GROUP III: WORKING DOGS

DOBERMAN PINSCHER RECOGNIZED: 1912

Effective: January 2004

The breed standard outlines the ideal characteris cs, temperament and appearance of a breed, and ensures that a dog can carry out
its original purpose. Breeders and judges should be mindful to priori ze dogs that are healthy and sound in both mind and body.

ORIGIN & PURPOSE

The Doberman Pinscher originated in Germany around 1890 and takes its name from Louis Dobermann. Originally
it was used almost exclusively as a guard dog. In today’s society, the properly bred specimen makes a loving and
obedient family companion.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The appearance is that of a dog of good middle size, with a body that is square: 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. The Doberman should be elegant in appearance, with proud carriage,
reflecting great nobility, and should be compactly built, muscular and powerful for great endurance and speed.

TEMPERAMENT
Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.

SIZE
Height at the withers:
Dogs, 66 to 71 cm (26 to 28 in), ideal 69.75 cm (27.5 in)
Bitches, 61 to 71 cm (24 to 26 in), ideal 64.75 cm (25.5 in)
Dogs, decidedly masculine, without coarseness. Bitches, decidedly feminine, without overrefinement. Deviation
from ideal height to be penalized in proportion to the amount of deviation.

COAT
Smooth-haired, short, hard, thick and close lying. Invisible grey undercoat on neck permissible.

COLOUR
Allowed colours: black, red, blue and fawn. In each colour the more strongly pigmented coat is the more desirable.
Markings: rust red, sharply defined, and appearing above each eye, and on muzzle, throat, forechest, on all legs
and feet and below tail. White on chest not exceeding 1.25 cm2 (0.5 in2) permissible.

HEAD
Long and dry, resembling a blunt wedge, both frontal and profile views. When seen from the front, the head
widens gradually towards the base of the ears in a practically unbroken line. Top of skull flat, turning with slight
stop to bridge of muzzle, with muzzle line extending parallel to the topline of the skull. Length of muzzle equal to
length of skull. Cheeks flat and muscular. Lips lying close to the jaws, and not drooping. Jaws full and powerful,
well filled under the eyes. Nose: Solid black in black dogs, dark brown in reds, dark grey in blues, and dark tan in
fawns. Teeth: Strongly developed. Lower incisors upright and touching inside of upper incisors – a true scissors
bite. Forty-two teeth (22 in lower jaw and 20 in upper jaw) correctly placed. Distemper teeth not to be penalized.

CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB • DOBERMAN PINSCHER

Eyes: Almond-shaped, not round, moderately deep set, not prominent, with vigorous, energetic expression. Iris
of uniform colour, ranging from medium to darkest brown in black dogs, the darker shade being the more
desirable. In reds, blues and fawns, the colour of the iris should blend with that of the markings. Ears: Either
cropped or uncropped. The upper a achment of the ear, when alert, should be on a level with the top of the skull.
If cropped, the ears should be well trimmed and carried erect. If uncropped, they should be small and neat, and
set high on the head.

NECK
Carried proudly, well muscled and dry. Well arched, and with nape of neck widening gradually toward body.
Length of neck proportioned to body and head. Head may be carried slightly lower when moving, for greater reach
of the forequarters.

FOREQUARTERS
Shoulder blade sloping forward and downward at a 45° angle to the ground and meeting the upper arm at an
angle of 90°. Shoulder to be as close to 45° as possible and set well back. Relative length of shoulder and upper
arm should be as one to one, excess length of shoulder blade is more a fault than excess length of upper arm.
Height from elbow to withers approximately equals height from ground to elbow. Legs seen from the front and
side perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern; muscled and sinewy, with round, heavy
bone. In a normal position, and when gaiting, the elbow should lie close to the brisket. Pasterns: Firm, with an
almost perpendicular position to the ground. Feet: Well arched, compact and cat-like, turning neither in nor out.
Slight toeing out much less undesirable than toeing in. Dewclaws may be removed.

BODY
Back: Short, firm, of sufficient width, and muscular at the loin extending in a straight line from withers to the
slightly rounded croup. Withers: Pronounced and forming the highest point of the body. Brisket: Full and broad,
reaching deep to the elbow. Chest: Broad and forechest well defined. Ribs: Well sprung from the spine but
flattened at lower end to provide elbow clearance. Belly: Well tucked up, extending in a curved line from chest.
Loins: Well muscled. Hips: Broad in proportion to body, breadth of hips being approximately equal to breadth of
body at rib spring.

HINDQUARTERS
In balance with forequarters. Upper shanks long, wide, and well muscled on both sides of thigh, with clearly
defined stifles. Hocks: While the dog is at rest, hock to heel should be perpendicular to the ground. Upper shanks,
lower shanks and hocks parallel to each other, and wide enough apart to fit in with a properly built body. The hip
bone should fall away from the spinal column at an angle of about 30°. Upper shank and lower shank are equal in
length. The upper shank should be at right angles to the hip bone. Croup: Well filled out. Feet: Cat-feet, as on front
legs, turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws, if any, may be removed.

TAIL
Tail docked at approximately the second joint, should appear to be the con nua on of the spine, without material
drop or le natural and is ideally carried high in a slight curve.

GAIT
The gait should be free, balanced and effortless with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in
the hindquarters. When trotting there should be a strong rear action drive. Hocks should fully extend. Each rear
leg should move in line with the foreleg on the same side. Rear and front legs should be thrown neither in nor out.
Back should remain strong, firm and level. When moving at a fast trot the properly built dog will single-track.

CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB • DOBERMAN PINSCHER

FAULTS
Any departure from the aforementioned ideals shall be considered faulty to the degree in which it interferes with
the health and well-being of the dog and the breed’s traditional purpose.
 Feminine dogs, masculine bitches
 Light tan or muddied markings, overly large markings
 Head out of balance in proportion to body, Ram’s, dish-faced, cheeky or snipey head
 Any deviation from the correct number or placement of teeth to be penalized in direct proportion to the
amount of deviation.
 Slit eyes, glassy eyes, round eyes
 Weak or knuckled-over pasterns
 Hare-feet, splay feet
 Overly rounded or flat croup
Major Faults
 Coarseness, fine Greyhound build
 Loose shoulder, straight shoulder
 Sway or roach back
 Straight stifles, cow hocks, spread hocks and sickle hocks

DISQUALIFICATIONS
 Shyness, viciousness
 Overshot more than 5 mm (0.1875 in), undershot more than 3.25 mm (0.125 in)
 Four or more missing teeth
 Dogs not of an allowed colour
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; or 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 vicious.

CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB • DOBERMAN PINSCHER

SCALE OF POINTS
General Conformation and Appearance
Proportions .......................................................................................... 8
Bone and substance........................................................................ 8
Temperament and expression and nobility ....................... 8
Condition .............................................................................................. 5............................. 29
Head
Shape ...................................................................................................... 6
Teeth ....................................................................................................... 5
Eyes .......................................................................................................... 3
Ears .......................................................................................................... 1............................. 15
Neck ............................................................................................................. 3................................ 3
Body
Backline, withers, loins, tail placement ................................ 8
Chest, brisket, rib spring, tuck up ............................................ 8
Shape, and proportions ................................................................ 4............................. 20
Forequarters
Shoulders, upper arms, legs, pasterns .................................. 5
Angulation ............................................................................................ 4
Paws ........................................................................................................ 2............................. 11
Hindquarters
Upper thigh, stifle ............................................................................ 5
Hocks, angulation............................................................................. 4
Paws ........................................................................................................ 2............................. 11
Gait ............................................................................................................... 6................................ 6
Coat, Colour and Markings ............................................................. 5................................ 5
TOTAL 100

CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB • DOBERMAN PINSCHER