DOBERMANS IN RUSSIA (the very beginning)

Average life expectancy of a Doberman

If the owner takes care of and protects his pet, a German Doberman Pinscher can live up to 15-16 years. Factors that can prolong or, conversely, reduce the lifespan of each individual individual include:

1. Proper maintenance and proper care. Without physical activity, active games, keeping warm and attention from the owner, a Doberman is unlikely to be happy.
2. Feeding. A balanced and properly selected diet will be the key to a long and healthy life for any dog, not just the Doberman.
3. Genetics. Inherited diseases are difficult to track and prevent their occurrence. Often they are the ones who spoil the existence of most purebred dogs.

Interesting! Dobermans with an unusual white coat color are considered a real problem. They are afraid of light and cannot stand direct sunlight. Because of this, character deteriorates and it is almost impossible to find a common language with an albino.

Caring for an older dog

Caring for an old Doberman does not require excessive effort, the main thing is to understand that it requires only a little more of your attention, care and compliance with the following small rules:

• Offer your pet high-quality food in the required quantities, focusing on white meat (rabbit, chicken, fish), because many older dogs have kidney problems;
• Make sure that the water bowl is always full, it is necessary to maintain the balance of fluid in the dog’s body;
• keep your pet’s home and body clean;
• do not overuse active games and do not jerk your pet over trifles.

Every owner worries that his pet may die early, especially knowing about all sorts of pathologies and diseases inherent in the breed.

Nevertheless, it is in your power to protect your pet from dangers, prevent the onset of the disease in time and prolong its happy years of life with high-quality care.

What do they get sick with?

Of course, the main reason why Dobermans do not live to a ripe old age is illness. Ailments specific to the breed include:

1. Vitiligo is a disease that deprives the skin of pigment.
2. Cancer diseases.
3. Stomach torsion is a condition characterized by the stomach being filled with air. Can be quite dangerous.
4. Wobbler's disease is a pathology that affects the bones, which leads to impaired coordination of movements.
5. Diabetes - which can be acquired.
6. Pravovirus - which affects children who have not undergone mandatory vaccination.
7. Congenital heart pathologies.
8. Non-coagulability of blood is dangerous because the dog can bleed to death, even if there is a small wound on the body.
9. Baldness - partial or complete.
10. Problems with the spine that can cause complete or partial paralysis.
11. Eye diseases such as cataracts and entropion.
12. Hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid gland is not capable of sufficient production of hormones.
13. Hip dysplasia is a disease common to most large breed dogs.
14. Chronic hepatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the liver.

Important! Most of the above pathologies can be cured if detected at the initial stage of development. Congenital pathologies often cannot be treated.

Age, compared to human years

To better understand the social intelligence and emotional sphere of dogs, their age is compared with humans:

What else influences

Due to the fact that not so long ago Dobermans were subjected to improper reproduction, namely, the offspring were obtained from couples where one of the parents suffered either from mental disabilities or had physical pathologies, they became much more aggressive. Knowing this circumstance, every potential owner should carefully check from which parents he is adopting a puppy.

Even if minor mental problems are identified during the upbringing of a young individual, they can be tried to be eliminated by correcting behavior. If corrective actions do not bring results, the animal is euthanized.

Important! Dobermans who have not undergone socialization often cannot communicate with their own kind. When they get into fights with street dogs, they receive injuries incompatible with life.

Physical activity also plays an important role in the life of a Doberman. A dog that spends little time in the fresh air, does not engage in dog sports, and cannot fully release its accumulated energy begins to age and fade away very quickly. Even if the animal was sick or took a long time to recover from an injury, it still needs to be gradually physically loaded, thereby helping it get back into shape.

Important! In addition to your pet’s health, you also need to pay attention to its upbringing. Getting run over by a car and being poisoned by poison scattered on the street are among the most common causes of death for pets.

Important! Don't forget about the dog's emotional state. Dobermans are very attached to their owners and take separation or lack of attention from them very seriously.

Caring for an older dog

Caring for an elderly pet does not require major changes, you just need to make some minor adjustments:

1. In the diet, focus on white meat (rabbit, fish, poultry), since many dogs develop kidney problems with age.
2. Maintain fluid balance in your pet's body and ensure that the water bowl is always full.
3. Reduce the number of active games, do not overload the dog.

In addition, it is necessary, as before, to monitor the hygiene of the animal and its home.

What the statistics say

Statistics on the life expectancy of Doberman Pinschers can be upsetting. If in the late nineties of the last century representatives of this popular breed freely lived up to 12-13 years, today this figure has decreased to 5 years. According to the collected data, the main problems due to which the indicator has decreased so much are cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have also shown that females live on average 1-2 years longer than males. It doesn't matter whether they gave birth or not.

Important! Dogs aged 7 to 9 years suffer from cancer. Heart pathologies can also develop in younger individuals.

Important! In addition to diseases, the shortening of life is also influenced by the fact that the breed has gone through a long selection process and was bred artificially.

Age compared to human years

To better understand the social intelligence and emotional sphere of dogs, it is customary to use certain coefficients to draw an analogy between the age of a dog and a person.

It is widely believed that to determine a dog's age in human years, the pet's years must be multiplied by seven . However, this relationship is not true in all cases.

For example, a Doberman who has reached the age of 1 year is equivalent in development to a 14-15 year old teenager, and not a 7 year old child.

Read about how Dobermans grow and develop here.

We present the ratio of the Doberman's age to human years in the form of a table:

How to extend the life of a pet

Doberman owners must adhere to the following recommendations:

• A German Pinscher should be bathed no more than once every 6 months. If you do this more often, you can provoke the development of skin diseases, allergies, and decreased immunity;
• eyes and ears should be treated 2 times a week. To do this, you only need a cotton swab and clean water;
• The dog's sleeping place, toys and bowls for water and food must be clean and intact. There is no need to use things inherited from another animal;
• a veterinary examination should be included in the calendar in the same way as vaccinations.

In order for a dog to live a long life, it must be looked after and monitored. For her to live a happy life, she needs to pay attention and give her love.

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Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this beautiful and proud animal include its loyalty and love for its owner, its attitude towards children and its excellent protective qualities.

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However, the Doberman's irrepressible energy must be channeled from puppyhood. The pet needs training, long walks and a lot of attention. When communicating, the owner needs to be the leader, otherwise the dog will get out of control.

Representatives of the breed, especially males, tend to show aggression towards strangers. It is not recommended for inexperienced owners to own this breed.

The Dobermann is a born guardian originally from Germany. A faithful friend and companion for a strong and kind owner.

Origin story

The founder of the breed was Carlos Doberman, who wanted to have a brave dog. In the middle of the 19th century, he collected taxes from the population, and in the process of work there were often clashes with angry citizens. The employee adored dogs, but had not yet been able to find one that would make him feel protected. Then he decided to create it himself.

In 1870, a man purchased a pair of pinscher puppies at an exhibition. They were distinguished by their fierce disposition and fearlessness. Their union gave the world a baby named Bismarck. From this moment the process of crossing with representatives of different breeds began. Carlos did not write down the results of his work, his observations. Now it is impossible to reliably say who exactly he used for selection. These were probably the ancestors of the Rottweiler, Shepherd and Cattle Dog.

The Doberman was officially recognized in 1898. Representatives of this breed immediately gained enormous popularity. They began to be used for army or police service. They only took in balanced animals, so we can say with confidence that they have a stable psyche. Everything else depends on the upbringing and personality of the owner.

If you decide to get a puppy, make every possible effort to qualitatively shape its character, love it deeply, but in moderation. Then you can count on a devoted four-legged friend who will reciprocate your kind attitude and care. The Doberman will protect your peace of mind and guard your home comfort.

The impressive appearance of a white or black Doberman and its running speed may seem intimidating to many. But in general, this breed is considered one of the best in the world, as it works well on tracks, finds chemicals and toxic substances, and also conscientiously guards its owner and his property.

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Interestingly, the history of the breed dates back to the 19th century, and the birthplace of this species is Germany. It would seem that this type of dog is relatively young, but for some reason the process of creating the breed is shrouded in myths and legends. It is believed that a certain official named Friedrich Louis Dobermann decided to independently breed a new variety so that he would have a formidable four-legged companion next to him, allowing him to stand out from the crowd.

However, the history of the Doberman could begin much earlier. There is an assumption that even earlier such dogs were already bred in the south of Germany, where they were mainly used as guards. Nevertheless, the official version of the origin of Dobermans says that it was a German official who was the first to breed this breed.

For this purpose, a special room was purchased, and specialists were involved in the work. Soon, menacing dogs with cropped ears and short tails appeared on the streets of the city, instilling fear in the city crowd. The black Doberman initially accompanied city patrols (such work was suitable for the animal, given its external characteristics).

Dog breeders who know little about Dobermans should study the description of the breed. And all because over the years, many people have developed a stereotype: since it’s a Doberman, it means it runs fast, and will rush into battle at the first opportunity. Yes, they were once raised this way. But in reality, the process of education itself is important.

What is their character?

Legends are made about the evil disposition of Dobermans, perpetuating this stereotype with videos of them being used during combat operations and in police service.

This is not a reason to doubt the representatives of this breed. They do not belong to the category of completely harmless dogs, but are easy to train and control.

Friendliness

He will behave peacefully with family members who live with the dog under the same roof. The Doberman will not touch or avoid those who are weaker than him. Shows respect for all members of the household, including other pets.

He gets very used to children and will not allow himself to offend them. He will not knock the child down during joint fun, and will not snatch the available delicacy from his hands.

Moderation

It manifests itself in everything. The pet knows when and to what extent to be angry, and when to show calm. Knows how to distinguish good behavior from bad actions. Excessively excitable, difficult to control individuals become the result of an incorrect attitude towards the animal. That's great rarity. They also don’t look like spineless good-natured people. The basis of their kindness lies in self-confidence, staying in a safe zone. At the moment of threat, they instantly increase their combat readiness, rushing to save their owner. The protective instinct is in the dog's blood. Together with competent training, you will have a permanent bodyguard.

Strength and grace

The animal understands everything instantly, learns very quickly , but can be vindictive.

A properly tamed Doberman becomes the best four-legged friend. To do this, the owner must be smarter and stronger in character.

At the same time, you need to love your pet. Then he will be able to objectively assess the situation and will be an obedient dog. He is also distinguished by his instant reaction, grace, and courage. Endowed with self-esteem and powerful strength.