There are many ways to tell if your Doberman is in heat. This is critical information for a breeder to know as this can dictate the timing of the dog’s reproductive cycle and help determine when the mating process should occur. But not surprisingly, even Doberman owners who aren’t breeding their dog will likely want to know exactly when their dog is going into heat because there are certainly some changes (including moodiness, for example) that female Dobermans go through while they’re in heat.

When a female Doberman is in heat, hormonal changes in the body will cause her to exhibit physical and behavioral changes including swelling of the vulva, bloody discharge, mounting behaviors, and increased irritability.

When your dog is in “season” (another word for being in heat), many owners need to accommodate this by putting a female dog diaper on their Doberman, keeping her separate from other dogs in the house, or even pampering their dog to make up for some of the discomfort she’s feeling.

There are a few signs that can display in female Dobermans that will help you determine if she’s in heat. While most will display both behavioral changes and physical changes, some may not display any behavioral changes at all. Below are some of the common signs that can help you determine if your Doberman is in heat. The more of these signs your Doberman is displaying, the more likely she’s in heat.

1. Swollen Vulva Region

Swelling of the Vulva region in a Doberman is the earliest and one of the most consistent signs that a female Doberman is beginning her heat cycle. The vulva is the outer-most portion of the female reproductive organs and is located just underneath the anus. It includes the opening of the vagina. In Dobermans, the vulva will become larger and may also appear red in color. This usually occurs right before your Doberman goes into heat.

2. Vaginal Bleeding and Discharge

Another one of the most common physical signs that a Doberman is going into heat, is a bloody discharge coming from the dog’s Vulva. After your Doberman has entered her heat cycle, this bleeding may decrease.

The discharge may eventually turn from a red color to a straw-colored discharge. This is generally considered normal and is an indicator that your Doberman is ready to breed. You may think this is an obvious sign to look for, but it can be difficult to notice in Dobermans at times as they generally like to stay clean and may be constantly licking this area as a way to cleanse themselves. That brings us to the next sign.

3. Frequent Licking

A Doberman that is frequently licking her underside around her vulva may be nearing her heat cycle. This is due to your dog trying to clean herself from the discharge. This behavior is more common in Dobermans than in many other breeds.

Not all female Dobermans will engage in this behavior, but it could help you determine if she is nearing or if she has entered into her heat cycle if you do see it, especially if it is accompanied by blood.

4. Changes in Urination Behavior

If your female Doberman is in heat, you may notice that she’s frequently lifting her leg or squatting in a different manner than normal when she’s urinating. She may also be urinating in different areas than she does normally. Instinctually, this is a way they “spread their scent” (her pheromones) in an attempt to find a mate.

Any sudden changes to the location and manner in which your Doberman is urinating may be a sign that she is about to be in season. This is often seen as short moments of brief urination on objects in a dog who usually empties the entirety of her bladder in one squat.

5. Increased Anxiety or Agitation

Dobermans who are in the beginning stages of their heat cycle may develop seemingly abnormal behaviors that they don’t normally display. You may notice your dog hiding under the table, cowering, or acting more irritated. Your Doberman may also bark more frequently or even have bouts of aggression.

6. Mounting Behaviors

Your Doberman may display mating behaviors such as mounting objects or other dogs while she’s in her heat cycle. Mounting an object or another dog without any other signs does not necessarily mean that your Doberman is in heat, however. When a Doberman is in heat, mounting is typically accompanied by some of the other signs on this list.

7. Unusual Tail Positioning

The way your Doberman positions her tail can also be an indicator if she’s in heat. Near the beginning of your Doberman’s heat cycle, she may be tucking her tail more often in an attempt to protect her swollen vulva region. This is especially true when other dogs are nearby.

However, later on in her cycle, her tail may become raised or she may hold her tail to the side in the presence of males, as this would be needed for mating.

8. Tucking or Raising Her Rear End

A female Doberman who is early in her heat cycle will often tuck her rear end, or even sit down more frequently when other dogs approach. This is done in an attempt to protect her vulva. However, later in the heat cycle, she may be noticeably more inclined to raise her rear end up, especially when male dogs are in the area.

9. Appetite Changes

Your female Doberman may show appetite changes around the time that her heat cycle begins or a ways into her heat cycle. She may start experiencing an increased or decreased appetite. Although this is normal during a heat cycle, in both cases, you may want to consult with your veterinarian if your Doberman is experiencing changes in appetite just to be safe as this can also be a sign of other health issues.

Just be sure that you’re always feeding her a quality diet of food that has a proven track record with other Doberman owners.

10. More Affectionate

During her heat cycle, you may notice that your female Doberman wants to be closer to you and wants more affection from you. She may seek you out more or follow you around your home. She may even be more vocal than she was before, especially if you aren’t giving her the attention she desires.

11. More Irritable

Although some female Dobermans become more affectionate, there are also some that may become more irritable. Even still, some Dobermans may experience severe mood changes that cause them to switch back and forth. A grumpy Doberman may be agitated more easily and may even show signs of aggression.

It’s important to show a bit extra caution if your Doberman is becoming more irritable around this time, especially if she’s had issues with biting in any manner in the past.

12. Roaming or Running Away From Home

When your female Doberman is going through her heat cycle, her hormones are kicking her natural instincts into overdrive. These instincts will likely be stronger than any previous training she has been put through. Take this into consideration if you’re leaving your dog unsupervised in the backyard or taking her away from home for any reason (such as for a walk).

Female Dobermans in heat may attempt to, or will, run away. This could be to get away from a male dog that has sensed her or to find a mate. It’s important to take extra precautions during this time, even if your dog is usually extremely trustworthy while off-leash or left alone.

Her First Heat Cycle

Once your Doberman has matured, her hormones will begin to change. She will experience an increase in estrogen that will lead her body to release eggs from her ovaries. If mating were to occur, the eggs may become fertilized.

The first heat cycle for a female Doberman can occur anytime after 6-months of age, however, most won’t experience it until 9 to 12-months of age.

When it starts, typically your Doberman will go into heat twice a year, according to the AKC. Prepare for the heat cycle to last around three weeks in duration. During this three-week time span, your Doberman will go through different stages of heat. If you have any questions or concerns about the heat cycle of your Doberman, it is important to get in touch with your veterinarian.

Stages of Heat

There are several stages of heat a female Doberman will go through:

• Proestrus Stage – The first stage of heat is considered the proestrus stage. This stage lasts around one week. The eggs that are in the ovaries are almost ready to be released and estrogen levels within your dog’s body will begin to rise. This is the stage when the vulva may show visible signs of swelling and discharge may be present.

• Estrus Stage – The next stage is called the estrus stage and lasts around nine days. This is the stage where the eggs are released from the ovaries. Hormone levels continue to change and fluctuate. If your Doberman is around a male dog, you may notice her raising her tail up or shifting it to the side. During the estrus stage, it’s possible for your Doberman to become pregnant. The estrus and proestrus stages are what are called “heat”.

• Diestrus Stage – The next stage is referred to as the diestrus stage. This stage allows your Doberman’s body to prepare for her pregnancy if she is pregnant or to help her body return to normal if she isn’t. If your Doberman does not become pregnant, then she will continue to go through cycles of heat until she’s spayed or becomes pregnant. A Doberman that’s pregnant will not go through another heat cycle until she is no longer pregnant.

• Anestrus Stage – The final stage is called the anestrus stage and is the stage after pregnancy. This can also be referred to as the inactive stage. Sexual behaviors are not seen during this stage. Your Doberman will need time to recover after her pregnancy and she will not be ready to breed right away.

These various stages of heat are outlined in great detail by the DPCA here if you want more information.

A Doberman’s Last Heat Cycle

Female dogs, including Dobermans, do not go through a menopause stage of their lives. In other words, they will continue to experience their heat cycles throughout their lifetime.

Although the time span between heat cycles will increase as your Doberman gets older, according to the AKC, your female Doberman will be fertile until the end of her life and will be able to get pregnant unless she is spayed.

Missed heat periods can be an indicator of illness. Dobermans experiencing missed heat cycles should be seen by a veterinarian.

When You Can Breed a Female Doberman

A female Doberman can be successfully impregnated during the estrus stage of her heat cycle, which lasts about 9 days. This stage occurs about a week after her vulva swells and discharge is first seen. During this stage, she may lift her tail or move it to the side while in the presence of male dogs.

Your Doberman will not be able to, and will not want to, breed in all the stages of heat. This is the only stage when any female dog can become pregnant as this is when the egg can be fertilized.

It may be difficult to determine when your Doberman is in this stage of heat. Generally, the female dog will act more interested in male dogs and will present herself to a male dog if she is ready to breed.

If you suspect your Doberman might be pregnant, take a look at these 5 signs your Doberman is pregnant to find out!

False Pregnancy

A false or phantom pregnancy, scientifically known as a pseudo-pregnancy or pseudocyesis, is a common occurrence for female Dobermans. This phenomenon occurs because of increased levels of progesterone (pregnancy) hormones circulating within the Corpus Luteum.

When this happens, you will notice physical signs of pregnancy such as swollen nipples and even milk production, vomiting, and/or fluid retention. Behaviorally, with a false pregnancy, you will typically notice lethargy and mothering behaviors along with possible aggression.

“Symptoms of false pregnancy usually begin four to nine weeks after the previous heat period and mimic the symptoms of true pregnancy. The reason for false pregnancies remains a mystery.”

Ernest Ward, DVM, VCA Hospitals

False pregnancies can vary in appearance, even in the same female Doberman. There is generally nothing to worry about and your Doberman should return to normal quickly. At times though, mammary gland infections and skin inflammation in the areas near the mammary glands can occur. If this happens or if your dog appears physically ill, you should seek the help of a vet.

Comforting Your Doberman While She’s in Heat

Your girl may seem uncomfortable often during this time, and it can go a long way to provide her with some additional comfort.

• Keep up on her hygiene. Routinely check to make sure that her hygiene is kept up on, especially near the vulva region.
• Provide her with a safe space. A place away from all humans and other pets, where she can go to relax and get away from a situation she may be uncomfortable with. Some female Dobermans will want to hide when they are in their heat cycle.
• Reduce outside stressors as much as possible. This includes reducing or eliminating unusual or starteling noises, loud children, or anything else that she tends to react to.
• Speak softly. Even small things to reduce stress, such as speaking softly to your Doberman and offering reassurance can do a lot to calm her.
• Give extra attention when desired. She may not be in the mood for extra love and attention at all points in her heat cycle, but at times she could become clingy and need it in higher amounts than normal. Try to provide this for her.

The personality and mood changes of your Doberman may be hard to decipher and deal with. Just know that this is a unique time in her life and she may not be acting like her typical self. If she ever acts out aggressively or her behavior is worrisome, get into contact with your vet who can offer you advice or schedule your Doberman an appointment.

Hygiene While in Heat

While your Doberman is in heat, you may want to pay a little closer attention to her hygiene. It’s important that your Doberman remains clean during this time. The skin of the vulva is very sensitive and also very susceptible to infection.

Once the vulva is swollen, this becomes even more true. Dobermans instinctually like to stay clean and many will clean up after themselves, however, it’s still a good idea to check the area to make sure there is no dried blood or other colored discharge. To help keep your Doberman clean, you may want to consider trimming the hair around the vulva and the anus.

Some Dobermans will be quite clean and tidy with themselves, while others may be neglectful. There are dog heat diapers that could help to catch the discharge from your Doberman, although they can take some getting used to by your girl. A brand called PetParents makes a popular diaper (see them here on Amazon, or here on Chewy).

These pants do act as somewhat of a mating deterrent for male dogs, but they shouldn’t be relied upon as the only prevention method as they can easily be circumvented by intelligent dogs like the Doberman (especially when they’re determined due to strong mating instincts).

Multiple Dog Considerations

If you have multiple dogs in your household, you will want to take extra steps when your female Doberman goes into heat. While other female dogs could potentially be an issue, most of the issues lie with male dogs in the household.

When a female enters her heat cycle, a male dog may become territorial and aggressive. This could be towards both the female Doberman, other male dogs, and at times even humans in the house.

If you don’t want your female Doberman to become pregnant and there is a male dog in the house, you will have to make sure that they remain separated during her heat cycle. A male dog who wishes to mate will do everything he can in his power to get to the female who is in heat.

This can cause the male to act aggressively and go to great lengths to escape confinement. Don’t underestimate a male Doberman who senses a female nearby who’s in heat. They’ve been known to chew through doors to get to the female on the other side. So make sure any barriers are strong (they’ve even been known to successfully mate through certain fences, like chain link fence), and the more physical distance you can put between your male and female, the better.

When You Should See a Veterinarian

In general, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your veterinarian if you see anything of concern in your Doberman, but below are some specific times when you may want to reach out to your vet.

• To get a professional estimate on when your Doberman will go into heat.
• If your Doberman is displaying severe bouts of aggression and/or behavioral changes
• If you’re noticing some behavioral signs of heat, but she’s not displaying any physical signs.
• If you have any questions or concerns about her heat cycle or pregnancy.
• If you see anything unusual or unexpexted in her heat cycles.

Your vet will likely perform a physical exam and ask you questions about her progression through her heat cycle. It’s always a good idea to keep a log of what you observe (and when) for this reason. Your vet can inform you of any conditions that may be present and rule out some of the more serious ones. They should also be able to definitively determine whether or not your female Doberman is in heat.

Related Questions

Can I separate two Dobermans while they’re mating? You should never separate two Dobermans who are mating as this can cause damage to the genitalia of both dogs. During mating, the male dog’s limb will be swelling while the muscles of your female dog will be contracting. This means that they are essentially stuck together until the mating process has finished.

At what age is a Doberman’s first heat? A Doberman’s first heat cycle most commonly occurs between 9 and 12-months of age. However, it can occur as late as 15-months of age.

How long does a Doberman stay in heat? Female Dobermans typically stay in heat for around three weeks but can get pregnant only during the roughly 9-day-long Estrus stage of their cycle. They may experience one to three heat cycles a year.

How old does a female Doberman have to be to breed? A female Doberman is sexually mature enough to be bred once she experiences her first heat cycle, which is usually between 9 to 12-months of age. However, it’s generally best not to breed her until she’s at least 2 years of age.

The post 12 Signs Your Doberman Is in Heat appeared first on Doberman Planet.

If you’ve ever noticed your Doberman’s teeth chattering like most of us Dobie owners do from time to time, you may have written it off as a simple reaction to colder weather. Now, however, you might have even started hearing that rapid “click click click” of their teeth even when your dog is plenty warm. That’s when we tend to get concerned as owners. Our Dobermans often chatter their teeth and it can be for any number of reasons ranging from mild to severe.

Why are my Doberman’s teeth chattering? Dobermans most commonly chatter their teeth when they are cold, excited, anxious, or scenting. However, more serious reasons include underlying tooth decay, issues with the trigeminal nerve, or even a warning sign of a possible seizure or stroke.

In most cases, there’s no need to be worried. Dobermans are the most commonly reported breed to experience teeth chattering (usually between the ages of 2 to 4, but it can occur at any time), according to Dr. Stacy, DVM (source). However, if you notice your dog’s teeth constantly chattering and you’ve ruled out some of the more obvious causes, take your Doberman to your local veterinarian to get a professional opinion. Below are some of the most common causes for a Doberman to be chattering their teeth.

1. Cold

Prevalence: High

The simplest explanation for chattering teeth, especially among Dobermans, is also the most obvious: they’re cold. Chattering teeth is like shivering, but doesn’t require the same amount of energy as shivering the whole body does. When an animal (or human) shivers, all of the muscles in the body contract and release over and over again in rapid succession, which raises their internal temperature.

Like humans, Dobermans get cold when the weather drops below a certain temperature. In general, a Doberman’s internal temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 38 to 39 degrees Celsius). Anything lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit is considered hypothermia in dogs (source).

Dobermans are known for their tendency to get cold easily. Many times I’ve found my Dobermans curled up in front of a fireplace or heater vent, even on a relatively warm summer day. Oftentimes their teeth are chattering or even their whole body might be shivering. Keep your Doberman warm and even consider getting a coat for your Dobie if necessary.

2. Excitement

Prevalence: High

If you notice your Doberman’s teeth chattering when you get home from work, or when you’re getting ready to head out on a walk, then the teeth chattering may actually be a sign of excitement. You can read one Doberman owner’s story about how her dog’s teeth always chatter from the excitement of her return from work each day here.

The rapid expansion and contraction of the muscles in your dog’s jaw may simply be a way of “burning off some steam” and releasing all the extra energy from their excitement. This is especially true in dogs who have been trained not to jump or express excitement in similar ways. In other words, teeth chattering may simply be a harmless expression of how excited your Doberman is.

3. Nervousness or Anxiousness

Prevalence: High

Besides chattering their teeth to let off steam when excited, they also do it to let off excess energy when they’re nervous or anxious. Dobermans are well known for suffering from separation anxiety. They often stick to the side of their owners like glue (one reason they’re called “velcro dogs”).

In one study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, hyper-attachment was shown to be significantly associated with separation anxiety in dogs (source). And Dobermans can certainly be described as “hyper attached” dogs.

This is slightly more prevalent in older Dobermans than it is in younger Dobermans, so if your dog is a bit on the older side, you may notice that they may be chattering their teeth more than they used to. Dobermans are relatively prone to anxiety as compared to other breeds, so yes, they use teeth chattering as a calming or anti-anxiety method. You can learn more about Doberman separation anxiety here.

4. Scenting

Prevalence: High

While it may seem counterintuitive, dogs actually use their mouths to smell. The nose is still the primary olfactory organ, but dogs actually have an additional sensory organ situated on the roofs of their mouths called Jacobson’s organ which helps them process the smells they take in (source).

When dogs chatter or gnash their teeth, it’s essentially the same as “chewing up” the air. The short, sharp bursts of air that they take in can help them process some of the smells they’re experiencing.

If you notice your male Doberman’s teeth chattering when they’re around other dogs, females especially, they may just be trying to process the pheromones they’re smelling. Some Doberman owners refer to this as “potty mouthing” when a male sniffs a female’s rear-end or urination outside. You may also notice an increase in saliva or even drooling when they do this.

5. Idiopathic Head Tremors (Head Bobbing)

Prevalence: High

If your Doberman’s head is shaking and chattering his teeth at the same time, it may be Idiopathic Head Tremors, also called “Head Bobbing”. This is a surprisingly common phenomenon that seems to affect a large portion of Dobermans. This can cause teeth chattering but is typically associated with tremors of the entire head as well.

The exact cause of Idiopathic Head Tremors in the Doberman breed is unknown. However, studies have shown that on average, an affected Doberman will have an episode that lasts about 3 minutes, occurs twice a day, and goes about two months between episodes (source). Although this can vary drastically. Dobermans comprise about 8% of all reported cases of this condition (source).

The good news is that these seem fairly harmless to Dobermans most of the time. If this happens, you can try and distract your dog with a treat as many owners have said this stops these episodes. To see more about what you can do about these head tremors and what they are, see my article all about head tremors in Dobermans here.

6. Boredom

Prevalence: Medium

If your Doberman hasn’t had any activity recently, then your dog might just be bored. Giving your Doberman something to focus on will most likely stop the teeth chattering. Try a semi-strenuous activity like walking, playing frisbee, or a game with his favorite toy.

Since Dobermans are such intelligent dogs, it’s incredibly important to keep their mind engaged throughout the day as well. If the teeth chatter is reduced when you engage with your dog, it may simply be boredom. Take a look at the toys I recommend for Dobermans here for some great puzzle toy ideas to keep your Dobie’s mind engaged.

7. Pain or Discomfort

Prevalence: Low

Dogs are very stoic animals, and Dobermans are a strong example of that fact. If your Doberman is in pain, he or she may not whimper or cry, but there are some other signs of pain they might give off. Panting is perhaps the most well-known non-vocal expression of discomfort in dogs, but tooth chattering can be another common expression.

If you notice any other classic symptoms of pain—panting, pacing, or sitting with the ears pulled back—along with the chattering teeth, it may be a sign that your Doberman isn’t feeling well. This could come from something as simple as eating the wrong thing, or it may be a more serious issue. If you suspect your dog is in pain, call your veterinarian.

8. Sickness

Prevalence: Low

Just like humans, dogs can catch a variant of the common cold. If you notice excessive sneezing or other cold-like symptoms from your four-legged friend, it’s possible that they might have caught a mild cold.

As mentioned earlier, chattering teeth can be a sign of even moderate discomfort, so it’s not unusual for dogs to chatter or grind their teeth together as a way of dealing with their various aches and pains caused by a sickness. As always, keep an eye on your dog for signs that any condition is getting worse, and it’s still a good idea to take them to the vet for a professional opinion.

9. Toothache

Prevalence: Medium

This is a little bit more serious. Some dogs chatter their teeth as a way of dealing with an underlying dental condition. According to Aubrey Animal Medical Center, dental disease affects 80% of dogs before 2 years old, and Dobermans are more likely than other dogs to experience problems with their teeth and should be brushed at least twice a week (source).

There is a wide range of periodontal diseases that can impact dogs, and the short bursts of air that dogs get by chattering their teeth can distract from the discomfort and provide some mild pain relief.

Unfortunately, this same practice can also exacerbate any dental conditions. The constant grinding effect of chattering teeth can wear down your dog’s enamel and make them more susceptible to tooth disease. If your Doberman has a history of tooth problems, there’s excessive plaque buildup on their teeth, or you see anything else out of the ordinary that causes concern, check with your vet.

10. Allergies

Prevalence: Low

To be clear, Dobermans do get allergies quite a bit as compared to many other breeds. However, teeth chattering as a result of these allergies don’t occur terribly often, but it does occur.

If you notice your dog sneezing repeatedly or displaying runny, watery eyes, or extra eye boogers, he or she may be suffering from allergies. In this instance, chattering teeth is equally a way of letting off steam and getting some temporary relief from the pollutants that clog the respiratory system.

11. Nervous System Problems

Prevalence: Low

We’re definitely getting to some of the more serious potential causes now. The “trigeminal nerve” is a three-branched nerve that runs throughout the face and jaw and controls biting, chewing, and other major nerve expressions. In certain dog breeds, an attack of trigeminal neuralgia can leave your dog unable to properly close their mouth, which may cause them to “chatter” in an attempt to restore muscle function.

Fortunately, this condition can be treated, and the damage is very rarely permanent. However, if you notice your dog’s eyes and mouth struggling to open or close, take them to the vet immediately for a diagnosis.

12. Seizure Warning Sign

Prevalence: Low

The risk of seizures is still one of the causes of seemingly random tooth chattering. According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Small Animals, tooth chattering is one of the more “bizarre” symptoms of a form of epilepsy (source).

If you notice your Doberman’s tooth chattering is accompanied by sudden weight loss, vomiting, or an excess amount of saliva, take your dog to the vet right away! The explanation could be perfectly innocent, but it’s better to have a professional opinion to rule out the possibility of an epileptic seizure.

Teeth Chattering vs. Teeth Grinding

If your Doberman is grinding, rather than chattering their teeth, this is a separate issue that may share some of the same root causes. Dogs with loose or damaged teeth may grind their teeth together to alleviate some of the discomfort associated with these conditions. This is especially common during teething stages in puppies from about 3 months to 6 months of age before their adult teeth come in.

Similarly, teeth grinding could be a symptom of anxiety or general discomfort. Dobermans are a relatively anxious breed, especially if they have not been properly socialized or they’re separated from their owners, and their anxiety may drive them to chatter their teeth or simply rub them together constantly.

This can wear down your dog’s enamel and leave them vulnerable to disease.

Male vs. Female Teeth Chattering

Teeth chattering is more common among intact male Dobermans than female Dobermans. This is likely due to males engaging in scenting behavior while chattering their teeth.

If you’ve ever had to deal with your male Doberman “marking his territory”, you know that scent markers and cues are extremely important to the way that he navigates the world. Because chattering teeth can let your dog get a better “whiff” of a rival dog’s scent marking or a female dog’s pheromones, it is more common among males (see reason number 4 in the list above).

If you notice your dog does this a lot while outdoors in a public place, with their head down low to the ground, and it’s accompanied by additional saliva production or drooling, then this is likely the cause. Although female Dobermans chatter their teeth less, they can still be afflicted by this phenomenon.

Diagnosing and Treating Dobermans with Excessive Teeth Chattering

As listed above, there are some serious health conditions that can lead to your dog’s teeth constantly chattering. In most cases, the explanation is perfectly benign, but there are always those few instances where chattering teeth can be a sign of something much more serious.

If you’ve already ruled out the simpler explanations for why your Dobie’s teeth are chattering, it’s time to take him or her to the vet. The veterinarian may reassure you that there’s nothing to worry about, or they may be able to prescribe a dietary change or medication that could greatly improve the chattering, and potentially your Dobie’s happiness too.

Related Questions

Why do Dobermans snap their teeth? Dobermans will often snap their teeth as a warning. This has a similar meaning as when a dog growls or raises its lips to show their teeth.

Is teeth chattering a sign of anxiety? Teeth chattering may be a sign of anxiety in Dobermans. Dobermans are prone to anxiety and may show their anxiousness with teeth chattering, pacing, whining, and panting.

The post 12 Reasons Why Your Doberman’s Teeth are Chattering appeared first on Doberman Planet.

All Doberman owners, myself included, have been there before—you take in a deep breath and inhale the putrid smell of a gas lovingly released by your Doberman. It’s not pleasant, but it’s not uncommon with Dobermans either. Here we’ll discuss why this is happening, what a normal amount of farting from your Doberman is, and when it should be cause for concern.

Why does my Doberman fart so much? Excessive farting from a Doberman is most often caused by a gas buildup due to poorly digested food. Other common causes are stomach sensitivities, ingestion of air while eating or drinking (Aerophagia), high-protein diets, and underlying health issues.

Dobermans have a couple of things working against them when it comes to gas buildup as compared to other breeds. Stomach sensitivities and their tendency to ingest significant amounts of air while eating or drinking are some of the biggest factors, but there are certainly other common reasons your Doberman is farting all the time.

Reasons Your Doberman Farts So Much

Most owners who get their first Doberman figure out fairly quickly that Dobermans are one of the gassier breeds out there. Here are some of the reasons you might be experiencing excessive flatulence from your Dobie.

1. Taking in Too Much Air While Eating or Drinking (Aerophagia)

Dobermans tend to take in a lot of air when they swallow. If you’ve ever closely watched your Doberman drink water, you’ve seen exactly how much air the swallow. This is a phenomenon known as aerophagia. There is some debate about whether taking in too much air can lead to additional gas in dogs, but it’s a pretty prominent theory. The basics of this theory is simply that consumed air must come out somehow, so it either comes out as a burp or a fart.

What You Can Do

• Many owners will try to minimize this by attempting to slow down their Dobie’s eating with either a slow-feeder bowl or by putting an obstruction in their bowl like a large dog toy. The obstruction in the dog’s bowl will make it harder for them to eat quickly and require them to slowly work around the toy to consume their food. Make sure you only use a toy that’s safe and never simply a tennis ball (the skin can easily come off and get swallowed causing an obstruction).

2. Stomach Sensitivity

Unfortunately, Dobermans are also known for having certain sensitivities and even allergic reactions to certain foods. They just aren’t able to digest food quite as easily as some other dogs. After your dog eats, bacteria will break down the food. Foods that are difficult to process can cause excessive gas to build up.

What You Can Do

• Take a look into the foods known to cause flatulence (there’s a list of these foods later in this article) and look for dog food that contains as few of those ingredients as possible. Sometimes you simply won’t know what ingredient in a certain food is to blame, but switching foods may still resolve the issue.
• In my recommended food and treats for Dobermans page, I recommend a dog food that seems easily digested by Dobermans. Purina also makes a food called Pro Plan Focus—Sensitive Skin and Stomach (Amazon link) which many owners swear by for reducing gas.

3. Eating High-Protein Food

Dobermans are large muscular dogs and owners often feed them high-protein dog foods, and for good reason. They need extra protein to feed all that lean muscle. The downside to high-protein diets, especially those made from red meat, is that they contain a lot of sulfur. When your dog’s stomach bacteria breaks down this sulfur, it makes for especially bad-smelling gas (source).

What You Can Do

• A common range for protein in a Dobermans food is anywhere from 20% to 35%. You can try finding food with a lower amount of protein to see if it helps. Personally, I would start my dog at somewhere around 25% and adjust down from there depending on how the dog is handling it, if excess gas is still an issue.

4. Lack of Exercise

This wouldn’t be the sole cause of excessive gas in your Doberman, but it can certainly be a contributing factor. Dobermans are working dogs and they are a high-energy breed whose bodies are built, on a genetic level, for lots of activity. Regular exercise actually helps the body to digest food in a more regular and complete way.

What You Can Do

• If your Doberman isn’t getting the exercise they need (1 to 2 hours of exercise per day, depending on the individual dog), try to slowly increase this amount.

5. Lactose Intolerance

When your Doberman was a puppy, he or she used to get nutrient-rich milk from their mother which was broken down by the “lactase” that your dog’s body naturally produced. However, after weaning, a dog’s body adapts and starts producing less lactase. This means that instead of absorbing the sugars, it’s now moved through the intestines where it’s broken down by bacteria and the end result is significant gas production.

What You Can Do

• Check the label of your dog’s food and treats to see if they’re getting any dairy. Reducing or eliminating dairy in their diet may help reduce gas.

6. Illness or Disease

Excess gas can be due to a gastrointestinal disorder, parasites, infections, tumors, pancreatic disorders, illnesses, intestinal blockages, or other serious issues. All of these things warrant a visit to your veterinarian. Did your Doberman recently swallow something they shouldn’t have like a piece of a toy that they chewed apart or maybe an old sock that was left lying around?

If you suspect a serious illness, disease, or other disorder, then it’s time to see a veterinarian. This is especially true if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms.

What You Can Do

• If you suspect illness or disease may be the cause, bring your dog to a qualified veterinarian for an examination.

7. Low-Quality Food

Remember that Dobermans are known for their sensitive stomachs, and as such, they are probably a bit more reactive to low-quality foods as well. In general, if the food you’re feeding your Dobie has a lot of fermentable fiber in it, it will generally cause a lot of gas.

As a general rule, a good quality dog food will have animal protein as one of its main (top 5) ingredients. These are proteins such as animal meat (make sure it lists what the meat is, and doesn’t just say “meat meal”), fish, and eggs.

What You Can Do

• Look for new, high-quality food to transition your dog to. Find one without lots of fermentable fiber like oats, barley, beet pulp, legumes, fruits, plant gums, pectins, and psyllium.
• Find a food that advertises that it’s highly digestible. This means it should be more completely digested by your dog early on in the tract, meaning less gas.
• Consider switching to a high-quality human-grade fresh dog food delivery service such as the one recommended on my Doberman dog food page.

8. Spoiled Food

If there’s a chance that your Dobie’s food is old or spoiled, then that may be the cause of their flatulence. This is more common when feeding wet or “fresh” foods if you’ve let the food sit for too long. It can certainly happen with dry kibble although that tends to have a longer shelf life.

What You Can Do

• If you suspect your dog’s food is olf or spoiled and your dog is experiencing more gas than normal, it might just be best to toss out the remainder of the food and buy fresh (I know, dog food is expensive, but this could be the issue).
• Seal your dog food in an airtight container and store it in cool temperatures that are as stable as possible.

How Much Farting is Normal for a Doberman

Over the years of owning my Dobermans, I’ve noticed that when my dog is consistently farting even while laying down and not moving, and the dog seems “surprised” at their own fart (i.e. their nose quickly whips around to their rear end) then I know something is likely upsetting their stomach.

I’ve seen this behavior multiple times in and around vet visits for other issues and have quickly made this correlation. So this is the first sign I usually watch out for.

However, in general, Dobermans will release gas at various times throughout the day. It usually doesn’t come in long bursts and typically happens when they’re moving their body, such as just waking up from a nap and stretching.

After a short time with your Dobie, you should have a good understanding of what’s normal. If the gas issue has cropped up as a recent concern of yours, chances are it’s coming at unusual levels since it’s got your attention more than normal and might be a cause for concern.

You just need to look for anything unusual for your dog specifically. As an example, for the amount of time I’m home with my Dobie I know that if I notice any more than two or three farts throughout the day, and especially if they seem to “surprise” my dog or they occur when he’s lying down and not moving, then I tend to become concerned.

Foods and Ingredients that Cause Gas in Dobermans

If you want to reduce the gas your Doberman produces, you should be aware that the following foods (or ingredients in dog foods) are known to produce excess gas.

• Dairy
• Red meat
• Beans
• Carbs
• Fruit
• Plant gums
• Oats
• Barley
• Beet Pulp
• Legumes (Peas)
• Soybeans
• Chicory
• Inulin
• Pectins
• Psyllium
• Spicy foods
• High-fiber foods
• High-fat foods

The first step will be to look for dog food that doesn’t include any of these ingredients. Many of these foods require additional bacteria to break it down, such as red meat (source). The additional bacteria causes the gas to build up in your dog resulting in more flatulence.

How to Reduce Gas

Assuming you’ve ruled out the most serious causes for gas buildup in your Dobie, there are some things you can do to try and help reduce the levels of gas buildup. Before attempting these, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian.

1. Change Diet

First, you want to consider slowly and gradually changing your dog’s diet. Look for foods specifically designed to help with sensitive stomachs. You should also look for foods without the ingredients listed above. Make sure to give the new food time to take effect.

It’s important that you transition your dog very slowly to their new food. You should transition them by feeding progressively larger portions of their new food (and smaller portions of their old food) with each meal until they’re fully transitioned. Do this slowly over the course of at least a week. You should wait about two weeks after being fully transitioned to the new food to see if you can notice a difference.

2. Avoid Table Scraps

You should also avoid feeding your dog too many table scraps. This is important to keep in mind if you have small kids in the house that might be tossing food on the ground for your dog without you knowing it.

Sure, your dog probably loves getting a piece of steak off your plate every now and then, but you might be surprised how much table scraps can increase gas issues in Dobermans. Cut back on everything but the dog food to keep the diet simple.

If nothing else, it’ll at least make it easier to narrow down the issue and determine if the food you’re feeding your Dobie is the problem.

3. Eat Slower

If your dog is a fast eater, that can be causing the problem too, so you need to encourage your dog to eat more slowly. This is incredibly important for Dobermans specifically since besides contributing to gas buildup, eating fast can also increase your dog’s risk of developing bloat. This is a serious and deadly condition that disproportionately affects Dobermans.

According to the AKC, fast eaters have a five times higher risk of developing bloat as compared to slow eaters (source). There are food bowls specifically designed to force dogs to eat slowly. I like the stainless slow-feeder bowls with a raised center portion. It seems to slow down their eating enough without also being extremely frustrating to the dog. One example is this stainless slow-feed bowl on Amazon.

DIY Slow Feeders

• Feed from a cupcake tin. You can try feeding your dog from a cupcake tin as this has generally the same effect as a slow feeder bowl.
• Place a toy in your dog’s food bowl. I like to use a Chuck-It ball or Kong toy in the middle of the food bowl for this. Don’t use a tennis ball since the outside skin is easily peeled off and swallowed, potentially creating an obstruction. This becomes more likley when the ball is soaked in your dog’s favorite food!

You can also feed the dog away from any other pets in your home to avoid the idea of any competition around feeding time, as that can also cause your dog to speed up their eating.

4. Ensure Plenty of Exercise

You should also be sure to take your dog out for exercise. Dobermans need a lot of exercise to be happy and reduce anxiety levels, but it also improves digestion. The average Doberman needs 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day, although this can vary depending on the individual dog.

Taking your dog out for some physical activity throughout the day helps with digestion and ultimately can help to reduce gas buildup. Just make sure not to give your dog any strenuous exercise an hour before, and one to two hours after eating, or this could increase their risk for bloat, according to one study.

5. Medication

Some people choose to try gas-reduction medication, but it could be dangerous. Always talk to your vet before giving your dog any gas medicine. If they do give you the okay to proceed with using medication for this purpose, it’ll likely be only after ruling out the more serious causes of excess gas and will include a specific medication recommendation.

6. Probiotics

Introducing more probiotics (live micro-organisms that help with digestion) into your Dobie’s diet can drastically reduce the amount of gas they expel. You can introduce more Probiotics in a couple of different ways. For one, many owners simply like to introduce a little bit of plain yogurt into their dog’s meal (check the ingredients and make sure it’s safe). The problem with this is it contains dairy, which can at times make the gas worse.

See on Amazon.com

Another popular way to handle this in a way that won’t introduce dairy into your dog’s diet is to use a probiotic supplement powder like FortiFlora. This seems to be the most popular probiotic used by Doberman owners. It can improve digestion, increase the amount of good bacteria in your dog’s intestines, and reduce gas. I’ve used this off and on with my Dobermans over the years and it seems to have the added benefit of increasing their appetite (or maybe it just makes their food taste better—I’m not sure). But it certainly always reduced their gas.

Dairy

While not all dogs are lactose intolerant, many are. The ones that aren’t can usually only handle a very small amount of lactose. As a puppy, your Doberman has no problem digesting his mother’s milk, but as your pup grew up, he likely began producing much less lactase.

Lactase is what’s needed to digest the sugars in dairy products and if your dog doesn’t have enough of this, then it can cause the sugars to make it further through the digestive tract without being broken down and can lead to more gas, upset stomach, and other issues.

So it’s a good idea to understand how much lactose is in various dairy products. Below is a table of some of the most popular dairy products and how much lactose they contain.

Raw Diets

A raw diet won’t cause additional gas buildup in a Doberman unless certain ingredients are used such as raw meat, dairy, fruit, and oats.

Like any other diet, it’s not the form the food comes in, but the ingredients that are used. While a raw diet may be beneficial for your Dobie if properly formulated, an all-meat diet isn’t nutritionally balanced. Large quantities of red meat will actually contribute to gas buildup in your dog as well. So if you’re feeding a raw diet, focus on the ingredients you’re choosing.

If you want more information about Dobermans eating raw meat, see my article Should You Be Feeding Your Doberman Raw Meat here.

“When a dog eats a diet consisting of a large amount of meat or meat that is not very digestible, bacteria within the large intestine break it down, releasing gasses that truly reek.”

Jennifer Coates, DVM, PET MD

Gas and Bloat: When to be Concerned

Dobermans have a bad relationship with gas buildup, especially in their stomach. They are a deep-chested breed and unfortunately are at a heightened risk of developing a condition called Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or “Bloat”). It’s also often called Stomach Torsion or Stomach Twist in the Doberman world.

This occurs when gas builds up in their stomach and it can even cause their stomach to twist on itself and cut off circulation. Bloat will kill 30% of dogs who are affected. This is a scary condition that can kill a Doberman in just a few hours.

Common Symptoms of Bloat

• Enlarged abdomen.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Pale nose, mouth, and gums.
• Drooling.
• Non-productive Vomiting.
• Pacing and general anxiousness.
• Collapsing.

Notice that additional flatulence isn’t one of the common signs of bloat but in general, if you see anything unusual with your Doberman, especially when it has to do with any type of gas buildup, it’s very important to see a veterinarian.

For me personally, when I’m deciding if I should be concerned due to gas buildup in my dog, I look for any associated symptoms. If I see more than one symptom or things seem to be getting worse, then I’m much more likely to make the decision to take my Doberman to the vet.

What should my Doberman’s stool look like?

It’s not pleasant to look at your dog’s waste up close, but it can provide some clues into the problem. The stool should be hard and not runny or loose. It should also be brown or dark brown in color. If you notice odd colors or textures, it might be a sign that something more serious is happening and it could be a good time to see a veterinarian.

If your Doberman is producing stool that appears much darker in color than normal, or even black in color, then it could be a sign that there is blood in their stool. This can be a serious warning sign as well which warrants an immediate call to your vet.

Other Gassy Dog Breeds

Dobermans are generally gassy dogs, but they aren’t alone. There are many other breeds out there that are also known for their flatulence. Here are some of the other gassier dog breeds:

• Boxers
• Yorkshire Terriers
• Pugs
• Pit Bulls
• Golden Retrievers
• Beagles
• English Bulldogs

Final Thoughts

Dobermans are a gassier dog breed naturally, but remember to look for the signs I mentioned here that might indicate a bigger problem. Such as a surprised reaction from your Dobie when they release gas, or constant gas when they’re not moving. Any sign of pain or discomfort should also be concerning.

When in doubt, simply make a phone call to your veterinarian and run the issue past them to see if it’s worth a trip in. Luckily though, Dobermans are just naturally gassy and it’s fairly normal for them to fart quite often. Lucky you.

The post Doberman Farting All the Time? Here’s Why appeared first on Doberman Planet.

There is a unique condition that seems to affect the Doberman breed quite frequently which causes them to shake their head rapidly and seemingly uncontrollably. This condition goes by many names including Head Tremors, Head Bobbing Syndrome, Episodic Head Tremor Syndrome, and Idiopathic Head Tremors. But all these terms are referring to the same condition.

Head Bobbing Syndrome, also often called Idiopathic Head Tremors, is a common condition in the Doberman breed where the dog uncontrollably shakes their head side-to-side or up-and-down while remaining fully responsive.

This condition is very unnerving for Doberman owners who have never experienced it before. It has happened to both of my last two Dobermans (both when they were under a year of age), but they outgrew it soon after. Many other Doberman owners have a similar story as this condition is well known in the Doberman world.

Head Tremors (aka “Head Bobbing Syndrome”)

These tremors happen fast and appear to be a “shaking” or “twitching” of the head. It’s very common in the Doberman breed and can be anything from subtle head twitching to violent head shaking, and anything in between.

This is also often called “Episodic Head Tremor Syndrome” since it usually only comes on for short stretches of time, or “Idiopathic Head Tremors” since the cause of these are currently unknown.

At times, this is also accompanied by teeth chattering. But if you’re seeing chattering teeth without any movement in the head, it may not be head-bobbing syndrome. You can find out more in my article all about teeth chattering in Dobermans here.

How Common Are Head Tremors in Dobermans?

Head tremors or head shaking, in the Doberman breed is very common and although their exact cause is unknown, it’s generally believed to be harmless. Many Doberman owners experience head shaking or head bobbing from their dogs and this seems to typically occur when the dog is young (under about a year of age).

Dobermans comprise 8% of all reported cases of this condition (source). Affected Dobermans remain alert, mobile, and responsive during the episode. On average, an episode of head tremors in a Doberman will last about 3 minutes, occur about twice per day, and they will go about 2 months between episodes. The dog, usually young to middle-aged, does not seem to realize he is doing it when it’s occurring.

About two-thirds of owners find that once distracted with a treat or food, the tremors stop (source). A study conducted in Germany found that 20 to 26% of Dobermans seemed to be in distress, ashamed, and seek affection after their Idiopathic Head Tremor episode. This seems to run contrary to other studies that have suggested Dobermans are not aware that an episode is occurring and unaffected by it so this does still leave some questions to be answered in future research.

The duration and frequency of these episodes do vary widely. The table below is based on a study published in the National Library of Medicine on these head tremors in the Doberman breed.

COMMON HEALTH CONDITIONS: If you want to learn more about common conditions that affect the Doberman breed, see the comprehensive health section of The Complete Doberman Pinscher Breed Overview.

Why Do Head Tremors Occur In Dobermans?

The Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) has done extensive research into why Doberman experience this condition, otherwise known as “head bobbing syndrome” (available here). Some theories both from the DPCA and others are listed below, however, because of a lack of epidemiological studies, the true nature of the Doberman Head Bobbing Syndrome remains a mystery.

• Theory 1 – In general, tremors are the result of brain abnormalities, often caused by degeneration, toxicity, or inflammation which could also be the cause of these tremors.
• Theory 2 – These tremors are caused by an emerging genetic disease, since Doberman, Labradors, and English Bulldogs are all commonly impacted, and all the underlying causes of tremors could be the result of genetic malformations.
• Theory 3 – The lack of anti-seizure drug receptivity point away from focal epilepsy as a cause, but another possible diagnosis could be stereotypy. Stereotypy is “the abnormal repetition of an action… as seen in some phases of schizophrenia”.
• Theory 4 – Some in the veterinary world believe low glucose levels, calcium deficiency, and heartworm medication may be to blame (source).

There is not enough evidence as of yet to support a solid conclusion as to their root cause, but the anecdotal evidence points to an emerging genetic disease along with these other possible causes.

According to the study cited in the section above published by the National Library of Medicine on 87 affected Dobermans, head tremors are an inherited condition. In that study, affected dogs were actually traced back to one common sire, who also suffered from head tremors, supporting the conclusion that this condition has a heavy genetic influence. However, further research would need to be conducted to identify the specific gene causing the tremors.

Videos of Bobbing Head Syndrome in Dobermans

Below are a few examples of Dobermans experiencing this issue. You’ll see that most owners are fairly relaxed while filming as it’s likely they’ve experienced this before as these episodes generally come more than once in affected Dobermans.

Example Video 1: Typical Head Tremors

Below is another video showing a fairly common example of head tremors or Head Bobbing Syndrome in a Doberman. As you can see, this dog seems otherwise fairly relaxed, which is typical of this issue.

Example Video 2: More Typical Head Tremors

Here is another example of fairly common head tremors from the Doberman breed. Again, you can see that the dog is not in pain or any type of distress throughout this episode.

Example Video 3: Large Head Tremors

In the video below you can see another example of these Episodic Head Tremors in a Doberman. This episode seems to be fairly significant in terms of the strength of the shaking. While the shaking may be side-to-side or up-and-down and vary in intensity, they’re always temporary.

Example Video 4: Head Tremors in an Older Doberman

The video below shows what appears to be an older Doberman fairly close up. You can see the subtle side-to-side shaking that appears to be uncontrollable to the dog. Remember these are considered to not be painful to the dog.

This video is age-restricted on YouTube so you need to view the video directly from the YouTube site while logged into your YouTube account. You can view this video of head tremors in an older Doberman here.

What You Can Do to Stop Head Tremors

Although these are almost always something that an owner ultimately just “lives with” in their Doberman as it is generally sporadic and doesn’t seem to cause pain to the dog, it’s still a good idea to record the incident if you can and see your veterinarian. If nothing else, your vet should be able to rule out some of the more serious causes of shaking in your dog, like epilepsy for example.

Many owners have found various ways to stop these incidents while they’re occurring through various techniques. Some of the common ways Doberman owners have stopped the head tremors after they’ve begun are below.

Methods for Stopping the Head Tremors

• Wait Until It Passes – These episodes vary in duration from less than a minute to a few hours, with the average being about three minutes. Many owners will comfort their dogs through petting and reassurance, and simply wait for the episode to pass.
• Distract with a Toy – Offering your Doberman one of their favorite toys and encouraging them to focus on it, or the game you’re playing with it, has been said to help stop the head tremors once they begin. Puzzle toys are great for this. If you need some toy ideas, see my list of the best dog toys for Dobermans.
• Distract with Food – This is probably the most often recommended method recommended by Doberman owners (and possibly most effective). Offering food or a treat might cause the episode to end. In one study this has shown to be effected two-thirds of the time. Many owners claim peanut butter works extremely well for this.
• Distract with a Game – As long as it can be safely done, try to engage in one of your Doberman’s favorite games such as hide and seek or even a “find the treat under the cup” game where they’ll be required to use their mind.
• Use a Training Session – Another form of distraction is begininig a short training session with your Doberman and ask him or her to perform some basic commands that they know really well and provide plenty of praise upon completion. This can be a great mental distractor.

Owners, including myself, have found a lot of success in basically just doing whatever we can to distract our dogs once they start having one of these head-shaking episodes. It’s not entirely clear why this works and actually really just furthers the mystery since this seems to suggest that there is a component of these episodes that’s influenced by the dog’s mental focus and attention.

Is it a Seziure?

It’s easy to confuse this with a seizure since it seems completely involuntary for the dog. The reality is though that a true seizure, such as in epileptic dogs, for example, is a bit different. They’re characterized by seized muscles, lost mobility, and altered consciousness. These are symptoms that are not typical of Head Bobbing Syndrome.

Dogs experiencing a seizure might also drool, bite their own tongue, kick their legs frantically, foam at the mouth, defecate or urinate, and be unstable or unable to walk. Although dogs can experience a seizure in one portion of their body it’s not as common. The video below will give you an example of a Doberman suffering from an epileptic seizure.

Example Video: Epileptic Seizure

By comparing this video of a true seizure to the videos in the previous section of Head Bobbing Syndrome, you should be able to gain a better understanding of the differences. Fair warning that this video is hard to watch.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons your Doberman might start shaking, shivering, or trembling. I covered all the possible causes of this in my article 7 Reasons Why Your Doberman is Shaking here. However, if the shaking is localized only in the neck and head area, then it’s likely Head Bobbing Syndrome.

The good news for owners is that although it’s somewhat concerning to witness in your dog, it’s generally considered to be painless for the dog. You’ll likely see occasional short episodes in an affected dog, especially likely when the dog is under about one year of age. Then, as the dog ages, it may continue or may simply go away entirely.

It’s always good to visit your veterinarian and if possible, bring a video recording of the event for them to examine. Hopefully, though, you can relax now knowing the chances are high that the head-shaking your Doberman is experiencing isn’t painful but please do make a trip to your trusted veterinarian to discuss it further.

The post Doberman Head Tremors and Head Bobbing Syndrome appeared first on Doberman Planet.

The first time an owner notices that their Doberman is shaking, trembling, or shivering, they are understandably almost always alarmed. More alarming than that is the first time a Doberman owner experiences the all-too-common Doberman head tremor or head bob. Here we’re going to talk about what types of shaking from your Doberman are normal, and which you should actually be concerned with.

Why do Dobermans shake? Dobermans will often shake due to being cold, fearful, or excited. If the shaking seems involuntary and limited to their head, then it may be head tremors or head bobbing, which is very common in the Doberman breed and generally not harmful.

The good news is that the most common reasons Dobermans shake do not indicate anything seriously wrong with them. My last two Dobermans have both had body shakes on occasion for various reasons (cold, scared, etc), and both even experienced head tremors when they were young.

Neither of my Dobermans had any lasting effects from these short episodes, and this mirrors what I’ve heard from countless other Doberman owners I’ve worked with during my time as a Doberman-specific trainer as well. As you’ll see from the information below, this is rarely something to be concerned with.

Why Dobermans Shake, Shiver, or Tremble

There are many reasons why your Doberman might be shaking either their entire body or just their head. Below are some of the most common reasons as it applies specifically to the Doberman breed.

1. Cold

Dobermans will shake or shiver when they’re cold, in an attempt to increase their body temperature. Dobermans have a single-layer coat and lean body mass which means they get cold very easily. This shaking can be slight body tremors or even fairly violent shaking and typically affects their whole body at the same time.

Between their short coat and lean muscle, they just simply don’t do well in the cold. I’ve seen Dobermans shiver when it’s 70 degrees Fahrenheit in their home. If you decide to take your dog’s temperature, remember that 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a normal body temperature.

This is a big reason Dobermans are not good “outside dogs”. If you’ve ever seen your Doberman huddle around your fireplace or air vents in your house while the heat is on, you know how easily they get cold. Many owners even get coats for their Dobermans during the winter for this reason.

Simply warming up your dog should solve the shaking or shivering if this is this is the cause.

2. Pain

Dobermans are stoic dogs and often don’t adequately communicate to their owners when they’re in pain. Often an owner’s first noticeable sign that their Doberman is experiencing pain will be shaking or shivering.

If you suspect your Doberman might be shaking due to pain, check for any other outward signs of injury such as a paw or leg injury, cuts, swelling, redness, or any other signs. Dobermans will either shake only the affected area that is in pain, or their entire body will tremble which can be a sign of shock, so it’s important to see a veterinarian.

3. Stress, Anxiety, or Fear

Dobermans are highly protective dogs and often experience heightened stress, anxiety, or fear. This may cause your Doberman to shake or shiver. Since the Doberman breed was originally created as personal protection dogs, they’re very alert dogs. They also instinctually read situations and can at times experience heightened levels of anxiety because of this high level of alertness.

If this is the reason your Doberman is shaking, remove them from the situation that is causing them fear. If this is an ongoing problem, then your dog may not have received adequate socialization as a young puppy. If that’s the case, then begin to focus on gradually increasing your dog’s exposure to new sights, sounds, and experiences to build their confidence.

4. Illness

Serious illnesses or parasites can cause your Doberman to shake. In fact, this can be a sign of shock especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms such as rapid (but weak) heartbeats, bright red gums, weakness, and unconsciousness.

If your dog has recently been experiencing diarrhea due to some type of intestinal upset, trembling could indicate dehydration. Also, if your Doberman is experiencing abnormal lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a loss of appetite, the cause of the tremoring could be toxic ingestion.

If you suspect illness might be the cause, it’s important to see your veterinarian immediately.

5. Excitement

Dobermans will shake when they are unable to contain their excitement. Although this action is generally seen more as gross movements of the body and accompanied with jumping, running in circles, and other such “excited movements”.

As your dog’s owner, you should have a good idea of when and why your dog is excited. If you’re seeing small fast tremors when the dog is sitting still or laying down, it’s likely not the result of excitement.

6. Seizure

A Doberman who is shaking with seized muscles, a loss of mobility, and a loss of awareness of their surroundings may be experiencing a seizure. Shaking and tremors are common in Dobermans while true seizures are not. Most Doberman owners who believe their dog is having a seizure almost always are actually just experiencing tremors or shaking for non-serious reasons.

However on occasion, if a Dobie is shaking along with other seizure-like signs such as seized muscles, loss of mobility, and loss of awareness, then it might be a form of epilepsy, and a visit to your veterinarian as soon as possible would be best.

7. Inherited Condition

An inherited condition can cause a Doberman to experience shaking or tremors. Head tremors are very common in Dobermans, are usually harmless, and they’re believed to be an inherited condition in the breed. Although their exact cause is unknown. Head tremors (also called “head bobbing”) are so common in Dobermans that many owners will see them at some point in their dog.

They’re generally considered to be painless and temporary, although their exact cause is unknown. There are many theories about why this is so common in Dobermans. The section below will explore these head tremors more in-depth.

If you experience head tremors in your Doberman, try giving your dog a treat or distracting them with a toy. If you believe your dog might be having a true medical emergency due to another condition, see a veterinarian.

Head Tremors (Head Bobbing Syndrome)

Doberman head tremors are very common in the breed. This is often called Head Bobbing Syndrome, Episodic Head Tremor Syndrome, or Idiopathic Head Tremors. This is when your Doberman’s head involuntarily moves rapidly from side-to-side or up-and-down in a quick motion.

This is very common and is usually seen in younger Dobies (those under about a year of age), although it can affect all ages. This is generally not considered to be harmful or painful to the dog and most owners find they can end the tremors by distracting the dog or giving them a treat (especially peanut butter).

A Doberman’s head bobbing episode can last up to a few hours but typically only last about 3 minutes. They’re also fairly infrequent in affected dogs and they may go weeks or months between episodes. This is generally believed to be an inherited condition in the Doberman breed (source).

Video: Doberman Head Tremors

FOR MORE ON HEAD BOBBING: I’ve done a very in-depth article on Head Bobbing Syndrome in Dobermans with insight into how long these episodes last, how often they come in affected dogs, possible causes, and how you can stop the shaking once it starts. See my Doberman Head Tremors and Head Bobbing article here.

It’s not entirely understood why Dobermans suffer from Head Bobbing Syndrome but it is believed to be hereditary. The gene responsible for this has not yet been identified by researchers so there is currently no genetic test to be done to see if a dog will suffer from head tremors.

The Doberman Pinscher Club of American (DPCA) does have multiple theories for why this occurs so frequently in this breed. These theories include brain abnormalities, an emerging genetic disease, and stereotypy. You can read more about the DPCA’s stance on this issue here.

If you’re seeing chattering or “clicking” in your Doberman’s teeth, without any movement of the head, it could have its own set of causes. To find out more take a look at my article on Doberman teeth chattering.

When in doubt, please take your Dobie to a veterinarian. Remember, these dogs are family too!

Shaking in Doberman Puppies

Shaking in Doberman puppies is usually nothing to be concerned about. It’s typically seen as short bursts of vibrating motions over the entire body. Most Doberman puppies will shake or shiver, especially at an early age. Newborns stay cuddled up close to their litter-mates and will often shiver to stay warm.

When their heat source leaves (i.e. Mom), shaking in short-haired pups like Dobermans is very common, especially in cooler environments. If your Doberman’s ears are cold, he or she is likely shivering from the temperature and needs additional warmth.

If your puppy shakes for a small amount of time, say, for 5 minutes when he is settling in for a nap, that is generally nothing to be worried about. At a very young age, it’s also difficult for them to have complete control over their gross motor skills. Although less common, t’s possible that the shaking in your puppy has a more serious cause as well, so if you see any other symptoms or have additional concerns, take your puppy to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Shaking in Doberman Seniors

Senior dogs are generally a little more fragile than their younger counterparts, and a little bit of shaking, especially that which is focused around the legs, can be attributed to old age. That being said, a significant amount of shaking can be an indicator of something else wrong with your dog.

Common Causes of Shaking in Elderly Dobermans

• Arthritis – Elderly Dobermans will also shake when they’re in pain. This can include arthritis, so look for other symptoms such as reduced mobility and discomfort with exercise to support this diagnosis. If you think your dog is suffering from arthritis, contact your vet to get them started on some treatments. Your vet will likely recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Muscle Pain – This is most commonly seen as shaking in the rear legs. Muscle pain is amplified after strenuous activity or long bouts of cardio activity (such as walking). If your elderly Doberman’s shaking doesn’t go away after he’s had adequate time to rest, you may need to talk to your vet. They may suggest massage to relieve and stretch the muscles or even prescribe hydrotherapy.
• Nerve or Tendon Pain – Degeneration of nerves and/or tendons become evident when your Doberman has “difficulty walking, incoordination, weakness in all limbs, and muscle wasting”, according to this study conducted by William B. Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVIM from the University of Tennessee. This also seems to be more frequently seen in older Dobermans.

Seizures vs. Shaking

The vast majority of Dobermans experiencing body shaking are not having a seizure. A seizure will generally mean your dog’s muscles will seize up, they may lose mobility, and become unresponsive. Whereas during most shivering and even “head bobbing” episodes, your Doberman will remain responsive to you, as well as their surroundings.

The most common causes for true seizures in dogs are the various forms of epilepsy and lucky this is not a common condition in the Doberman breed, although it can happen. The video below will give you an example of a Doberman experiencing a seizure.

Video: Doberman Having an Epileptic Seizure

It’s a good idea, to try and catch your Dobie’s shaking episode on video for your veterinarian to see so they can help you determine if your dog’s behavior is normal, or if it’s due to a seizure that could indicate a brain or nervous system abnormality.

When to Call Your Vet

For starters, if you’re not sure why your dog is shaking, it’s probably a good idea to call your vet. In my opinion, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and the only thing that a trip to the vet will hurt is, perhaps, your wallet.

That being said, there are some indicators that your Dobie should go to the vet right away. Pay attention to their stool and urine. If the stool is soft/runny, if their urine is an unusual color or odor, or your pet is pooping and peeing with increased frequency, it’s a good indicator that they need to go to the vet. Vomiting, limping, or general unusual behavior are all indicators that it’s time to get a vet involved to figure out the cause of your pet’s shaking.

In other words, when in doubt, see a veterinarian.

TIP

Many inherited health conditions and defects in the Doberman breed can be identified as soon as the dog is born through a simple swab of their cheek saliva! Even better, you can do this yourself at home. I show you how in my DNA Health Testing Guide for Dobermans here.

Final Thoughts

Overall, shaking and shivering in Dobermans is a fairly common occurrence for many reasons. It can, and often is, harmless, but if the cause isn’t immediately apparent or accompanied by other symptoms, it might be a good idea to get your vet involved to be safe.

If your Doberman is experiencing unusual head bobbing, it’s very likely that it’s suffering from Bobbing Head Syndrome or Head Tremors which is very common in the Doberman breed and most often harmless, although it’s still a good idea to confirm this with a veterinarian professional.

Overall, take a deep breath. You do need to figure out why your Doberman is shaking so you can know if any further steps are necessary to keep them healthy, but the chances are that it’s due to one of the many common causes of shaking in this breed that is also likely to be harmless.

Related Questions

Why Does My Doberman Tremble? Your Doberman may tremble for a variety of reasons. In general, if they’re cold, excited, or anxious they will shake. If your Doberman’s head is bobbing up-and-down or side-to-side, it’s a good indication that they’re suffering from Head Bobbing Syndrome.

Why Does My Doberman Shiver While Sleeping? Dobermans often shake while sleeping as a means of generating additional body warmth or as a natural response while in a dream state.

The post 7 Reasons Why Your Doberman is Shaking appeared first on Doberman Planet.

You may be amazed at how fast your Doberman puppy is growing into an adult, especially if this is your first Doberman. It’s very common for owners to want to know when their “monster of a dog” will reach its full size. Understanding when your Doberman will be fully grown will help you gain a better idea of the overall physical status of your dog which can help with everything from training decisions to simple things like which bed or crate to buy.

When is a Doberman full grown? A Doberman is full-grown at two years of age. While Dobermans are considered adults at 12 months old and will have reached their maximum height by that time, they won’t reach their full adult weight until they’re about 24 months old.

These are general statements that seem to hold fairly true for the Doberman breed, but there is certainly a bit more to it than that when we dig a little deeper. The bulk of the clients I work with own Doberman puppies in their first year of life. Their feedback, along with the current research on this breed available, sheds a very interesting light on what to expect from a new puppy in their first year.

The Two Major Growth Phases for a Doberman

As large dogs, Dobermans require more time to grow than many smaller dogs. Reaching expected height and weight is part of the growth process, and a lot of that increase in weight comes with the development of muscle mass.

It’s worth noting that the second phase of physical development, when a lot of the muscle mass is developed, seems to be most noticeable in the European variety of Doberman. American Dobermans will certainly still develop muscle and “fill out” during this time but it’s less noticeable.

There are many differences between American and European Dobermans, far beyond simply just the development of muscle mass. If you’d like to see more of their differences, take a look at my article all about the differences between American and European Dobermans here.

Doberman Lifetime Growth Stages

Dobies will go through several growth stages throughout their life. Each phase of the Doberman’s life cycle will offer unique challenges and opportunities. The timeline below will give you an idea of what to look for throughout each stage.

Birth

• Weighs between 10-20 oz.
• Born with eyes shut; ears tightly creased.
• Nurse constantly.
• “Imprinting”/handling is important.

3 Days – 6 Weeks

• Continue to nurse.
• Continue to handle.
• Tails docked; dewclaws removed (3-5 days).
• Introduced to solid food (4 weeks).
• Fully weaned; weigh 8-12lbs (6 weeks).

6 Weeks – 7 Months

• First vaccinations given (6-7 weeks)
• Ears cropped (7-12 weeks)
• Ready for new home (8-12 weeks)
• Teething (12 weeks)
• All permanent teeth (6 months)
• Spaying/Neutering
• Vaccinations complete
• Start obedience classes or training
• Looks like an adult, only smaller

7 Months to 1 Year Old

• Continued growth and maturing.
• Most upward growth is finished.
• Males and Females will continue to fill out.
• Females may experience first heat cycle.
• Considered an adult at 12 months.

1 Year Old to 7 Years Old

• Adult phase of life.
• Female considered at her prime (2-3 years).
• Male considered at his prime (3+ years).
• Most active; at peak performance during this time of life .

7 Years and Older

• Considered a senior or a veteran.
• Beginning to slow down .
• May need different diet.
• Willing, but body may be unable.
• Teeth can create problems.
• Pay close attention to skin, joints, teeth, and activity level.
• Weight gain can become an issue.
• May be showing signs of arthritis or muscular aches and pains.
• Heart problems and cancer are major concerns.
• Lifespan considered 9.6 years on average.

TIP: If you’d like more information on exactly how fast a Doberman puppy grows, see my article Doberman Weight: Growth Curve and Average Weights which focuses on how fast you can expect your Doberman to grow.

Puppy-Hood Growth Chart

During their first year of life, a Doberman grows incredibly fast. The general rule of thumb is that a Doberman puppy will gain approximately 10 pounds of weight for every month old that they are.

This rule is fairly accurate up until about 6 months of age. After that point, the growth rate seems to fall slightly behind the 10 pounds per month mark. Below you’ll see a Doberman growth chart to use as a reference showing the different growth rates of male and female Doberman puppies with time.

American Doberman Growth

American and European Dobermans do differ a bit in terms of size and have slightly different physiques. Although it’s pretty easy to see the difference when the two dogs stand side-by-side, many are not aware that such a distinction exists. These differences between the American and European varieties play a significant role in the adult size you can expect.

As most American Dobies have been bred as family pets, they have a somewhat more compact, sleek, and toned look as compared to their European counterparts. They embody the best family pet traits of the breed while being a size that is very suitable for family life. Their appearance could be accurately described as tone and agile, making them perfect outdoor exercise companions.

• An adult male height of 26 to 28 inches and a weight of 75 to 100 pounds is typical of American Doberman lines.
• An adult female height of 24 to 26 inches and weight of 60 to 80 pounds is typical of American Doberman lines.

Some American dogs may exceed these sizes, but it is not as common as it is for dogs from European lines. These weights and heights are also what’s indicated in the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard for the Doberman (available here). It’s a good broad range that does seem to reflect accurately to real life with these dogs.

It’s also worth noting that the American Dobermans also seem to reach their adult weight a bit sooner than the European variety.

“A European Doberman will grow to be about 5 to 10 lbs heavier and 1 inch taller than an American Doberman.”

– John Walter (DobermanPlanet.com)

European Doberman Growth

European Dobermans have a size and build that is very consistent with the breed’s history as a guard dog. These dogs have a very muscular build that indicates their natural strength and of course, means additional weight.

The European Doberman is bread to a standard that keeps the dog true to its original purpose as a working dog. That’s why European Dobermans often look thicker, larger, and broader in their overall frame.

• An adult male height of 27 to 28 inches and a weight of 80 to 105 pounds is typical of European Doberman lines.
• An adult female height of 25 to 27 inches and weight of 65 to 85 pounds is typical of European Doberman lines.

Although it’s worth noting that the breed standard for the European Doberman (available here) indicates a different “standard” height and weight for the European Doberman. The European Doberman breed standard states that males should be between 88 to 99 pounds and females between 71 and 77 pounds. In terms of height, it states that males should be between 27 and 28 inches and females between 25 and 27 inches.

The breed standard for the European Dobermans doesn’t indicate a stark difference in size to the Amerian Doberman breed standard, but in the real world, they are certainly larger dogs. The difference is simply that the American breed standard seems to allow for a broader range of heights and weights in their dogs while the European standard is more precise.

These dogs generally take longer than American Dobermans to achieve their adult levels of muscle mass. Physical strength is very evident in the appearance of these dogs.

Male Doberman Growth

Males stop growing in height at about the same time females do, or at around 1 year of age. However, from about 1 to 2 years of age, the males will put on more muscle mass than females will. It’ll also generally take them longer to stop growing than the females.

This additional muscle mass is likely what accounts for some of the weight differences between these two sexes. Males likely grow larger and stronger than their female counterparts due to the additional testosterone hormones. This is one reason neutering a male Doberman early on affects their rate of growth.

Female Doberman Growth

Females will stop growing in terms of their height at about the same time as males do, or at about 1 year of age. From 1 to 2 years of age, females will put on additional weight in terms of muscle but it won’t be as much as male Doberman will.

Female Dobermans have less muscle mass and are smoother, and more elegant, in appearance as compared to their male counterparts. You can read more about their differences in my article all about the differences between male and female Dobermans here. That article will give you a breakdown of the physical, mental, and behavioral differences between the sexes.

Behavioral and Physical Maturity

Starting when your puppy is about 12 to 16 weeks of age, they’ll likely start to go through what I call the “juvenile delinquent” stage where unruly behavior becomes normal as the dog tests his or her limits. This can progress up to as late as 1 year of age.

Unfortunately, the juvenile delinquent stage is not just a phase of testing the limits, it’s also a phase of explosive growth for your Doberman. That means the dog is quickly gaining size and weight.

Owners often decide to have their dogs spayed or neutered at this age to combat some of the more difficult behavior. A Doberman this age is big enough to be challenging to handle without proper training, making a good Doberman-specific training strategy all the more critical.

Even though there is a small variation between males and females in size, Dobermans have a fairly uniform size and build. The breed is naturally energetic, but working on training while they’re still growing will make them far easier to manage. These dogs will enter their prime years for physical activity shortly after reaching their full size.

Behavior Changes

A Doberman’s behavior will change a lot with age. As young puppies under six or seven weeks old, Dobies will still have a lot of dependence on their mothers. This article from Prima Dobermans can give you a good idea of what your Doberman experiences while still in the breeder’s care. But after about 8 weeks of age, most Doberman pups will be ready to leave their mother and go home with their new owners.

Some of the most obvious changes in behavior and temperament that you are most likely to notices are listed below:

• 12-Weeks of Age – Around the time a Doberman puppy is twelve weeks old, he or she will start teething. This is a time when a lot of supervision is necessary for your puppy’s safety and your sanity. Puppies also like to get to know their environment, relieve stress, and soothe their sore gums by chewing. This can be the start of the dreaded puppy nipping or biting stages.
• 6-Months of Age – Your puppy should be nearing the end of their teething and puppy nipping or biting stages. This is also a good age to get a bit more serious about obedience training as aren’t as easily distracted as when they were puppies, but they still will have trouble controlling all their energy which can make some training difficult. Young Dobermans at this age have reached three-quarters of their adult size. Understanding “the house rules” before they’ve reached adult size and strength is crucial for a well-adjusted dog.
• 1-Year of Age – A Doberman between a year and a year and a half old has hopefully left puppyhood behind. Their ability to focus on training should be even higher now and you can begin doing more difficult training like bite work, agility training, or training for other AKC events. They’ll still have plenty of energy, but should have be better at controlling it and have a deeper bond with their owners that will make trianing easier.
• 2-Years of Age – This is when your Doberman will not only be fully grown in terms of height and weight, but should also have reached that more “stoic” phase that the Doberman breed is most known for. Their trainability, physical abilities, and desire to please should be at, or close to, a perfect balance. This is when your Doberman really grows into their own.

This should give you a general idea of the progression of the Doberman as they grow and mature. Keep in mind that females will generally hit these stages a touch sooner as compared to male Dobermans. Additional information regarding all the various growth and development stages a puppy goes through from birth onward can be found in this DPCA article.

IMPORTANT

The “Critical Socialization Window” for dogs is between 4 and 16 weeks of age. During this time, fear is overridden by curiosity. This means it’s incredibly important to expose your Doberman to as many new experiences as possible during this window (source).

Final Thoughts

Although Dobermans might vary somewhat in their expected adult size, owners can usually predict when they will have a fully-grown dog. At one year of age, you can consider a Doberman to be at about their maximum height. At 2 years of age, you can consider a Doberman to be at about their maximum weight. This rule is fairly accurate across the sexes and various types of Doberman.

Creating a consistent training and excercise routine will help make sure that your dog, although large, is a calm, relaxed, and obedient family-friendly dog.

Related Questions

How big is a 6-month-old Doberman? Most Dobermans will weigh 50 to 60 pounds at six months of age, with some variation depending on whether it’s an American or European. Dobermans of this age will have reached 3/4 of their expected adult height and strongly resemble adults.

When do Dobermans calm down? Doberman puppies tend to noticeably calm down at about 1 year of age with proper exercise and mental stimulation. They’ll reach full behavioral maturity at about 2 years of age when they become noticeably more stoic in their demeanor.

At what age do Dobermans reach their full height? Dobermans reach their full adult height at around a year old, with continued growth in overall muscle mass until their second year. Some larger Dobermans from European lines might continue growing in height until they’re closer to two years of age, with increasing muscle growth.

The post When is a Doberman Full Grown? appeared first on Doberman Planet.

Reviewed by Dr. Sophie Liu, DVM, DDP Co-Founder

Now more than ever, it’s critical that Doberman owners DNA health test their dogs. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) testing specifically has become critically important since this terrible condition can leave a pup dead within only a few years of life, and has been shown to affect up to 58% of all Dobermans.

Your Doberman could have the genetic mutations linked to this, and other, terrible disorders and you would never know it until it was too late. That is, of course, unless you do a DNA health test first. Modern canine DNA tests are really quite amazing and now they can even give you something called the genetic COI, or the coefficient of inbreeding of your dog, which has been correlated in many other species to associate with longevity.

You can get the Embark Breed and Health DNA Testing Kit here (it’s perfect for Dobermans). HINT: Right now if you use coupon code “DOBERMANPLANET” you’ll get $5 off. Not a ton, but the good news is it still works even WITH any current sales/promotions Embark has going on (most Coupon codes don’t do that), so you can get a very good deal with this as Embark is frequently running promotions.

What Modern DNA Tests Can Tell You

Home DNA health test kits sure have come a long way in recent years. It seems each year they provide more insight into your dog’s makeup and background. The higher-end “all-inclusive” test kits and companies will provide you with an impressive list of insight into your dog including:

• Genetic Disorders – Inherited disorders potentially affecting your dog.
• Health Problems – Health problems your dog is prone to develop during their lifetime.
• Breed Make-Up – The various breeds used in your dog’s breed makeup going back three generations.
• Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) – This measures the amount of inbreeding that took place in your dog’s genetic makeup and can even give insight into your dog’s lifespan.
• Color Genetics – What colors of Doberman your dog is capable of producing in their offspring.
• Albinoidism – If your dog is a “Z-factor” Doberman, meaning they carry the gene for oculocutaneous albinism (white Dobermans).
• Relatives – Some tests will even match your dog with others who have been tested that are genetically related. They’ll even allow you to send messages to the owners.
• Other Traits – Identification of various genes that will give an idea of a long list of physical characteristics of your dog including coat length, coat texture, muzzle length, tail length, muscle mass, eye color, overall adult body size, appetite levels, altitude tolerance, and more.

If you use a reputable company for health testing your Doberman, the insight that these tests can provide is simply amazing. Specifically, the various genetic disorders and related health implications are incredibly important to Doberman owners, but one very interesting result is called the genetic Coefficient of Inbreeding (or COI). This is a fascinating insight these kits can provide that is about as close as modern technology can get to a DNA test for your dog’s lifespan.

Important Health Tests for Dobermans

Every major health testing kit out there will brag about the long list of disorders they test for. But here’s what they don’t want you to know—most of those tests will have zero use to someone testing a Doberman.

This is because a DCM test for a Schnauzer, for example, is a completely different test than what’s appropriate for detecting DCM-linked gene mutations in a Doberman. So if you find a test kit that says it tests for “DCM”, that doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily be meant for Doberman DCM testing.

Make sure to forward your test results to your veterinarian so a plan can be made to address any issues that may have come to light.

My dog Arlo is a perfect example of this. His veterinarian used a genetic testing provider to check him for everything under the sun (150+ disorders, including DCM). And he came back clear of everything. A future test I did with Embark revealed he actually had two copies of the DCM1 gene mutation. Why the discrepancy? It turns out, my veterinarian’s test was looking for a DCM indicator for another breed, not for Dobermans. This was not printed on any of their material and it took a phone call to their geneticists to figure this out.

So even though I got an “all clear” for the DCM gene mutations from my vet, my dog was far from all clear. It was the wrong test.

So besides making sure the test kit you pick checks for the health concerns most appropriate for the Doberman breed specifically, you’ll also need to make sure the individual tests themselves are tests that work for Dobermans. Do you wonder why figuring out the best DNA testing kit for Dobermans took me days of research? This is why.

These are the health tests you’ll want to make sure your kit checks for in your Doberman:

• DCM1 (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) – The “DCM1” test is the correct test needed for Dobermans to detect the mutation in the PDK4 gene which has been linked to the development of DCM in Dobermans. DCM is a chronic heart disease that typically takes the life of the dog within 6 months of diagnosis. This disease is very common in the Doberman breed and believed to affect up to 58% of all Dobermans at some point in their lives.
• DCM2 (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) – The “DCM2” test looks for a mutation in the TTN gene which has also been linked to the development of DCM in Dobermans.
• DM (Degenerative Myelopathy) – This test looks for a mutation in the SOD1-A gene that has been linked to the development of DM in many breeds, including Dobermans. DM is a form of spinal cord degeneration that causes a gradual paralysis or lameness.
• vWD (Von Willebrand Disease) – The “vWD Type 1” test is the correct test for Dobermans. This looks for defects in the VWF gene which is linked to the development of vWD in Dobermans. vWD is a blood clotting disorder common in the Doberman breed.
• Doberman Vestibular Deafness (DVDob or DINGS) – This disease causes hearing and balance problems in Dobermans. It’s a progressive disease that often leads to complete deafness. This is fairly prominent in the Doberman breed and current estimates are that it affects 13% of the breed.

There are definitely other tests that are also important but these are the major ones that are critical for Dobermans. You’ll also definitely want to find a modern test kit that will give you your dog’s “coefficient of inbreeding”, or COI. This is a fascinating number that can actually give you insight into the potential longevity of your dog. But more about that in a later section.

Instructional Video

I put together the video below to walk you through the step-by-step process of home DNA testing your dog. It’ll show you how to activate your kit, collect the sample, send the sample in, and how to use this guide to find out what the results mean for your Doberman.

Best DNA Health Kit for Dobermans

There are countless ways to “health test” a Doberman Pinscher so I finally decided to tackle this problem head-on. I spent two solid days of research to figure out which home DNA health testing kit was best for the Doberman breed, specifically.

This means I spoke with renowned Doberman breeders, went through the fine print on numerous DNA test kits on the market line by line, and meticulously narrowed down my list until I came up with what I believe is the absolute best approach for DNA health testing a Doberman.

This task was a bigger undertaking than I had initially anticipated though since so many dog DNA testing companies appear to offer every test you could possibly imagine, yet only a handful (if that) will be of any help whatsoever to a Doberman owner.

The final conclusion of my research was that the best health test kit out there for Dobermans was this breed ID and health test kit from Embark (green or blue box).

The main features of this specific kit which finally convinced me to make them my go-to provider for home Doberman DNA testing are:

• 215+ health conditions are tested for which (more importantly) includes all the serious health conditions afflicting the Doberman breed.
• They’re the most accurate dog DNA test kit on the market and analyze over 200,000 genetic markers.
• Coefficient of inbreeding (COI) results are included.
• It includes the world’s only dog relative finder⁠—find genetic matches to your dog and message the owners (possible siblings, parents, offspring, etc)!
• Breed identification going back 3 generations in your dog’s family tree is included. This will identify any influences in your dog’s DNA makeup that may not be of Doberman origin. Even if these are incredibly small. This will tell you if your dog is truly 100% Doberman.
• Embark has a larger database of DNA records than the other test providers (over 350 breed DNA profiles are included in their database). This helps to make identifying your dog’s exact genetic influences and breed history far more accurate. They cover 98% of dogs in America.
• Other factors are checked that are of interest to Doberman owners including color genetics, albinoid testing, genetic sensitivities to medications, and a long list of physical characteristics of your dog when he or she is full-grown (it’ll give you an idea of their final size, weight, muscle mass, etc).
• Results are equally useful to both American and European Doberman owners.
• A simple at-home cheek swab method of collecting DNA.
• Relatively fast turnaround times (generally get results in 1-3 weeks).
• A collaborative relationship between Embark and the Doberman Diversity Project exists which makes it simple to donate results to this non-profit. Donating your results will help with their work to improve the health of future generations of Dobermans.

These are the main reasons why I settled on this specific kit from Embark as the best on the market for Doberman owners to utilize for getting a glimpse into the inner workings, and potential future health conditions, of their dogs.

This kit has become increasingly popular with Doberman breeders recently and very often breeders are now using this specific kit to check the DNA of their entire litters. The comprehensiveness of the results makes it easy for breeders to reassure potential buyers.

How to Health Test Your Doberman

For the sake of this guide, I will be basing my instructions on the specific Embark kit that I used on my Doberman puppy (linked to in the previous section). Be aware that these instructions likely will not apply to other kits.

Once you’ve ordered the specific Embark kit recommended in the link above, now it’s time to test your dog. In order to provide you with the most specific and accurate instructions, I ordered the same kit and tested my newest addition to my family, Arlo. He is a European Doberman puppy who (at the time of testing) is about 16 weeks old. This kit will work on Dobermans of all ages however the Doberman Diversity Project recommends testing a puppy at 3 weeks of age or older to help avoid cross-contamination.

If you’ve ordered the correct kit, you will see it broken down into three sections when you open the box: the “1 – Activate”, “2 – Swab”, and “3 – Send”.

Step 1: Get the Right DNA Test Kit

After significant research, it’s clear to me that this DNA testing kit from Embark is the best kit for the Doberman breed and provides, by far, the most complete insight into this breed. Embark has collaborations with the Doberman Diversity Project, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and so many others.

Get the Test Kit:

• Embark Health + Breed ID Kit for your Doberman

Use a Coupon Code:

• DOBERMANPLANET – $5 off Breed + Health Kit (STACKABLE with any other current promotions!)
• MULTIPACK2 – 10% off 2 Breed + Health kits
• MULTIPACK3 – 15% off 3 Breed + Health kits
• MULTIPACK4 – 20% off 4 or more Breed + Health kits

Once you order your kit you should receive it in just a few days. Mine took two business days to show up at my front door.

Step 2: Activate Your Kit

You should see a small barcode printed on both the outside of your kit’s box and on the packaging for the swab inside the box (in section two—the blue section). The barcode will look something like this: EM-1234567. This is the code you’ll need to activate your kit.

Next, go to embarkvet.com/activate. This will bring you to a login page. At the bottom of the login section, click “sign up” to create an account with Embark. Fill out the requested information and click “sign up.”

Now you’ll have to create a profile for your dog on their site, but this is pretty simple. Just enter your dog’s name and answer the remaining questions on that page. When you’re done click “Continue” at the bottom of the page. A summary of what you entered should appear, if you want to add another dog to your profile for testing, just click “No, let’s add another dog”. Otherwise, just click the “Yes, we’re done” button if everything looks good.

The next screen will ask you which dog you’d like to activate your kit for. Select your dog and click “Continue.” Then you’ll enter the number from the barcode printed on your box (and on the cheek swab packaging inside your kit). Then it’ll ask you a few more questions about how you would like to get notified when the results are ready and finally send you to a summary of what you entered about your dog.

If you see the words “Activated. Swab activated on (date), awaiting return” on your main account screen then everything is set! If you’re testing multiple dogs, it’s a good idea to use a sharpie and write the dog’s name on the cheek swab packaging so you don’t get the swabs confused while using multiple test kits.

Step 3: Swab Your Dog

Now it’s time to swab your dog’s cheek and collect a sample of their DNA. The swab is pretty easy to use. Start by removing the swab from the plastic packaging, and place the end of the swab (the spongy, q-tip looking end) into one of the lower pouches of your dog’s cheek.

These pouches are located between the gums of their most rearward molars and their cheek. If you feel down towards the bottom jaw area here, you’ll notice a pouch-like area where the drool tends to pool up. This is the area you want to use to soak the swab end in.

Place the swab in this pouch and move it around subtly while slowly spinning it to thoroughly soak it. Do this for about 30 to 60 seconds to make sure the whole sponge is soaked in your dog’s saliva.

Here are some important points about doing this:

• Only swab your dog’s cheek at a time when your dog hasn’t had anything to eat for at least 30 minutes prior or had anything to drink for at least 10 minutes prior (although longer is better).

• Don’t let your dog chew on the swab while collecting your sample.

• Either side of the cheek is fine to use.

Once you’ve soaked the end of the swab’s sponge in your dog’s saliva, unscrew the plastic cap that is connected to the base of the sponge, turn the swab upside down, place it into the handle (or tube), and screw it on firmly. You’ll be placing the swab’s sponge end into the liquid that you saw inside the handle of the swab. 

Once the lid is tight, shake the vile at least 10 times. This will cause the liquid inside the vile to finish soaking into the spongy part of the swab and will help stabilize the DNA for transport.

Step 4: Send the Swab Back

Once your swab is sealed inside the vile, place it inside the clear plastic bag that is inside your kit (in the yellow section of the box), and seal it. Then place that bag into the included padded envelope and seal the envelope.

The postage on this envelope is prepaid so all you need to do is put it in your mailbox or drop it off in any U.S. Postal Service mailbox.

Now just wait for the e-mail or text for notification that your dog’s DNA results are ready!

Step 5: Review Results

You’ll receive an e-mail with the subject line “Health and Breed Results are ready!” when your results are ready to be viewed. When you get this message, just click on the link in the e-mail which will take you back to Embark’s login page.

Once you log in with the e-mail address and password you created when activating the kit, you’ll be able to see your dog’s test results! Along the top of the screen, you should see the options of research, health, breed, traits, and relatives. 

The research section appeared there when you first activated your account but the health breed, traits, and relatives options will only appear once your results are ready.

• Health Tab – Under the health tab you’ll see your dog’s health results, the coefficient of inbreeding (COI), and other health-relevant results.
• Breed Tab – Under the breed tab you’ll see your dog’s breed result, family tree, the maternal haplotype, and paternal haplotype. The breed result will tell you what percentage of Doberman your dog is. The family tree will show you visually all the breed influences in your dog going back three generations. This means it’ll show you the breeds of the past 14 ancestors in your dog’s genetic makeup. If your dog is 100% Doberman Pinscher, then all 14 dogs in this tree will be Dobermans. The “haplotype” sections will give you a visual representation of where in the world your dog’s ancient ancestors came from—pretty cool!
• Traits Tab – This will give you information on the physical traits of your dog that were apparent from their DNA. Such as their fur color, coat traits, muzzle length, tail length, hind dewclaws, muscle and bulk, eye color, high altitude tolerance, and appetite. Much of this you probably already know about your dog but it’s really interesting to see what color puppies your dog can make. Can they make diluted color Dobermans like the fawn and blue Dobermans? How about white Dobermans (“Z-factor” dogs)? This is where it will tell you.
• Relatives Tab – Other dogs that Embark has tested which are closely related to your dog will appear here. You’ll see a list of dogs whose DNA closely matches your dog’s DNA. These dogs might be siblings, parents, or in the case of my dog Arlo, I found a close relative who shares the same grandfather as my dog. It’ll also allow you to message the owners and chat about your dogs, where you got them from, set up play-dates, etc.

Use the “Interpreting the Results” section of this article to help guide you through which specific results you should pay close attention to as a Doberman owner, and what they mean in simplified terms.

Step 6: Donate the Results to Research

The Doberman Diversity Project (DDP) is a true blessing to the Doberman breed, and frankly, in my opinion, might ultimately prove to be this breed’s saving grace for future generations. The DDP is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to reducing the occurrence of heritable diseases in the Doberman breed and addressing the issues that are leading to a lack of genetic diversity in the breed.

Luckily, Embark and the Doberman Diversity Project work together to help further this goal. The DDP has a very simple way that everyday owners of Dobermans (like you and I) can donate our dog’s DNA results to their organization. This is free, quick, and easy to do and allows the DDP to use your dog’s DNA profile in their research. This certainly has the potential to greatly impact the Doberman breed in a very positive way.

So it really is critical that you donate your dog’s results to this organization for their research. To do this, simply do the following.

1. Go to the Embark login page here and log in to your Embark account.
2. Under your dog’s profile page, look for the section titled “Print or Download Results” and click on “Raw Data.”
3. On the page that comes up, click on the two buttons to download the ZIP and the CSV files to your computer. This is your dog’s DNA profile you’re downloading!
4. Go to the Doberman Diversity Project’s Submit Embark Results page here.
5. Fill out your dog’s basic information on that page and upload both your ZIP and CSV files to the same page (click the “choose file” button on the page for each of these).
6. Briefly describe your Doberman’s current health status in the comments section of that form (e.g. “Diagnosed with DCM via Holter and Echocardiogram”).
7. Click “Submit”.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of how to do this, see my YouTube video about donating your Doberman’s DNA results here. You can skip to 8:11 into the video if you just want to see the instructions for donating your results to the DDP.

That’s it, once you’ve done that, by taking that simple action you’ve done more than most owners do to ensure a brighter future for Dobermans!

But your job shouldn’t stop there. You should also return to the DDP and update them on any changes in your dog’s health. This is where you can go from a hero who has donated genetic results for research, to a superstar who just made their dog’s genetic information many magnitudes more valuable to this organization’s important research.

Make sure you go to the Doberman Diversity Project’s Update Portal here and update them when (or if) any of the following occur:

• Your dog is diagnosed with DCM.
• Your dog passes away.
• You perform a holter or echo on your dog.
• Your dog is 10 years of age or older.
• Any other changes in your Doberman’s health.

Getting your dog tested is great, donating the results is amazing, and updating the DDP with changes in your dog’s health after donating the results is probably the single, most important, thing you can do to help researchers ultimate reduce or eliminate the occurrence of many of the serious conditions that plague the Doberman breed today.

If you’d like to make a monetary donation to the Doberman Diversity Project, you can do so by going to their donation page here. Not only will your donation go far in helping improve the future of our favorite breed, but it can also help with your taxes at the end of the year!

Interpreting the Results

The combination of results you might receive for your Doberman is endless. However, I’ll go over some of the most common results for the Doberman breed that you should pay attention to and what they mean.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy, DCM1

The results for the DCM1 test are found under the “Health” tab in your account. Once there, click on “Breed-Relevant Conditions” to see this result. This test looks for how many copies of the mutated PDK4 gene have been detected.

Possible Results

In one study published by North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 132 Doberman Pinschers were evaluated and of those, 66 had the PDK4 gene mutation and 66 did not. In that study, 82% of the Dobermans with the PDK4 gene mutation were affected by DCM. Whereas only 39% of the Dobermans without the PDK4 gene mutations were affected by DCM (source). 

A later study published by the Institute of Genetics, University of Bern in Switzerland concluded that PDK4 mutation present in European Dobermans did not produce an increased risk of developing DCM (source).

However, if you have a European Doberman, don’t let this give you a false sense that your dog is somehow immune to DCM because that is certainly not the case. In fact, DCM prevalence in European Dobermans is quite high and affects as much as 58.2% of the population according to a study published by Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany (source). So DCM is still occurring quite frequently in European Dobermans, but it seems that the DCM1 test isn’t likely to be any kind of predictor of this in the European dogs.

To learn more about DCM within the Doberman breed, see my article Doberman Pinscher Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Simplified.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy, DCM2

The DCM2 test result can be found under the “Health” tab in your account. Once there, click on “Breed-Relevant Conditions”. This test looks for a mutation affecting the TTN gene.

Possible Results

I’m not aware of any studies involving the DCM2 test that relate specifically to European Dobermans at the moment, its effects on European Dobermans are unknown. The majority of studies involving the TTN gene mutations in Dobermans have revolved around assessing American Doberman Pinschers such as this study by Kathryn M. Meurs of North Carolina State Veterinary Medicine.

To learn more about DCM within the Doberman breed, see my article Doberman Pinscher Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Simplified.

Von Willebrand Disease Type I

The Von Willebrand Disease Type I test result is found by going to the “Health” tab in your account and clicking on “Breed-Relevant Conditions”. This test looks for a mutation affecting the VWF gene.

Possible Results

Luckily, Von Willebrand Disease Type 1 is the least severe of all the vWD types. Most Dobermans who have this disorder do not die from it as it’s usually well managed with proper medical care. Even if your dog tests to have two copies of the mutated gene, it still doesn’t mean that they will develop the disorder, only that they are at an increased risk.

Deafness and Vestibular Syndrome, DVDob, DINGS

The DINGS test result is under the “Health” tab in your account. Once there, click on “Breed-Relevant Conditions”. This test looks for a mutation affecting the MYO7A gene.

Possible Results

Current research seems to suggest that this disorder is an autosomal recessive disease, which means that two copies of the mutated gene are required for it to develop. If this is true, it means that if testing shows that only one copy of the gene is present, then the dog won’t be affected but could pass the gene on to its offspring.

ALT Activity

The ALT activity test result can be found under the “Health” tab and then “Clinician Tools” in your Embark account. This test checks for a mutation involving the GPT gene.

Possible Results

The biggest impact of this condition is simply that it skews what the “normal range” should be for your dog’s ALT liver enzymes. If your Doberman has this condition and your veterinarian is not aware, then it’ll make reading their bloodwork problematic.

For example, your vet may think that your dog’s liver is healthy from the results of the blood work since it shows their ALT enzymes levels are within the normal range, but if your dog is affected by this condition, their “normal range” might be quite a bit lower than expected. It’s good to make your veterinarian aware of this condition if your dog is affected by it so they will be able to spot problems in your dog’s liver function in the future.

Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI)

Your Doberman’s coefficient of inbreeding percentage can be found under the “Health” tab and “Inbreeding and Diversity”. This test measures how closely your dog’s parents were related genetically. It can gauge the overall diversity (or lack of) in your Doberman’s genetics. This is an absolutely amazing and fascinating test that can give you a ton of insight into your dog’s health.

Inbreeding has been proven to reduce the vitality and the lifespan of a dog by 6 to 10 months for every 10% increase in inbreeding in the dog’s genetic makeup.

Unfortunately, the Doberman Pinscher’s levels of inbreeding are normally quite a bit higher than many other breeds. As you can see from the curve below, the yellow dotted line gives you an idea of how inbred other Dobermans typically are and the grey line shows you how inbred the typical purebred dog is, of all breeds.

The small arrow shows the result I got while testing my new Doberman puppy, Arlo. His coefficient of inbreeding is 48% which puts him a bit higher than the average Doberman in terms of inbreeding.

If I were to assume the average lifespan of a Doberman is 10-13 years and the average COI of the Doberman, based on this chart’s data, is somewhere in the ballpark of 35%, I might conclude that the predicted lifespan of my dog might just be on the lower end of that range. However, there is some recent concerning research that indicates that the average lifespan of a Doberman may be closer to 8 years. If that were the case, certainly these numbers would look significantly more grim.

There are many problems with making those assumptions however since the COI does not directly translate to lifespan in that way. However, it has been shown to have a link to the projected lifespan of a dog and so that’s what makes these numbers so fascinating to me and makes it so difficult for me to avoid drawing those conclusions—as problematic as they might be. 

Please keep in mind though that the COI is not meant to be an accurate predictor of how long a dog will live, only their genetic diversity. If you want to learn more about the COI and what it means, take a look at COI FAQS: Understanding the Coefficient of Inbreeding by Carol Beuchat Ph.D.

Get the same kit I used on my dog Arlo, which will give you the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) number for your dog here.

B (Brown) Locus

This result can be found by going to the “Traits” tab and then looking under the section titled “Base Coat Color.” This result will give you an idea of pigment colors your dog is able to produce in its offspring. “B” is the dominant black color-producing gene and “b” is the recessive red color-producing gene.

Possible Results

• BB – This result means your dog is black in color and cannot produce red offspring.
• Bb – This result means your dog is black in color but can produce red offspring.
• bb – This result means your dog is red in color and can produce red offspring.

Since the red producing gene (b) is recessive, dogs who have the dominant BB will never be able to produce a red puppy no matter who they are bred with. However, if your dog has at least one copy of the recessive red gene (b) and is bred with another Doberman who also has at least one recessive red gene, red pups can be born. 

This information combined with the information in the following section (the D locus result) will tell you all the various color combinations your dog can produce in its offspring. The D locus is a dilution factor gene so it can change the appearance of the red and black Dobermans and that is why it must also be considered when attempting to figure out all the various colors your dog can produce in their puppies.

D (Dilute) Locus

This result can also be found in the “Traits” tab. Once there, look for “Base Coat Color” and you will see this result. This gene is also known as the “color dilution gene” and is responsible for diluting (or not diluting) the color that is produced in the dog by the B locus in the previous section. 

A “diluted” color Doberman means either a fawn (Isabella) or blue Doberman.

Possible Results

• DD – This result means your dog is not a diluted color themselves and does not carry the gene necessary to make diluted colored Dobermans (blues and fawns).
• Dd – This result means that your dog is not a diluted color themselves but does carry the gene necessary to make diluted colored Dobermans (blues and fawns).
• dd – This result means that your dog is a diluted color themselves (either blue or fawn depending on the B locus results in the previous section) and can make other diluted colored Dobermans (blues and fawns).

If a diluted color is produced, the dog will make either fawn or blue-colored offspring. A fawn-colored Doberman is simply a dog whose B locus set the dog up to be a red-colored dog but the D locus diluted the red coloring, which appears to be a fawn-type color.

A blue-colored Doberman is simply a dog whose B locus set the dog up to be a standard black-colored dog but the D locus diluted the black coloring, which made the dog appear a blueish or silver color.

To learn more about all the various colors that are possible with Dobermans, see my article All the Colors and Types of the Doberman.

Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 2 (OCA2)

You can find this result if you do under the “Traits” tab of your Embark account and scroll down to the “Other Coat Traits” section. This test will indicate if you have a Doberman who has a partial deletion of the SLC45A2 gene which is known to create tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism (OCA2). This is what creates what’s known as a “Z-factor Doberman” which is also often called a white, cream, or albino Doberman.

Possible Results

• NN – This result indicates that your dog is not affected by this mutation and cannot pass it on to their offspring. They are unable to produce white Dobermans.
• ND – This result indicates that your dog is not affected by this mutation (meaning they are not a white Doberman themselves) but they carry the gene mutation for it and can pass it on to their offspring. If your dog mates with another ND dog or DD dog, they can produce white Doberman puppies.
• DD –  This result indicates that your dog is affected by this mutation and has OCA2. Your dog will appear white or cream in color and can produce white-colored puppies if bred with an ND or DD Doberman. This trait can also be passed on to their offspring.

All known white Dobermans are thought to have descended from a Doberman named Padula’s Queen Sheba (aka “Sheba”), a white Doberman born in 1976. If you would like to learn more about the white Doberman including why they exist and the controversy surrounding them, see my article The White Doberman Pinscher: Pictures, Cost, Health, and More.

Decoding Your Dog’s Color Genetics

Once you have both B locus and D locus results, you can combine them to tell you exactly what colored puppies your dog is able to create. Here are some example results below made by combining these two results.

A black dog can be any of the following:

• BBDD – This is a black Doberman that can produce black, but not red colored offspring and cannot produce diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring. This dog is only capable of producing black Dobermans.
• BBDd – This is a black Doberman that can produce black, but not red colored offspring but can produce diluted (blue and fawn) colored offspring depending on their mate.
• BbDD – This is a black Doberman that can produce black or red offspring depending on their mate, but not diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring.
• BbDd – This is a black Doberman that can produce black, red, and diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring depending on their mate.

A red dog can be any of the following:

• bbDD – This is a red Doberman that can produce black or red but cannot produce diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring depending on their mate.
• bbDd – This is a red Doberman that can produce black, red, and both diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring depending on their mate.

A blue dog can be any of the following:

• BBdd – This is a blue Doberman that cannot produce red but can produce blue offspring depending on their mate.
• Bbdd – This is a blue Doberman that can produce black, red, and both diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring depending on their mate.

A fawn dog can be any of the following:

• bbdd – This is a fawn (or Isabella) colored Doberman that can produce black, red, and both diluted colored (blue and fawn) offspring depending on their mate.

Since the gene that creates the red Dobermans (located on the B locus) is recessive, you need to have both recessive versions of the gene (b) in order for the dog to come out as a red color. For a dog to come out as black, they only need one version of the dominant black-colored gene (B).

Regardless of what the B and D locus results are, if your dog is affected by Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 2 (OCA2), this will mask the color of the dog and they will appear white or cream in color.

For more information on the various color combinations of Doberman puppies that can be produced by your dog once you have these results, take a look at the DPCA’s Color Inheritance Chart.

Breeding Implications

For most of the gene’s affecting the Doberman breed, it’s usually considered safe to breed a carrier of that specific mutation with a mate that is clear. This will produce puppies that are either clear of the mutation or a carrier, but it is not possible to produce puppies who are affected by the condition.

Most breeding programs agree that it’s simply not possible to limit the breeding of only Doberman mates who are both clear of every genetic condition as this will severely limit the gene pool and likely have other negative health consequences, such as raising the breed’s overall coefficient of inbreeding (COI).

Final Thoughts

This means that it’s incredibly important that every owner of a Doberman does DNA-based health testing at some point in their dog’s life. I performed this DNA testing on my most recent Doberman puppy at about 4 months of age, but it can be performed at any point in the Doberman’s life.

Testing your dog will give you an idea of health conditions your specific dog is likely to develop over their lifetime, a glimpse into their potential lifespan, and insight into what genetic traits they may pass on to their offspring if you plan to breed.

Having this clear picture of your Doberman’s DNA makeup can help your veterinarian take the necessary steps to lessen the impact of certain disorders your dog may face later in life. This is an amazing tool that provides an impressive level of insight into your dog’s inner workings that we simply haven’t had in generations past.

Also, by donating the genetic results you receive from Embark to programs such as the Doberman Diversity Project, you can have a significant impact on the betterment of the Doberman breed in future generations—something all Doberman owners, including myself, will be grateful for.

The Doberman breed might be affected by a large number of issues as purebreds go, but we don’t need to go into this blind. I urge you to test your dog as I did with Arlo, so you know what you’re up against and to contribute your dog’s genetic results to research to help better future generations of the Doberman breed.

If you see Arlo’s picture in your dog’s matched relatives after testing, send me a message and say hi, our dog’s might just be related!

Neither this site, its owners, or this guide are associated with or endorsed by Embark. You can read our complete terms and conditions for more details.

The post Doberman DNA Health Testing: The Complete Guide appeared first on Doberman Planet.

Dobermans are known for being loveable and excitable dogs. We all know that when dogs get excited, they tend to drool a bit more than normal. But are Dobermans really known for their excessive drooling? Well, no.

How much do Doberman Pinschers drool? Dobermans are not known for producing excessive amounts of drool as compared to other breeds. The Doberman is an elegant guard dog that generally prefers to stay clean. However, a sudden increase in drooling from your Doberman may be cause for concern.

That’s the short answer, but after reaching out to countless other Doberman owners, and keeping my own Doberman, Cooper, under close observation for a few weeks, I feel I can shed even more light on the question of how much Dobermans really drool in their day-to-day life.

Normal Levels of Drooling for Dobermans

Now I need to start by mentioning that every dog is an individual and there are naturally some heavy droolers and some not-so-heavy droolers in the Doberman world.

But, there are definitely some common themes with Dobermans as a whole when it comes to many of their traits, including their levels of drool.

I found that my own experience with my Dobermans falls right in line with the other owners I spoke to while performing research for this article. I’ll describe when I normally notice drool from my dog, but first, here’s the definition of the terms I’ll use to describe the amount of drool most owners usually see.

Levels of Drool Defined

• Minimal – This means some extra moisture is noted around the mouth or lips, but nothing further. If the dog is resting, a small wet spot might be seen on the fabric they were resting on.
• Moderate – Moisture and possibly some thicker saliva bubbles are present around the mouth area.
• Heavy – Moisture and saliva bubbles are present in sufficient quantities to cause dripping from the mouth.

When I Notice Drooling From my Dobermans:

• Near meal or snack times (moderate).
• After drinking water (heavy, but brief).
• Around new people or animals (minimal).
• While sleeping (minimal).
• During or after strenuous exercise (moderate).

I can confidently say that, in general, I notice no drool what-so-ever from my Dobermans throughout the day with the only exceptions mentioned above.

However, as with other dog breeds, no two Dobermans are exactly alike. On occasion, a Doberman owner will report their dogs as drooling quite often, with many notable times at night or even during the day.

“Dobermans are naturally very clean dogs who aren’t known to be big droolers.”

– John Walter (DobermanPlanet.com)

Doberman Drooling Compared to Other Dogs

When ranked on a scale of high to low drool production as compared to other breeds, Dobermans tend to come in on the low end. About half of all Doberman owners report their dog as producing little to no noticeable drool.

Most reputable online dog sites will list the Doberman Pinscher as being one of the breeds with the least amount of drooling issues.

The following is a list of some of the most popular dog breeds, ranked in order of how much they tend to drool.

1. Bernese Mountain Dog
2. Bloodhound
3. Bull Terrier
4. Bulldog
5. Saint Bernard
6. Pitbulls
7. Rottweilers
8. Labrador Retrievers
9. German Shepherds
10. Chihuahua
11. Dachshund
12. Doberman Pinscher
13. Old English Sheepdog
    

Those looking for a large, lovable dog bread that does not drool much will likely not do much better than a Doberman. They’re easy to get along with and as they’re not typically known to drool, you almost certainly won’t find yourself having to clean puddles of drool off the floor.

When Dobermans Will Naturally Drool More

Around Food

Same as with most dog breeds, Dobermans will produce a bit more drool when around food or designated mealtimes. This usually shows itself as simply a bit more moisture on the lips or the fur around the lips.

This drooling can increase to the point of causing dripping from the mouth on rare occasions. Such as if you place their food bowl near them, and don’t allow them to go near it for a few minutes. However, this is rare.

After Drinking Water

This is probably the time when most Doberman owners agree that their dogs seem to drool the most. It isn’t completely their fault though. These dogs have such a desire to play and be close to their owners that they often don’t want to take a break, even to drink water.

That means that once they do drink water, they quickly drink a lot of it, and stop drinking abruptly. Then, when they’re done, they usually quickly run around the house in search of something (or someone) fun. This usually means they still have water, mixed with saliva, dripping from their mouths.

This is the time when most owners will experience the highest level’s of drool (well ok, drool mixed with water) coming from their Dobermans.

Around Friends (Human or Otherwise)

According to the book “The Doberman Pinscher” (Amazon link) by Janice Biniok, Dobermans are generally extremely friendly and ready to make friends with other dogs from a young age—this is very true in my experience.

Since Dobermans are so friendly, they may also have increased drool production when meeting another dog (or person), due to this natural friendliness.

However, they do also naturally prefer being clean so they usually do a really good job keeping their own drool in check by routinely licking their mouth.

When it comes to expressing their fondness for humans, Dobermans also tend to enjoy laying their heads gently on their owners’ laps or nuzzling them, rather than drooling all over them.

While Sleeping

Many Dobermans sleep with their mouths open, so they do tend to produce a bit more drool at night when they’re sleeping.

This is almost always a minimal level of drool and you usually won’t even notice that there’s any drooling going on while your dog is asleep until they wake up.

Then you might see a small damp area near where their mouth was resting while they were sleeping. If your Dobie is lucky enough to have his own pillow, you might see this small damp area on the pillowcase, for example.

During Strenuous Excercise

Dogs sweat through their mouth and when they need to cool off, they naturally produce more moisture and breathe with their mouths open. Dobermans are the same as pretty much every other breed of dog in this sense.

That means you’ll often see increased drooling after or during strenuous exercise, but really that’s a good thing. It means that their body is doing what it’s supposed to do! Make sure to always provide them with plenty of water to help them hydrate and keep cool.

How to Reduce Drooling

Because there are several potential causes for drooling in your Doberman, some more severe than others, it may be tough to tell exactly what’s causing your dog’s drooling.

It’s always best to see a veterinarian if you are at all concerned. Especially if there is a sudden increase, or decrease, in drool production.

However, if there’s nothing seriously or medically wrong with your dog, you may be able to deal with the increased drool production with some at-home solutions.

Decreasing Drooling Due to Nausea

If you believe your Dobie is experiencing a temporary increase in saliva production due to nausea, your first step is to see a veterinarian. Once your vet rules out any potential serious reasons for nausea, there may be some at-home remedies he or she may suggest you try.

Some Dobermans can have sensitive stomachs. Although they may seem as though they want to eat everything and anything, there are some foods that they’re not able to easily digest, such as:

• Seafood
• Sweets
• Fatty foods
• Heavily processed meats
• Fruits

If you find your dog is exhibiting consistent symptoms of nausea after eating, including excessive drooling, licking, dry heaving, or diarrhea, it may be time to consider some changes to their diet. Trying switching him over to a simpler diet free of these foods.

In Dobermans, a condition called bloat (or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus) is somewhat common and a very serious condition. It can often be life-threatening for Dobermans. One of the symptoms of this is excessive drooling.

I know I’ve said this more than once in this article, but please make sure to see your vet before assuming that the excessive drooling you observe is benign.

Decreasing Drooling in the Car

Remember that Dobermans can be sensitive to travel. This is especially the case when in a car, bouncing down a windy road. So, it’s a good idea not to feed your dog right before you travel.

Try taking your Dobie for a gentle walk after eating and before doing any traveling to ensure that they’ve digested their food as much as possible.

If you’re going for a particularly long drive, it may be helpful to put your Doberman pup in either the front with you or the middle seat if your dog must sit in the back. I know you’re probably thinking that your Dobie won’t fit in the front.

But, many owners are very surprised how happy their pup is in the front seat with them. Remember, they’re velcro dogs and just want to be as close as possible to you. If they do enjoy it, it will probably help your dog to avoid motion sickness (and the resulting drooling) as much as possible.

If you’re still worried about your Dobie while traveling, be sure to give him (or her) frequent breaks along the way. Try taking him for a walk and playing with your dog during the breaks to ease your dog’s nausea and anxiety, thereby reducing the amount they drool.

Decreasing Drooling Due to Anxiety

It’s definitely possible for your Doberman to experience increased saliva production due to stress or anxiety. Separation anxiety, for example, is a known problem in the Doberman breed.

If at all possible, do your best to alleviate your dog’s anxiety by eliminating the stressors your Doberman is responding to. For example, if this occurs mainly when you are leaving for work, your Doberman is probably suffering from separation anxiety.

Possible methods for dealing with anxiety in Dobermans:

• Increase daily exercise.
• Additional attention from their owner.
• Gradual increasing levels of exposure to the situation(s) that aggravate the anxiety (conditioning).
• New and interesting toys.
• Mentally stimulating toys (see my toy recommendations here).
• Provide plenty of room for them to run, play, and hide.
• Leave the TV or Radio on when leaving the house.

If your dog seems especially prone to separation anxiety, take a look at the article I wrote on handling a particularly needy Doberman here.

Decreasing Drooling Around to Mealtime

Drooling around mealtime is probably the most common time a Doberman will drool. It might seem harmless if your pup gets particularly drooly when it comes to their mealtime, and frankly, if your dog is salivating over the food you’ve purchased them, it likely means you’ve done a good job picking a food they love!

See my recommendations for the best food and treats for Dobermans here.

However, it is highly likely that your Doberman is drooling at some less opportune times—such as your own family mealtime. Dobermans are likely going to salivate over your food, especially if meat is involved.

Luckily, there are some steps you can take in order to communicate to your dog that not every mealtime you have is mealtime for them. The essential thing that all of the suggestions below have in common is that they all involve keeping your dog occupied and redirecting their behavior while you eat so that they learn that begging at mealtimes is not acceptable.

Eat at the Same Time as Your Dog

Try to give your dog their own food while you’re eating your meal. That way, your Dobie will get used to not sitting and staring at your meal in anticipation. You’ll also be getting your dog full and satisfied rather than ready for another meal when you sit down to eat yours.

If you feed your Doberman at the same time as you eat, your dog will be too preoccupied with eating to follow you around, beg for scraps, and drool in your lap. Even better, your dog will have a better distinction between your food vs. their food.

Even if it’s not your dog’s mealtime, you can try giving your pup food in a “food puzzle”, a toy designed to make eating active rather than passive. Your dog will be distracted and engaged in the puzzle while you are eating, therefore keeping your dog’s attention away from your food.

These food puzzles are amazing for Dobermans since they help engage the dog’s mind as well as keeping them busy. If you want to see the puzzle toys I recommend for Dobermans, take a look at the recommended products page located on the main menu of this website.

Train Your Dog With Another Action

Rather than encourage begging at mealtimes, condition your Dobie to perform another action while you are eating. For example, try training your Doberman to lay down in their bed when it’s your mealtime.

Training this takes a lot of patience and extreme consistency, but it’s possible. As with any time you train your Doberman, after enough practice and consistency from you, your dog will soon begin to associate your mealtimes with their relaxation time. This can eliminate begging behaviors and the idea that they will get a portion of your meal.

Put Your Dog in Another Room

I really don’t like recommending this option, but it could be useful early on while you’re still training your Doberman to place their attention somewhere else during meal times.

This is certainly not the longterm solution, but keeping your dog in another room can help get your dog used to the idea that your mealtimes are not for them.

Keep your food out of sight and give them something to preoccupy themselves with until they begin to get used to the idea of engaging themselves in other activities during your mealtime. A puzzle toy with food inside is great for this also.

Medical Problems That Can Cause Excessive Drooling

As you know by now, extra drooling from your Doberman is definitely expected in many situations. However, occasionally excessive drooling can be rooted in a more serious medical problem.

Here are some examples of possible medical issues that could be causing excessive drooling in your Doberman:

• Gum infections.
• Chipped or cracked teeth.
• Poisoning.
• Foreign object lodged in the throat.
• Bloat (GDV).
• Liver or kidney disease.
• Heatstroke.
• Injuries in the mouth.
• Tumors.
• Rabies.
• Digestive tract obstruction.

In general, your Doberman likes to be clean and will do a good job licking their lips and keeping their drooling to a minimum. So with Dobermans specifically, it’s usually easy to spot a sudden increase in drooling.

Pay attention to any other small clues (besides drooling) that may indicate your dog is potentially sick. If you spot anything of concern, it’s important to see a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible to rule out some of the more dangerous explanations.

“The Doberman breed is susceptible to its fair share of medical conditions, many of which are life-threatening. If you suspect anything unusual is going on with your Doberman, it’s important to get them to a vet as soon as possible.”

-John Walter (DobermanPlanet.com)

When to Talk to Your Vet

The Doberman breed is prone to a number of health conditions that are very serious and who’s symptoms can include excessive drooling. So it’s important to take your dog to the vet any time you suspect something unusual is going on. Many of the conditions that Dobermans are prone to can be successfully treated if caught early.

As I mentioned previously, some Dobermans do just naturally drool more than others, but sudden or excessive drooling in a Doberman that does not normally drool should be a red flag.

If your dog is experiencing any of the following in conjunction with excessive drooling, you should get him or her into a veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Unusual behavior.
• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Sudden collapse.
• Any other unusual signs.

It is important to remember that you likely do not have the ability to diagnose your dog at home and that there is no replacement for solid medical advice from a qualified veterinarian.

While some dog owners may find themselves hesitating at the cost of bringing their pets to the vet, most will agree that it is worth the peace of mind.

If You Can’t Afford a Vet Visit

I thought I would include this section simply because I’ve noticed a lot of people come to this page who are attempting to self-diagnose their Doberman due to the fear of the cost of a vet visit.

Cost should never be a reason you don’t get your Dobie pup the care he or she needs. It’s difficult, or sometimes impossible, even for a professional to diagnose their own dog at home.

Luckily, the Humane Society keeps a regularly updated list of resources available for pet owners state-by-state that work to provide pet owners with financial assistance for veterinary care. This list also includes options for temporary financial aid and tips for working out payment plans with veterinarians.

Another great option is to just be honest with your vet about your concerns regarding the cost. Many vets maintain a list of other resources and alternative payment options that are available to you to help with the cost and all you have to do is ask!

Catching the Drool

If you have already addressed your dog’s medical condition but need to deal with excessive drooling in the meantime, consider affixing something around your dog’s neck in order to catch excess drool that may fall from your dog’s mouth.

Many owners of excessive droolers are using something like this Wipe It! Drool Catching System (Amazon link) as a means to keep their Dobie’s cleaner.

At least one Doberman owner told me her dog clearly enjoys wearing it, probably because since it’s somewhat warm and her dog (like most Dobermans) probably just prefers being clean.

Related Questions

Do Doberman puppies drool more than adults? Like many breeds of dog, Doberman puppies will often drool more than adults, especially during the teething stage which starts when the dog is about 12 weeks old and continues until their adult teeth come in at about 6-months of age.

Do Dobermans smell? Dobermans have a short coat and coarse hair which doesn’t easily hold onto dirt. They also naturally prefer to stay clean. For these reasons Dobermans rarely smell bad.

The post How Much Drool is Normal for Dobermans (with Examples) appeared first on Doberman Planet.

If you’ve decided to breed your Doberman, you’re probably beyond excited to confirm when she’s actually pregnant. Or maybe you think an unexpected mating may have taken place and you are looking for an explanation of the strange symptoms you’ve been seeing. Either way, this article should help you get a solid idea of if your Doberman is, in fact, pregnant.

Each expectant dog deals with their pregnancy a little differently, but in general, there are common signs in the Doberman breed that indicates that breeding was successful. These include noticeable swelling in the stomach and nipples, changes in behaviors and emotions, increased hunger, nesting behaviors, and decreased activity as the time of whelping gets nearer and nearer. Below are some of the specifics, including what you can expect week-by-week with a pregnant Doberman.

#1 – Emotional Changes

As your Doberman’s pregnancy progresses, she will have to deal with the same hormonal shifts that pregnant humans struggle with. Any sudden emotional changes can sometimes be a sign of pregnancy, but, to be more specific, keep an eye out if your dog is suddenly acting:

• Irritable: Your Doberman may act a bit more short-tempered with you or with the other dogs in your family than usual. This is pretty normal with pregnant dogs and may be an indicator that she’s getting ready to be a defensive mother.
• Clingy: On the other hand, if you notice your Dobie wants to spend more time around you or other members of your family, this could be another sign that she’s pregnant. These dogs are natural pack animals, so it’s normal for her to want to be close to her “pack” (or family) when she’s feeling more vulnerable due to pregnancy.
• Moody: Any sudden or unexpected mood swings can be a sign of pregnancy for your dog. Look out for changes in mood that seem to have no real explanation, and just make sure you help your Doberman feel comfortable as best as you can, whatever her mood.

#2 – Increased Hunger

Your Dobie will often experience increased hunger during pregnancy due to the fact that their developing puppies are putting a nutritional demand on their body. If you’re looking for ways to supplement your dog’s diet during pregnancy without hurting her health, here are some common approaches Doberman breeders will take:

• Increase her food by half. If you’re feeding your dog a cup of kibble or dry food a day, bump that serving size up to a cup and a half as recommended by your vet. If your Doberman is still acting hungry, you can try increasing her food again, but the key is to do so in controlled amounts.
• Try mixing wet and dry food. The key to feeding your pregnant Doberman is to make sure that she’s getting all of the nutrients that she needs. A blend of wet and dry dog food may help to not only provide a variety of nutrients but also hydrate your dog (important in hot climates) while still providing the dental benefits of dry food.
• Try adding raw food (or just add milk). A raw diet will get your dog plenty of vitamins and minerals that will help her through her pregnancy, but it can be slightly more expensive and should only be attempted at the close supervision of a veterinarian or canine nutritionist. A cheaper alternative is adding milk to your Doberman’s meals in order to give her an extra dose of calcium.

To learn about feeding your Doberman raw foods, take a look at my article Should You Be Feeding Your Doberman Raw Meat. Never introduce raw foods into your pregnant Doberman’s diet without speaking with a qualified veterinarian first.

#3 – Noticeable Swelling

Just like with humans, one common symptom Dobermans will show is swelling during their pregnancy. Because Dobermans, like all dogs, have a relatively short gestation period (about 9 weeks), you should be able to spot the changes fairly soon. In particular, look for swelling in:

• The Stomach: You may notice your Doberman putting on weight even if you haven’t increased her food. In particular, swelling in the lower stomach around the hips is usually a strong indicator of pregnancy.
• The Nipples: As your dog’s pregnancy progresses, she will start to produce milk. As a result, her nipples and teats (the area around the nipple) will begin to swell and distend as she prepares to nurse her puppies.
• The Vulva: Generally, your dog’s vulva will not begin to swell until the final weeks of her pregnancy, so this is more of a last-minute confirmation than an early clue. However, swelling in the vulva can serve as a sign that your Doberman is ready to whelp (give birth to) her puppies in the next few days to a week.

#4 – Nesting Behavior

Nesting behavior is common in just about every species and pregnant Dobermans are certainly no exception. As her pregnancy progresses, you may notice her starting to squirrel away blankets or pile up clutter around her bed.

Granted, Dobermans like to do this naturally anyway, but you should pay extra attention if it seems like she’s doing this more than normal. If it has increased lately, it may be a sign that your dog is getting ready to keep her puppies safe and warm. In general, nesting isn’t a problem, but make sure your Dobie is safe by keeping an eye out for:

• Sharp Objects: Make sure she isn’t pulling anything into her nest of blankets and other soft materials that could poke, cut, or scrape her. In general, your Dobie will likely naturally avoid these types of materials, but I certainly wouldn’t rely on this, so make sure to double-check.
• Choking Hazards: Shredded blankets or other cozy materials can still present a choking hazard if your Doberman likes to chew on everything within reach. Check your dog’s nest for long fiber strands or other potential threats especially if you have one of those Dobies (like many of us do) who likes to chew and swallow fibrous materials.

Don’t forget that although your dog may be instinctually building up her own nest, you’ll want to transfer the mother into a suitable whelping box that’s safe and warm for her and her puppies by the about the 6th week of pregnancy.

– John Walter (DobermanPlanet.com)

#5. – Decreased Activity Levels

This last sign contains elements of some of the previous clues: as your Doberman starts showing signs of pregnancy, she may be acting a little more lethargic as a result of both her increased weight and her emotional needs. If you notice your dog starting to mope around the house, it may be one of several signs of pregnancy, but you should still encourage an active lifestyle during pregnancy for the sake of the puppies as well as that of the mother.

During the early stages of the pregnancy, gentle exercise should be encouraged such as walks or games of fetch. Towards the middle of your dog’s pregnancy, the exercise should only be light to moderate. No strenuous activities should be allowed after this point.

If you feel that you’re in over your head and don’t know where to start, take a look at AKC’s Guide to Responsible Dog Breeding for a good starting place.

Pregnancy Stages Week By Week

Since pregnancy moves so quickly in dogs (it takes about 63 days, or 9 weeks), it’s important to know your responsibility at each stage of the process. Make sure that you are working closely with your veterinarian during these stages to ensure a healthy pregnancy. This is especially important when making decisions such as how much, and when, to increase your dog’s food intake.

It’s important to note that to determine how far into the gestation period your dog is, you need to count the number of days (or weeks) from the date of ovulation, not from mating. 

Below is a common progression of a Doberman’s pregnancy week-by-week.

• Weeks 1-2: During this first stage, life is mostly business as usual. Your Doberman might experience some morning sickness or mood changes. Continue feeding as normal. If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to schedule a visit with your veterinarian to discuss your Doberman’s pregnancy and develop a plan of care for your dog throughout her pregnancy.
• Week 3: During week three, watch your Doberman for some of the early signs of pregnancy described in this article. You can still continue to walk, exercise, and feed your dog as usual.
• Week 4: By week four, your veterinarian should be able to confirm your dog’s pregnancy with a quick ultrasound. By this point, you may want to start limiting strenuous activity and reduce exercise to moderate or mild levels of intensity only. Many professionals recommend adding 1/4 cup of cottage cheese or a hard-boiled egg to your dog’s food on alternating days at this point (source).
• Week 5: By week five, the embryos inside of your dog’s uterus will be starting to gain weight rapidly. At this point, your Doberman will begin to swell noticeably, especially in the abdomen, and may display further changes in both her appetite and behavioral patterns. This is normally where food intake is further increased. Switching your dog to a diet of puppy kibble, adding a good multivitamin, and slightly increasing the food intake is usually recommended during this week.
• Week 6: By week six, you may notice your dog’s nipples getting darker and getting bigger. Food intake should generally be increased again, and you should transfer your Doberman to a safe and secure whelping box if you haven’t already.
• Week 7: At week seven, you may notice your dog shedding around her belly in preparation for feeding her young. You may need to slightly increase her feeding again.
• Week 8: By week eight, your Doberman will be very large in size and may begin lactating. She’ll be wanting to spend most of her time in the whelping bed, preparing for the final week of her pregnancy and the intensive nursing period that’ll follow. The puppies can be safely born anytime from here on.
• Week 9: At week nine, the puppies are almost here! Take your Doberman’s temperature regularly and keep an eye out for a sudden drop in temperature. That’s a sign that your Doberman is about to give birth! Normal body temperature is around 100.2 to 100.8 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37.9 to 38.2 degrees Celsius). When her temperature drops to between 98 to 99.4 degrees Fahrenheit (or 36.7 to 37.4 degrees Celsius), then labor is likely about to begin. Your Dobie may also start to pant or become noticeably uncomfortable. It’s also likely that her appetite might disappear as labor approaches.

For a very helpful week-by-week breakdown of how pregnancy in your Doberman is likely to progress, including what you need to do each week and how the development of the puppies will progress, see the DPCA’s Pregnancy Timeline here.

Doberman Pregnancy Tests

If you want a definite answer as to whether or not your Doberman is pregnant, the best option is to visit your veterinarian. They will most likely recommend using an ultrasound to visually confirm pregnancy after about 25 days. However, there are many ways you might be able to confirm pregnancy, including the use of an at-home canine pregnancy test. However, these are certainly a less popular option.

• Palpation: This is the traditional long-standing test to confirm that a dog is pregnant. It’s a process of gently pushing on the abdomen of the dog and feeling for swelling in the uterus area that might indicate the presence of developing puppies. This should only be performed by a vet or someone experienced in this technique. This can be performed between 23 and 30 days after ovulation. The viability of the fetuses and the number of puppies cannot be determined with this method.
• Ultrasound: Your local veterinarian can perform an ultrasound as early as about 25-30 days into pregnancy to confirm whether or not your Doberman is pregnant. This is basically a visual check of the dog’s abdomen area using specialized ultrasound equipment to confirm the presence of the fetuses. It’s also able to give your vet a good idea of the viability of the puppies since their heartbeats and movement can often be seen. This is the most common way veterinarians confirm pregnancy.
• X-Ray: This is less common, but it’s another method that may be used by your vet to confirm pregnancy. However, it cannot be performed until about 50 days into pregnancy (much later than an ultrasound). One thing the x-ray does really well is to give an accurate count as to how many puppies you can expect as the vet can simply count the number of heads or spines that show up in the image. This is the most accurate test to count the number of puppies you can expect in the litter, but it cannot give a good idea as to the viability of the puppies like an ultrasound can.
• Blood Test: As an alternative, some pet owners prefer a blood work test, which tests the level of relaxin present in the blood. Because relaxin is primarily produced by the embryo of fetal puppies, a significantly higher level of relaxin in the bloodstream is a sign of pregnancy.
• At-Home Tests: There are a few at-home dog pregnancy tests on the market (such as this one available at Walmart). Unfortunately, unlike with human pregnancy tests, they require you to draw blood for the test. These blood tests look for a hormone called relaxin in the blood to confirm if the dog is pregnant and will only work after about 22 to 27 days after breeding. So no, you won’t be able to simply test a urine sample like you might do with humans.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Dobermans are generally larger dogs with long legs and relatively small heads, which means that their live births can often go very smoothly barring any unforeseen circumstances. However, you should always consult your local veterinarian if you notice any of the following:

• Unusual Discharge: Check your dog for any unusual discharge. As mentioned above, dogs will start lactating towards the end of their pregnancy, but any other discharge may be a sign of a more serious issue.
• Signs of Distress: If your dog is exhibiting any signs of pain or distress (panting, whimpering, or pacing), you may want to consider taking her to get a checkup from your vet. These things may be common right before your Doberman is about to give birth, but it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian regardless of when you observe this.
• Listlessness: A decrease in activity in pregnant dogs is normal, but if your dog is so lethargic that she’s almost totally inactive, this may be a cause for concern.

In general, the rule of thumb should be “better safe than sorry”. If you suspect any sort of issue with your dog’s pregnancy, it doesn’t hurt to take them in for a quick check-up, and you’ll be able to enjoy greater peace of mind once you’re done. Remember to work closely with your veterinarian to develop a personalized care plan for the pregnancy of your Doberman as early as possible.

Final Thoughts

When the health of your Dobie is in play, you really need to be especially cautious. This is even more true when they’re pregnant.

The Doberman breed is known to be susceptible to a long list of health concerns. I really want to urge you to work closely with your veterinarian for this reason and if you haven’t already, make sure to get your dog DNA health tested.

It’s super easy to do yourself and I made this Doberman DNA testing guide to help you out. Testing your dog’s DNA will help you understand what’s going on under the surface, and what potential genetic conditions your dog can pass on to her puppies.

Related Questions

What is the gestation period of a Doberman? The gestation period for a Doberman is approximately 63 days, or 9 weeks.

How many puppies do Dobermans usually have? The average litter size for a Doberman is between six and eight puppies. Although less common, a Doberman may birth 10 or more puppies at a time.

How long after mating will a female Doberman start showing signs of pregnancy? The third or fourth week is usually when a Doberman will start showing signs of pregnancy. At about 25 days, your veterinarian should be able to confirm the pregnancy via ultrasound.

Other Helpful Resources

• 12 Signs Your Doberman is in Heat – Even if your Doberman isn’t pregnant, it might be a good idea to get very familiar with the signs that she’s entering into her heat cycle so you know when she is fertile.

The post 5 Signs Your Doberman is Pregnant: Week-by-Week Changes appeared first on Doberman Planet.

Reviewed by Donald Buchanan, DVM

A dry nose is very common in many breeds, and this is definitely the case with Dobermans. Luckily, a majority of the time your Doberman’s dry nose is completely normal. However, there are a few instances where it can be a sign of a bigger problem. Most long-time Doberman owners like myself have dealt with this issue and there are some common reasons why Dobermans get dry noses and some go-to techniques that seem to work best.

Why is my Doberman’s nose dry? A Doberman’s nose naturally goes through wet and dry cycles throughout the day. A temporarily dry nose is completely normal, while one that lasts can indicate a medical condition varying from mild to serious in nature.

Many first time Doberman owners are usually very concerned when they first notice their dog’s dry nose. Luckily many causes of a dry nose are easily corrected while some don’t require you to take any action at all. However, the nose of a dog can be a strong indicator of the dog’s overall health and may, especially in the case of a persistent dry nose, indicate a more serious medical condition.

The Normal Doberman Nose

Doberman’s rely heavily on their nose and are known to have strong scenting abilities. A moist nose is necessary for bringing in scents more efficiently to be further examined by the dog’s olfactory glands (source). However, there are natural cycles to the nose and it’s normal for your Dobie’s nose to not always be cool and moist all day long.

Although your dog’s nose can get naturally dry or moist throughout the day for varying reasons, below are some of the more common times when your Doberman’s nose is likely to be either dry or moist.

• Morning – It’s natural for a dog’s nose to dry out during the night and stay that way for a short time after waking up. So it’s common for your Doberman to have a dry nose immediately after waking up in the morning, and for about 10 minutes afterward. After that, your Dobie will likely have moistened their own nose simply by licking it.
• Afternoon – During the daytime your dog’s nose will likely stay moist. Dobermans are very active dogs and are typically doing things all day long. Throughout their normal activities, you’ll likely see them licking and re-wetting their nose multiple times in the day—this is completely normal.
• Night – Humans and dogs alike will naturally lose a bit of water during the night time hours. It’s normal for both you and your Dobie to wake up a bit more dehydrated than when you went to sleep. This means your Dobie’s nose, while he’s sleeping, is likely to be drier than during the day when he’s active.
• Drinking – It’s normal for your Doberman to use their time drinking from their water bowl to re-wet their nose. They’ll do this by stopping drinking and licking at their nose with their wet tongue. 
• Exercising – You’re probably already aware that dogs pant as a means to sweat while they’re getting lots of physical exercise, but you may not have known that they also naturally sweat through their nose and paws. This means that your Doberman will likely have a nose that’s warm and moist while being active and getting their daily exercise.
• Scenting – If your Dobie has found a specifically interesting scent that he’s in the process of exploring, you’ll likely notice his nose getting more moist—this is also normal. A thin layer of mucus will naturally develop on the nose which helps them to better process the scents they’re smelling. Your dog will also then lick at their nose and transfer this to their mouth for further processing of the scents.

As you can see, there are many natural reasons that are completely normal for your Doberman’s nose to be wet or dry throughout the day. So don’t worry too much just because your Dobie goes from a warm and wet nose to a cool dry nose throughout the day. 

Now every dog may have slightly different cycles so it may be helpful for you to make notes throughout the day when you notice your dog’s nose is dry and when it’s not. While making these notes, be sure to include what the dog was doing around this time and what time of day it was so that you can look for trends. Then you’ll have a great understanding of what’s normal for your Dobie.

Causes of a Dry Nose in Dobermans

There are many potential causes of a dry nose in Doberman Pinschers. Luckily, the most common reasons are fairly harmless and very normal for them to experience. There are a few possible causes however, that can be more serious. When in doubt, make sure to take your dog to a qualified veterinarian for an individual assessment.

#1 – Sleeping

As mentioned earlier, it’s normal for your Dobie’s nose to dry out somewhat overnight. As your dog sleeps, he’s not able to re-wet it by continuously licking it as he does throughout the day. Also, like with humans, it’s natural for your dog’s body to get slightly dehydrated during the overnight hours. That’s why your Doberman will often head towards his water bowl right away when he wakes up. Within about 10 minutes of waking, your dog’s nose should be warm and moist again.

#2 – Winter

In most areas of the world, winter can be very drying to human and dog skin alike. It’s common to run your household heating system more often during the winter which pumps warm air with very low levels of humidity throughout your house. For these reasons, you may notice your hands getting drier in the winter and your dog’s nose getting drier also. 

Dobermans have very short, single-layered coats which don’t provide them with much insulation and they also just seem to have a general disdain for cold weather. So it’s probably not uncommon to see your Dobie huddled up by the air vet or fireplace during the winter months. This extra warmth and dry air-flow can quickly dry out their nose.

#3 – Irritation

A common and generally benign reason your Doberman’s nose might become dried out is from irritation. Maybe your dog has been nosing around in their favorite dirt hole they dug in your backyard. This type of activity can quickly irritate, and dry out, their nose.

Also, the Doberman breed is known to be susceptible to skin irritations. It isn’t uncommon for them to have a sensitivity to a plastic feeding bowl (or some dogs may even have it to their metal feeding bowls). If this is the cause of their dry nose, it’s common to also see small red pimple-like bumps on the bottom of their chin as well. If you suspect this may be the cause, try switching their feeding and water bowls to a different material. Plastic, stainless steel, and ceramic bowls are all possibilities to try.

#4 – Dehydration

If your Dobie hasn’t had enough water and might be somewhat dehydrated, this can cause a dry nose. The lack of moisture in the dog’s mouth also makes it tough for them to rewet their nose by liking at it—something they rely on to help keep it moist. 

This is common after strenuous exercise or during unusually hot days. One way to check the hydration levels of your dog is to look at their gums. Gums that are pink and moist to the touch mean there’s good hydration. Gums that are dry, pale, and tacky to the touch indicate they may be dehydrated. It’s best to just allow your Doberman to regulate their own hydration levels by always providing him with plenty of cool water throughout the day, especially if they’re suffering from a dry nose.

#5 – Sunburn

Dogs are susceptible to sunburn just like humans are. Dobermans are covered by a short single-layer coat though which means it’s more likely for them to get sunburned than many other breeds with a two-layer coat. However, their noses are always exposed to the sun due to a lack of fur in that area. This means it can easily get sunburned, causing it to dry out.

Most Doberman types and colors have a dark-colored nose. This is certainly true for the most common color of Doberman out there, the black and rust. However, the red and rust-colored Doberman has a slightly lighter colored nose and the white Doberman has an even lighter nose. This means that these dogs are more susceptible to damage to their nose from the sun.

#6 – Allergies

Dobermans are certainly known to be susceptible to allergies. It’s common for this to be related to your typical seasonal allergies so if this issue is only happening during just one part of the year, then this may be your cause. Dobermans will also often get eye discharge (eye boogers) and other common allergy symptoms as well. Your vet can prescribe allergy medications that may provide some relief. 

Another possibility is that your Dobie has some allergy to something in their diet. If you just started a new type of dog food right before the dry nose issue began, maybe try changing back to see if the issue goes away. Remember to transition foods gradually so as to not upset your dog’s stomach. 

Many people solve allergy issues by transitioning to a quality human-grade and home-cooked food diet for their Doberman. It can be tough to prepare this yourself every day so that’s why I recommend a great home delivery service that makes this easy on my recommended foods for Dobermans page.

#7 – Old Age

The average lifespan of a Doberman is between 10 and 13 years of age, but of course many are known to live longer than that. Now, this doesn’t happen with all dogs, but some will naturally have a drier nose as they age. If your Doberman suddenly got a dry nose, this probably isn’t the cause. However, if it came on gradually and they are a bit up there in age, this could just be a natural part of getting older for them.

#8 – Discoid Lupus

Discoid lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects your dog’s skin. This is certainly one of the more serious potential causes of a dry nose. Luckily this cause is a bit less common than the others listed here. Other symptoms might include circular lesions on the skin and a skin rash that gets worse when exposed to the sun. 

If you think this may be the cause of your Doberman’s dry nose, consult with a qualified veterinarian. For more information, see VCA Hospital’s Article on discoid lupus in dogs here.

#9 – Pemphigus

Pemphigus is another autoimmune disease that can affect your dog’s skin. Luckily, just like with discoid lupus, this is also a less common reason a Doberman will have a dry nose. Pemphigus can cause the nose to dry out and crack. It also frequently affects the ears and pads of your Dobie’s feet as well. Many dogs affected with this will also have shallow ulcers, itching of the skin, and redness.

Like with the previous cause listed here, if you think this is possibly why your Dobie has a dry nose, it’s important to take him to a qualified veterinarian to have him checked. For more information on pemphigus, see PetMD’s Article on pemphigus here.

#10 – Distemper 

Canine distemper virus (also often called “hard pad disease”) is a viral infection that often results in thickened, dry nose and footpads. This virus is passed easily from dog to dog, by wildlife, through the air (coughing and sneezing), and via shared food or water bowls.

Dogs that are affected by this will often appear to be very sick, as the viral infection affects both the nervous system and the respiratory system. Distemper virus infections are preventable and your Doberman should be protected from it through routine vaccination. Distemper is usually fatal, but a dog who survives the infection will have some long-lasting symptoms, such as persistent hard pads and nose.  

“It is easy to get caught up on one specific skin issue, don’t forget to check the rest of your Dobie’s skin for signs of dryness or crusting. Areas to consider which may hint at a more generalized problem include ear tips, the backside of the hind legs, mouth, and paw pads.”

– Donald Buchanan, DVM

Treatment

There are many possible treatments for a dry nose on a Doberman, but just keep in mind that most of these only treat the nose itself. So if this condition is a symptom of a bigger problem (such as an autoimmune disease), then you will want to make it a priority to treat the underlying cause first.

However, most causes can be improved considerably simply by helping your Dobie to introduce a little more moisture to their nose. Anytime you choose a topographical means to help moisturize your dog’s nose, make sure it’s something that’s safe for them to eat. Your Dobie will lick their nose constantly throughout the day and no matter how careful you are, whatever you put on your dog’s nose will end up in their mouth.

• Nose Butter – There are some companies out there making “nose butter” products that are made specifically to moisturize your dog’s nose. Blissful Dog Nose Butter (Amazon link) is one of the better-known ones. It’s formulated specifically for dogs, is non-toxic, and does an excellent job introducing moisture back to your dog’s nose.
• Sunblock – Dog specific sunblock can help if a sunburn is the cause of your dog’s dry nose. Just make sure it’s edible since they will lick their nose quite frequently throughout the day. This is especially important if you have a Doberman with a lighter colored nose (such as the white or cream-colored Doberman).
• Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) – Good old Vaseline is often used by Doberman owners who are dealing with a dry nose. You probably have some in the cupboard right now. It’s non-toxic but it’s a good idea to do your best to keep your dog from licking too much of it. Use a small dab on the nose and try to get it rubbed in well. Then distract your dog for a bit until he forgets it’s there.
• Shea Butter – Shea butter is a moisturizer that many owners use on their dog’s feet and other areas. It works well for both people and dogs. It’s safe for dogs but just make sure you take note of any other ingredients in the shea butter product you’re thinking about using.
• Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is very moisturizing and it’s also safe for dogs. It has many vitamins and minerals which will help improve the skin’s elasticity. Make sure to get natural and unprocessed oil.
• Bag Balm – This is a skin moisturizer that was originally developed for use on irritated cow udders. However, many dog owners have started using it to introduce moisture back into their dog’s skin. It’s very effective and although it shouldn’t do your dog any harm if they lick it, it’s not recommended. It contains an antiseptic which could cause some problems if it’s consumed, especially in large amounts. Here’s the original Bag Balm on Amazon.
• Olive Oil – Olive oil is very safe for dogs and can definitely help moisturize your Doberman’s nose.  Remember, a little goes a long way. Some owners will even add a teaspoon to their dog’s meals to help promote healthy skin and coat.
• Omega 3 Fish Oils – Supplementing with Omega 3 fish oils tends to help your dog’s skin and coat from the inside out. It can also help to promote a healthier and more moist nose.

If you want ideas specifically geared towards natural remedies for your dog’s dry nose, see iHeartDogs article on natural ingredients to soothe your dog’s nose here. Keep in mind that it’s always best to consult with a veterinarian before starting to add various supplements to your dog’s diet.

“In cases where the underlying cause has been determined to be benign, simply monitoring the nose may be appropriate.”

– Donald Buchanan, DVM

When to See a Veterinarian

This isn’t an all-inclusive list, of course, but if your Dobie has the following symptoms in addition to a dry nose, then it’s important you get him in to see a qualified veterinarian.

• Thick nose discharge.
• Fever (102.5°F, or about 39°C is considered a normal body temperature for a dog).
• Any type of colored discharge from the nose.
• Any signs of internal nose irritations such as pawing or scratching at the nose.
• Bleeding from the nose.

In general, if you are at all concerned for your Doberman’s health or well being then it’s worth a trip to the vet. It’s no secret that the Doberman breed is susceptible to a number of health conditions. Many of these conditions can be well managed if caught early enough so it’s always best to be extra cautious when it comes to your Dobie’s health.

Related Questions

Is a Doberman’s nose supposed to be wet or dry? A wet nose on a Doberman is normal. During certain times of the day or under certain conditions, a dry nose can also be normal. A chronic dry nose or one that starts to show damage from lack of moisture, such as cracking, is abnormal and should be addressed.

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