Dobermann Breed Standard :The Dobermann: Medical Issues 		         
   


The Australian National Kennel Council
EXTENDED *
Dobermann Breed Standard
As prepared by the National Dobermann Council (Australia)

TAIL NECK

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Medium size, muscular and elegant, with well set body.
Of proud carriage. Compact and tough. Capable of great speed.


 

The old Standard's wording regarding size was "of good middle size", indicating that it was on the upper side of "middle". When one considers that the minimum height for a Great Dane bitch, which is described as being "remarkable in size", is only 1 inch (25mm) taller than the ideal height for a Dobermann male, and the Boxer, which is described as a medium sized dog is 3inches (75mm) shorter, it can be clearly seen that the Dobermann is certainly on the upper scale of "medium size" as regards height. If we take "medium size' as referring to body structure and build, then it is more appropriate. For the Dobermann should never be too fine or greyhound-like, neither should he be too coarse or draft-dog like. The dog should be of medium, balanced build.
The musculation, although clean and powerfully developed, should not stand out plastically from under the skin, but should present rather a smooth, cleantoned outline; the muscles tending to be long and flattish, rather than short and bulging, particularly on the forequarters.

Elegant in appearance, but not from over-fineness or Greyhound-like appearance, but from power and strength, proud carriage, great nobility and temperament. The Dobermann is a short backed galloping dog. He is a square dog, the height measured from the ground to the withers should equal that from the forechest projection to the rear buttock projection, and importantly, the height measured from the ground to the elbow should equal that measured from the elbow to the withers. Because of this compact, muscular build, the Dobermann is capable of great speed and endurance.

CHARACTERISTICS:

Intelligent and firm of character, loyal and obedient.

The Dobermann is faithful, has good nerves, is attentive and courageous. A compactly built, muscular and powerful dog built for great endurance and speed. This combined with his excellent sense of smell, his trainability, make him especially suitable as watch, companion, guard and utility dog.
TEMPERAMENT:

Bold and alert. Shyness or viciousness very highly undesirable.

Temperament is an overall term used to describe the psychological factors of a particular breed or individual dog. Keeping this in mind, the original requirements of the breed must be considered when assessing the temperament of the Dobermann. Unlike other types of working dogs, eg., sheep dogs, gun dogs, cattle dogs or hunting dogs, the Dobermann originally was bred purely for personal and property protection, ie., guard dog. The Dobermann character should never be sacrificed for the sake of physical perfection. It can be described as follows: circumspection of strangers, loyalty to and willingness to please master, shrewdness, uncanny intelligence, fearlessness, strong desire to protect master and family, ability to cope with any emergency, confident and courageous. A general dignity and aloofness, which has been described as the "Look of Eagles."
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His prowess as a Guard, Police, Rescue Dog and companion are legendary. When assessing an individual Dobermann's temperament careful consideration must be made when distinguishing between these desirable factors of fearlessness, suspicion of strangers and desire to protect compared to timid, scared and vicious factors. 		HEAD AND SKULL:

In proportion to body. Long, well filled out under eyes and clean cut, with good depth of muzzle. Seen from side and above, 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, snipey or cheeky very highly undesirable.

The length of the skull and muzzle should be at least equal, preferably the muzzle to be longer than the skull. The width of the skull at the base should not be too wide, but should be of only medium width, remembering that the whole head should give the appearance of a long elongated blunt wedge.
 

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If the skull is too broad it detracts considerably from this. A powerful jaw with a well filled out chin completing the blunt wedge when the head is viewed in profile. It is universally agreed that the Dobermann must be classified among the long headed breeds. The stop, although slight, should be clearly perceptible, it should never be sharp, but gently sloping. The nasal bone should not be too narrow and its tip should be in proportion to the width. The nostrils may be comparatively large. The colour of the nose, eyelids and lips may vary but should harmonise with the dog's coat and markings.

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 shade than markings; light eyes in black dogs highly undesirable.

The head of the Dobermann is extraordinarily improved by a correct eye. A too large or protruding (pop) eye, as well as too deep set or slanting (Mongolian) eye spoil the dogs entire appearance and are usually the concomitants of an otherwise undesirable head type. They should be set in the front of the brow but not so close together as to produce a sharp or quizzical expression. 		  EARS:

Small, neat, set high on head. Normally dropped, but may be erect.

Set high on the sides of the head not on top of the skull, the actual set being on a level with the skull plane, and when the ears are held in the alert position, the fold is slightly higher than the skull plane. The reference "may be erect" refers to dogs that are born with naturally erect ears, and although this is very rare it should not be penalised. 		MOUTH:

Well developed, solid and strong with a complete dentition and a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, ie., 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.

The teeth should be strongly developed and white, large rather than small. Lower incisors upright and touching the inside of the upper incisors, a true scissor bite. There should be 42 teeth, 22 in the lower jaw and 20 in the upper jaw. Distemper teeth (now rarely seen) should not be penalised. 		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.

Although lean it should be well muscled and dry, the convexing should be clearly perceptible. It should widen gradually toward the body and be particularly well muscled at this point flowing into the body and well laid back shoulders in an unbroken line. The neck should be of a harmonious length in proportion to the body and head.

FOREQUARTERS:

Shoulder blade and upper arm meet at an angle of ninety 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.

The shoulder blade should be laid back at an angle of forty-five degrees. The ninety-degree angle called for in the Standard between shoulder blade and upper arm is of vital importance and should not exceed 110 degrees. The upper parts of the shoulder blades extend over the chest cavity and at their highest point together with the thoracic vertebrae form the withers. The shoulder blade lies firmly against the rib cage.

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When you place your hand along the spinal column at the wither without spreading your hand you should clearly feel the upper part of the shoulder blades which should be slightly higher than the spinal column. They should not be too close together but neither should they be too far apart. The length of the humerus plays an important part in determining the position of the elbows. When the humerus is relatively short the elbows must necessarily be positioned further forward along the wall of the thorax than when the humerus is longer. Similarly, the length of the scapula must also play a part in deciding where the elbows will lie. Therefore it becomes apparent that the equal length of shoulder blade and upper arm is most desirable. The musculature must be long and flat, not bulging. The requirement for round bone is taken to be synonymous with substance and refers in particular to quality and strength of bone, being measured in through the forearm. Pasterns are firm and almost perpendicular to the ground.

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.

The depth of the brisket should not be less than 50% of the height from the withers to the ground. The chest should be of good width, not too broad or too narrow. The prosternum protrudes beyond the shoulder joint but not excessively so. The slight slope to the topline is brought about by the height at the withers and the relative length of leg in the front.
The spring of rib is not constant throughout, it is less at the shoulders where allowance has been made to accommodate the tight fitting elbows.

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It gradually increases reaching its maximum about 5th and 6th ribs. The width of the chest at this point should be equal to or slightly wider than the width at the shoulders and to the width at the hindquarters.

It should be noted that the slightly extra length allowed for bitches is to the loin and not in the back. The fairly well tucked up is not like that of a sight hound, but is rather a gentle curve from the outline of the last rib to the pelvic bone. The short back is necessary for proper transmission of power from the rear quarters to the front assembly. The loin is strong and muscled, as it is the keystone arch through which passes the driving power of the rear quarters. The loin also supports the rearing muscles, which enable the dog to lift his centre of gravity and rear and jump. The slightly rounded croup adds strength to this keystone arch.

HINDQUARTERS:

Legs parallel to each other and moderately well 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.

The pelvic area is equal in width to the widest part of the body and dogs with a normal stance will stand at the width of the upper thighs. The Dobermann is well muscled in the hindquarter area with broad powerful hams. This musculation is primarily for the generation of power for strong rear drive. The pelvis falling away from the spinal column at an angle of about thirty degrees allows for the femur to be carried downward at about a right angle from the hip joint to the stifle. When standing, the hock to heel should be perpendicular to the round. 		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.

Round compact foot with well arched toes, tightly bunched or close cupped, the two centre toes being only slightly longer than those on the outside or inside. The toe pads should be deeply cushioned and covered with thick skin. The impression left by such a foot is round in contrast to oval. 		TAIL:

Preferably docked at first or second joint; appears to be a continuation of spine without material drop.

The tail is docked at the first or second joint. We already know from the description of the hindquarters that the pelvic bone is set at an angle of 30 degrees but there should be no change in the direction of the spine, and the tail should be a continuation of the spine, the croup be well filled out and only very slightly rounded. The tail is carried only slightly above the horizontal when the dog is alert. 		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.

Gait is a most important part of the standard. The parts of a dog described individually above are made in the particular fashion that they are, so that the dog can move. Form follows function. The function of a Dobermann is to move at a gallop. Because of the described proportion (shoulder blade to upper arm and foreleg to hind leg) the Dobermann's stride covers a maximum of distance in a natural and graceful trot. The Dobermann has a distinctive gait, neither the long reach of the German shepherd Dog nor the short reach of the terrier. As a result of his square, compact body and particular angulation, he moves with a sure fluid grace and a medium stride. 		.

The Dobermann mechanism of locomotion must be such that entirely aside form his ability to gallop, he must display a walk designed to cover a maximum of distance while held on a leash and keeping pace with a normally walking person, without resorting to mincing, trotting or galloping. When trotting, however, there should be a strong rear action drive with rotary motion of hindquarters. When speaking of breed hallmarks, this requirement is clearly unique to the Dobermann breed. The well angulated short backed fast trotting dog, in order not to crab, lifts his hind feet (already just behind the front legs in timing) higher than usual and with the stride demonstrates s high stepping rotary hind action. This action is more economical and efficient, as crabbing is ungainly, unattractive and less efficient, and to simply shorten stride would slow the dog down and generally inhibit a free flowing trotting action.

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.

The coat should be made up of dense hard hair, lying close to the skin. The hair on the head should be shorter, smoother and softer than that of the body. Very smooth hair should not be valued too highly. The best coat is short and smooth and glossy but the single hairs of it are hard in texture.

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.

The markings are rich in colour and should not be too large. Markings that are muddy or indistinct are undesirable but equally undesirable are faded and straw coloured markings. The markings are at the muzzle, lips, a spot on the cheeks,
and above the eyes, at the throat, two spots at the forechest, the forelegs, and feet, at the inner side of the hindquarters, the pastern, hocks and rear feet, below the anus and below the pelvic bones.
SIZE:

Ideal height: Dogs 69 cms (27 inches) at the withers; Bitches 65 cms (25.5 inches) at withers. Considerable deviation from this ideal undesirable.

The appearance of height or lack of it, can be influenced greatly by body structure, and due consideration of this fact should be given when assessing a dogs height. A deviation up to approximately 2.5cm (! Inch) taller, or up to 1.25cm (0.5 inch) shorter is acceptable.

FAULTS:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered as 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.

* The ANKC Australian Dobermann Breed Standard itself is presented in green italics. Explanatory notes below each section in normal type comprise the "Extended" standard, compiled by the National Dobermann Council (Australia) as an aid to understanding the Standard.