Doberman Pinscher is a large dog quite popular for its short hair and aristocratic yet dominating appearance. Many people keep them for their excellent guarding abilities and they are common to see in the Military and Police as well.
Do Dobermans shed? Yes, Dobermans do shed. The good thing is that their hairs are very short and hence do not get tangled. Their coat is easy to clean and maintain.
Is Doberman hypoallergenic? No, Doberman is not hypoallergenic. They do shed dander along with the hair. Often dog allergic folks reported skin irritations when they came in close proximity to Doberman.
Dobermans are beautiful, elegant dogs with an athletic build. They are intelligent, loyal dogs who are protective of their family and land.
Doberman shedding
These dogs have a single short coat. Contrary to what you may think, Doberman do shed.
There is a silver lining though, their hairs are thick and short having a hard texture that does not exhibit any static property. For this reason, you will not find his hair clinging to your clothes and house linen.
Their non-greasy hair usually falls individually and you will not have to worry about clumps of hair around the house.
They are not a heavy shedder like a Corgi or a Labrador as they have a single coat.
Doberman coat colors and characteristics
The Doberman has short smooth hair that lies flat against the body. This makes the coat look sleek and silky when he stands in the sun.
Each hair is not very long and will be almost invisible when on furniture. This is good news for people who cannot clean the house every day.
Doberman are famously known for their smooth black coats that have rust brown patches occurring on their chest, above the eyes, muzzle, tail, and on their feet and hind legs. These natural patterns are specific to the Doberman.
Apart from this natural coat color, you can find this dog in a fawn, red, blue, or brown coats. These colors mostly appear in combination with tan or rust points appearing at various parts of the body.
Fawn and blue Doberman are very rare to find, while black and red coat colors are more common. Either way, all the colors are attractive.
Getting a darker hair coat color will help you to notice the hair around the house, while light color hair could be overlooked.
Factors that impact shedding in Doberman
Shedding is usually uniform and almost equal throughout the year. Some dogs might start to shed more than usual. This is usually a sign of adverse conditions like illness or stress.
Let us look at some reasons why your Doberman could be shedding more than expected.
Stress
It could be a change in routine, missing a family member, or a new addition to the family. Any of these could be causing mental stress and anxiety that reflects in the coat.
Nutrition
A new food brand, or one that lacks the essential vitamins and minerals could cause an alarming change in his coat. Every Doberman owner should find suitable food that satisfies all nutritional requirements.
Consider the age and energy level of your dog. This also means that throughout the life of the dog, food should be changed to suit his needs.
Shampoo
Some shampoos are not suitable for use on a dog with sensitive skin. In the case of the Doberman, chemical shampoos can strip the natural oils from his skin. This can result in depleting health of both the skin and the hair.
There are several natural shampoos that are based on components that do not irritate the skin. We would recommend oatmeal-based shampoos.
Skin Conditions
Some skin conditions reduce hair growth or even cause the hair follicles to stop growing. This could lead to your dog having bald patches which are unappealing.
Pests and parasites may also affect the skin and hair.
Disease
Many diseases may have hair fall as a symptom. If you are not able to point out the cause of abnormal shedding, try consulting a Vet as this could mean he is suffering from some illness.
Other reasons
In female Doberman dogs, pregnancy could lead to an increase in shedding of the coat. Abusive surroundings can also cause mental stress that will affect the health and coat of the dog.
Of all the reasons we have seen, stress and nutrient deficiencies are often the main culprits of excessive hair shedding.
How to maintain Doberman coat?
Grooming a Doberman
When it comes to grooming, Doberman are easiser to groom. Taking care of this single short coat dog does not require extraordinary products or routines.
When your Doberman is not shedding too much, you can brush once every few days. This will take a few minutes at most.
When shedding becomes more visible, you can start brushing him every day. Again, this will take a few minutes. Brushing not only removes loose hair, it also distributes natural oils in the hair coat.
A grooming mitt is the best grooming tool for such short hair coats. By grooming your dog, you limit the amount of hair that would otherwise fall to the floor, making it dirty.
Another good idea is to take a damp cloth and run it over the Dobermans coat to remove any loose hairs and it will also keep him clean. This can be done weekly.
Bathing Doberman
Bathing is an activity that any dog must accept. Luckily for Doberman, this activity will not happen very often.
In fact, it is advised to wash your Doberman once every six to eight weeks. Or when the smell becomes unbearable that is when a bath is necessary! In between this time, if he gets dirty just rinse him off with clean water.
Bathing frequency is crucial. Overbathing your Doberman can lead to natural skin oils being leached out. This then leads to dry skin and more complications in the hair coat.
Dobermans have sensitive skin. Most shampoos have a lot of chemicals in them which will have a negative effect on your dog.
Buy a sensitive skin shampoo like an oatmeal-based shampoo made especially for dogs. It aids in soothing and calming the skin.
How to managing shedding in the house?
Loose hair gets dislodged from the coat and falls on the floor or furniture. It is not just hair that falls, as most people assume. Dead skin, dander, and skin oil, also comes off and sits on home furnishings.
Getting rid of all these substances becomes crucial if someone in the house has dog allergies. Not to mention your home will appear cleaner without scattered dog hair!
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is very efficient when you must remove hair in a rush. It is the fastest and most reliable method to remove dog hair.
Homes that have carpeted floors will find the vacuum cleaner most effective for removing pet hair and dirt. It is a must-have appliance for people who do not have time to clean the house.
Damp cloth
A slightly wet cloth can be effective in attracting the dry hair of the Doberman. This trick can be used by anyone to clean the hair.
A damp cloth can also be used on many more areas on the house as opposed to the vacuum cleaner. Wiping down wooden and glass furniture is a possibility with cloths, dry or wet.
Sweeping brush
Flooring that is not carpeted will require regular sweeping. A broom will make sure that both hair and dead skin cells are removed.
Air filters
All the above activities can remove hair and dead cells from the floor and soft furnishings. Dead cells do not just settle on the floor and soft furnishings. These fine particles get caught in the air and stay suspended in the air.
Air filters are useful for collecting allergenic particles from the air. If these particles are not removed from the air, they will eventually settle down in the house.
Check out home remedies to dog Shedding – https://yourdogsworld.com/b/dog-shedding-home-remedies/
About Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher, formerly known as the Dobermann was first bred in Germany.
This is a recent dog breed that was bred in the late 19th-century to derive the perfect guard dog with a perfect combination of strength, intelligence, and stamina. Though it is not documented, it is believed that Doberman was developed by mixing Rottweiler, German Pinscher, and Black and Tan Terrier.
Today, he is one of the most popular purebred dogs in the USA and serves well as both a guard dog and a companion dog.
The Doberman is medium to large in size with a dominating lean body and athletic build. They are quite smart and energetic dogs. Not recommended for novice owners, they need some one who can be confident and have time for his recommended exercises.
When trained from an early age, he would be highly loyal and trustworthy. He would be playful and fun loving.
The body is mostly muscular with a long narrow head and a long muzzle. Their ears are perked up and body posture is alert as he stands ready to run. Their tails were usually cropped but this is illegal in most countries today.
Conclusion
Doberman do shed moderately.
If you are looking for a large energetic dog who can be your companion and also be a protector, Doberman can be a suitable choice. You would need to give time for his exercise and training but he would be low in maintenance when it comes to grooming