| DOBERMAN AKC STANDARD |
| The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with a body that is sqare. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed. Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. Energetic, watchful, determind, alert, fearless, loyal, and obedient. HEIGHT At the withers: DOGS 26 to 28 inches (ideal about 27 1/2 inches); BITCHES, 24 to 26 inches(ideal about 25 1/2 inches). The height, measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers, equalling the length measured from the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh. Length of head, neck, and legs in proportion to length and depth of body. HEAD Long and dry, resembling a blunt wedge in both frontal and profile views. When seen from the front, the head widens gradually toward the base of the ears in a practically unbroken line. eyes; Almond-shaped, moderately deep set, with vigorous, energetic expressions. Iris of uniform color, ranging from medium to darkest brown in black dogs, in reds, blues, and fawns, the color of the iris blends with that of the markings, the darkest shade being preferable in every case. ears; Normally cropped and carried erect. The upper attachment of the ear, when held erect, is on a level with the top of the skull. skull; Top of skull flat, turning with slight stop to the bridge of muzzle, with muzzle line extending parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat and muscular. Lips lying close to jaws. Jaws full and powerful, well filled under the eyes. Teeth; Stongly developed and white. Lower incisors upright and touching inside of upper incisors- a true scissors bite. Forty-two correctly placed teeth, 22 in the lower, 20 in the upper jaw. Distemper teeth shall not be penalized. Disqualifying Faults; overshot of more than 3/16 of an inch: undershot of more than 1/8 of an inch; four or more missing teeth. Nose; solid black on black dogs, dark brown on red ones, dark gray on blue ones, dark tan on fawns. Neck; Proudly carried, well muscled and dry. well arched, with nape of neck widening gradually toward body. Length of neck proportioned to body and head. NECK, TOPLINE, BODY Withers; pronounced and forming the highest point of the body. Back short, firm, of sufficient width, and muscualr at the loins, extending in a straight line from withers to the slightly rounded croup. Brisket; reaching deep to the elbow. Chest; Broad with forechest well defined. Ribs; Well sprung from the spine, but flattened in lower end to permit elbow clearance. Belly; Well tucked up, extending in a curved line from the brisket. Loins; Wide and muscled. Hips; broad and in propotion to the body, breadth of hips being approximately equal to breadth of body at rib cage and shoulders. Tail; Docked at approximately secound joint, appears to be a continuation of the spine, and is carried only slightly above the horizontal when the dog is alert. FOREQUATERS Shoulder Blade; sloping forward and downward at a 45-degree angle to the ground, meets the upper arm at an angle of 90 degrees. Length of shoulder blade and upper arm are equal. Height from elbow to withers approximately equals height from ground to elbow. Legs; seen from front and side, perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern; muscled and sinewy, with heavy bone. In normal pose and when gaiting, the elbows lie close to the brisket. Pasterns; firm and almost perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be romoved. Feet; well arched, compact, and catlike, turning neither in nor out. HINDQUARTERS the angulation of the hindquaters balanced that of the forequarters. Hip Bone; falls away from the spinal column at an angel of about 30 degrees, producing a slightly rounded, well filled out croup. Upper Shanks; at right angles to the hip bones, are long, wide, and well muscled on both sides of thigh, with clearly defined stifles. Upper and Lower shanks are of equal lenth. While the dog is at rest, hock to hell is perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the legs are straight, parellel to each other, and wide enough apart to fit in with a properly built body. Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed. Cat Feet; As on front legs, turning neither in nor out. COAT smooth haired, short, hard, thick, and close-lying. Invisible gray undercoat on neck permissible. COLOR AND MARKINGS Allowed Colors; black, red, blue, and fawn. Markings: Rust, sharply defined, appearing above each eye and on muzzle, throat, and forechest, on all legs and feet, and below tail. White patch on chest, not exceeding 1/2 square inch, permissible. Disqualifying fault-Dogs not of an allowed color. GAIT Free, balanced, and vigorous, with good reachin the forequarters, with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. When trotting, there is a strong rear-action drive. Each rear leg moves in line with the foreleg on the same side. rear and front legs are thrown neither in nor out. Back remains strong and firm. When moving at a single, fast trot, a properly built dog will single track. Temperament energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal, and obedient. The judge shall dismiss from the ring any shy or vicious Doberman. Shyness; A dog shall be judged fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it shrinks away from teh judge; if it fears approach from the rear; if it shies at sudden and unusual noises to a marked degree. Viciousness' a dog that attacks or attampts to attack either the judge or its handler is deemed vicious. An aggressive, belligerent attitude, or dominance toward other dogs shall not be deemed viciousness. FAULTS: Any deviation from the above described dog must be penealized to the extent of the deviation. |