The Doberman Pinscher is a healthy dog breed.  Some breeds are prone to so many health problems but not this one.  Just like with any dog breed though, some health issues can occur so it’s important to be mindful of that and always pay attention to your dogs overall health and behavior.   Here are just a few things to keep your eyes open for just in case:

Gastric Torsion – this may be a fatal condition if not treated right away… the stomach fills with air and the stomach twists.

Hip Dysplasia – this will affect the hip joints and the ligaments and muscles surrounding the joint is what causes this.

Staphylococcus – this is a bacterial infection that affects the skin.

Those are just a few things that can be a common health issue for many other dogs breeds as well.  Anytime you see your Doberman acting differently, change in appetite or acting out it’s time to take him/her in for a check up.  Running your hands over their body and checking for any sign of a wound or skin problem is also a good idea from time to time.  We all know that regular vet visits can be very expensive especially if you don’t have pet insurance.

The Doberman Pinscher is a large dog breed that needs a good amount of exercise.  These dogs are not meant to be an apartment dog like some other small breeds out there.  They need to be walked or ran daily to keep them happy and healthy.  Just like with many dogs, lack of exercise can lead to dog obesity, health issues and they can become destructive.  If you are planning on owing a Doberman Pinscher you need to be ready for more of an active lifestyle to accommodate them.  The Doberman is a very loyal dog and a great protector.  They are wonderful and very beautiful dogs.

The Doberman Pinscher is a pretty good size dog breed that needs a lot of exercise.  The same goes for pretty much any dog, if you don’t give them enough exercise they can become destructive or even depressed.  I prefer using a harness for bigger dogs, they tend to pull a bit more especially in the beginning puppy stages.  If you work with them every day on your walks, they will become very well behaved and listen to your commands.

Having commands with your Doberman Pinscher while walking him or her is very important.  You want to make sure that they will listen to you when you really need them to.  Training them to walk on your right or left side is key to a less stressful walk.  This way you won’t trip over them and they won’t be cris crossing all over the place. Making them sit before you cross any street is also very important for many obvious reasons.  Using the same commands/words every time for the same thing will cause less confusion and they will get the hang of it.  You need to be consistent in your commands so they will remember them.  This will come in very handy when they see a cat, another dog or you are introducing them to a person.  Socializing your Doberman Pinscher is key to a well behaved and friendly dog and what better way to do it then lots and lots of dog walks!

I would say a 15 to 20 minute walk a day would be good.  If this seems too much for you or you aren’t able to fit exercise into your schedule then a smaller dog may be more suitable for your lifestyle.

When it comes to cat/kitten and dog introductions you really need to be smart in how you approach it.  Cats are so much smaller than most dog breeds especially a Doberman Pinscher.  They could very easily harm your cat in a second with one strong paw.  In my experience, it’s best to let them smell one and other through a door for about a day or two before actually letting them meet face to face.  If you keep your cat in a room where it has a bed, food and water when letting them sniff each other out, this is a sure way for them to get used to each others scent with out any issues and giving your cat a safe and comfortable environment at the same time so they don’t feel too threatened.

When you are ready to let them see each other, you should have a collar and leash on your Doberman so that he or she can be easily corrected if they become too rough or try to lunge at your cat.  Making your dog sit in place and stay there while the cat eases into approaching him or her has worked great for me and my pets.  Be sure to reward your Doberman for good behavior if that is the case.

If they do good then that’s wonderful but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to be left alone unsupervised.  You should only let them be around one and other when you are around to make sure they are adjusting to each other well and that your dog doesn’t see your cat as prey.  Eventually they will come to terms with having another animal in the house and you will all be one big happy family!

If this approach doesn’t work for you or you already know that it won’t, talk to your vet and they will help you out with some ideas.  Doing some of your own research online can be very helpful as well.  Good luck!