Often mistaken for being ferocious and aggressive, Dobermans are extremely loyal. They are trained to maintain a fearless appearance, but you should know that they are sufficiently obedient and restrained to only do so in command. Although they might show aggressive behavior to strangers, they extremely love their owners. Differences in breeding strategies on Dobermans made various lines of it develop different traits, just like this whine treat jar that has variety of colors and renditions depending on your favorite breed.

Dobermans believed to have been created from several breeds of dogs including the Beauceron, German Pinscher, Greyhound, Thuringian sylvan dog, Great Dane, German Shorthaired Pointer, Old German Shepherd, Weimaraner, Manchester Terrier and the Rottweiler. Exact ratios of mixing made experts believe that Dobermans are a combination of at least four of the above mentioned breeds.

If you want proof of just how extraordinary the relationsip between man and his best friend can be then you really must read a stunning new book called One Dog At A Time. It has been written by a British Marine and dog lover called Pen Farthing and tells of his time serving in the violent Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

While dodging the bullets and mortars, Sergeant Farthing witnessed the cruel and barbaric Afghan tradition of dog fighting. Rather than standing by as many would have done, he risked his life by breaking up the fighting and freeing the dogs. One of them, a big, battle-scarred mastiff he christened Nowzad after the town he was stationed in, found his way into the Marine compound where he befriended his liberator. As Farthing’’s tour of duty continued, he and Nowzad became inseparable buddies. The tough British soldier and the powerful dog formed an odd couple in the middle of the war zone. They were soon joined by other dogs who were drawn to the sanctuary the Marine compound provided. At one point, one dog pushed her litter of newborn pups through the wall of the compound so that they could be safe from the Taliban bombs and general cruelty of the Afghans towards the dog.

By the end of his time in Afghanistan, Farthing had more than a dozen dogs and puppies living in his makeshift sanctuary. As he prepared to leave, he was faced with the heartbreaking prospect of leaving them all behind.

We won’t spoil the ending of this powerful book, but suffice it to say that two of the dogs he rescued are now living with Pen Farthing in England. He has also set up a fantastic charity to rescue other abused dogs in Afghanistan. His work is truly inspirational and is winning the admiration and support of dog lovers everywhere. Part of the proceeds from the book will go towards his charity.

If you only buy and read one dog book this year, make it One Dog At A Time.

One in five dogs snore. That’s what a group of scientists discovered when they did a study on canine sleeping habits.

They also discovered that dogs dream. In a series of tests vets recorded dogs experiencing Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep, which in humans indicate a dreamy state. Interestingly, the vets also discovered that dogs tend to doze in on-off sequences, snoozing for an hour then waking for half an hour. During the waking period dogs are often highly active and do things like pacing around and barking. No one yet has explained whether this is related to their dreams.

Not all dogs are able to control their sleeping habits so well.
Dobermans were bred by a German tax-collector who wanted to produce a dog so fierce that it could protect him on travels through bandit-infested countryside and persuade reluctant debtors to pay up. One line of the breed didn’t quite work out according to plan, however.

This unfortunate strain of Dobermans suffer from narcolepsy- an inherited condition which makes them drop sound asleep whenever they get excited. Even the sight or smell of a favourite snack is enough to send them into a deep slumber.

For more odd and interesting scientific facts about man’s best friend you should read ‘ ‘Play It Again Tom: Curious Truths About Cats And Dogs’ by Augustus Brown
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