Dobermans can look aggressive, protective, and fit, but the police don’t generally use them. Why is that?
Police don’t use Dobermans because of many reasons. Some of those include a sense of smell not being as good as with other police dogs (such as German Shepherds). They also tend to have mental health issues, many of them suffer from cardiac muscle disease, and they can be harder to train.
All these issues make Dobermans not the best pick for a police or military dog.
Dobermans don’t have as good a sense of smell as some other dog breeds, which is one of the reasons. Most of what police dogs do is based on what they smell. German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois have a better sense of smell and all those other things.
Canine compulsive disorder (CCD), similar to OCD and affects a lot of Doberman pinschers, are often helped by the same treatments used for OCD. In other words, they have mental health issues.
Approximately 60% of the breed suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In a study of Dobermans over six, 44% of the dogs were found to have this problem. By the age of eight, DCM will be found in 60% of Dobermans.
Dobermans can be hard to train, too. A dog trainer once told me that they learn more slowly or are harder to get going. They are known to be hard to motivate, and it’s hard to figure out what drives each.
Dobermans are also an endangered breed. People are trying to bring the breed back because if they don’t, it will die out.
A successful police dog must be smart, aggressive, strong, and have a good sense of smell. However, most police dogs are generally friendly.
The type of dog used will depend on the location and the work needed. It’s good that handlers can choose from many different dog breeds based on what they like and where they live. A lot of dog breeds can serve in police, even pitbulls, though they’re not typically used in the US.
Can Dobermans Be Used to Protect People?
Dobermans are very protective of their owners, so they must always be trained to obey their owners. They are not naturally mean, but they must be taught not to be so protective.
They need obedience training because they are pretty wild and active, but they might not need protection training. Most people are scared away just by the fact that they are there.
Since they’re smart, they can also be trained, but they can be hard to motivate. They don’t have the typical personality of a dog who wants to please its owner. They can be stubborn, hard to deal with, and destructive.
Being brave and strong-willed, you’ll either love them or hate them. Therefore, Dobermans are not for everyone.
What Are Dobermans Used For?
Doberman was first bred in 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany. In a short time, the Dobermann quickly became a prevalent dog breed.
Even though Dobermans have only been around for less than 150 years, they became one of the most popular dog breeds because they were smart and quick. Because they are smart, they have been used as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and other service dogs.
However, Dobermans are considered overly clingy dogs, so be ready to have a dog that always wants to be with you, loves to cuddle, follows you from room to room, etc. They need a lot of care and exercise every day.
A good one will keep you safe even if you need to learn how to protect yourself. They are calm and happy when their owners are calm and happy. If you are scared, upset, or freaked out, they will know and act accordingly. They are, however, unstable and can get out of hand.
A trained guard dog has undergone obedience and protection training and has an “off-switch.”
The last thing you want is an untrained dog that is naturally protective. That dog will make decisions on the spot, and you won’t be able to stop what it wants to do.
You can only get a good and protective Doberman if you’re willing to spend a lot of time and effort training and playing with them. At least $2000-3000 is needed for a well-bred Doberman puppy. If you get a dog raised in a backyard, it might have bad behavior or health problems.
If you don’t want to train the dog yourself or have little experience training dogs, you probably won’t be able to keep a protection-trained dog. No matter how much you pay someone else to train the dog for you.
If a Doberman hasn’t been trained, it will often instinctively protect its owner from a threat, like a stranger in the house. This behavior can lead to severe injuries to people you know who have come to your home for the first time.
Therefore, training your Doberman is a must.
FAQs
Are Dobermans good with kids?
Because of their breed, Dobermans tend to be protective, but if raised, trained, and socialized well, they can be great with kids and families. The females are more likely to bond with a person, while the males are more territorial.
Are Dobermans aggressive dogs?
Although they are considered working dogs, Dobermanns are often stereotyped as overly aggressive. However, breeders have reduced Dobermann’s hostility over the years, and the modern Dobermann is recognized to be energetic, alert, fearless, and obedient.
If you only look at bites and attempts to bite, Doberman Pinschers are far less aggressive toward people and show less aggression than many breeds that don’t even have a reputation.
Can Dobermans get along with cats?
Dobermans have a high prey drive, and it is natural for them to chase various smaller creatures. The only way to fix this is to train, socialize, and expose them to cats when they are young. Police dogs are trained heavily, but you can try practicing until you can get their attention, even when cats are around.
How strong is a Doberman’s bite?
A bite force of a Doberman Pinscher is between 230 and 310 PSI, but a dog’s bite strength can be affected by many things besides its breed. Some claim that Dobermans can bite with a force of 600 PSI, but these claims are largely unsubstantiated.
Alex, a passionate animal lover, has experience in training and understanding animal behavior. As a proud pet parent to two dogs and three cats, he founded AnimalReport.net to share insights from animal experts and expand his knowledge of the animal kingdom.
1 thought on “Why Aren’t Dobermans Used as Police Dogs?”
“Dobermans may not be used as police dogs due to their strong prey drive and potential aggression towards strangers. However, they still make fantastic family pets with proper training and socialization. Great read! – Ashley Fowler”
“Dobermans may not be used as police dogs due to their strong prey drive and potential aggression towards strangers. However, they still make fantastic family pets with proper training and socialization. Great read! – Ashley Fowler”