The Reading of the AKC Doberman Pinscher standard.

Official Standard of the Doberman PinscherGeneral Appearance: The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with a body that issquare. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed. Elegant inappearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. Energetic, watchful,determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.Size, Proportion, Substance: Height at the withers: Dogs 26 to 28 inches, ideal about 27½inches; Bitches 24 to 26 inches, ideal about 25½ inches. The height, measured vertically from theground to the highest point of the withers, equaling the length measured horizontally from theforechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh. Length of head, neck and legs in proportion tolength and depth of body.Head: Long and dry, resembling a blunt wedge in both frontal and profile views. When seenfrom the front, the head widens gradually toward the base of the ears in a practically unbrokenline. Eyes almond shaped, moderately deep set, with vigorous, energetic expression. Iris, ofuniform color, ranging from medium to darkest brown in black dogs; in reds, blues, and fawnsthe color of the iris blends with that of the markings, the darkest shade being preferable in everycase. Ears normally cropped and carried erect. The upper attachment of the ear, when held erect,is on a level with the top of the skull. Top of skull flat, turning with slight stop to bridge ofmuzzle, with muzzle line extending parallel to top line of skull. Cheeks flat and muscular. Nosesolid black on black dogs, dark brown on red ones, dark gray on blue ones, dark tan on fawns.Lips lying close to jaws. Jaws full and powerful, well filled under the eyes. Teeth stronglydeveloped and white. Lower incisors upright and touching inside of upper incisors a true scissorsbite. 42 correctly placed teeth, 22 in the lower, 20 in the upper jaw. Distemper teeth shall not bepenalized. Disqualifying Fault - Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch. Undershot more than ⅛ ofan inch. Four or more missing teeth.Neck, Topline, Body: Neck proudly carried, well muscled and dry. Well arched, with nape ofneck widening gradually toward body. Length of neck proportioned to body and head. Witherspronounced and forming the highest point of the body. Back short, firm, of sufficient width, andmuscular 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 lowerend 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 inproportion to body, breadth of hips being approximately equal to breadth of body at rib cage andshoulders. 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.Forequarters: Shoulder Blade-sloping forward and downward at a 45-degree angle to theground meets the upper arm at an angle of 90 degrees. Length of shoulder blade and upper armare equal. Height from elbow to withers approximately equals height from ground to elbow. Legsseen from front and side, perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern;muscled and sinewy, with heavy bone. In normal pose and when gaiting, the elbows lie close tothe brisket. Pasterns firm and almost perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed.Feet well arched, compact, and catlike, turning neither in nor out.Hindquarters: The angulation of the hindquarters balances that of the forequarters. Hip bonefalls away from spinal column at an angle of about 30 degrees, producing a slightly rounded,well filled-out croup. Upper shanks at right angles to the hip bones, are long, wide, and wellPage 2 of 2muscled on both sides of thigh, with clearly defined stifles. Upper and lower shanks are of equallength. While the dog is at rest, hock to heel is p