The Doberman Pinscher (alternatively spelled Dobermann in many countries) or Doberman is a breed of domestic dog. Doberman Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog. Although once commonly used as guard dogs, watch dogs, or police dogs, this is less common today. In many countries, Doberman Pinschers are one of the most recognizable breeds, in part because of their actual roles in society, and in part because of media attention (see temperament). Careful breeding has improved the disposition of this breed, and the modern Doberman Pinscher is an energetic and lively breed ideally suited for companionship and family life. Doberman Pinschers typically have a deep, broad chest, and a powerful, compact, and square muscular body of medium size. However, in recent years some breeders have primarily bred, shown, and sold a slimmer or more sleek-looking Doberman Pinscher. This has become a popular body type among many owners, especially those who show their Doberman Pinschers competitively. The traditional body type is still more desirable to many casual owners and to those who want the dog for protection. Dogs bred to standard should possess a body meeting the "Breed type", and able to withstand the physical rigors for which the breed was originally intended. Generally speaking, show animals must fall within the ideal range of both size and weight (for that country's breed standard), but it is not unusual to find individual dogs not bred to the standard, for example males 100 pounds (45 kg) or females correspondingly oversized. Doberman Pinschers are, in general, gentle, loyal, loving, and intelligent dogs. Statistical techniques for assessing personality traits in humans have been applied to dogs, and show that Doberman Pinschers rank relatively high in playfulness, average in curiosity/fearlessness, low on aggressiveness and low on sociability. Historically, the Doberman Pinscher has been used as a protection and guard dog, due to its intelligence, loyalty, and ability to physically challenge human aggressors. Doberman Pinschers are commonly used in police work and in the military.
