police k-9
unit, or kennel club and ask for a recommendation to
a responsible protection training or club where you
can train your Doberman Pincher as a working dog without
risking yourself or others.
