General Appearance | Head | Neck, Topline and Body and Tail | Forequarters | Hindquarters | Forequarters and Hindquarters together | Gait | Temperament

The Neck, Topline and Body is the next section of the Standards to present and discuss. The more that we present of the standard, the more that you can and should go back to the previous sections of the standard to answer questions such as proportion question to other parts for example the “length of head, neck and legs in proportion to the length and depth of body” that is in the general appearance section. The standard is a description of the ideal Doberman Pinscher and “breed type emerges from the whole standard”. Those words in the quotes are from Peggy Adamson and I like what they say about our standard and an idea of how to apply it. They say that we need to learn and see our standard as a whole to me it says a lot more really.

1899

Neck: Powerful and straight.

Chest: Well rounded, not flat sided, reaching to the elbow.

Back: Straight and not too long, length from occiput to start of tail about 75 cm (29.52 inches) so that the entire length, without tail, should measure about 100cm (39.37 inches).

Loins: Loins well developed and well filled out.

Tail: Docked not longer than 15 cm (5.9 inches) Bobtails much appreciated.

Marj’s note: go back to the head section of this standard and get the measurements of the length of the head and height of the dog to get an idea of the proportions. You will have to figure in the neck length, which is not addressed. In the photos of the dogs of that time, the necks appear to be on the shorter side then the head length. If you happen to have the 1991 Fall, part 2 issue of the DQ, you can see these photos staring on page 390. You can also look in your breed book on the Doberman.

 

1901 “B”

Neck: Powerful and straight.

Back: Straight and not too long. Length from occiput to the start of the tail about 70 cm (27.55 inches) so that the entire length, without tail should measure about 95 cm (37.4 inches). Back should not be weak. Loins well developed and filled out. Chest well rounded, not flat sided, reaching to the elbows.

Tail: Cropped not longer than 15 cm (5.9 inches).

 

1991 “C”

Neck: Powerful and straight; not too long.

Body: Back straight, not too long, firm, should not be weak. Loins well developed. Loins well developed and filled out. Chest well rounded, not flat sided. It should reach to the elbow. The length and height of the dog should appear square.

Tail: Cropped not longer than 12 cm (4.72 inches). Bobtails are preferred.

 

1920

Neck: Sufficiently long and “dry”, fitting into the picture as a whole. Slightly arched. Nape of the neck well muscled.

Faults: Short, thick or neck like that of a Great Dane. Dewlap.

Body: Back short and firm. Withers clearly defined. Croup slightly rounded. Brisket full, but not too broad. Chest reaching deep to the elbow. Belly drawn up well and forming a beautiful curved line with the chest. Tail clipped short.

Faults: Long back, arched or depressed, and diagonally sloping croup. Flat or barrel shaped chest.

 

1925

Neck: Of good length, dry and muscled and widening gradually toward the chest. The carriage is upright, nape of neck almost straight or slightly arched.

Body: Back short and firm and in the males especially well developed withers. Not narrow but spacious, broad and muscular at the location of the kidneys, extending smoothly to the slightly arched croup. Brisket sufficiently broad and muscular, never narrow or pointed. Chest must be well developed. Roomy in brisket with well curved but not too round ribs, reaching deep to the elbows. Belly well drawn up but not as much as a greyhound. Tail short and clipped.

Faults: (are listed at the end of this standard) Faults are all deviations from the above standard. Especially faulty are: deviations from the correct type and in particular borzoi and greyhound type dogs, a shy cowardly and nervous character, too light, too heavy, too low standing or distinct high legged and too narrow body build.

 

1935

Neck: Sufficiently long and clean cut, well muscled and slightly arched.

Faults: Short or thick. Throatiness.

Body: Backline firm, with slope to croup desirable. Must be at least level. Withers clearly defined. Back short firm and muscular. Chest well developed and deep, reaching at least to the elbow. Noticeable spring of rib. Brisket full but not too broad. Abdomen well tucked up, continuing curved line of the chest. Loins well muscled, hips sufficiently broad. Tail docked.

Faults: Back long, roached or swayed. Greater height in the hindquarters than at withers. Diagonally slanting or low rounded croup. Low tail placement.  Narrow, shallow or barrel-shaped chest. Lack of forechest development. Hips too narrow.

With this standard there is a scale of points.

Neck..3,

Body. Backline, withers, loins, tail placement..8, chest, brisket, rib spring, tuck up..8, Shape and proportions..4

 

1942

Neck: Of medium length, carried upright, well muscled and dry. Nape of neck straight or slightly arched, widening gradually towards chest.

Faults: Nape of neck too arched; deer neck. Neck too short, too heavy, too thin, too long, loose skin on throat and neck.

Body:
Back short, firm, of sufficient width and muscular at the location of the kidneys, extending smoothly to the slightly arch croup.

Withers well pronounced a and forming the highest part on body. Chest with sufficient spring of ribs, reaching deep to the elbow. Brisket full but not too broad. Belly well tucked up, extending curved line with chest. loins wide and muscled, hips sufficiently broad. Tail clipped short to first or second joint.

Faults: Roached back, depressed back, too long or too short or narrow in back. Position of wither lower than that of croup. Loins or hips not spacious enough, lack of muscular development. Chest too narrow, shallow or barrel shaped. Brisket too prominent, too flat or too narrow. Belly too much drawn up, tail set too low, or too high, tail clipped too long, lack of forechest.

 

1948

Neck: Carried upright, well muscled and dry. Well arched, with nape of neck widening gradually toward body. length of neck proportionate to body and head.

Body: Back short and firm, of sufficient width, and muscular at the loin extending in a straight line from wither to the slightly arch croup. Withers pronounced and forming the highest point of body. Brisket full and broad, reaching deep to the elbow. Chest broad, and forechest well defined. Spring of ribs pronounced. Belly well tucked up, extending curved line from chest. Loins wide and muscled. Hips broad in pro[portion to body, breath of hips being approximately breadth of body at rib spring. Tail docked at approximately second joint, should appear to be the continuation of the spine, without material drop.

SCALE OF POINTS

Neck..3

Body: backline–withers–loins–tail placement…..8,

Chest brisket–rib spring–tuck up…………………8

Shape and proportions………………………………4 total for body 20.

Disqualifications

Shyness, viciousness. Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch; undershot more than 1/8 of an inch.

 

1969

Neck: Proudly carried, well muscled and dry.Well arched, with nape of neck widening gradually toward body. Length of neck proportioned to body and head.

Body: Back short and firm, of sufficient width and muscular at the loins, extending in a straight line from withers to the slightly arched croup. Withers: pronounced and forming the highest point of body. Brisket: reaching deep to the elbow. Chest: broad with forechest well defined. Ribs: well sprung from the spine, but flattened in lower end to permit elbow clearance. Belly: well tucked up, extending in a curved line from the brisket. Loins: wide and muscled. Hips: Broad in proportion to body, breath of hip being approximately equal to breath of body at rib cage and shoulders.

Faults (listed at the end of standard)

The foregoing description is that of the ideal Doberman Pinscher. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Disqualifications:

Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch; undershot more than 1/8 of an inch. Four or more missing teeth.

 

1982/1990

Note: Adopted by the DPCA and approved by the AKC on February 6, 1982. Reformatted November 6, 1990. The only change in 1982 to the standard approved in 1969 was the addition of a disqualifying fault for dogs “Not of an allowed color.” The standard was reformatted only and no descriptions were changed in 1990.

Neck, Topline, Body: Neck proudly carried, well muscled and dry. Well arched, with nape of neck widening gradually toward body. Length of neck proportioned to body and head. Withers pronounced and forming the highest point of the body. Back short, firm, of sufficient width, and muscular at the loins, extending in a straight line from withers to the slightly rounded croup.

Chest broad with forechest well defined. Ribs well sprung from the spine, but flattened in lower end to permit elbow clearance. Brisket reaching deep to the elbow. Belly well tucked up, extending in a curved line from the brisket. Loins wide and muscled. Hips broad and in proportion to body, breadth of hips being approximately equal to breadth of body at rib cage and shoulders. Tail docked at approximately second joint, appears to be a continuation of the spine, and is carried only slightly above the horizontal when the dog is alert.

FAULTS 
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Doberman Pinscher. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch, undershot more than 1/8 of an inch. Four or more missing teeth. Dogs not of an allowed color.