The German Dobermann Pinscher

History of the Dobermann Pinscher

Louis Dobermann of Thuringen, Germany, became a tremendous influence in the dog world when he developed the Doberman Pinscher.

Dobermann was a door-to-door tax collector, (and also rumored to be the keeper of the local dog pound) who decided to create a guard dog to accompany him while he did his work. It is believed that in the late 1800s, he crossed the German shepherd with the German pinscher, and subsequently crossed the creation with other breeds such as the Weimaraner, the greyhound, and the black and tan Manchester terrier.

Some believe that Rottweilers and were also part of the mix. Eventually this led to the dog we know today as the Doberman pinscher.

The original Doberman had a heavier look, but later breeders developed a racier looking dog. Otto Goeller and Phillip Gruening are considered to be contributors to the development of the breed.

The Doberman pinscher is a relatively new breed, and it evolved quickly. In fact, it was first presented in a dog show in 1876, and the first breed club was organized in 1899. It is believed that the first of the Doberman breed arrived in the United States in 1908, and it was soon a popular choice as a guard dog or police dog. It also became a favorite in Europe for these jobs and was sought after as a war dog, as well.

As the popularity of this breed continued to grow over time, it was thought of as a family protector, a show dog, and a family pet. In 1977, the Doberman was the second most popular breed in the United States.

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