|
 You
could say the Doberman is a very social animal and when
he enters your home, YOU are his pack. Make sure YOU'RE
the head of the pack and not your Doberman! Being a
very intelligent dog, he can invent methods to get HIS
way. Gently remind him who is boss or he may rule your
household!
Being
a very intelligent breed, your Doberman needs to keep
busy and enjoys being challenged to learn new things.
Many Dobermans are service dogs and can be taught to
do amazing things. If your dog is bored he may develop
negative habits that are difficult to break later on.
Make sure he has plenty of SAFE toys, SAFE bones and
other chewing items that he can call his own that will
satisfy his need to chew and that exercises and cleans
his teeth. Everyone will be happier.
Doberman
Health
The life span of a Doberman ranges from around 8 to
12 years. Below is a list of health concerns of which
Dobermans MAY be prone. Where noted, many of these conditions
can be prevented. Where noted, some of these conditions
are genetic and therefore researching the health of
the bitch and stud BEFORE purchasing a puppy can help
you to avoid major health problems in the future. A
conscientious breeder will NOT knowingly breed a pair
that will result in an unhealthy offspring, but seeks
to breed so as to weed out unhealthy genetic traits
in order to produce healthy offspring.
This
would be a very good point in which to inform you of
the truth of the "rare" white Doberman that
many on the Internet and in magazines are promoting
as something desirable. A white Doberman is NOT an accepted
color by the AKC -- in fact, it is not a color at all
-- it is the ABSENCE of any color. More importantly,
a white Doberman is basically an albino. This is NOT
a good thing. Albinos are sensitive to sunlight, prone
to skin cancer and skin lesions and are highly inbred
individuals. Please read the article
at the DPCA web site for further information.
Von
Willebrand's Disease (VWD) (GENETIC) - this is a
bleeding disease in which an affected dog can continue
to bleed and can actually bleed to death. For more information,
see the articles at the Doberman
Pinscher Club of America. A dog which is a carrier
of this disease will likely NOT be affected. Dobermans
which test as a carrier of the disease are quite common.
A responsible breeder would not breed an affected dog
with another affected dog, nor would it be wise to breed
an affected dog to a carrier. A genetic test can be
performed to determine whether or not a dog is clear,
a carrier or affected. Again, see the article at the
DPCA for more information.
Cardiomyopathy (suspected of being genetic, but it is
not known yet)
Hip Dysplasia (GENETIC)
Wobbler's Syndrome (suspected of being genetic,
but it is not known yet)
Twisted Gut or Bloat - A Doberman is somewhat susceptible
to this condition where the gut actually gets twisted.
This condition requires immediate diagnosis and treatment
or death will result. While it may never happen to your
dog, certain breeds of deep-chested dogs are more prone
to bloat. It is good to know about the condition and
some symptoms so that early diagnosis and treatment
can be sought. Some symptoms of twisted gut are: excessive
salivation, vomiting, but nothing comes up. Never allow
your Doberman to eat a big meal and then exercise strenuously.
|
