We say dogs are a man’s best friend, and the Red Doberman really is. The doggie has a compact, muscular build with an affable temperament and personality as other dobermans.
Have you ever sought a complete breed guide on your Red Doberman furry companion? The Red Doberman is an affectionate, highly intelligent, and fearless doggie that possess an excess of Pheomelanin (reddish yellow pigments), giving them their reddish appearance. It excels in socializing with people, and is known to make great therapy dogs, on top of being excellent guard dogs.
There are lots of exciting stuff to take in about your Dobie pooch. From their propensity to bite, how to care for their health, and whether they shed, we leave nothing to chance in discussing the Dobes-dog-loving owner connection. We will then review Red Doberman breed – related questions as a pet.
We will take a closer look in a bit but first, let us consider just how common Red Dobermans are as man’s best friend.
Are Red Dobermans Rare?
To understand what determines a Doberman’s ultimate color, we look at the combination sequence of the dominant black gene and a dilution gene. Due to the dominant nature of the black gene, it is very rare for any solid color Doberman breed to manifest, including the Red Doberman.
In some cases, Red Dobermans carry the mutated MC1R gene (“E locus”) that produces an excess amount of Pheomelanin (reddish yellow) pigments. The more Pheomelanin pigments, the more intense the redness of the coat color. These genes are not common among the Doberman breed.
Therefore, Red Dobermans are considered to be very rare.
However, apart from the dominant black, red is the second most common color among the other colors. Having said that, Red Doberman is also regarded to be the second most popular choice for Doberman lovers in North America.
How Big Do Red Dobermans Get?
With regards to how big Red Dobermans get, your canine will grow into a big dog by standard estimation. Male Red Dobermans, when matured, range between 26 to 28 inches in height and weigh between 70 to 100 lbs. Female Red Dobermans, when fully grown, are slightly shorter, ranging between 24 to 26 inches, and weigh between 60 to 90 lbs.
They have a lean and muscular athletic body type, with their height making for a big and loyal guardian companion. However, Red Dobermans exhibit a rare combination of storky appearance and a graceful, stealth-like movement that some people find intimidating.
This huge size is attributed to the extensive need for regular exercise, with a Red Doberman averaging about 40 minutes of physical exercise per day.
What Are Red Dobermans Called?
Red Dobies are also called “Chocolate Dobermans” because their melanistic coat has an all-brown solid color, resembling that of what chocolate is.
If you are like me, then your pet doggie’s name means something personal to you. Definitely, your Red Doberman pooch name will be unique. And given there is no code to naming one’s four-legged furry friend, the name is yours to choose.
Are Red Dobermans Healthy?
Red Dobermans are typically healthy canine buddies. It is also imperative that you care for your canine’s mental health as well, with regular physical exercises necessary to stimulate its mind.
How Long Do Red Dobermans Live?
The average lifespan of a Red Doberman pooch ranges between 10 to 12 years. Take note that in rare instances, your dear Fido can succumb to hereditary heart disease and or cancer before they turn 7 years.
Common Health Issues
Most health issues of Red Doberman are inherited. Hereditary heart conditions remain the biggest concern, however, with cardiomyopathy, pulmonic stenosis, septal defects, and patent ductus arteriosus very common. Others illnesses will include:
Von Willebrand Disease
This condition is a common hereditary blood disorder that reduces the ability to clot. If your pet bleeds too much after injury, suffers from frequent nosebleeds and bleeding gums, or has intestinal bleeding, we advise that you have the Dobie checked for Von Willebrand disease.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
A cluster of eye diseases that cause gradual retinal deterioration resulting in night blindness before your canine suffers a partial loss of sight or complete blindness.
Narcolepsy
A neurological disease that diminishes your doggie’s cognitive ability to control its wake-sleep patterns.
Wobbler’s Disease
A serious disease of the neck vertebrae is found common in Doberman breeds.
Skin Diseases
Diseases relating to the skin are prevalent amongst Red Dobermans. They include allergies, dysplasia of follicles, seborrhea, and several others.
Cancer
Cancer is regarded to be common among Red Dobermans, including melanoma, sarcoma, and osteosarcoma.
You can better manage your Red Dobie’s suffering from certain diseases by taking preventive measures early when being diagnosed with a specific condition. So, do consult your vet if needed and bring your Red Dobie for routine medical checkups.
How To Take Care Of Red Dobermans?
The short coat makes Red Dobermans sensitive to cold temperatures. Your dear Fido, therefore should require warm clothes, especially during winter.
Unlike other breeds, your Red Doberman requires minimal care. Erect a fence around your backyard to provide your pooch plenty of room to romp around while ensuring its safety from and against strangers.
Besides room to play, the following suggestions are what you can do for better care of your Dobie buddy.
Exercise
We recommend that you provide your Red Dobie lots of exercise as a way to expend its pent-up energy. As mentioned, you should also ensure that there is plenty of room for your pooch to roam around safely, as it will not do well in confined spaces.
While most training occurs early on, it remains an effective way of helping your canine meet the recommended daily 40 minutes of exercise. It is also essential that the exercises have to be varied for optimal benefits to you both.
Diet
On average, Red Dobermans should be fed twice a day. I find that my dear Fido is comfortable with two meals of between 2.5 to 4 cups of multi-nutrient, high-quality dry food.
A dietary regime containing easy-to-digest, palatable feeds is good for your furry companion. We recommend a meat source like beef or chicken to be central to the meal, but including whole grains and other fibrous meals helps prevent bloat.
You should adopt a diet that also supplies the Dobie with essential nutrients such as fatty acids and multivitamins. You can also feed your Dobie raw meat, an increasingly popular practice amongst dog lovers.
To make things easier, we recommend Pet Plate as its freshly made meals come in a wide selection of protein types, of high nutritional value, and of course, great taste to your Red Dobie.
Do Red Dobermans Bite Their Owners? Temperaments Of Red Dobermans
I’m often asked by concerned would-be first-time Red Dobie owners. Known as a ferocious breed, most wannabe owners ask if their Red Dobie pooch could bite them.
So, do Red Dobermans bite their owners? No. Being loyal to their owners and obedient to instructions per their training, a Red Doberman doggie is unlikely to turn against and bite the owner.
It is also untrue that Red Dobies bark a lot. Being natural guard dogs, Red Dobies are forever attentive and will occasionally bark to alert their owner.
Red Doberman Temperaments
According to Stanley Coren’s ranking list, a Red Doberman is considered to be one of the intelligent dog breeds, so training it will be pretty straightforward. Its hyperactive and energetic natures also make it enjoy any form of outdoor training activity.
Red Dobermans are said to exude great confidence in the standing posture, one of the few dog breeds to portray such a lofty image. Coupled with fearlessness and alertness, it can easily intimidate passers-by and exhibit occasional natural aggression if provoked by strangers.
However, rest assured that properly trained Red Dobermans do not do that to their owner and the family due to their extreme loyalty and obedience.
Are Red Dobermans Dangerous?
Red Doberman doggies have a huge, muscular, and lean athletic build that could intimidate strangers. With their high intelligence and natural aggression, these physical attributes make the Red Dobie a reliable guard, even being utilized in military and police work.
So, are such dogs dangerous? Maybe and plausibly. The natural aggression makes Red Dobies potentially dangerous to strangers.
However, Red Dobermans are less likely to exhibit unprovoked aggressive behavior towards other animals and strangers when properly trained. Early training helps reduce the tendency for aggression while making the doggie more receptive to the owner’s instructions.
Do Red Dobermans Shed A Lot? Grooming Tips For Red Dobermans
Red Dobermans shed quite moderately despite their short and sleek coat. However, their short and smooth coat makes Red Dobies one of the easiest dog breeds to groom.
Before we dive into grooming tips for Red Dobies, we have to first understand the hypoallergenic factor of such dogs.
Are Red Dobermans Hypoallergenic?
Red Dobermans are not considered to be hypoallergenic as they are moderate shedders. The short, thick fur and barely-noticeable shedding makes Red Dobies unsuitable for people with allergies.
Owners of Red Doberman pooches have reported skin irritations arising from the fur, as well as sinus and other eye-related allergies.
Grooming Tips For Red Dobermans
Consider adopting a weekly brushing routine using either a rubber curry or grooming.
Always use specialized tools when grooming your dear Fido. I recommend the FURminator Undercoat Tool for removing loose undercoat hair around your Dobie’s neck while grooming.
Although less undercoat means that your Dobie will produce minimal odor, it is still necessary to maintain an infrequent bath routine, once every 3 weeks, to keep your friend clean and smelling fresh.
The Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner will relieve your furry companion of any itchy or dry and sensitive skin. A good bath will also remove any bad smells picked up combined from dirty surfaces.
Cleaning your canine’s teeth 2 to 3 times every week helps to remove built-up tartar alongside bacteria and prevents potential gum disease.
Given that Red Dobies are big and loving companions, do trim your doggie’s toenails monthly to avoid painful scratches. Ensure not to cut its nails too deep as this can cause bleeding. However, if your Dobie’s nails wear down naturally, you do not need to trim them.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Red Doberman Cost? The average price of a Red Doberman puppy from reputable breeders ranges between $1,000 and $2,500. Pet-quality Red Doberman pups are more affordable, unlike show-quality Dobermans. However, do avoid low cost puppies from low-quality breeders who are deemed to be working in puppy mills. Also, caring for your canine buddy would typically cost an average of $800 per year.
Can 2 Black Dobermans Have A Red Puppy? Yes, it is possible but highly unlikely. There is only a 25% chance that the offspring from the breeding of 2 Black Dobermans each carrying the red recessive gene will be a Red Doberman puppy. However, the Red And Rust Doberman breed is second only to the dominant Black Dobie.
Can Red Dobermans Swim? Red Dobermans can swim to some extent. However, swimming is not a natural skill for Doberman canines, who should therefore be taught before diving straight into water bodies. The lean body of Red Dobermans means they have trouble floating on water without training, but this is a fun-loving, intelligent, and muscular breed that can be safely trained to swim.
