HomeDoberman Pincher

Doberman Pincher

General Appearance

Of medium size, compact square body, well muscled for power and speed. Elegant and noble in statue. Alert, and energetic. Fearless and obedient with unsurpassed loyalty.

Size and Proportions

Dog 26-28 inches at the withers__ Bitches 24-26 inches. Height measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers. Length when measured horizontally from the fore chest to the rear projection of the upper thigh should equal height. Head, neck and legs should be in proportion to body.

Head

Long and dry. The view from front and side should resemble a blunt wedge. A front view will show the head gradually widening smoothly towards the base of the ears. The eyes are of an almond shape and set moderately deep with an alert expression. Eye color will have an evenly colored Iris ranging from medium to darkest brown in black/Rust, in red/rust, fawn/rust, and blue/rust. The eye color will closely match that of the rust markings. In the cream/white the eyes will range from light to dark blue, gray, or Amber. The darkest eye color of each is preferred. Ears may or not be cropped. The upper part of base of the ears when held in alert position is level with the skull.
Top of skull flat, with slight stop to bridge of muzzle. Muzzle line extends parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat and muscled. Nose solid black on Black/rust, dark brown on red/rust, dark gray on blue/rust, dark tan on fawn/rust, dark flesh tone on cream/white lips laying close to full powerful jaws, and well filled under the eyes.
Strong white teeth will form scissor bite__ Lower incisors meeting inside of upper incisors. 42 correctly placed teeth, 22 in lower and upper jaw. Disqualifying faults; overshot more than 3/16 of an inch. Undershot more than 1/8 of and inch. Four or more missing teeth.

Neckline, Top line, Body

Well muscled, dry, well arched and carried proudly. Nape of neck widens gradually toward body. Neck length of neck in proportion to body and head. Defined withers forming the highest part of the body. Back is short and with ample width and muscled at the loins, continuing in a straight line from withers to slightly rounded croup.
A broad and well defined fore chest. Well sprung ribs from spine and flattened in lower end to allow for elbow clearance. Belly shall be well tucked and extending in a curved line from the brisket. Brisket deep and reaching to elbows. Broad hips in proportion to body. Hips should be approximately equal to body at rib cage and shoulder in breadth. Tails are docked at the second joint and appear to be a continuation of the spine; it is carried slightly above the horizontal when dog is on alert.

Forequarters

The shoulder blade will have a forward and downward slope of a 45 degree angle to the ground and meets the upper arm at a 90 degree angle. Shoulder and upper arm are equal in length. A front and side view of the legs will show perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern, well muscled and sinewy with heavy bone. The pasterns are firm and almost perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet catlike and well arched, not turning in or out.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters angulation balances that of the forequarters. There is a fall of the hips from the spinal column of about 30 degrees showing a slightly rounded well filled out croup. Upper shanks are at right angles to the hip bones and are long, wide and well muscled on both sides of thighs and with plainly defined stifles. Upper and lower shanks are of equal length. Hock and heel will be perpendicular to the ground when the dog is relaxed. The rear legs are straight, parallel to each other and set wide enough apart to blend with a properly built body. Dewclaws may be removed. The rear feet are catlike and turning neither in nor out.

Coat

Short, smooth, hard, thick and close. A gray invisible undercoat on neck is allowed.

Color and Markings

Black, red, blue, fawn, (Isabella) MARKINGS; Rust, sharply defined above each eye, muzzle, throat and fore chest, all four legs and feet, and below tail. White patch on chest not exceeding ½ square inch allowed. White; ranging from a off white to a creamy beige. MARKINGS; White, visible above each eye, muzzle, throat and fore chest, all four legs and feet and below tail.

Gait

Energetic, balanced and with good reach in front and a powerful drive in rear. Trotting shows a strong rear action. Each rear leg moves in line with the foreleg on the same side. Rear and front legs are thrown neither in nor out. Back remains strong and firm. Moving at a fast trot the dog will single track.

Temperament

Watchful, alert, fearless, obedient, and loyal. The judge will dismiss a shy or vicious Doberman
SHYNESS; A dog that refuses to stand for examination, fears being approached from the rear of shies excessively at sudden or loud noises.
VICIOUSNESS; Attacking or attempting to attack either a judge or handler is noted as vicious. Aggressive or dominate behavior towards another dog is not deem as vicious.

Faults

The forgoing is what is considered the perfect Doberman. Any deviation from the described dog will be penalized to the extent of the fault.

Disqualifications

Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch, undershot more than 1/8 of an inch. Four or more teeth missing.