Adopted by the DPCA and approved by the AKC, February 9, 1948.
Source: American Kennel Club
Conformation and general appearance:
The appearance is that of a dog of good middle size, with a body that is square, the height, measured vertically from the ground up to the withers, equaling the length measured horizontally, from the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh. Height at the withers, males 26 to 28 inches, ideal being about 27 inches; bitches 24 to 26 inches, ideal being about 251/2 inches. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed. Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient. Faults: Coarseness, Fine Greyhound build. Undersized or oversized.
Disqualifying Faults: Shyness, viciousness.
Shyness: A dog shall be judge fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it shrinks away from the judge; if it fears an approach from the rear; it shys from sudden and unusual noises to a marked degree. Viciousness: A dog that attacks or attempts to attack, the judge or its handler is definitely vicious. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not be deemed viciousness.
Head: (Shape, eyes, teeth, ears). Shape: Long and dry, resembling a blunt wedge, both frontal and profile view. When seen from the front, the head widens gradually toward the base of the ears in a practically unbroken line. Top of skull flat, turning with a slight stop to the bridge of the muzzle, with muzzle line extending parallel to the topline of the skull. Cheeks flat and muscular. Lips lying close to jaws, and not drooping. Jaws full and powerful, well filled under the eyes. Nose, solid black in black dogs, dark brown in brown ones, dark gray in blue ones. Faults: Head out of balance with proportion to body. Ram’s, dishfaced, cheeky or snipy heads. Eyes: Almond-shaped, not round, moderately deep set, not prominent, with vigorous, energetic expression. Iris of uniform color, ranging from medium to the darkest brown in black dogs, the darker shade being more desirable. In reads or blues, the color of the iris should blend with that of the markings, but not be a lighter hue than that of the markings. Faults: slit eyes. Glassy eyes. Teeth: Strongly developed and white. Lower incisors upright and touching the inside of upper incisors–a true scissors bite. Forty two (22 in lower jaw, 20 in upper jaw). Distemper teeth should not be penalized. Disqualifying Faults: Overshot more than 3/16 of an inch. Undershot more than 1/8 of an inch.
Ears: Well trimmed and carried erect. (In all states where ear trimming is prohibited, or where dogs with cropped ears cannot be shown, the foregoing requirements are waived.) The upper attachment of the ear when held erect, should be level with the top of the skull.
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.
Forequarters: Shoulder blade and upper arm should meet at an angle of ninety degrees. Relative length of shoulder and upper arm should be like one to one, excess length of upper arm being much less undesirable than length of shoulder blade. Legs , seen from the front and side perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern; muscled and sinewy, with round heavy bone. In a normal position, and when gaiting, the elbow should lie close to the brisket. Pasterns firm, with a almost perpendicular position to the ground. Feet well arched, compact and cat like, tuning neither in or out.
Hindquarters: In balance with forequarters. Upper shanks long, wide and well muscled on both sides of the thigh, with clearly defined stifle. Hocks, while the dog is at rest: hock to heel should be perpendicular to the ground. Upper shanks, lower shanks and hocks parallel to each other, and wide enough apart to fit with a properly built body. The hipbones should fall away from the spinal column at an angle of about 30 degrees. The upper shank should be at right angles with the hip bone. Croup well filled out. Cat-feet as on front legs, turning neither in or out.
Gait: The gait should be free, balanced and vigorous with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. When trotting, there should be a strong rear drive, with rotary motion of hindquarters. Each rear leg should move in line with the foreleg on the same side. Rear and front legs should be thrown neither in or out. Back should remain strong, firm and level.
Coat, color and markings: Coat, Smooth haired, short, hard, thick and close-lying. Invisible gray undercoat on neck permissible. Allowed colors black, brown or blue. Markings, rust red, sharply defined, and appearing above each eye, and on muzzle, throat, and forechest, and on all legs and feet, and below tail. White on chest, not exceeding one-half inch square inch, permissible.
The forgoing description is that of the ideal Doberman Pinscher. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized in proportion to the extent of the deviation, and in accordance with the appended scale of points.
SCALE OF POINTS
General Conformation and Appearance
Proportions………………………………………………..8
Bone—Substance………………………………………..8
Temperament–expression–Nobility…………………..8
Condition……………………………………………………5 29
Head:
Shape………………………………………………………6
Teeth……………………………………………………….5
Eyes………………………………………………………..3
Ears…………………………………………………………1 15
Neck……………………………………………………….3 3
Body:
backline–withers–loins–tail placement………… 8
Chest brisket–rib spring–tuck up…………………8
Shape and proportions………………………………..4 20
Forequarters
Shoulders, upper arms, legs and pasterns…………5
Angulation…………………………………………………4
Paws……………………………………………………….2 11
Hindquarters
Upper thigh–stifle–hocks………………………………5
Angulation…………………………………………………4
Paws……………………………………………………….2 11
Gait…………………………………………………………6 6
Coat—Color—Markings…………………………………5 5
Total………………………………………………………100 100