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AKC Breed Standard
Working Group
General Appearance
The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with
a body that is square. Compactly
built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance
and speed. Elegant in
appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great
nobility and temperament.
Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless,
loyal and obedient.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height at the withers: Dogs 26 to 28
inches, ideal about 27½ inches; Bitches 24 to
26 inches, ideal about 25½ inches. The height,
measured vertically from the ground to the highest
point of the withers, equaling
the length measured horizontally from the
forechest to the rear
projection of the upper thigh.
Length of head, neck and legs in proportion to
length and depth of body.
Head
Long and dry, resembling
a blunt wedge in both frontal and profile views.
When seen from the front, the head widens gradually
toward the base of the ears in a practically
unbroken line. Eyes almond shaped, moderately
deep set, with vigorous, energetic expression. Iris,
of uniform color, ranging from medium to darkest
brown in black dogs; in reds, blues, and fawns the
color of the iris blends with that of the markings,
the darkest shade being preferable in every case.
Ears normally cropped and carried erect. The
upper attachment of the ear, when held erect, is on
a level with the top of the skull.
Top of skull flat, turning with slight stop to
bridge of muzzle, with muzzle line extending
parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat and muscular.
Nose solid black on black
dogs, dark brown on red ones, dark gray on blue
ones, dark tan on fawns.
Lips lying close to jaws. Jaws full and
powerful, well filled
under the eyes.
Teeth
strongly developed and white. Lower incisors upright and touching inside of
upper incisors a true scissors bite. 42 correctly
placed teeth, 22 in the lower, 20 in the upper jaw.
Distemper teeth shall not be penalized.
Disqualifying Faults: Overshot more than 3/16 of
an inch. Undershot more than 1/8
of an inch.
Four or more
missing teeth.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck proudly carried, well muscled and dry.
Well arched, with nape of neck widening gradually
toward body. Length of neck
proportioned to body and head.
Withers pronounced and forming the highest
point of the body. Back short, firm, of
sufficient width, and muscular at the loins,
extending in a straight line from withers to the
slightly rounded croup.
Chest broad with forechest
well defined. Ribs well sprung from the
spine, but flattened in lower end to permit elbow
clearance. Brisket
reaching deep to the elbow. Belly well
tucked up, extending in a curved line from the
brisket. Loins wide and
muscled. Hips
broad and in proportion to body, breadth of hips
being approximately equal to breadth of body at rib
cage and shoulders. Tail docked at
approximately second joint, appears to be a
continuation of the spine, and is carried only
slightly above the horizontal when the dog is alert.
Forequarters
Shoulder Blade - sloping forward and downward
at a 45-degree angle to the ground meets the upper
arm at an angle of 90 degrees. Length of shoulder
blade and upper arm are equal. Height from elbow to
withers approximately equals height from ground to
elbow. Legs seen from
front and side, perfectly straight and parallel to
each other from elbow to pastern; muscled and
sinewy, with heavy bone. In normal pose and
when gaiting, the elbows lie close to the brisket.
Pasterns firm and almost
perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be
removed.
Feet well
arched, compact, and catlike, turning neither in nor
out.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the
hindquarters balances that of the forequarters.
Hip Bone falls away from spinal column at an
angle of about 30 degrees, producing a slightly
rounded, well filled-out croup. Upper Shanks
at right angles to the hip
bones, are long, wide, and well muscled on
both sides of thigh, with clearly defined stifles.
Upper and lower shanks are of equal length. While
the dog is at rest, hock to heel is perpendicular to
the ground. Viewed from the rear, the legs are
straight, parallel to each other, and wide enough
apart to fit in with a properly built body.
Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed.
Cat feet as on front
legs, turning neither in nor out.
Coat
Smooth-haired, short, hard, thick and close lying.
Invisible gray undercoat on neck
permissible.
Color
and Markings
Allowed Colors: Black, red, blue, and fawn
(Isabella). Markings: Rust, sharply defined,
appearing above each eye and on muzzle, throat and
forechest, on all legs
and feet, and below tail. White
patch on chest, not exceeding ½ square inch,
permissible.
Disqualifying Fault: Dogs not of an allowed
color.
Gait
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. Back remains strong
and firm. When moving at a fast trot, a properly
built dog will single-track.
Temperament
Energetic, watchful, determined,
alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.
The
judge shall dismiss from the ring any shy or vicious
Doberman.
Shyness: A dog shall be judged fundamentally shy
if, refusing to stand for
examination, it shrinks away from the judge;
if it fears an approach from the rear; if it
shies at sudden and
unusual noises to a marked degree.
Viciousness: A dog that attacks or attempts to
attack either the judge or its
handler, is definitely vicious. An aggressive
or belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not
be deemed viciousness.
Faults
The foregoing description is that of the ideal
Doberman Pinscher. Any
deviation from the above described dog must be
penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch, undershot
more than 1/8 of an inch. Four
or more missing teeth.
Dogs not of an allowed color.
Approved February 6, 1982
Reformatted November 6, 1990
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