Doberman pinscher

American  

[doh-ber-muhn pin-sher] / ˈdoʊ bər mən ˈpɪn ʃər /

noun

1. one of a German breed of medium-sized, short-haired dogs having a black, brown, or blue coat with rusty brown markings.

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Doberman pinscher British  

/ ˈdəʊbəmən ˈpɪnʃə /

noun

1. Also spelt: Dobermann.  a fairly large slender but muscular breed of dog, originally from Germany, with a glossy black-and-tan coat, a short tail, and erect ears

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Etymology

Origin of Doberman pinscher

First recorded in 1915–20; named after Karl Friedrich Ludwig Dobermann (1834-94), German dog breeder + German Pinscher “terrier,” perhaps based on Pinzgau, a district in Austria noted for its breeding farms

Example Sentences

Earlier this week, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — one of the most prestigious events in the dog world — crowned its latest Best in Show winner, Penny, a Doberman pinscher.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

In court, Anderson paraded her Doberman pinscher in front of a jury, claiming the dog sniffed blood inside the suspect’s home.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 13, 2021

A California police chief investigates a baffling death blamed on a Doberman pinscher.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2020

A Doberman pinscher barked behind a baby gate in the kitchen, and the couple’s two toddlers — River, 3, and Remington, 1 — napped upstairs.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2017

The way I met her, this Doberman pinscher she had used to come over and relieve himself on our lawn, and my mother got very irritated about it.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger