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The Doberman’s history started in the city of Apolda, located in the state of Thuringia, Germany nearly 150 years ago. Herr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (1834-94) was reputed to be a great tax collector, chamber of accounts, municipal skinner and dog catcher in that area. Herr Dobermann wanted a dog for self protection and of his assets with very specific need’s in mind. This is one of the reasons why the Doberman Pinscher is referred to as “a man-made dog”. Unfortunately, he did not keep any written records, although, some conjectures can be drawn from the knowledge that we can research back to the anatomy and temperament of the Doberman, and the knowledge of the type of dogs that were indigenous to that area and time.
The German Pinscher was probably the foundation breed that Herr Dobermann used to build his new strain of dog. This type of dog was described as being rather non-descript in looks, but the reputation of temperament that this dog had was one of alertness and aggressiveness. Another was also called a ‘Bissart’ (Black with tan markings & grey undercoat) and a ‘Schnuppe’ (Common Grey mongrel dog otherwise know as a ‘Snuffler’). Making a guard dog par excellence means that it has to be able powerfully bite and rebite without stopping, holding on to it’s prey. He was looking for an average build with great stamina, aggression to intimidate intruders/robbers, to be intelligent, and display alertness. Deciding to fuse different breeds together to develop this special guard dog had to have a short smooth coat to minimise grooming.
In 1860 it was reported that Christian Dietsch from Schoeten bred a blue grey pincher to a butcher’s black dog. Sometimes the distinctive ‘wavy coat’ from the Rottweiler strain may be seen in the development of the breed producing a broad structured front ensemble, stamina, intelligence, and with excellent tracking ability.
The French Beauceron sheepdog contributed to the size and colour to the Dobermann bloodline, hence that is why we get an odd throw back of the small white marking on the front chest. The Beauceron was a solidly built dog, very alert, with great integrity to follow commands and picking up trails, often used in the military.
The Manchester Terrier (the oldest of all terriers since 1600 century) contributed to the original short shiny black-and-tan colouration in the coat. Inheriting some of the elegant looks, the refinement and line of this breed of this dog along side the additional speculation of a; Great Dane, Weimaraner, German Pointer and Greyhound.
Louis Dobermann passed away in the late 1800’s, leaving his bloodline in the care of his friend’s kennel ‘Von Thuringen, Goeller’ owned by Otto Goeller. It is speculated that it was Otto who added the black Greyhound from Ried, Hessia, along with the Thuringian Shepherds, into the bloodline. This would account for the additional height, stamina, and the speed of the Dobermann. Otto Goller’s first two dog’s were registered under the breed name in honour of his late friend called ‘Dobermann’ under the pedigree of ‘Graf Belling Von Grönland & Gerhilde Von Thüringen’, Born in 1898.
The National Dobermann Pinscher Club in Germany was founded by it’s President, Otto Goeller in 1899 and other fanciers, and drew up a standard for their breed. A year later The German Kennel Club immediately gave the official recognition of this new breed of Dobermann’s that also entered into the U.S. around 1908.
World War I had severely depleted the number of Dobermann’s in Europe and America, many were put to death. The military, police, other organisations, and the very wealthy were able to possess these dogs and managed to continue breeding importing many top reputed Sieger’s and Siegerin’s. The army used over 30,000 from the 1884 military school trained dogs. The breed nearly came close to extinction during World War II if it was not for the fact that the Americans imported so many. In the early years of the Doberman Pincsher, the breed was valued most for its aggressiveness as a working dog, used in security guarding, military policing, and for the police force tracking etc.
In 1902 it was recorded that the Dobermann was crossed with the Gordon Setter because of it’s dependability on game and very active (originating from England in the 1800’s) winning many field trials. In 1904 Otto Goller produced the most famous Dobermann for his kennel called ‘Hellegraf Von Thuringen’ and in 1904 Goswin Tischler (1859-1939) of ‘Von Gronland kennel’ produced the most famous litter in the world during 1898.
From 1921 the Dobermann Pinscher Club of America was organise and the standard written for Germany was adopted one year later. Until around 1937, the USA officials invited German judges to their American Shows, following advice on how to breed the Dobermann and what traits to look for, because complaint’s were heard that pedigree dogs with a correct temperament for KNPV work, were very few and far between until 1937.
In Great Britain the Doberman became known by the public around 1947 when they were imported by Fred Curnow who originally started ‘The Tavey Kennel’.
Further reference+
Gruening, P. ‘The Dobermann Pinscher’ 1939
Nicholas, A.K. ‘The World Of Dobermann Pinschers’ 1986
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1878/dobefaq.html
