History of Doberman Dogs: From Germany to Worldwide
Although the exact origins of the Doberman breed cannot be verified, it’s believed that this popular breed came about in Germany in the early 1880’s. In the town of Apolda, in the state of Thuringia, lived Herr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, the man credited with developing the Doberman. Herr Doberman was born in 1834 and died in 1894, at which time the Germans named the breed, Doberman Pinscher in his honor. The Doberman was also known at the time as “Thuringian pinschers”, “Dobermann’s Hunde” or dobermann’s dogs and “Soldatenhunds” or soldier dogs. The pinscher was later dropped in 1949, as it was not a suitable descriptor for the breed. (Note that the miniature pinscher is not a “mini” Doberman and not related.) Also the second “n” in dobermann has been dropped in most parts of the world.
(Herr Dobermann on left)
Herr Dobermann, worked as the local tax and rent collector, a policeman, night watchman, dogcatcher and caretaker of the town’s dog pound. He was inspired to create a new breed of guard dog that would serve to protect him while doing his various work duties. He aimed to create a guard dog that was courageous with a protective instinct, intelligent, with a strong mouth and a good nose. Unfortunately for us, at the time he didn’t realize that his breeding experiments would be significant and that he was creating one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. As a result we lack detailed records of his breeding work.
Although there is some disagreement over the Doberman’s origins, the following dogs are thought to have contributed to the breed:
- German pinscher, a common dog in Germany that contributed the quick reaction timing
- The early Rottweiller, for it’s bravery and guarding ability
- The early Weimaraner for it’s hunting, scenting and retrieving ability
- Old German Shephard (now extinct) for it’s intelligence and physical ruggedness
- Black and tan Manchester Terrier for it’s appearance
- Black English Greyhound for it’s appearance
- Beaucerons and early sheep herding dogs are also thought to have contributed to the early Doberman
Note that the early Dobermans were considerably different from today’s current standard. Whereas the Doberman was originally bred for aggressiveness, today it is bred for a more even-tempered nature.
After Herr Dobermann’s death, breeders Goswin Tischler and Otto Goeller further refined the Doberman dog. The standard for the breed was written and approved in 1890 by the German Kennel Club. Otto Goeller also founded the National Dobermann Pinscher Club in 1899.
During the 1900’s the Doberman breed spread through out Europe, to Russian and the United States. From 1914-1918 the Doberman breed suffered greatly due to WW1. Many Dobermans were used and lost in military service or suffered from food shortages that were prevalent at the time. Some Doberman breeders in an attempt to save their dogs from the war, sold their stock, including their finest dogs to enthusiast’s in other countries, especially the United States. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America was created in 1921.
The first Doberman to win at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was Sieger Ferry von Rauhfelsen in 1939 (owned by Mrs. Hartley Dodge of Giralda Farms).
I hope you enjoyed learning the history of Doberman dogs at the Dobermans Den.
