Dobermann

History:

The Dobermann, a native of Germany, can trace its origins back only as far as 1850’s. The Dobermann is a deliberately manufactured breed whose origins lead us to Herr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann of Apolda, Thurengia – Germany. He is credited for founding the initial strain of the breed. Herr Dobermann’s nmerous duties included tax collection also. He arrived on an idea to breed the perfect guard dog that would serve to protect him. His initial attempts at breeding the local dogs revolved around producing litters of black, large sized, alert dogs that were neither shy nor overly aggressive. He wanted a dog with a terrier’s agility in combination with the strength and aptitude of guard dog from some of the famed Thuringian shepherd dogs of the time. Common to that particular area, around 1884, was the German Pinscher, a breed unmatched in fearlessness and ferocity. These type of dogs arrived to be the base stock that was chosen to be the progenitor of todays’ Dobermann. Herr Louis Dobermann selected various even tempered dogs of the appropriate conformation as out crosses to modulate the keen tendencies of the German Pinscher.

He always kept in his mind what his “ideal” breed would look like and never wrote on any paper the exact crosses he performed to reach his ideal dog. He wanted a sleek black dog of unending stamina, strangth and intelligence. Although the initial bone structure of the Dobermann was quickly arrived at, the desire for short and sleek coat presented problems, since most of his stock had long and wavy hair. The smooth coated Manchestor Terrier (known in England as Black-and-Tan Terrier) is credited for stabdardizing the sleek coat and for passing on its rust markings. In those early years, the breed was called various names as Dobermann’s Dogs, Plizelich Soldatenhunds, Thuringer Pinschers and finally Dobermann.

As the type slowly fixed, and the breed started to spread throughout Europe, early breeders embarked on bringing the breed to finesse. Philipp Gruenig, a breeder judge and author of “The Dobermann – History & Development of the Breed” published in 1937 states :

In the blood synthesis which became the Dobermann Breed, the German Pinscher contributed exceedingly more than his name

He added that he would only hint that “in his (the Dobermann’s) veins flowed the blood of the Rottweiler”

Gruenig also recorded crosses with Greyhounds that reconstituted the breed’s sharpness.
Herr Louis Dobermann passed away in 1894 and establishing the breed towards prosperity was Otto vom Goeller’s (1852-1922) work. He formed the first breed club, the “National Dobermann Pinscher Club” and issued the first standard in 1899. In 1900 the German Commission of Delegates officially recognised the breed as purebred. Otto vom Goeller with his vom Thueringin Kennel and Goswin Tischler (1859-1939) of Groenland Kennels were the early connoisseurs who put the breed on the map.

Dobermann spread quickly to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland and other European countries and before the start of World War 1, the breed gained substantial popularity in USA where still the term Doberman Pinscher is used.

Essentials of the Breed:

The Dobermann is an elegant and proud breed. Its tough, compact build makes him capable of great speed. The head must be long and in proportion to the body. From above and from side it should resemble a blunt wedge. The forehead is utmost dry i.e with no wrinkles or loose skin. The eyes are almond shaped, moderately deep set and with a vigorous expression. The body is square, the ribs deep and well sprung with a tucked up stomach. The hindquarters are strong and parallel to each other. The acceptable colours are black and brown with dep rust markings on the lips, the under throat, above the eyes, underside of the legs, in front of the shoulders and marginally on the pasterns and hind legs. The AKC accepts two more colour varieties of the Dobermann that are blue and isabelle. White mark on the body is a disqualification.

Character:

The reputation of the Dobermann is as a guard dog par excellence. His immense adaptability and superior intelligence enables him to fulfill many roles with ease. His fame as a guard and police dog are perhaps the attributes for it is best known for but he can be used with equal success to work sheep and cattle, as a gundog to scent; hunt and retrieve; as a guide dog for blind; as a family pet or as a loving and faithful companion. Essentially a “man manufactured” breed, produced for a specific purpose, that of providing a perfect watchdog. In intelligence, the Dobermann is second to none but it would be foolish to assume that he is an easy dog to train. He is essentially a thinking individual and he has a mind of his own and the strength of will and character to try toi impose on you. The breed therefore demands the firmest discipline during his most impressionable growing period.

Tags: black dog, Dobermann, german pinscher, Goswin Tischler, guard dog, Herr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, louis dobermann, National Dobermann Pinscher Club, Otto vom Goeller, Philipp Gruenig, Plizelich Soldatenhunds, shepherd dogs, The Dobermann-History & Development of the Breed, Thuringer Pinschers