The Doberman Pinscher is a breed of dog that has a long and fascinating history. It was created in the mid-19th century by German tax collector Louis Dobermann, who wanted a loyal and fearless guard dog. The exact combination of breeds that Dobermann used to create his famous guard dog is unknown, but there are some well-founded conjectures. The old German shepherd, an influence on many European breeds of the time, offered intelligence, supply capacity and endurance.
The Rottweiler was a plausible source of the black and tan pattern that was inextricably linked with the Doberman, providing strength and natural protection capacity. The German Pinscher (the latter word means “terrier” in German) probably added courage and speed. And that all-around favorite hunting breed, the Weimaraner, may have provided the olfactory skill that is so crucial in a working dog.The American
Doberman
is a more elegant looking dog with a long, smooth body, a longer neck and less visible muscle mass than the European variant. The modern Doberman is a far cry from the vicious dog he is often portrayed with in movies and on television.In the 1985 “Hart and Hart” study, the Doberman was ranked as the most intelligent dog of all breeds.While the Doberman Pinscher wouldn't enter a show ring until 1897, more than three decades earlier, the fledgling breed was showcased at the inaugural Apolda dog market in 1863.Dobermans have gained popularity as family dogs due to their good character, predictable behavior, low level of hair shedding and their cleanliness. In the graphic above, you can see that the popularity of the Doberman Pinscher, although it has declined slightly in recent years, is still at an impressive level considering that there are currently 193 dog breeds recognized by the AKC. Today, the Doberman is used much less for military and police service, and is the 13th most popular dog breed in the United States.Among the various stables with furry shepherds and lap-sized companions, Dobermann's dogs stood out for their deep character. The Weimaraner gave the Doberman his hunting, retrieving and smelling abilities, since the Weimar Pointer, as he was called, was a multi-purpose hunting dog.
Of the 293 breeds included in this global survey, the Doberman was ranked as the 26th most popular dog breed in the world, with 20,941 new Doberman registrations every year (source). Louis Doberman did not keep exact records of the dog breeds he used in the process of creating the Doberman.But no matter how they wrote it, American soldiers were impressed by the breed's loyalty and courage in the trenches of World War II, leading the United States Marine Corps to adopt the Doberman Pinscher as their official war dog. These incredible dogs were recruited with the help of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) and were trained at the War Dog Training Center in Camp Knox, North Carolina.But Dobermann, who never kept records of stallions, wasn't concerned about good looks; his general criteria was a dog with the guts and drive needed to face anything that dared to challenge him. While Louis Dobermann's first dogs were probably quite aggressive dogs, today the Doberman is a much milder, family-oriented dog.
Nowadays, at any dog show, the Doberman Pinscher is usually one of the most striking breeds, thanks to its shiny fur, its chiseled head and its incredibly polished silhouette, which makes it look as if it had been thrown on its skin all over the world.
