Are Doberman Aggressive?

Dobermans are loyal, robust, smart, and intelligent dogs. This breed was developed as an ideal guard dog and companion. Owning a Doberman is a unique experience; they have different physical features and temperament traits compared to other canines. If you are looking for a dog who can guard your house and protect you from potential threats, Doberman is a perfect choice. 

While getting a Doberman, one question must have popped up in your mind: whether Dobermans are aggressive or not? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. Read on to know more about this-

General Temperament of Doberman

Doberman is a manufactured breed and is specially created to perform the task of protection roles. Because of this reason, it is very convenient for people to consider them overly aggressive & dangerous. Simply just a glance at these dogs can impose fear on many people. Hence many people think that Dobermans are aggressive but that’s not true.

Before discussing whether Dobermans are aggressive or not? Let’s discuss some temperament tails of Dobermans. Dobermans have different temperament traits that help to make the Dobie an excellent guard dog. A few of them are given below:

• Dobermans are very reserved with strangers and take time to get along with others. Once they are sure that you are not a threat to them or their owners, they will start behaving nicely with you, and you will witness a warm side in them.
• Dobermans are very protective towards their owner, and they will act immediately if they sense something wrong.
• Dobermans are often called Velcro dogs and are known to be incredibly loyal. They love to be around their owner and defend themselves to death. They want to be part of the pack and do not like being away from it. Most of the Dobermans bond strongly with one specific member of the family.
• Dobermans are among the most intelligent dog breed in the world. As they are among the most intelligent dogs in the world, it is very easy to train them. They are great at the following command, problem-solving, and understanding what is expected from them.

Physical features of a Doberman

Dobermans are a large dog breed with lots of energy and strength. Dobies have a muscular body and sleek coat. These physical features of Dobermans are originally bred into these dogs to help them to perform their desired roles. Some of the physical characteristics of a Doberman are given below.

• Large size- Dobermans are very large, but not as big that this will interfere with their agility. Male Dobies are bigger in size than female Dobermans. Male Dobies weighs around 75 to 100 pounds, whereas female Dobermans weigh an average of 60 to 90 pounds. Similarly, males are 26 to 28 inches tall while females are 24 to 26 inches tall.
• Muscular Build- Dobermans have a muscular body and are a very energetic dog breed. They are built for stamina, strength, and speed.
• Broad Powerful Chest- Dobermans have a wide, powerful chest that is perfect for hitting large prey hard and taking them to the ground.
• Unique Posture– Dobermans have a unique posture; they sit tall, alert, and calm. Similarly, Dobies are famous for looking directly into other people’s eyes and not breaking eye contact.
• Cropped Ears- They have cropped ears that stand straight up. Originally, Dobies had floppy ears, but many owners cropped their ears. Some of the primary purposes of doing this are – it helps to locate the source of the sound, which will be much helpful during their guard work. It also helps eliminate the dog’s potential handhold and prevents injuries during a fight.
• Docked Tail- Dobermans have a long and thin tail that is prone to breaking. Just like floppy ears, long tails also provide another way for a potential attacker to get a hold of the dogs. Hence to prevent injuries, maintain the safety of the Dobie, and for better practical functioning, many people tail docked their Doberman.
• Short and Sleek Coat- Dobermans have a very short and sleek coat, making the dog more difficult to hold or control in a fight.

Why are Dobermans very aggressive in nature?

Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman breeds Dobermans with the purpose of working as guards or police dogs. He produced a dog that was strong, intelligent, fearless, smart, loyal, and easy to train. Additionally, these dogs are intimidating and very large. As this dog breed is created to protect its owner, they are very aggressive. However, modern breeding practices have produced less aggressive dogs than the traditional and classic Doberman breed. But some studies show that the Doberman breed is more likely to show aggression toward strangers and other canines. A poorly trained, previously abused, anxious Doberman may behave more aggressively than others.

Many times, because Dobermans are very energetic and strong, people also misinterpret them as aggressive. Their protective nature for safeguarding their masters and themselves represents them as aggressive.

Scissor Bite

One of the main reasons Doberman are known as an aggressive breed is their bite. Dobermans are strong and can apply 305 per square inches of pressure through their jaw. With this much pressure, a Doberman can easily break your bone. Along with their strength, they have a strong jaw and a scissor bite. Their teeth come together interlaced as they bite down their target, which helps them get a hold.

Additionally, Dobermans have their unique way of biting. Whereas the American Pitbull Terrier is famous for biting its target and refusing to let it go, Doberman does the opposite to it. They bite and immediately release their target and re-bite in very rapid succession. This process resulted in significant damage to the target in a short period. 

Though this breed can impose significant damage, it does not like to use them unless they are threatened or sense any danger around themselves.

Are Dobermans Mean?

They are very reserved and don’t get along with strangers so quickly, because of which many people think that Dobermans are mean, but Dobermans are not mean by nature. They are only focused on protecting their owners from any perceived danger.

Are Dobermans Dangerous?

Dobermans certainly have the ability to be dangerous, but they are not. Dobermans are a very loving and protective dog breed. Their appearance and looks force the people to believe that Dobermans are very dangerous and intimidating.

Are Dobermans Aggressive?

Doberman dogs are commonly used as guard dogs, and they are very intimidating and aggressive in nature, especially towards strangers and other canines. Dobies behave aggressively while attempting to protect themselves or their owners from any possible threat. Dobermans are among the top-ranked aggressive dogs worldwide, but they will not always behave aggressively.

How To Train a Doberman not to be Aggressive?

As mentioned above, Dobermans are highly intelligent and smart dogs; hence it is very easy to train them. Due to their protective nature, they behave in such a manner that is known as dangerous and aggressive. There are certain ways to correct this behavior, and a few of them are given below:

• Firstly, keep an eye on your Doberman’s behavior to identify the source of aggression. Dobermans are very protective and bred to provide personal security; hence, they behave aggressively to fight the perceived threat. It might be possible that they are acting aggressively because they are fearful. If your Doberman is only behaving aggressively towards strangers, he is being territorial, but if he is aggressive when startled, it is fear-based aggression. Similarly, he is protecting his resources if he is aggressive around food.
• After monitoring, note down all the gestures or signs that signify aggression. It may include barking, growling, starting, and flashing the teeth.
• Next, use a leash. Keep your Dobie away from distraction and those circumstances that provoke aggression.
• Further, praise and treat your Dobie for all his good works and achievements. This is an excellent way to encourage them to behave nicely, and you can also make his environment worse by stopping the praise and treats.
• As soon as he behaves aggressively, stop praising him. This teaches him that aggression only produces bad results and calmness results in positive ones. Repeat this process regularly.
• Don’t forget to reward your dog for calmness.          

Bottom Line

Though Dobermans are aggressive, they will not behave aggressively until they sense any threat or danger. Dobermans are excellent family dogs, and with some proper training and socialization, you can teach your Dobie to behave nicely with others. We hope that you find all the information mentioned above helpful.

FAQs

Which Doberman is most aggressive?

Dobermans are originally bred to function as guards and police dogs. Hence the original Dobermans are considered more aggressive than the Dobermans of today.

Do Dobermans bite their owner?

Doberman is among the most common instigators of dog bite attacks. They have a bite force of 305 pounds per square inch. Their small and sharp jaws allow them to bite someone in rapid succession. But at the same time, Dobermans are very protective towards their owner, and if you have given them proper training, they will not behave aggressively with you.

Why do Dobermans bite so much? Dobermans are powerful and energetic dogs; they need a lot of exercises and physical activity to use this energy. If you leave your Dobie locked inside a house, they may not get worked up, which could lead to biting. The only solution to this problem is to give them long morning or evening walks or any other kind of physical activity.