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VOYAGER DOGZ & STUFF
In Aurora, Colorado USA
Kathryn Kudron & Wilhelm Beckmann
Last updated: January 3, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
About the Doberman Pinscher
HOW BIG ARE THEY? The Doberman standard recommends dogs be 26 to 28 inches, ideal about 27 1/2 inches; and bitches 24 to 26 inches, ideal about 25 1/2 inches.

ARE THEY GOOD WITH CHILDREN? Yes, if they are raised with children. As with all dogs, a young child and a dog must be watched when they are together. Unfortunately, accidents happens and they are not always the fault of the dog!

ARE THEY GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS OR ANIMALS? Young animals brought into a house that already has other animals are most easily adaptable. Bringing in another animal when the Doberman was there first does not always work out. Male Dobermans tend to be dog-aggressive, especially with other male dogs (no matter the breed).

WILL MY DOBERMAN EVENTUALLY TURN ON ME? No, this is a myth. Doberman's brains do not "grow to big for their skulls".

ARE THEY EASY TO TRAIN? Absolutely, they are eager to please. However, they should never be trained with a style that causes you to repeat over and over. They will become bored about the second repetition and then training will no longer be fun for either you or the dog.

WHAT ARE THE GROOMING REQUIREMENTS? Very minimal grooming is needed. Dobermans are short haired dogs so there is no required daily brushing, trimming, stripping etc. A bath, nail trim, and teeth cleaning when necessary are all that are needed although a brush will be appreciated especially when doing what little shedding they do.

WHAT COLORS DOES THE DOBERMAN PINSCHER COME IN? The accepted colors are black, red (also called brown), blue, and fawn (also called Isabella). The so-called "white" Doberman is NOT an accepted color by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. It is a genetic mutation that has been highly inbred. I'm sure there are many good pet Dobermans that are white. However, they should not be bred.

ARE THEY GOOD WATCHDOGS? Yes! Doberman's were bred to be watch dogs, and most Dobermans will have the natural instinct to bark at strangers and protect "their" property.

HOW MUCH ROOM DO THEY NEED? The Doberman is a highly active dog that will need a lot of exercise and training time in order to be a good pet. A Doberman should be raised as part of the family and not tied to a tree out back or left in the yard all day. Dobermans have short coats and do not do well in cold climates for long periods of time.

SHOULD I GET A MALE OR A FEMALE? This is strictly a matter of personal preference. Both are equal in pet qualities. The male, being larger, is more impressive when first viewed. The female, however, must be considered his equal in all other respects. Modern veterinary practice recommends neutering of non-breeding animals of both sexes as a means to a healthier, better pet.

WHAT ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES? The Doberman is prone to DCM (dilated cardomyopathy), vWD (von Willibrand's Disease), cancer, and bloat. Also check with your breeder and be sure that both parents have been OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified free of hip dysplasia and CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) certified for eyes.  Find out as much information as you can about grand-parents, great-grand-parents, too.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN? The average lifespan of a Doberman is about 8 - 10 years. Some will live longer, of course. Unfortunately, some will not live as long. Buying from a well-respected breeder who breeds for longevity, health, and temperament will increase your chances of a long-lived Doberman.

WHAT IS A 'KING' DOBERMAN? WHAT IS A WARLOCK DOBERMAN? A so-called "King" Doberman is a Doberman that has been bred above the average standard of the Doberman (27-1/2" for males, 25-1/2" for females). Breeders who are advertising "King" size dobermans are not breeding true to the standard and clearly are not concerned about the preservation of our breed. Dobermans were bred as working dogs and have much agility, as you raise the size you lose both the agility and function of the dog.
There was a Doberman male in the 1960's named Ch. Borong the Warlock.  He was a very famous Doberman and many breeders bred their females to him. He had many offspring. Some reputable breeders that had this male in the pedigree of their good Dobermans advertised as having "Warlock" bloodlines.  The Backyard Breeders, which are the ones that don't care about anything except making a quick "dollar" off of a litter of popular breed puppies, realized that this was a selling point for the good Dobermans that reputable breeders were producing and started using the phrase "Warlock" Dobermans to be synonymous with good Dobermans.   The "term" became something that backyard breeders used to advertise their puppies. They used "Warlock" to mean better bloodlines, better Dobermans, bigger & better watchdogs---and so the term has been used for the last 20 years to basically mean a huge or giant sized Doberman---a rare and expensive kind of Doberman. There is no such thing as a Warlock Doberman. It is simply a gimmick to sell poor quality Dobermans for a higher price.


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