American Kennel Club Doberman Pinscher Breed Standard

• Originally bred to serve as guard dogs, Dobies have a reputation for ferocity when it comes to protecting their master.Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Easily recognized by its square, compact, and highly muscled body and the short haired, shining coat, the ideal Doberman Pinscher carries himself with an elegant and proud bearing. Recognized coat colors include black, red, blue and fawn colors. Dobies traditionally have cropped ears which have had the outer membrane removed so that the remaining ear can stand upright, giving the dog an alert appearance. Furthermore, Dobies have their tails docked as puppies. In temperament, Doberman Pinschers are alert, energetic, intelligent, lively, courageous and aggressive. Despite their fierce reputation, Dobies are also remarkably obedient and loyal and are a good family dog for owners willing to provide firm and consistent training and plenty of exercise.
  
  

'White' Doberman Pinschers

• 'White' Doberman Pinschers suffer from albinism, a genetic disorder in which the body does not produce enough melanin, the pigment which gives animal tissue its normal coloring. White Dobies have coats that range from pure white to pearl gray, light blue eyes, and pink skin seen primarily in the rims of the eyes, the nose and the pads of the paws. While some breeders specialize in white Dobies, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the practice. Albinism causes the dogs to suffer from photosensitivity, or the extreme sensitivity to direct sunlight, which in turn causes them to squint or shut their eyes and which can cause skin damage. This negatively effects their traditional usefulness as working dogs. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America sponsors Operation: White-Out which seeks to discourage breeders from breeding dogs with the albinism trait and discourages dog buyers from creating a market for them.
  
  

Giant Doberman Pinschers

• As Doberman Pinschers became increasingly popular with middle-class American families seeking both a guard dog and a loyal companion, many buyers began to seek larger, more imposing-looking specimens. Some breeders decided to cross the medium-large size Dobies with larger breeds such as Great Danes and Rottweilers in order to create an oversized or "Giant" Doberman. Nearly all breeders, to uphold the AKC standards for the breed, discourage buyers from seeking out "Giant" Dobies for several reasons. First, AKC standards specify a height range of 26 inches-28 inches for males and 24 inches-26 inches for females. Anything larger than these parameters does not conform to the breed standard and should not be bred or promoted. Second, crossing Dobies with other breeds dilutes purebred Doberman Pinscher pedigrees. Finally, creating larger Dobies subjects the dogs to medical problems more common to larger breeds such as heart conditions and hip dysplasia.
  
  

Miniature Doberman Pinschers

• A Miniature Pinscher posing in front of a standard Doberman Pinscher. Despite their close resemblance, these are two separate breeds.Apple Tree House/Lifesize/Getty Images
  
  The dog commonly mistaken for a miniature Doberman Pinscher is actually an entirely separate breed known in America as the Miniature Pinscher and in Germany, where the breed originated, as Zwergpinschers or "dwarf pinschers." Mini Pinschers, according to the AKC standard for the breed, closely resemble true Doberman Pinschers in color, coat, and bearing. However, they are about half the size of Doberman Pinschers and are a much older breed, having been developed nearly 200 years before the Doberman. While Dobies were bred to act as guard dogs and companions, Mini Pinschers originally served on farms where they proved adept rat catchers. This solitary life keeping barns and farmyard free from vermin resulted in an extremely independent and active streak in the typical Mini Pinscher personality.