|
|||||
Information Connection: Doberman Pinschers
Doberman Pinscher QuickLinks:
|
|
The Doberman Pinscher By Cathy Richey Louis Doberman of Germany developed a new breed of dog in the late1800s. His goal, as a tax-collector and dog-catcher, was a service dog which would be protective, intelligent and agile. By crossing such breeds as the German Pinscher, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, English Greyhound, and Manchester Terrier, he developed a dog with a distinctive coat color that was hardy, being intelligent, strong, courageous, quick, with guard instincts and hunting ability. From Germany, the breed spread to other countries, including the United States, by the 1930s. He has been used as a working dog by the military and the police, as well as guard work, search-and-rescue, and guides for the blind. The Doberman has been used in Therapy work also, and excels in obedience training. Saluting the Dobermans of War In World War II, the 3rd War Dog Platoon consisted entirely of Dobermans. In the battle of Guam, a Doberman named Kurt saved the lives of 250 Marines when he warned them of Japanese troops ahead. "Always Faithful," a life-size Doberman in bronze, is located in Guam at the war dog cemetery at the U.S. naval base in Orote Point as a permanent monument. Carved into the stone are names of 25 other Dobermans who gave their lives there. Michael Lemish, author of War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism, says Dobermans worked as scouts, trackers, messengers, and detectors of mines and booby traps. With their sense of smell, they can detect enemy soldiers at over 1,000 yards, hear the whine of a gentle breeze blowing over the tripwire of a booby trap, and smell the breath of underwater saboteurs breathing through a reed. In Vietnam, they were invaluable for locating snipers and checking tunnels and huts. The Doberman is a highly trainable, intelligent dog. He is energetic, alert, loyal, and fearless. The Doberman has an air of aristocracy, nobility, and elegance. While being very affectionate, he needs to be well socialized with firm, though not harsh, control. He requires daily exercise. The Doberman tends to chill easily and should be kept indoors on cool nights. Actually, the dog is an excellent housedog, and should never live on a chain outdoors. It likes to be physically close to the family. This is a very people-oriented breed. If you are looking for an outdoor pet, do not consider a Doberman. A Doberman wants to be a member of your family. He will not be satisfied with an occasional pat and kind word. Harsh owners need to look for another breed because Dobermans are very
sensitive and will not deal well with rough treatment. Abusive treatment
will quickly result in a Doberman with a broken spirit. Quite often, such an
abused dog becomes overly aggressive. No dog deserves to be abused. Dogs
aren't born bad, they're made that way. The Doberman'ss ears are set level with the top of his skull and naturally hang down along the neckline, but in the United States, are more often cropped to stand in an upright position. His body is compact and muscular, but not heavily boned. His length should equal his height. His neck is well-arched and well muscled. His topline slopes slightly from withers to croup. His legs are straight and powerful. His feet are compact and cat-like with well-arched toes. He moves with a free, balanced, vigorous stride and should tend toward single tracking. The tail is usually docked. The coat is short, smooth, and hard. It lies close to the body. Coat color may be black, red, fawn, or more rarely blue, all with tan or rust markings on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, and below the tail. The Doberman stands between 26 and 30 inches and weighs between 65 and 85 pounds. The Doberman's gait is free, balanced, and vigorous, with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. When trotting, there is strong rear-action drive. Each rear leg moves in line with the foreleg on the same side. Rear and front legs are thrown neither in nor out. The back remains strong and firm. When moving at a fast trot, a properly built dog will single-track. Many factors contribute to the lifespan of Dobermans. The average is eight to ten years. How the dog is cared for and the genetic makeup of the dog, whether it develops any health problems along the way, and so on. Just like in humans. What a Doberman is all about
A Doberman is a sensitive dog, keenly alert to your feelings and wishes. If someone you don't like happens to visit you, watch the dog. He'll be watching your visitor. Each Doberman is different, yet each exhibits "Doberman characteristics of mind and disposition." Called "the dog with the human mind," the Doberman has ways of communicating though he can't talk. Often, a Doberman will hold quite a lengthy conversation with you about something which is important to him at the moment. Watch his facial expressions and body language, but also be alert to what he does and where he looks. Probably the most distinguishing thing about a Doberman is the speed of reaction. Where another dog is doing one thing, a Doberman will do ten. They learn through watching. They learn through trial and error, and often seem to reason things out. Though deeply loyal, they can be clowns who have minds of their own. Talking about Doberman ownership is a little like trying to explain a family relationship, for a Doberman demands and takes a full place in your life. A Doberman either trains you, or is trained by you. For most of us, it is a little of both. You can't put a Doberman away, forget about him and take him out when you want to show him off. A Doberman isn't built that way; he wants to be with you, to help you, torment you, love you, and guard you. And he will work out ways to get what he wants. A Doberman is an affectionate animal, but his affection is noble. You can't bribe a Doberman with a pat on the head. He doesn't enjoy "just being petted" the way other breeds do. He wants to be close to you, to have your hand on his head, to rest his head on your knee, or to sit on your shoe with his back to you. He won't leave you for a stranger who offers to scratch his ear. Scratching an ear may be nice, but it isn't as nice as resting his rump on your shoe. Seldom do you find a "licking" Doberman. A single kiss--a touch of the tongue, a touch of his nose to your ear--that is his way of special greeting. To lick (unless you have a wound that needs healing) would be too undignified for most Dobermans. Yet, with his dark eyes, short tail, and graceful body, he can tell you how special you are to him than all the licking and rubbing or petting in the world. All of these wonderful traits blend and combine in the Doberman to produce a devoted, loving, and protective dog that is unique and truly admired in the dog world. After he has been with you for a few years, you will find that often you don't need to speak a wish. He will know and respond. You become part of him, and he becomes part of you. The only tragic part of owning a Doberman is that a part of you is buried with him when he dies. |
| About the author: Cathy and her Doberman Trooper conduct research into all kinds of topics and produce articles like the one you see here. To contact Cathy, write to thecathyfactor@yahoo.com. Get the facts from Cathy, and let the Cathy Factor give you an edge. |
Check out these Doberman Pinscher Posters:
Doberman Pinscher QuickLinks:
|
|
Dog Resources |
||||
Dog Items Quick Links
|
||||
| Dog Books | ||||
|
For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend by Patricia Phd Mcconnell (Paperback - Aug 28, 2007) Animal behaviorist, dog trainer, syndicated radio talk show host and prolific author on all things canine, McConnell (The Other End of the Leash) presents a compelling combination of stories, science and practical advice to show how understanding emotions in both people and dogs can improve owners' relationships with their pets. This is more than a simple dog-training book: much of what McConnell discusses concerns how dog owners can learn "the language" of dog by recognizing important signals and reading them correctly. She provides numerous helpful examples of how owners can observe dog behavior, especially differences in posture and facial expressions, in order to help dogs be better behaved and help dog owners to be better handlers; her discussion of the meaning of a dog's "tongue flicks" is alone worth the price of the book. Her overall goal is to help owners provide their pets with "a sense of calm, peaceful benevolence," and she skewers current dog-training fads that emphasize "dominance" over a dog. "Don't fool yourself: if you yell at your dog for something he did twenty seconds ago, you're not training him; you're merely expressing your own anger."
Dog by Matthew Van Fleet and Brian Stanton (Hardcover - Feb 6, 2007) In Matthew Van Fleet's captivating new multiconcept book, twenty breeds of capering canines demonstrate action words, opposites, synonyms, and more. Cleverly designed pull tabs and flaps plus ten pettable textures provide interactive treats that will have toddlers arfing along.
The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior by Tamar Geller and Andrea Cagan (Hardcover - April 24, 2007 In The Loved Dog, Tamar gives you all the instruction, insights, and tips you need to teach your dog good manners, as well as to troubleshoot specific problems and unwanted behaviors. She helps you and your dog learn a common language, resulting in a loving, respectful relationship that will bring you years of joy and companionship.
Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Debra M. Eldredge, Lisa D. Carlson, Delbert G. Carlson, and James M. Giffin (Hardcover - Aug 27, 2007) The guide dog lovers have relied on for more than twenty-seven years, this handbook has been extensively revised to include the latest information on everything from canine healthcare to nutrition to holistic treatments. Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Fourth Edition, is the definitive guide for every dog owner. It puts vital information at your fingertips, with:
A chapter on emergencies that explains what to do immediately for shock, broken bones, burns, dehydration, heat stroke, poisoning, insect stings and bites, wounds, and more
With this guide, you'll know when to rush your pet to the vet and when you can begin treatment at home. You'll communicate more effectively with your vet. You'll have the latest information on every aspect of your dog's medical care when you need it. This is the hands-on reference you'll trust again and again.
A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life by Jon Katz (Paperback - Jun 26, 2007) Barking, lunging and nipping at visitors, terrorizing school buses and crashing through a window screen to pursue a cat in a neighbor's house, the hero of this absorbing, if melodramatic, memoir hardly seems a good dog. But Orson's fangs are firmly set in the heart of dog journalist Katz (The Dogs of Bedlam Farm), who tries everything to soothe his frenzy—acupuncture, chiropractic, "Shen calming herbs from China," sessions with a "shamanic soul retriever"—then moves to a farm where the border collie's native sheep-herding instincts might flourish. Ultimately, the therapeutic benefit accrues to the author, who finds in Orson a "soul mate" who saved him from mid-life crisis in the New Jersey suburbs and brought him to an ecstatic communion with nature. Katz's flagrant anthropomorphizing and his intense emotional involvement ("I was nearly crying with frustration, torn by my growing love for this dog") and heart-to-hearts with Orson ("[w]e can't go on this way," he sobs after a school-bus incident) will resonate with dog lovers, while perhaps puzzling others. When he Katz gets some psychological distance, though, his subtle, evocative descriptions of the beasts around him—including Rose, another border collie whose brilliant herding steals the show—vividly capture the fascinating, enigmatic lives of animals Just Gus: A Rescued Dog and the Woman He Loved by Laurie Williams and Roslyn Banish (Hardcover - Feb 9, 2006)
Gus
was a
lucky
dog.
Injured
and
abandoned,
he
could
have
become
another
of the
7
million
animals
euthanized
every
year.
Then
Stephanie
Williams
entered
the
picture.
A
successful
journalist,
she
had
been
diagnosed
with
late-stage
breast
cancer
at the
age of
30. On
medical
leave
and
living
alone,
she
wanted
a warm
four-legged
companion.
When
she
saw
Gus's
soulful
eyes
and
goofy
grin,
it was
love
at
first
sight:
she
would
rescue
him,
and he
would
return
the
favor.
Food
Pets
Die
For:
Shocking
Facts
About
Pet
Food
by Ann
N.
Martin
(Paperback
- Sep
28,
2007)
The
commercial
pet
food
industry
has
a
secret
to
hide
—
and
Ann
Martin
wants
to
make
sure
you
know
it.
Her
research
reveals
some
startling
facts:
that
the
pet
food
industry
conducts
animal
testing
in
order
to
improve
their
product,
and
includes
euthanized
cats
and
dogs
in
the
mix
to
heighten
protein
content.
In
this
revised
and
updated
edition,
Martin
continues
to
explore
the
shocking
processes
by
which
commercial
pet
foods
are
produced.
She
offers
alternative
recipes
for
feeding
pets,
nutritional
advice,
and
an
exploration
of
"Pet
Peeves,"
in
which
she
explores
several
scams
aimed
at
pet
owners.
This
groundbreaking
book
gives
us a
glimpse
into
exactly
what
we
are
doing
when
we
buy
pet
food.
|
||||
| Dog DVDs | ||||
|
Nature: Dogs That Changed the World ~ Various (DVD - 2007) Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham narrates this NATURE miniseries about the remarkable and enduring relationship between dogs and humans, and why dogs have earned a unique and fundamental place in the human heart. More than 750 million of us share our lives with dogs. We love and cherish them. But this most adored of animal companions was once the wild and savage wolf. How did this astonishing transformation take place? In spectacular location footage, NATURE shows how indispensable certain breeds have been to their people, from the Arctic's native Inuit and their sled dogs to desert dwelling Jordanians and the speedy saluki.
My Dog Skip (Keepcase) ~ Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, and Kevin Bacon (DVD - 2006) Not only will the dog in "My Dog Skip"-an adorable Jack Russell Terrier-make you ooh and aah, but the story will melt your heart. It's sweet and well-told, good entertainment for a Saturday night with the family. The time: the 1940's, during World War II. Nine-year-old Willie Morris, played by Malcolm In the Middle's Frankie Muniz, is not exactly the tough neighborhood kid. When his only friend, his next-door neighbor and town high school jock named Dink, goes off to war, Willie's left alone-until his parents get him a dog. He and his dog Skip forge a strong and lasting bond, the kind the words "a boy and his dog" have always meant in the deepest sense. Based on a true story, the tale follows Willie Morris' own childhood memories, poignantly illustrating the struggles of growing up. If you don't own a dog, you'll wish you had one, especially if you have an only child. If you do own a dog, you'll snuggle up with him after the movie is over. Muniz does a great job of making us laugh and get teary-eyed. Diane Lane is perfect as his mom, and Kevin Bacon is excellent as Willie's stern but loving father. Luke Wilson charms everyone as Willie's changed-by-war neighbor, Dink. Funny and heartwarming, you can enjoy this one with the whole family-again and again. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor.
Our Good Dog, 7 Weeks to an Exceptional Pet (DVD - 2006) Is your pet everything you want him to be? Does he walk nicely on a loose lead? Does he sit and down on verbal command and on hand signals? Does he "leave it" and "drop it'? Does he stay? Does he come when called? Is he polite when meeting new people? Does he pay attention to you? If the answer is NO, then this is the training program for you! This program has been developed for the pet owner who wants a well-mannered, confident, fun and enjoyable pet! This is a 7 week program designed for the pet owner using behavior modification and positive reinforcement. It is actual filming of a class with RESCUE dogs and their owners. You will be able to follow along, step by step, through this program that will teach you to train your pet to be an EXCEPTIONAL companion! If your pet is between 10 weeks old and 12 years old, this PROGRAM WORKS! We have also included interviews with my Veterinarian on finding a Vet, Vaccinations, Heartworm Disease and, Microchips. There is also information on traveling safely in car with your dog, and preparing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test and Therapy Dog certification. 90 minutes (c) Our Good Dog, Inc. Dealing Dogs (DVD - 2006)An undercover investigation of Martin Creek Kennel by the animal rights group Last Chance for Animals. A young man named "Pete", who is an animal rights activist, gets hired by the Martin Creek Kennel. The owner is C.C. Baird and he is the one they want to bring down.
|
||||
| Dog Movies | ||||
|
Where the Red Fern Grows by James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging, and Lonny Chapman (DVD - Oct 14, 1997) Wilson Rawls's novel about an Oklahoma boy's devotion to two hunting dogs during the Great Depression was the basis for this appealing 1974 film made by a former Disney director, Norman Tokar. Stewart Peterson is very effective as a 12-year-old, hurtling down the path toward manhood with hounds at his side. Eight Below (Widescreen Edition) by Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, and Jason Biggs (DVD - Jun 20, 2006) Walt Disney Pictures presents EIGHT BELOW, the thrilling tale of incredible friendship between eight amazing sled dogs and their guide Jerry (Paul Walker). Stranded in Antarctica during the most unforgiving winter on the planet, Jerry's beloved sled dogs must learn to survive together until Jerry — who will stop at nothing -- rescues them. Driven by unwavering bonds of friendship, enormous belief in one another, and tremendous courage, Jerry and the dogs make an incredible journey to reunite in this triumphant and inspiring action-adventure the whole family will treasure Cave of the Yellow Dog ~ Nansalmaa Batchuluun, Babbayar Batchuluun, and Buyandulam Daramdadi (DVD - 2007)(Foreign/Drama) Oscar-nominated director Byambasuren Davaa’s follow-up to the hugely successful The Story of the Weeping Camel is a thought-provoking mix of documentary and drama that tells the story of the age-old bond between man and dog. The eldest daughter of a nomadic Mongolian family finds a small dog and brings it home. Believing that it is responsible for attacking his sheep, her father refuses to allow her to keep it. When the family moves on, Nansal must decide whether or not to defy her father and take her new friend with them Breed All About It, Toy Dogs: Puppies Forever by Animal Planet (DVD) Animal planet presents: Breed all about it. Toy dogs: puppies forever. DVD 2000.
|
||||
| Dog Video Games | ||||
Pocket Dogs by O3 Entertainment (Game Boy Advance) You'll be able to converse with your dog, with the dialogue changing depending on the species. You'll also be able to make the dog play games by sharing toys with it. As the player, you'll be able to play games for yourself via three mini games included in the title. The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack by Electronic Arts (Windows 2000 / 98 / Me / XP)
Dogz by Ubisoft (Game Boy Advance)
Fetch! by ValuSoft (Windows XP)
|
||||
| More Dog Books | ||||
|
||||
| Dog Posters | ||||
|
|
||||
| Dog Quotes | ||||
|
||||
| Other Dog Websites | ||||
|
Dog toys Check out this pet resort site: http://www.meadowlakepetresort.com.
|
||||
|
|
||||