A History of the Dobermann Breed
1870 Herr Dobermann (left)
Thanks to: "The Dobermann Pinscher"- "History and Development of the Dobermann Breed" By Philipp Gruenig
First published: 1932 and a History of the Dobermann by JM van der Zwan
Dobermanns were first bred in the town of Apolda, in the German state of Thuringia around 1890, by Karl
Friedrich Louis Dobermann (1834-1891). Dobermann served in the dangerous role of local tax collector, and
ran the Apolda dog pound. With access to dogs of many breeds, he aimed to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many bandit-infested areas. He set out to breed a new type of dog that, in his opinion, would be the perfect combination of strength, speed, endurance, loyalty, intelligence, and ferocity. Later, Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening continued to develop the breed to become the dog that is seen today.
The breed is believed to have been created from several different
breeds of dogs that had the characteristics that Dobermann was looking for,
including the German Pinscher, the Beauceron, the Rottweiler, the Thuringian Sylvan Dog, the Greyhound, the Great Dane, the Weimaraner, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Manchester Terrierand the Old German Shepherd Dog. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain to this day, although many experts believe that the Dobermann is a combination of at least four of these breeds. The single exception is the documented crossing with the Greyhound and Manchester Terrier. It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd gene pool was the single largest contributor to the Doberman breed. Philip Greunig's The Dobermann Pinscher (1939), is considered the foremost study of the development of the breed by one of its most ardent students. Greunig's study describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, whose hand allowed the Doberman to become the dog we recognize today.
In 1890 the Standard for the breed was written and approved by the German Kennel Club and remains basically the same - although judges today are accepting much larger Dobermann than the standard calls for. Around the time of Herr Dobermann's death in 1891, came the breeders Goswin Tischler & Otto Goeller who were very
influential in the development of the Dobermann breed.
First published: 1932 and a History of the Dobermann by JM van der Zwan
Dobermanns were first bred in the town of Apolda, in the German state of Thuringia around 1890, by Karl
Friedrich Louis Dobermann (1834-1891). Dobermann served in the dangerous role of local tax collector, and
ran the Apolda dog pound. With access to dogs of many breeds, he aimed to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many bandit-infested areas. He set out to breed a new type of dog that, in his opinion, would be the perfect combination of strength, speed, endurance, loyalty, intelligence, and ferocity. Later, Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening continued to develop the breed to become the dog that is seen today.
The breed is believed to have been created from several different
breeds of dogs that had the characteristics that Dobermann was looking for,
including the German Pinscher, the Beauceron, the Rottweiler, the Thuringian Sylvan Dog, the Greyhound, the Great Dane, the Weimaraner, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Manchester Terrierand the Old German Shepherd Dog. The exact ratios of mixing, and even the exact breeds that were used, remain uncertain to this day, although many experts believe that the Dobermann is a combination of at least four of these breeds. The single exception is the documented crossing with the Greyhound and Manchester Terrier. It is also widely believed that the old German Shepherd gene pool was the single largest contributor to the Doberman breed. Philip Greunig's The Dobermann Pinscher (1939), is considered the foremost study of the development of the breed by one of its most ardent students. Greunig's study describes the breed's early development by Otto Goeller, whose hand allowed the Doberman to become the dog we recognize today.
In 1890 the Standard for the breed was written and approved by the German Kennel Club and remains basically the same - although judges today are accepting much larger Dobermann than the standard calls for. Around the time of Herr Dobermann's death in 1891, came the breeders Goswin Tischler & Otto Goeller who were very
influential in the development of the Dobermann breed.
After Herr Dobermann
Gerhilde & Graf Belling v.Groenland *
Otto Goeller founded the National Dobermann Pinscher Club in 1899. In1900 it was required that every breeding animal be entered into the stud book. Graf Belling v.Thueringen* (also called Graff Belling v. Groenland) was the first Dobermann registered in the NZ** stud book. After Dobermann's death in 1894, the Germans named the breed
Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the pinscher on the grounds that this German word for terrier was no longer appropriate. The British did the same a few years later.
During World War II, the United States Marine Corps adopted the Dobermann as its official War Dog, although the Corps did not exclusively use this breed in the role.
The original Dobermann were often described as "robust, with no trace of fear - not of the devil himself -and it required a good deal of courage to own one of them." Subsequent selection (for conformation) has greatly diminished these qualities but hopefully the modern Dobermann should combine the fire and lightning reactions of the terrier with the power and intelligence of the guard and herding breeds. The Doberman was tailored for police and military work, and to be a medium sized protector-companion at home.
**NOTE REGISTRATION ENTRIES:
"DZ" referred to registration with The Dobermannpinscher Club of Hamburg, The Dobermannpinscher Verein and The Dobermannpinscher Verband.
"NZ" refers to the National Dobermannpinscher Stud Book - published by the oldest German Dobermann organization - the National Dobermannpinscher Verein.
No prescribed rules or methods of procedure for correct breeding existed in the early days of the breed so pedigrees were not verified.
Dobermann-pinscher in his honor, but a half century later dropped the pinscher on the grounds that this German word for terrier was no longer appropriate. The British did the same a few years later.
During World War II, the United States Marine Corps adopted the Dobermann as its official War Dog, although the Corps did not exclusively use this breed in the role.
The original Dobermann were often described as "robust, with no trace of fear - not of the devil himself -and it required a good deal of courage to own one of them." Subsequent selection (for conformation) has greatly diminished these qualities but hopefully the modern Dobermann should combine the fire and lightning reactions of the terrier with the power and intelligence of the guard and herding breeds. The Doberman was tailored for police and military work, and to be a medium sized protector-companion at home.
**NOTE REGISTRATION ENTRIES:
"DZ" referred to registration with The Dobermannpinscher Club of Hamburg, The Dobermannpinscher Verein and The Dobermannpinscher Verband.
"NZ" refers to the National Dobermannpinscher Stud Book - published by the oldest German Dobermann organization - the National Dobermannpinscher Verein.
No prescribed rules or methods of procedure for correct breeding existed in the early days of the breed so pedigrees were not verified.
