Doberman FAQ

A: Sometimes oversized Dobermans are called Warlock, Gladiator, King, Gentle Giants, etc. They are often dogs who are deliberately bred to be oversized, and sold by breeders who are only looking for financial profit not good health or the welfare of the dog. 

Here’s the history on the Gladiator name. Many years ago in the 1950s and 60s, there was a Doberman kennel named “House of the Gladiators”. It had nothing to do with the size of the dog; they chose it because it evoked the breed since the Roman gladiator is historically depicted as a brave, loyal defender of his country.

Because the dogs were successful and well-known, “Gladiator” ended up being associated with big, powerful dogs. This became exaggerated, then the name was (incorrectly) given to all oversized Dobermans. 

However, oversized dogs is not now, and never was, a good thing. Dobermans are medium-sized dogs. The AKC standard is specific about size–bitches should be 24″ to 26″, the ideal being 25.5″.  Males should be 26″ to 28″ with the ideal being 27.5″. There is no disqualification for size in the AKC standard so there have been a variety of sizes in the ring. A healthy Doberman is a well-balanced, medium-sized dog.

A: Louis Dobermann needed an animal that was versatile and he created an intelligent, fearless, smart dog with a great nose. Today’s Doberman is as versatile as the original.

Aside from being wonderful family companions, our dogs have been successful in many things such as:

• agility
• obedience
• rally
• barn hunt
• dock diving
• fly ball
• freestyle dance
• hunting/tracking
• lure coursing
• nosework
• therapy & service work
• conformation (dog shows)

A: No. In a well bred, well raised Doberman, the instinct “should” be there. It’s not a guarantee that all Dobermans will protect by instinct and most need to grow into adulthood confidence before being asked to be protective. The DPCA offers a “Working Aptitude Evaluation” (WAE) which tests the stability and protective instinct of an adult Doberman. The WAC title is given to those that successfully show good character and proper instinct. 

A: White or Albino Dobermans are not rare and they are not a color, it is a genetic fault. ANY white (except for the permissible 1/2 square inch chest patch) is considered a disqualification.

White Dobes can be traced back to one dog, “Padula’s Queen Sheba” and her sire (dad) and mom (dam). This lineage tracing is known as “Z factor,” and the pedigrees of any descendants are marked with a Z in the registered number (WZ…. instead of WS….).

The reduced pigment in skin and eyes causes photosensitivity (squinting or shut eyes in sunlight) and increased risk of solar skin damage including cancer. Albino Dobermans are known to suffer from other deleterious health conditions and temperament problems. Ravensown-KO does not support the breeding of Albino Dobermans for these reasons.

A: This is totally up to you and your situation. There are many of good dogs who have wound up in shelters through no fault of their own and who very much need a loving home.

Consider: A dog is made up of its past – in both experience and genetics – and there is (usually) no way to find this out in shelter dogs, so there is a risk with a larger, strong dog like a Doberman. It could put your children or other pets in danger, it could cost a lot in vet bills, it could mean a lot of heartache if the dog passes away unexpectedly from a genetic disease you couldn’t have known about.

Genetics are not 100% predictable — we know how our dogs are today but we may not know what we do in the future. Health risks are associated with dog ownership, but generally these things are in our favor and less “risky” when the dog is from a good breeder and good breeding.

A: There are several factors you need to consider before making your own opinion. Trust the advice and practice of experienced good breeders, they put so much love and care into their dogs they would not do ear cropping if it was pointless and really hurt the dog. Our dogs ear crops are done by an experienced and ethical veterinarian so that the outcome looks as desired and that it heals well with no extreme discomfort to the puppy.  

Click here to see the best way to care for your puppy’s ears.

A: Probably not. It can sometimes work out if you are able to take them out safely for exercise and activity multiple times throughout the day (potty breaks alone don’t count, they need daily long walks and room to run and play or a daily “job” such as agility). Often apartments or rentals have breed/size restrictions. We do require our puppies go to a home where a securely fenced yard is already in place.

 A: No! There are many of these old rumors still around but it is not true in a well-bred and well-socialized dog.  Aggressiveness or shyness is a disqualification in the Doberman standard. Ravensown KO Dobermans aim for Always Companions First. While we cannot control all factors for a dog’s behavior, we aim toward breeding for stable temperaments in our dogs.

A: Yes, but it depends. How a Doberman reacts with other pets in your household or meeting them out in public often comes down to (mostly) how they are raised. Socialization is important during puppyhood and teenage phase. Take your Doberman puppy to puppy obedience class, on walks, to pet friendly stores/venues where they can meet and appropriately interact with other dogs and people.

If raised with good experiences and quality training, the Doberman should be great with other pets. Give them boundaries too, and consider the tolerance level of the other pet(s) they may be introduced to. A brand new curious puppy may want to play a little too much with the kitty, or an older dog may have less patience – teach them to be sensitive and that they are not allowed to be overwhelming. By the time they are mature they will be reliable and not require constant supervision.

A: No. They do not have an undercoat so they are easy to groom, but they can shed quite heavily which will spread their dander everywhere, giving you more cause to sneeze. 

Hypoallergenic just means that the dog is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. It does not mean that the dog will not cause allergic reactions. So, breeds like Poodles and Bichon Frises are less likely to cause allergic reactions. 

If you have a severe allergy you may not be able to find any dog that you do not have a reaction to. Unfortunately, even hypoallergenic breeds produce the protein that causes the allergic reaction. 

Many “-doodle” or “designer” dogs have been bred and marketed as hypoallergenic for profit. While all dogs deserve a good home, and the majority of non-purebreds are good dogs, too many of the “hypoallergenic” dogs are plagued by mental or physical problems which can be quite expensive and heartbreaking. This is the reason why we talk about the predictability of a purpose-bred dog.