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American & European

Dobermanns

DOBERMAN(N)

LINE/CATEGORY

 

SHOW

CONFORMATION

(Describes both USA & Euro)

PROS

  • Usually health Tested

  • With proper selection and training, can become excellent Service Dog for Allergy Detection, FASD, Autism Support Dog, Psychiatric Service Dog, Seizure Response Dog, Seizure Alert, Diabetic Alert, Mobility Assistance, Hearing Dog, and Guide Dog.

  • Loving and Loyal to its family

  • Good Companion Dog

  • Excellent indoors

  • Easy to train once motivated/ excels in obedience work

  • Usually correct in current conformation standards

  • Excellent watch dog

  • Highly intelligent

CONS

  • Euro Show Lines have more drive than American Show Lines and may be more difficult to manage for individuals only familiar with American Show Lines.

  • Due to American Show Lines lower drive, it may take more effort to motivate American Show Lines.

  • Both American and Euro Show Lines have a lower stress threshold than Sport/ Lite Working and Working Lines.

  • Both American and Euro Show Lines have a lower stress tolerance than Sport/ Lite Working and Working Lines due to weaker nerves.

  • Although Euro Show Lines are more resilient than American Show Lines, neither are as resilient as Sport/ Lite Working or Working Line.

  • Both American and Euro Show Lines lack the necessary characteristics to be a reliable protection dog that will enforce. Dogs selected in Show Line programs were chosen for body form, not protection traits.

  • American Show Lines and Euro Show Lines body structure is very different and are not interchangeable in competition. An Euro Show Dobermann is not likely to rank high in an AKC Show competition. An American Show Line is not likely to rank high in a Euro FCI Show competition.  

SPORT

LITE WORKING

(Euro only)

PROS

  • Usually health Tested

  • Excellent companion for the appropriate home.

  • Enjoy outdoors

  • Excellent Watch Dog

  • Powerful

  • Higher drive than Show Line

  • Easier to motivate than Show Line

  • Excels at activities that induces little stress, e.g. Agility, Tracking, Lure Cursing, Flyball, and similar sports.

  • Excellent Search & Rescue

  • Highly intelligent

  • Not as physically sensitive as Show Lines

  • Likely to confront lite threats in its most comfortable drive of prey.

CONS

  • Currently, there are no American Sport/ Lite Working Lines.  American Doberman(n)s do participate in Sport Line activities, but there is no Line dedicated to the specific field. This makes finding an American Doberman that will excel in this arena with relatively certainty a "hit or miss" situation. One Doberman may excel, while another Doberman may be disinterested.  Because there are no American Sport Lines, knowing where to search for this type of dog may prove difficult.  Thus, one must look to Europe for consistency and predictability for this Line of dog.

  • Less sensitive to correction, may require a more assertive personality

  •  May display some instability if pressed into defense.

  • Requires a relatively active and energetic owner.

  •  Character may be more substantial than what is expected. May be too much dog for certain people

  • May  become restless, destructive, and unruly without consistent lite work

 

  • Takes longer to mature emotionally. 

 WORKING

LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY, PERSONAL PROTECTION

(Euro only)

PROS

  • Usually health tested or bloodline studied

  • Extensive character testing

  • Loving and loyal to its family

  • Excellent companion for the experienced Working Dog owner

  • High stress threshold and high stress tolerance

  • High overall drive

  • Stable in all drives

  • Easy to motivate

  • Excels in stressful work

  • Good Watch Dog

  • Elite Guard/ Protection Dog

  • Strong and stable nerves

  • High in courage and fight

  • Will stably engage under heavy stress

  • Highly intelligent.

  • Head remains clear under stress. 

  • Indifferent to indoors or outdoors

  •  Extremely confident

CONS

  • Only appropriate for experienced Working Dog homes.

  • MUST have a sufficient job.

  • Is a liability without socialization and professional training.

  • Less sensitive to correction.  Requires an assertive personality

  • Too much dog for most homes

  • Requires a platform to release sharpness and aggression.

WARNING: THERE IS ANOTHER LINE THAT IS BEING OFFERED IN AMERICA: TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS 3RD LINE IS, CLICK HERE

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