In many films, the Doberman Pinscher is depicted as a very fierce guard dog who is curling their lips up and ready to attack. It's true that the Doberman was created to be an formidable dog by a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann. Louis collected taxes door to door, and many were unwilling to pay their taxes, therefore he created a breed that would show force, and ease his duties.
Over the years, the breed has been tamed down. Granted there are still many Dobermans who are trained in protection work as well as used in police work, the majority of the breed are pets. The Doberman makes an exceptional pet, and can fit into nearly any lifestyle. They're very short coated, which makes grooming them a simple chore. There is some shedding involved with the breed, but brushing them weekly will lessen this problem.
Dobermans are usually remembered as black and rust colored dogs, however there are other markings that are present in the breed. They can also be red and rust, blue and rust, and fawn and rust. There isn't a miniature version of the breed, Miniature Pinschers are a separate breed entirely. Their coats are very short and sleek, and do require brushing at least once a week in order to cut down on shedding.
They tend to get excited easily, and will bark and race around when they get excited. They adore their family and will always want to be with them. A Doberman will not thrive if kept as an outside dog, and is not at all built for dealing with the weather. When unhappy or bored, they become very destructive. They will chew furniture, dig at carpeting, even claw at walls. Be certain that your Doberman has plenty of durable toys, mental stimulation and physical exercise and he will be a very happy dog.
The tails of Dobermans are usually docked when they're just a few days old. This surgery is safe, and doesn't even require that the puppy be put under anesthetic. Ears can be natural or cropped; cropping done around 7-9 weeks old, and the puppy is required to be under anesthetic, so there is more risk involved to do this procedure. There is no actual purpose for cropping the ears, it's simply a matter of owner preference. These days, many vets will not even do the procedure since it's simply for cosmetic reasons and they don't want to put the puppy through it.
Like all breeds, the Doberman has a great deal of health problems that are associated with them. Bleeding disorders, thyroid problems, hip/elbow dysplasia, cancer, and heart problems are concerns. Reputable breeders will test their dogs for all known issues prior to breeding, and will not breed dogs who carry defects. This helps to assure that you will be getting a puppy who is much less likely of having these problems.