Doberman Pinscher Puppies for Sale

Adult Dobermans weigh 60–100 lb and stand 24–28 in tall. Males stand 26–28 in and females 24–26 in, and males are usually the heavier of the two. Parents of Pawrade Dobermans typically weigh 78–120 lb (fathers) and 65–98 lb (mothers).

The Miniature Pinscher is a separate, older breed, not a scaled-down Doberman. The two share at most distant Pinscher roots, despite the look-alike name and markings.

The breed is named after Louis Dobermann, who developed it, and "Pinscher" is German for terrier. Germany and Britain later dropped "Pinscher", but North America kept it.

Dobermans are alert, watchful, loyal, fearless and intelligent, and protective of their family. They are energetic, especially when young, and need exercise and training from the start.

Aggression toward people is not typical of the breed. The first Dobermans were sharper-tempered, but that has been bred down over a century. An under-exercised, untrained Doberman can become pushy, which is why daily exercise and training matter.

A Doberman is loyal and protective of its family, and early socialization helps it grow up steady around children. Breeders on Pawrade report socializing 78% of Doberman litters with older children and 78% with younger children. Keep play between a new puppy and children gentle and supervised while it settles in.

Early, positive introductions make the biggest difference. The first 3 months are the most important time for a puppy to learn that new animals are safe. Breeders on Pawrade report socializing 60% of Doberman litters with small-breed dogs before they go home.

A Doberman can suit an active older owner who can give it vigorous exercise every day and patient, consistent training. It is a strong dog, and without early socialization and obedience work it can become pushy or hard to manage.

It can if its exercise needs are met, because a Doberman needs vigorous exercise every day and lives indoors with its family, whatever the home. Almost all Doberman buyers on Pawrade have a yard.

A Doberman should live indoors with the family, not outside. Outdoor or kennel life leads to boredom and problem behavior, and the short coat gives little protection from cold.

Not for long stretches, because Dobermans need daily company and should not be left isolated. Boredom and isolation lead to barking, digging and destruction, and a crate keeps a young dog safe when you are out.

Active adults typically eat about 2–5 cups of a high-quality food a day, depending on metabolism and activity. Go easy on treats to prevent weight gain.

Dobermans shed a lot, all year round, despite the short coat. The dark hairs show on clothes and furniture, and a rubber grooming glove cuts down loose hair.

A Doberman needs very little grooming: no professional grooming, just regular brushing or a rubber mitt and an occasional bath. Nails, teeth and ears need the most attention, with short nails and ears checked and wiped every few days.

Dobermans learn very fast and respond well to calm, consistent, reward-based training. Keep sessions focused, because they are quick to invent their own variations, and avoid harsh handling.

Use a crate and a consistent routine. Take the puppy out after it eats, after it wakes and after short bursts of play. Breeders on Pawrade report whether they have started crate training, so ask how far your puppy has got.

A Doberman puppy can usually hold its bladder for about as many hours as its age in months. Take young puppies out first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after naps.

Adolescence usually starts at about 6–8 months, and many dogs test boundaries and seem to forget their training for a while. It is a normal phase, and consistent training, patience and plenty of exercise help. A young Doberman's protective streak also grows at this age, so keep up calm, reward-based training.

Dobermans take part in obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, barn hunt, dock diving, flyball, lure coursing, herding and the working-dog sport IGP (Schutzhund). They also work as police and military dogs. The breed's parent club runs its own Working Aptitude Evaluation, a temperament and working test.

Puppies travel only once they are at least 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2 lb. Most Doberman puppies go home at about 12 weeks, usually between 9 and 18 weeks.

Doberman breeders on Pawrade report a typical litter of 6 puppies, usually between 2 and 11.

Set up a crate big enough for an adult, in a room where the family spends time or in your bedroom at night. Check the yard for gaps under fences, block pool access and keep gates secured. Book a first vet visit and plan puppy classes and a training routine from the first week.

Start the day your puppy comes home, because the first 3 months are the most important time for learning that new people, places and animals are safe. Puppy classes can start as early as 7–8 weeks, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs. Doberman puppies have long memories, so keep every new experience calm and positive.

Most Doberman litters on Pawrade meet other dogs and children before the puppies go home. Breeders report socializing 89% of litters with large-breed dogs, 78% with older children and 78% with younger children. Most also get puppies used to car rides (73%), pots and pans (69%) and the vacuum cleaner (60%). These figures come from what breeders reported for 45 litters.

Spaying or neutering is a decision to talk through with your vet, because the right timing depends on things like sex and expected adult size. Before any surgery, make sure your vet knows your puppy's von Willebrand DNA result.

The puppy vaccine series usually finishes at about 16 weeks, as your vet advises. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record. Puppy classes can still start before then, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs.

Baby teeth start to fall out from about 12 weeks, and by about 6 months the adult teeth are in. Chewing is strongest while the teeth change, so offer safe chew toys, rotate them and keep valued things out of reach.

The Veterinary Health Report is the record of your Doberman puppy's exam before it goes home. The breeder's licensed vet gives the puppy itself a full hands-on exam to PetPay's exam standards and writes down what they find. A hard copy of the report travels with your puppy for your records, and a digital copy is in your PetPay account.

The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines every puppy before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The results are recorded in the puppy's Veterinary Health Report, and a copy travels with your puppy for your records.

The breeder's vet examines the whole puppy and pays close attention to a few things that matter in Dobermans. The vet listens to the heart, checks the eyelashes and eyes, and watches how the puppy responds to sound. The vet also checks the bite and, in males, that both testicles have come down.

Before travel, every puppy follows PetPay's vaccination and deworming schedule as far as its age allows: deworming at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, and the distemper, parvo, adenovirus and parainfluenza combination shot at 6–8, 9–11 and 12–14 weeks. Bordetella and corona are given at the vet's discretion, and no vaccine is given within 3 days of travel. Rabies is given by a licensed vet on the schedule your state requires. Your own vet completes the series. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.

If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.

Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. In Dobermans, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart-muscle disease, starts in adulthood, so a puppy exam cannot rule it out. The report is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.

Every puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.

Doberman buyers rate their Pawrade experience 4.8 out of 5 on average, from 32 reviews, and about 91% of those reviews give 5 stars.