Adopted by the DPCA and approved by the AKC in August 1935. The first standard written by the DPCA.
Source: AKC (note: William Sidney Schmidt published a 1935 standard approved by the DPCA in January of that year in the 1935 edition of The Doberman Pinscher. It differed slightly from the final standard approved by the AKC in 1935. The primary difference was that Schmidt’s version listed overshot and undershot mouths exceeding a quarter of an inch as a major fault.
Conformation and General Appearance:
The Doberman Pinscher is a dog of good medium size, square in proportion as viewed from the side. The height measured on a perpendicular line from the top of the withers to the ground, should equal the length, measured horizontally from the forechest or the sternum, to the outer edge of the upper thigh. Permissible height at the shoulder, dogs, 24 to 27 inches; bitches, 23 to 25 inches. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, denoting great endurance and speed. Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage and great nobility, manifesting by its bearing a wide-awake vivacious personality. Temperament energetic, watchful, determined and alert; loyal and obedient, fearless and aggressive.
Faults: Coarseness. Fineness or greyhound build. Undersize or oversize. Commonness, sluggishness, lack of nobility, failure to manifest any of the temperament characteristics. Shyness and bad temper.
Head: Long and clean cut, resembling a blunt wedge. Top of skull flat, with slight stop; topline of the muzzle as nearly parallel as possible with top of skull. Cheeks flat; well filled under the eyes. Jaws full and powerful. Lips cleanly fitted to the jaw.
Faults: Ramshead, too great width between ears, occipital bone too prominent, rounded scull or rounded head. Prominent growth above the eyes, hollowness under the eyes, dish faced, too short or snipy muzzle. Heavy cheeks. Lippiness.
Eyes: Dark and of medium size, almond shaped, with vigorous and alert expression. In reds, slightly lighter eye permissible.
Faults: Light eyes (sulfur color) Too small or too large. Of sinister expression.
Teeth: Strongly developed and snow white. Scissors bite, i.e. with upper edge of lower incisors, which should be as nearly upright as possible touching the inner surface of the upper incisors.
Faults: Missing, poor black brown teeth; Undershot or overshot. Absence of scissors bite.
Ears: Cropped to a point and carried erect. If uncropped, ears should be set high, not too far apart and of medium size, drooping forward close to cheek. The top line of folded ear being slightly above the level of the skull.
Faults: Ears badly carried or placed too low.
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.
Fore Quarters: Shoulders well muscled, lying close to the body. Upper arms forming as nearly as may be, a right angle with the shoulder blades. Legs straight to the pasterns. Pasterns firm. Paws compact.
Faults: Loose or stiff shoulders. French or “fiddle front”. Feet turning in or out. Front narrow. Weakness of pasterns. Steepness of shoulder, (too short upper-arm or shoulder-blade). Insufficient forechest. Paws long, flat or splayed.
Hind Quarters: Broad, with upper thigh forming as nearly as may be a right angle with hip bone. Well muscled, with clearly defined stifle. Lower thigh of good length. Legs when viewed from behind, straight, turning neither in or out. Paws compact.
Faults: Fine or lightly muscled hind legs. Steepness due to insufficient angulation. Excessive angulation. Cowhocks. Sloping or excessively rounded croup. Low tail placement. Failure to balance with forequarters. Feet turning in or out. Flat feet.
Gait: Free, balanced, vigorous and true. Back firm, indicating the lasting qualities of a working dog.
Faults: Lack of drive, stiffness, looseness, excessive back motion. Paddling. Throwing front or hind legs.
Coat, Color and markings: Coat short, hard and close lying. Color, black, brown or blue with rust-red, sharply defined markings. White hairs on chest permissible, but not desirable.
Faults: Long or wavy hair, gray undercoat showing through. White on chest exceeding half inch square. Straw-colored, mixed missing or too large of markings. Light fawn coat (known as Isabella) prohibited.
Note: Faults printed in italics are MAJOR FAULTS indicating degeneration of the breed.
SCALE OF POINTS
General conformation and appearance.
Proportions………………………………………………………8
Substance, muscle and bone……………………………….8
Temperament, expression and nobility……………………8
Condition………………………………………………………..5
Head
Shape…………………………………………………………….6
Eyes………………………………………………………………3
Teeth………………………………………………………………5
Neck……………………………………………………………….3
Body
Backline, withers, loins, tail placement……………………8
Chest, brisket, rib spring, tuck up…………………………..8
Shape and proportions………………………………………..4
Fore Quarters
Shoulders, upper arms, legs and pasterns……………….5
Angulation……………………………………………………….4
Paws……………………………………………………………..2
Hind Quarters
Upper thigh stifle and hocks…………………………………5
Angulation……………………………………………………….4
Paws……………………………………………………………..2
Gait……………………………………………………………….6
Coat, color and markings…………………………………….5
Total……………………………………………………………100
Note: It is recommended that the Scale of points be confined in use in Match Shows and Judging Classes.