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Miniature Pinscher

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The Miniature Pinscher , also known as the Zwergpinscher and Mini Pin , is a small breed of dog of the pinscher type originating in Germany . While the breed's visual similarities to the Toy Manchester Terrier , which somewhat resembles the Pinscher breeds, remain a matter of controversy, genetic research (published in 2017) has shown that the two breeds have shared, unique ancestry. The ancestors of the Toy Manchester and Miniature Pinscher may have become geographically separated many centuries ago and retained similarities simply through breeding selection for the same traits; nevertheless, the 2017 research also showed that the two breeds remain more closely related to each other than to other breeds. The breed's ancestors may also include the German Pinscher , Italian greyhounds and dachshunds . The Miniature Pinscher's known origins are in Germany, where it was often referred to as the Zwerg Pinscher (Dwarf Biter) in historical documents. German Kennel Club documents also refer to the Miniature Pinscher as the "reh" Pinscher, but this term is only used for a dog of stag-red color, "reh" referring to a small red deer formerly found in German forests. The Miniature Pinscher originated several centuries ago as an efficient barnyard ratter.

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86-606: Historical artifacts and paintings place the Miniature Pinscher as a very old breed, but factual documentation began less than 200 years ago, leaving its actual origins to debate. Many historians and those who have researched the background of the breed agree that this heritage is most likely correct, adding the shorthaired German Pinscher to the family tree. The international kennel club, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale , lists

172-521: A docked tail and cropped ears, though the AKC no longer requires ear cropping for shows. They can also sometimes have natural erect ears. According to the American Kennel Club , the Miniature Pinscher should be 10– 12 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (25–32 cm) high with most desirable height 11– 11 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (28–29 cm) at the highest point of the shoulder blades. Length

258-458: A Miniature Pinscher as younger children play rough. Miniature Pinschers are a stubborn breed when it comes to training, but once trained they will obey commands well. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.7 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . A 2024 Italian study found a life expectancy of 11 years for the breed compared to 10 years overall. Doberman pinscher The Dobermann

344-570: A day of competition, requiring multiple course builds, walk-throughs, and briefings. Awards are usually given for placements and for qualifying scores. Such awards are often flat ribbons , rosettes , commemorative plaques , trophies , medals , or pins . Some clubs award high-in-trial awards, calculated in various ways, or other special awards for the trial. Dogs who complete their final qualifying scores to become agility champions are often presented with special awards. Many Kennel Clubs also award titles to those who manage to qualify enough times in

430-447: A fenced yard to run in; they make great agility dogs. They are great escape artists and some recommend having a kennel with a lid on it for them to run around in. They are good watchdogs, as they are alert and wary of strangers. They can easily alert their owners of someone's presence, their happiness or their loneliness with their frequent high-pitched bark. It is recommended that adults and teenagers, rather than young children, play with

516-565: A full tail and natural ears. In the UK, dogs with docked tails have been banned from show for a number of years and the practice is now illegal for native born dogs. Docking is illegal in all European Union states, as well as Australia. The AKC standard for Doberman Pinschers includes a tail docked near the 2nd vertebra . Some owners crop Dobermann's ears. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America requires that ears be "normally cropped and carried erect" for conformation. Like tail docking, ear cropping

602-690: A hand in the dog's collar and guiding the dog through while leading with an incentive. It also includes teaching the dog to run full speed between two poles and gradually increasing the angle of approach and number of poles. Agility may be trained independently (for instance at home) or with an instructor or club that offers classes. Seasoned handlers and competitors, in particular, may choose to train independently, as structured classes are commonly geared towards novices. Seasoned handlers often instead look to seminars and workshops that teach advanced handling techniques, and then practice on their own. Common reasons for joining an agility class include: In addition to

688-419: A life expectancy of 11.2 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . A 2024 Italian study found a life expectancy of 8 years for the breed compared to 10 years overall. A 2005 Swedish study of insurance data found 68% of Dobermann died by the age of 10, higher than the overall rate of 35% of dogs dying by the age of 10. Cardiomyopathies are a common problem for

774-404: A new dog to the agility obstacles varies in response. Each individual dog learns at its own pace; confident dogs may charge over equipment with little encouragement, while more timid dogs may take weeks to overcome their hesitations with much encouragement. Both scenarios present their own challenges, as dogs may be overconfident and sloppy to the point where they have a serious accident and teaching

860-512: A new type of dog that would exhibit impressive stamina, strength, and intelligence. Five years after Dobermann's death, Otto Goeller, one of the earliest breeders, created the National Doberman Pinscher Club and is considered to have perfected the breed, breeding and refining them in the 1890s. The breed is believed to have been created from several different breeds of dogs that had the characteristics that Dobermann

946-495: A particular level. Most clubs require three qualifying scores in any level to get the corresponding title, however, other clubs may require more or less. In the United States in most sanctioning organizations, there are a variety of titles that a dog and handler can earn by accruing sufficient qualifying runs—also called legs—that is, runs that have no more than a certain number of faults (typically none) and are faster than

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1032-583: A reputation (e.g., Cocker Spaniel , Dalmatian , and Great Dane ). This study concluded that aggression has a genetic basis, that the Dobermann shows a distinctive pattern of aggression depending on the situation and that contemporary Doberman Pinschers are not an aggressive breed overall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , between 1979 and 1998, the Doberman Pinscher

1118-428: A set of standard obstacles laid out by a judge in a design of their own choosing in an area of a specified size. The surface may be of grass, dirt, rubber, or special matting. Depending on the type of competition, the obstacles may be marked with numbers indicating the order in which they must be completed. Courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without human direction. In competition,

1204-404: A way to entertain the audience. It has since spread around the world, with major competitions held worldwide. Globally, dog agility competitions are regulated and run by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and its member organisations and a number of national kennel clubs and sport federations. Rules of each organisation, titles and selection process of national teams that represent

1290-417: Is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles. The handler's controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal and coordination of the handler. An agility course consists of

1376-461: Is a German breed of medium-large working dog of pinscher type. It was originally bred in Thuringia in about 1890 by Louis Dobermann , a tax collector . It has a long muzzle and – ideally – an even and graceful gait . The ears were traditionally cropped and the tail docked , practices which are now illegal in many countries. The Dobermann is intelligent, alert and tenaciously loyal; it

1462-594: Is a drawing by Jean Bungartz, published in 1888 comparing the Miniature Pinscher to the German Pinscher . The Miniature Pinscher is structurally a well balanced, sturdy, compact, short-coupled, smooth-coated dog. They are naturally well groomed, vigorous and alert. Characteristic traits are their hackney -like action, fearless animation, complete self-possession, and spirited presence. Legs should be straight with no bending in or out. They are also known to have separation anxiety. The Miniature Pinscher frequently has

1548-537: Is a great deal of scientific evidence that Doberman Pinschers have a number of stable psychological traits, such as certain personality factors and intelligence. As early as 1965, studies have shown that there are several broad behavioral traits that significantly predict behavior and are genetically determined. Subsequently, there have been numerous scientific attempts to quantify canine personality or temperament by using statistical techniques for assessing personality traits in humans. These studies often vary in terms of

1634-734: Is also more serious in the breed. Following a diagnosis, the average non-Dobermann has an expected survival time of 8 months; for Dobermann Pinschers, however, the expected survival time is less than two months. Although the causes for the disease are largely unknown, there is evidence that it is a familial disease inherited as an autosomal dominant trait . The Dobermann is predisposed to the following dermatological conditions: acral lick dermatitis ; chin pyoderma , acne, or folliculitis ; cutaneous drug eruptions ; colour dilution alopecia ; demodicosis ; follicular dysplasia ; interdigital haemorrhagic bulla , pedal furunculosis or cyst ; pemphigus foliaceus ; and vitiligo . Other conditions that

1720-457: Is equal to height, though females may be slightly longer. The ideal weight is 8–10 pounds (3.6–4.5 kg). There are also Teacup Miniature Pinschers, which are about half the size of normal Miniature Pinschers. The coat is short and smooth, with no undercoat. Available colors include solid red, stag red, blue stag red, chocolate stag red, fawn stag red, as well as black, grey, chocolate, blue, and fawn with tan points or rust points. For showing in

1806-419: Is illegal in many countries and has never been legal in some Commonwealth countries. Canine intelligence is an umbrella term that encompasses the faculties involved in a wide range of mental tasks, such as learning, problem-solving, and communication. The Doberman Pinscher has been ranked amongst the most intelligent dog breeds in experimental studies and expert evaluations. Psychologist Stanley Coren ranks

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1892-548: Is kept as a guard dog or as a companion animal . In Canada and the United States it is known as the Doberman Pinscher . Dobermanns were first bred in the 1880s by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann , a tax collector who ran a dog pound in Apolda in present-day Thuringia in central Germany. With access to dogs of many breeds, he got the idea to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him. He set out to breed

1978-503: Is likely to be fatal in most Dobermanns affected. Roughly a quarter of Dobermann Pinschers who develop cardiomyopathy die suddenly from seemingly unknown causes, and an additional fifty percent die of congestive heart failure . Among female Dobermanns, the sudden death manifestation of the disease is more common, whereas males tend to develop congestive heart failure. In addition to being more prevalent in Dobermanns, this disease

2064-420: Is necessary to watch calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Miniature Pinschers are for experienced dog owners. Many people underestimate the care, time, and effort needed in order to raise a Miniature Pinscher. The Miniature Pinscher is an assertive, outgoing, active, and independent breed. Miniature pinschers are energetic and need

2150-456: Is not an accepted coloring of the breed. Grooming is easy, as the smooth, short-haired coat requires little attention, needing only occasional brushing and shampooing. Care must be taken in cold weather. Sweaters or baby blankets can help keep a Miniature Pinscher from getting too cold. Miniature Pinschers are an active breed and need access to a fenced yard, or be given a daily walk. Some Miniature Pinschers are prone to becoming overweight, so it

2236-530: Is reported to vary by country, with Australia reporting the highest percentage of injuries and the United States reporting the lowest percentage of injuries. Injuries were most commonly perceived as being caused by interactions with bar jumps (contact), A-frames and dog walk obstacles (contact and/or fall). There were no relationship between the use of warm-up and cool-down exercises and injuries. As in many sports, dog agility has its own World Championships. Only pure-bred dogs are able to compete in those. One of

2322-522: Is some evidence that Doberman Pinschers in North America have a calmer and more even temperament than their European counterparts because of the breeding strategies employed by American breeders. Despite this, the American breed standard states that, for purposes of determining of conformation fault, aggression and belligerence by a Doberman toward other dogs is not counted as viciousness. There

2408-402: Is taken when training dogs under a year old so as to not harm their developing joints. Dogs generally start training on simplified, smaller, or lowered (in height) agility equipment and training aids (such as ladders and wobbling boards to train careful footing), but puppies who learn quickly must be finished growing before training on equipment at standard height to prevent injury. Introducing

2494-452: Is the time under which dogs must complete the course to avoid time faults. For example, if the course is 150 yards (or meters) long, and the rules state that dogs must run the course at a rate of at least 3 yards (or meters) per second, the standard course time would be 50 seconds. Other organizations, though, leave the decision on course time to the judge's discretion The judge often holds a briefing for competitors before each class, to review

2580-580: Is then taken to the score table for recording. At the score table, scorekeepers compile the results in a variety of ways. Some organizations require or encourage computerized scorekeeping, while others require certain types of manual score sheets to be filled out. When all the dogs in a given height group, level, and class have run, the score table compares run times, faults, and any other requirements to determine placements (and, for classes that provide qualifying points towards titles, which dogs earned qualifying scores). Each ring might run several classes during

2666-419: Is uncommon to find real estate inexpensive enough to devote entirely to agility, so sites are usually rented for the weekend. Even in more rural areas, agility-only sites are uncommon. Popular locations include large parks , covered horse-riding arenas, and in cold-winter areas, large, empty warehouses in which mats or carpet can be laid. Before the trial, each judge designs the courses that they will judge at

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2752-422: Is usually a quick run. The walk-through is critical for success because the course's path takes various turns, even U-turns or 270° turns, can cross back on itself, can use the same obstacle more than once, can have two obstacles so close to each other that the dog and handler must be able to clearly discriminate which to take, and can be arranged so that the handler must work with obstacles between themself and

2838-787: Is usually at least 5,000 square feet (I.e 465 square meters); however, exact dimensions vary according to the organizations. Competitions can have anywhere from one to a dozen rings. The ground must be non-slip and level, usually being either packed dirt, grass, carpeting, or padded matting. Competitors additionally need space to set up quarters for their dogs and gear. When space permits, competitors often bring pop up canopies or screen room awning tents for shade. Dogs, when not competing, are usually left to rest in exercise pens, crates , or dog tents familiar and enclosed environments in which they can relax and recover between runs. Handlers also bring reflective cloths to protect their dogs from sun exposure and to calm them down (by covering their crates with

2924-552: The Doberman Pinscher as its official war dog , although the Corps did not exclusively use this breed in the role. In 2013 a list of breeds by annual number of registrations, based on a survey of member clubs of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale , placed the Dobermann 26th, with 20,941 new registrations per year. Statistics compiled by the AKC for 2009 placed the Doberman Pinscher 15th, with 10,233 registrations in that year. In

3010-536: The Dobermann as the 5th most intelligent dog in the category of obedience command training , based on the selective surveys answered by experienced trainers (as documented in his book The Intelligence of Dogs ). Additionally, in two studies, Hart and Hart (1985) ranked the Doberman Pinscher first in the same category, and Tortora (1980) gave the Dobermann the highest rank in general trainability. Although they are considered to be working dogs, Dobermanns are often stereotyped as being ferocious and aggressive. There

3096-533: The Dobermann make up 16% of those. This disease impacts Dobermanns more severely than other breeds with an average survival time of 52 days compared to 240 days for other breeds. This is possibly due to the type of DCM that affects the Dobermann differing. Research has shown that the breed is affected by an attenuated wavy fiber type of DCM that affects many other breeds, as well as an additional fatty infiltration-degenerative type that appears to be specific to Dobermann Pinscher and Boxer breeds. This serious disease

3182-436: The Dobermann to be among the 15 breeds least likely to have both hip and elbow dysplasia . 5.7% of Dobermanns over the age of 2 years had hip dysplasia and 0.8% had elbow dysplasia. A US study of the records of over 90,000 dogs found the Dobermann to be predisposed to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), with 12.7% of Dobermanns having the condition compared to 4.43% for mixed-breeds . Dog agility Dog agility

3268-433: The Dobermann. Another American study of 1,934 cases found an odds ratio of 5.5 for the Dobermann. A North American study reviewing over a million dogs examined at veterinary teaching hospitals found the Dobermann to have a noticeably lower prevalence of hip dysplasia with 1.34% of Dobermanns having hip dysplasia compared to 3.52% overall. Another North American study of over 1,000,000 and 250,000 hip and elbow scans found

3354-567: The Dobermann: one for black (B) and one for color dilution (D). There are nine possible combinations of these alleles , which can result in four different color phenotypes : black, blue, red, and fawn (Isabella). The traditional and most common color occurs when both the color and dilution genes have at least one dominant allele (i.e., BBDD, BBDd, BbDD or BbDd) and is commonly referred to as black , black and rust, or black and tan . The red , red rust, or brown coloration occurs when

3440-608: The Germans named the breed Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the word 'pinscher' on the grounds that this German word for 'terrier' was no longer appropriate. The British did the same a few years later; now the US and Canada are the only countries who continue to use Pinscher and have dropped an "n" from Dobermann's surname. During World War II , the United States Marine Corps adopted

3526-747: The Miniature Pinscher in Group 2, Section 1.1 Pinscher , along with the Dobermann , the German Pinscher , the Austrian Pinscher , and the other Toy Pinscher, the Affenpinscher . Other kennel clubs list the Miniature Pinscher in the Toy Group or Companion Group . The misconception that the Miniature Pinscher is a "miniature Doberman" occurred because the Doberman Pinscher (a breed developed by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann around 1890)

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3612-472: The United States, the AKC disqualifies all colors but the solid or stag red and the black or chocolate with rust points. The Pinscher-Schnauzer Club, which maintains the standard for showing in Germany, has the same restrictions. In the UK, blue with rust points is allowed in the show ring. White spots larger than half an inch or black spots on the points are disqualifications for showing in most countries. Merle

3698-407: The black gene has two recessive alleles but the dilution gene has at least one dominant allele (i.e., bbDD, bbDd). The blue Dobermann has the color gene with at least one dominant allele and the dilution gene with both recessive alleles (i.e., BBdd or Bbdd). The fawn coloration is the least common, occurring only when both the color and dilution genes have two recessive alleles (i.e., bbdd). Thus,

3784-451: The blue color is a diluted black, and the fawn color is a diluted red. Expression of the color dilution gene is a disorder called color dilution alopecia , a kind of canine follicular dysplasia. Although not life-threatening, these dogs can develop skin problems. White Doberman are cream in color with blue eyes and pink noses, paw pads, and eye rims. The first white Doberman was born in 1976. White Doberman were identified as albino, and

3870-522: The breed is predisposed to include: von Willebrand's disease , and prostatic disease . Canine compulsive disorder was found to be prevalent in 28% of Dobermanns in one study. The breed is predisposed to hypothyroidism with one US study finding 6.3% of Dobermanns to have the condition compared to 1.54% for mixed-breeds. The Dobermann is also predisposed to gastric dilatation volvulus . A study of 295 cases in America found 6.1% of cases to belong to

3956-706: The breed's official introduction into the AKC), they petitioned for Miniature Pinschers to be placed in the Toy group. The AKC's description, that the dog "must appear as a Doberman in miniature," led to the misconception common today that this breed is a "Miniature Doberman Pinscher". The original name for this breed in the U.S. was "Pinscher (Toy)" until 1972 when the name was officially changed to Miniature Pinscher. Documentation of this breed begins less than 200 years ago. They were used traditionally to hunt mice, lizards, small birds, rabbits, pests and vermin and were hunting dogs. There

4042-485: The breed. and cardiac issues are a common cause of death in the breed with 15% of deaths being cardiac related according to a UK survey. Data from the University of Purdue Medical Veterinary Database found the breed to be predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with 5.8% of Dobermanns having the condition. Another study in America found a prevalence of 7.32% for the condition. An English study of 369 cases found

4128-495: The cloths). There also needs to be space for many handlers with dogs on leashes to move freely around the rings without crowding, and space for warming up, exercising, and pottying dogs. Adjacent to the site, parking must be available for all competitors. At weekend or weeklong shows that offer camping, space needs to be provided both for competitors' caravans and tents, and for the small fenced enclosures or gardens that they set up around them. In heavily populated areas, therefore, it

4214-416: The competition starts. During this time, all handlers competing in a particular class can walk around the course without their dogs, determining how they can best position themselves and guide their dogs to get the most accurate and rapid path around the numbered obstacles. The handler tends to run a path much different from the dog's path, so the handler can sometimes spend quite a bit of time planning for what

4300-422: The competition. The sanctioning organization usually reviews and approves the courses to ensure that they meet the organization's guidelines. Guidelines include such issues as how far apart obstacles must be, how many turns are allowed (or required) on a course, which obstacles and how many of each must appear on the course, and so on. The rules vary by level of competition and by organization. Before each class, or

4386-469: The condition is caused by a partial deletion in the SLC45A2 gene. Although albino Doberman are prone to suffer long term issues including photosensitivity/photophobia, skin lesions/tumors, and solar skin damage, there is no evidence suggesting this mutation causes deafness. The Dobermann's natural tail is fairly long, but individual dogs often have a short tail as a result of docking, a procedure in which

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4472-401: The construction of obstacles. However, the basic form of most obstacles is the same wherever they are used. Obstacles include the following: Contact obstacles are obstacles made of planks and ramps, they require dogs to ascend and descend the obstacle and to place a paw on a "contact zone", an area that is painted a different colour. The height, width and angle of the planks and ramps varies by

4558-501: The country at prestigious international events vary slightly. One reason alternatives to FCI organisations started to emerge is that FCI is an international pure-bred dogs federation and most of its members have restrictions for dogs without pedigrees. Such organisation as USDAA, UKI and IFCS and their members have opposed that and created their own international competitions that do not restrict participation for dogs without pedigrees. Dogs can begin training for agility at any age, but care

4644-407: The course successfully. The dog begins behind a starting line and, when instructed by their handler, proceeds around the course. The handler typically runs near the dog, directing the dog with spoken commands and with body language (the position of arms, shoulders, and feet). Because speed counts as much as accuracy, especially at higher levels of competition, this all takes place at a full-out run on

4730-401: The dog is always safe and has a good training experience for agility so that it does not fear the obstacles, and instead performs them willingly and with enthusiasm. The teeter-totter (or see-saw) and the weave poles are typically the most challenging obstacles to teach to a dog. Many dogs are wary of the see-saw's movement, and the weave poles involve behavior that does not occur naturally to

4816-427: The dog self-control becomes one of the goals for the trainer. Timid dogs need extra support to boost their confidence. Given the right encouragement, a timid dog can gain confidence through learning the sport. The size of the dog can also have an effect on training obstacles, particularly with the chute, in which smaller dogs are prone to get trapped and tangled inside. A trainer will take great effort to ensure that

4902-519: The dog's part and, in places, on the handler's part as well. Scoring of runs is based on how many faults are incurred. Penalties can include not only course faults , such as knocking down a bar in a jump, but also time faults , which are the number of seconds over the calculated standard course time , which in turn is determined based on the competition level, the complexity of the course, and other factors. The regulations of different organizations specify somewhat different rules and dimensions for

4988-591: The dog, called layering, or at a great distance from the dog. Printed maps of the agility course, called course maps , are occasionally made available to the handlers before they run, to help the handlers plan their course strategy. The course map contains icons indicating the position and orientation of all the obstacles, and numbers indicating the order in which the obstacles are to be taken. Course maps were originally drawn by hand, but nowadays courses are created using various computer programs. Each dog and handler team gets one opportunity together to attempt to complete

5074-434: The dog. Contact obstacles in general are challenging to train in a manner that ensures that the dog touches the contact zone without sacrificing speed. Whether for competition or recreation, the most important skill for an agility team to learn is how to work together quickly, efficiently, and safely. Dogs vary greatly in their speed and accuracy of completing a course, as well as in their preferences for obstacles; therefore,

5160-568: The dogs run or crawl through. Although each organization has its own rules, all divide dogs into smaller groups that are close to each other in size and experience for purposes of calculating winners and qualifying scores. The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration at the Crufts dog show in the late 1970s in the United Kingdom. Dogs were run around a course designed similar to horse jumping courses during intermission as

5246-412: The evening before the first class, course builders use course maps provided by the judges to place equipment on the course. The chief course builder is usually an experienced competitor who understands what equipment is legal, how it must be configured, how each must be aligned compared to other obstacles, and can direct several course-building volunteers to efficiently move the equipment into place. To make

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5332-399: The fifteen years from 2009 to 2023 the average number of puppies whelped per year in Germany was approximately 535 , representing just over 1% of the average total number of births for all breeds, recorded at slightly more than 77,000 per year. The Dobermann is a medium-large dog of pinscher type. Dogs stand some 68–72 cm (27–28 in) at the withers , with a weight usually in

5418-403: The handler must adjust their handling style to suit and support the dog. Training techniques for each piece of equipment varies. The techniques for training the weave poles include using offset poles that gradually move more in line with each other, poles that tilt outward from the base and gradually become upright, wires or gates around the poles forcing the dog into the desired path, and putting

5504-406: The handler must assess the course, decide on handling strategies, and direct the dog through the course, with precision and speed equally important. Many strategies exist to compensate for the inherent difference in human and dog speeds and the strengths and weaknesses of the various dogs and handlers. As each course is different, handlers are allowed a short walk-through (typically 8 minutes) before

5590-399: The job easier, courses are often marked in some way to correspond to a grid: for example, if course maps are printed on a grid of 10-foot-by-10-foot squares, the posts that hold the ring ropes marking the course's four sides are often set 10 feet apart. When the course builders finish, the judge walks through the course and double-checks that the obstacles are legal, that they are placed where

5676-422: The judge intended, and that there are no unintended hazards on the course (such as potholes, uneven ground, or mud puddles) around which the course must be adjusted. For many classes, the judge then measures the path through the course to determine the optimal running distance of a typical dog. The judge uses that measurement with a speed requirement determined by the rules to calculate the standard course time, which

5762-686: The majority of the tail is surgically removed shortly after birth. The practice of docking has been around for centuries and is older than the Dobermann as a breed. The historical reason for docking is to ensure that the tail does not get in the way of the dog's work. Docking and cropping (see below) have been written out of the Breed Standard by FCI and the International Dobermann Club (IDC), and dogs born after 2016 will not be allowed to participate in FCI or IDC shows without

5848-482: The maximum standard course time (SCT). For example, under USDAA rules, a dog can earn novice-level titles in Standard, Jumpers, Gamblers, Snooker, and Pairs Relay classes by earning three qualifying runs in each of the classes. The dog can also earn intermediate-level titles and masters-level titles in the same classes. After earning all of the masters-level titles—five qualifying runs in each, with some that must be in

5934-484: The most notable year is 2015 - for the first time in the history, there was a double victory by the same handler. Pavol Vakonič from Slovakia held his nerves and brought two faultless runs with Ikea and Fiona (both border-collies ) through to the last jump. He earned silver and gold medal. Unfortunately, 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to pandemic . AWC 2022 was originally slated to be held in Moscow, Russia, but

6020-460: The myriad tasks involved in putting on a trial. For example, if electronic timing is not being used, each class needs a timer, who ensures that the dog's running time is recorded, a scribe, who records the judge's calls as a dog runs the class, and pole setters (or ring stewards ), who ensure that jump bars are reset when they are knocked off and change jump heights for dogs of different sizes. Agility competitions require considerable space. Each ring

6106-424: The organisation running the competition. The A-frame comprises two ramps that meet in the middle forming an A shape, the ramps vary between 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 9 feet (2.7 m) in length, and between 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) and 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) in height at the apex. The dog walk is an elevated plank with ascending and descending ramps at each end,

6192-442: The personality factors they focus on and in terms of ranking breeds differently along these dimensions. One such study found that Doberman Pinschers, compared to other breeds, rank high in playfulness, average in curiosity/fearlessness, low on aggressiveness, and low on sociability. Another such study ranked Doberman Pinschers low on reactivity/surgence and high on aggression/disagreeableness and openness/trainability. In addition to

6278-444: The ramps vary between 8 and 12 feet (2.4 and 3.7 m) in length and 36 and 50 inches (91 and 127 cm) in height above the ground. The seesaw, sometimes called the teeter-totter, is a seesaw , that the dogs walks the length of, the seesaw varies between 8 and 12 feet (2.4 and 3.7 m) in length and the apex between 16 and 27 inches (41 and 69 cm) in height. The tunnel obstacles involve tunnels of different designs that

6364-448: The range 40–50 kg (88–110 lb); bitches are considerably smaller, with height and weight ranges of 63–68 cm (25–27 in) and 32–35 kg (71–77 lb) respectively. It is a working dog , and registration is subject to completion of a working trial  [ de ] . It was originally intended as a guard dog, so males typically have a muscular and intimidating appearance. Two different color genes exist in

6450-414: The ring in the running order previously determined by the trial secretary and manages changes to the running order for handlers who might have conflicts with other rings of competition. As each dog and handler team runs the course, the dog is timed either by a person with a stopwatch or with an electronic timer, and the scribe writes the judge's calls and the dog's final time on a scribe sheet or ticket, which

6536-413: The rules and explain specific requirements for a particular course. For Standard courses for experienced competitors, the judge's briefing is often minimal or dispensed with altogether. For novice handlers in classes with complex rules, the briefings can be much longer. The competitors then walk the course (as described earlier). When the walk-through ends, the gate steward or caller ensures that dogs enter

6622-437: The sanctioning organization and applies to the organization for permission to hold a trial on a specific date or weekend; most trials are two-day weekend events. The club designates a member to be the chairperson or show manager, who is responsible for ensuring that the trial takes place, and another member to be the secretary, who is responsible for providing competitors with the show premium or schedule—a document that describes

6708-446: The specific competition, summarizes the rules, describes the trial site, and includes an entry form—receiving completed entry forms, sending out running orders, producing running-order lists for the day of competition, and compiling the results from the trial to send to the sanctioning organization. The designated chief ring steward or ring manager is responsible for finding and assigning workers, almost always volunteers, to perform

6794-488: The sport on par with mobile handlers. Research has also demonstrated health benefits to handlers engaged in dog agility. Competitions (also called trials or matches or shows ) are usually hosted by a specific local club. The club might be devoted solely to dog agility, or it might be primarily a breed club that wants to promote the working abilities of its breed, or it might be a club that hosts many types of dog sports . The club contracts with judges who are licensed by

6880-684: The studies of canine personality, there has been some research to determine whether there are breed differences in aggression. In a study published in 2008, aggression was divided into four categories: aggression directed at strangers, owner, strange dogs, and rivalry with other household dogs. This study found that the Doberman Pinscher ranked relatively high on stranger-directed aggression, but extremely low on owner-directed aggression. The Doberman Pinscher ranked as average on dog-directed aggression and dog rivalry. Looking only at bites and attempted bites, Doberman Pinschers rank as far less aggressive towards humans and show less aggression than many breeds without

6966-434: The technical and educational training, physical training must also be done. The dog must be fit enough to run and jump without causing stress or injury to its body. The handler can also benefit from being physically fit, but with some handling styles it is not necessary to keep up with the dog (nor is it possible with very fast dogs). Being able to handle a dog from a distance allows mobility-impaired handlers to participate in

7052-1016: The top 15% of dogs competing at each trial—the dog earns its Championship. Other organizations have similar schemes; in AKC, to earn the Championship, the dog's qualifying runs must be earned two at a time on the same day. In NADAC, the quantity of qualifying runs is much larger; and so on. Most champion titles have "CH" in the title: NATCH (NADAC Agility Trial Champion), ADCH (Agility Dog Champion for USDAA), CATCH (CPE Agility Trial Champion), MACH (Master Agility Champion for AKC), TACH (Teacup Agility Champion), ATCH (ASCA Agility Trial Champion) and so on. Surveys of handlers indicates that between 32% and 41.7% of dogs incur injuries from agility related activities. The most common types of injuries were (in order) strains, sprains and contusions. Locations most commonly injured were shoulders, iliopsoas muscle, digits and lumbar spine/lumbosacral area. Border Collies are more likely to be injured than other breeds. Injury rate

7138-553: Was introduced to the U.S. before the Miniature Pinscher. In 1919, the Miniature Pinscher was introduced to the AKC show ring. At the time, not knowing that it was referred to officially in Germany as the Zwergpinscher (little biter), the AKC referred to the breed as simply "Pinscher" and listed it in the miscellaneous category. When the Miniature Pinscher Club of America (MPCA) was created in 1929 (the year of

7224-439: Was involved in attacks on humans resulting in fatalities less frequently than several other dog breeds such as Pit bulls , German Shepherd Dogs , Rottweilers , Husky -type dogs, wolf-dog hybrids and Alaskan Malamutes . According to this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, one of the most important factors contributing to dog bites is the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners. A 2024 UK study found

7310-529: Was looking for. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain, although many experts believe that the Dobermann is a combination of several breeds including the Beauceron , German Pinscher , Rottweiler and Weimaraner . The single exception is the documented crossing with the Greyhound and Manchester Terrier . It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd

7396-567: Was the single largest contributor to the Dobermann breed. Philip Greunig's The Dobermann Pinscher (1939) describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, who helped to establish the breed. The American Kennel Club believes the breeds utilized to develop the Dobermann Pinscher may have included the old shorthaired shepherd, Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier and the German Pinscher. After Dobermann's death in 1894,

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