AKC Official Standards
Doberman Pinscher Breed Standard Working Group
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.
Coat
Smooth-haired, short, hard, thick and close lying. Invisible
gray undercoat on neck permissible.
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, equalling 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.
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
© 2007 American Kennel Club® (AKC Copyright and
Trademark Statement)
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