How To Care for Your Doberman Pinscher. Critical Information

Doberman Pinschers are extremely intelligent dogs and are alert all the time. Unlike popular belief Doberman Pinschers are extremely loyal and can make good guard dogs, watch dogs and police dogs too. The most prominent thing about Doberman Pinschers is the fact that the image of this breed has been marred by ferocious portrayal of the breed in movies and otherwise. While the Doberman is a dominant and aggressive breed, but they are very friendly animals, espeically doberman pinscher puppies. They also make a great protection dog.

Feeding and Grooming

Muscular as they are, Doberman Pinschers do not eat too much. However, as with all pure bred dogs, you should discuss the specific requirements of your dog with the veterinarian so as to be sure that you are giving your dog breed a customized balance diet. A diet rich in protein is recommended. Home food consisting of lean meat and vegetables is preferred for Doberman Pinschers since many Doberman Pinschers are allergic to the high amounts of cereal that are added in commercial foods.

The maintenance required for the coat of a Doberman is extremely low. Brushing twice a week is sufficient and wiping with a damp cloth and a soft brush are adequate grooming techniques. Clipping toenails and cleaning ears should be done regularly to keep your dog healthy and fit.

Exercise

A Doberman Pinscher is extremely energetic and needs a lot of exercises. Lack of exercise can make a Doberman temperamental and frustrated. Walks on a long leash or free runs in a safe area are great for this breed. Training should start early in life and interactions with other animals and humans at an early age shall ensure that the Doberman grows to be more sociable.

Special care and health concerns

On an average, a Doberman Pinscher lives anywhere between 10 to 14 years. As compared to other breeds, Dobermans are prone to a larger number of diseases.

- Dilated cardiomyopathy – This condition is a major cause of death among Doberman Pinschers and out of all the dilated cardiomyopathy cases detected, 40% are Doberman Pinschers. The condition may be the attenuated wavy fiber type or the fatty infiltration degenerative types.

- Wobbler’s syndrome – Dobermans are also prone to congenital heart disorders and cervical spondylitis or Wobblers syndrome. These issues occur due to issues with the vertebrae and the soine.

- Prostatic disease – Bacterial prostatic, prostatic adenocarcinoma and benign hyperplasia are some of the prostatic conditions that Dobermans have been known to show. Spraying and neutering can reduce the risk of such problems.

- Hypothyroidism – This is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce adequate levels of hormones. Since these hormones are responsible for regulating metabolism, the same is affected adversely if this condition arises.

- Hip dysplasia – Being a large dog, the hip ball and socket joint can be dislocated relatively easily. This causes a lot of pain and swelling too.

- Retinal atrophy – Something that can ultimately lead to complete blindness.

- Bloat – Deep-chested dogs like the Doberman Pinschers can also get bloat if they drink water too quickly or gulp down large chunks of food. This condition can actually be life threatening and therefore smaller portion are recommended.

- Allergies – This breed is prone to cereal allergies and wheat, corn and soy products should be avoided. If severe, the allergies can cause various kinds of skin infections.

- Kidney failure – One of the most recent health conditions that have developed in the past 15 to 20 years is kidney failure. It is thought that the failure is caused due to grape toxicity. It has been observed that dogs that ate grapes vomited and showed symptoms of abdominal pain.