Adopt Dobermann Shelter Dogs

Choosing a Dobermann means choosing a highly intelligent, fearless and at the same time surprisingly sensitive partner. With a shoulder height of 68 to 72 centimeters and a weight of 40 to 45 kilograms in males, this athletic dog brings not only physical presence but also a big heart. Adopting a Dobermann from a shelter is a wonderful decision that gives a loyal dog a second chance – and it asks you for a real understanding of what this special breed needs.

When a Dobermann is waiting in a shelter for a new home, it usually has nothing to do with a difficult character and everything to do with changed circumstances or underestimated breed traits. While grooming is minimal thanks to the short, dense coat with no undercoat, these dogs' energy level and trainability are right at the top of the scale. Originally bred as a watch and protection dog, the Dobermann needs clear leadership, mental exercise and close contact with its family.

When time suddenly runs short because of a job change, a separation or illness, these extremely people-oriented dogs quickly feel misunderstood. An under-challenged Dobermann finds its own jobs, overdoes its watchfulness or, out of stress, develops behaviors such as lick dermatitis (lick granuloma). In the end, many previous owners decide to give up their dog out of insight and for the dog's own good, because they can no longer meet its high demands for time and exercise.

In a shelter, the sensitive Dobermann often shows an unfamiliar side: the noisy kennel routine and the loss of its person take a heavy toll. Some dogs withdraw, others seem boisterous and overexcited at the kennel door. Give the dog time – its high intelligence and willingness to bond often only come through on calm walks away from the hustle and bustle of the shelter.

Health is a central issue when adopting, because with a rescue Dobermann the genetic background is often unknown. The breed carries specific risks for the heart (especially dilated cardiomyopathy and atrial septal defects), blood clotting (von Willebrand disease type I), the joints (hip dysplasia) and the spine (cervical spondylomyelopathy, known as wobbler syndrome, and intervertebral disc disease). A health-focused breeder lowers the risk of these diseases by having the parents' hearts checked by cardiac ultrasound and a long-term ECG (Holter ECG), their hips X-rayed and their eyes examined clinically (for example for cataracts), by selecting lines unaffected by spinal problems and by using a DNA test for von Willebrand disease so carriers are only paired with clear partners – but with dogs of uncontrolled origin, this background knowledge is usually missing.

The breed also has issues such as an underactive thyroid, chronic hepatitis, familial nephropathy, demodicosis or, in dogs with dilute colors such as blue, color dilution alopecia. So our recommendation for you is clear: with an adopted Dobermann, make regular cardiology checkups a fixed part of your plans, choose joint-friendly exercise and always remind your vet about the breed-typical bleeding disorder before any surgery.

While a puppy from a breeder costs between 1,500 and 3,000 euros, the adoption fee for a Dobermann at a shelter is considerably lower – usually in the range of a few hundred euros. The fee usually covers vaccinations, the microchip and a veterinary check on arrival; ask the shelter to show you the available paperwork. Even so, set aside the money you save on the purchase price straight away as a financial cushion for the basics – including a warm winter coat, since there's no undercoat – as well as for cardiology checkups and any training sessions.