A Photo History of the Doberman Breed
Herr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (1834-1891) was a tax collector & dogcatcher /skinner for the state of Thuringia, Germany and had a second job as night watchman. As a dogcatcher, he could choose the best dogs for his purpose. He was concerned with character rather than conformation. His requirement was to create a watchful, sharp, brave and intelligent dog. He wanted a guard dog with a strong mouth, a good nose, courage, hardness nd a highly developed protective instinct. We know he succeeded. From the beginning, his dogs were known regionally as “Dobermann’s Hunde”. They gained a solid reputation for harsh strength of character and an ability to hunt, bite and kill vermin. Herr Dobermann crossed several types of dogs but did not keep records (there were no pure bred dogs at that time) and there is little agreement on the origins of the dobermann.Herr Dobermann’s son tells us his father had a clever and fearless dog named “Schnupp” who he later mated with a very keen protection bitch named Bismark (later called Bisart). Bisart’s puppy’s were black with rust markings. One named “Pinko” had a natural bob tail and produced some blue puppies. Otto Goeller ,a later breeder (photo below) who knew Herr Dobermann, claimed the foundation was a mongrel named “Schnuppe” (a grey smooth coated dog seated in the photo left) mated to a Butchers dog. Goeller later claimed the German Shepherd dog, short haired gun dog, the Dane and the German Pinscher played a role.
A German dog magazine article dated 1898 states “At the end of the 1860′s, the owner of a gravel pit at Apolda called Dietsch had a blue-grey bitch, a sort of Pinscher which he mated with a black butcher’s dog. The sire already had the characteristic tan markings and was a cross between a sheep dog and a butcher’s dog. Herr Dobermann, a skinner who unfortunately died too early, crossed the issue of these two dogs, which became good guard dogs, with German Pinschers. That is the origin of today’s Dobermann”
In 1901, Richard Strebel (German authority on canine matters) wrote “It is doubtful if the Dobermann Pinscher is a true Pinscher, it should probably be classified more as a sheep dog”. In 1933 the German Dobermann club investigated the origins of the breed and decided the main ancestor was the German Pinscher. But in 1947 Herr Gruenig wrote the Dobermann probably descended more from the Beauceron because the German Pinscher is not similar body structure or behaviour and it would not be possible to raise the average shoulder height from 40 to 70cm in only thirty years.
However “dobermann like” dogs (referred to as the “Thueringen breed”) were around Apolda before Herr Dobermann began breeding and these were created by crossing German Pinchers and Sheepdogs. Beaucerons are known to be in Apolda in those days and it is also possible they were ancestors of the Butchers dogs. The Butchers dogs were not purebred Some early Dobermann closely resembled Butchers dogs and some resembled Rottweilers (see photo below right).
Max Kuensler wrote in 1925 that the sheep dog, the Weimeraner and the German Pinscher were involved but certainly no Rottweillers or Terriers were known in Apolda at that time. Most agree the Thueringin Shepherd (sheepdog), Butchers Dog, German Pincher & Beauceron were available and some experts include the black and tan terrier. Interestingly, the best authorities on the Rottweiler confirm that so called Butchers dogs were their common ancestor.
Initially the guarding qualities and keeness on game posed some hindrance to the breed’s popularity but, in 1863 (when he was 29 years old) Herr Dobermann presented his “Dobermann Pinschers” on the first dog market in Apolda Germany with great success. This event became so important that it is officially recorded in the history of the city of Apolda.
It is known that, after Herr Dobermann died, both the Manchester Terrier and the Greyhound were introduced into the dobermann breed.
In 1901, Richard Strebel (German authority on canine matters) wrote “It is doubtful if the Dobermann Pinscher is a true Pinscher, it should probably be classified more as a sheep dog”. In 1933 the German Dobermann club investigated the origins of the breed and decided the main ancestor was the German Pinscher. But in 1947 Herr Gruenig wrote the Dobermann probably descended more from the Beauceron because the German Pinscher is not similar body structure or behaviour and it would not be possible to raise the average shoulder height from 40 to 70cm in only thirty years.
However “dobermann like” dogs (referred to as the “Thueringen breed”) were around Apolda before Herr Dobermann began breeding and these were created by crossing German Pinchers and Sheepdogs. Beaucerons are known to be in Apolda in those days and it is also possible they were ancestors of the Butchers dogs. The Butchers dogs were not purebred Some early Dobermann closely resembled Butchers dogs and some resembled Rottweilers (see photo below right).
Max Kuensler wrote in 1925 that the sheep dog, the Weimeraner and the German Pinscher were involved but certainly no Rottweillers or Terriers were known in Apolda at that time. Most agree the Thueringin Shepherd (sheepdog), Butchers Dog, German Pincher & Beauceron were available and some experts include the black and tan terrier. Interestingly, the best authorities on the Rottweiler confirm that so called Butchers dogs were their common ancestor.
Initially the guarding qualities and keeness on game posed some hindrance to the breed’s popularity but, in 1863 (when he was 29 years old) Herr Dobermann presented his “Dobermann Pinschers” on the first dog market in Apolda Germany with great success. This event became so important that it is officially recorded in the history of the city of Apolda.
It is known that, after Herr Dobermann died, both the Manchester Terrier and the Greyhound were introduced into the dobermann breed.
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 (photos left), who were very influential in the development of the Dobermann breed.
Otto Goeller founded the National Dobermann Pinscher Club in 1899.
1893-1894 The oldest dobermann to be entered in German stud books, as parent stock, are Bosco and Caesi whelped in 1893 and 1894 respectively. They were the parents of the Sieger Prinz Matzi v. Groenland, born in 1895, registration #DZ7 but, after 3 years, there is no record of Matzi’s progeny.
1896 fortunately brought the rise of the dobermann from Thueringen and these were the germ cell of the breed today. These were called Lux, Schnupp, Landgraf & Rambo. The bitches were Tilly1(later v.Groenland &Reg.#17), Helmtrude, Hertha & Elly.
1897 Out of Rambo & Elly came Junker Slenz v.Thueringen owned by the Frankfort Dobermann club and sire to many excellent dogs. Another great producer in this year was Alarich v.Thueringen,(no registration number ) known for his incredible sharpness.
1898 Goswin Tischler bred Lux & Tilly1 under the Groenland Kennel name, to produce a very famous “5 Star” litter of outstanding quality. These were Greif, Tilly11, Krone, Lottchen & *Graf Belling v.Thueringen (also called Graff Belling v. Groenland (photo above) the first dobermann registered in the NZ stud book.
1899 brought Lady v.Ilm-Athen who had the blood of an English (Manchester) Terrier in her.
1900 This year was marked by the stud book entry requirement of every breeding animal.
1901 Through her son, Prinz v.Ilm-Athen , Lady v.Ilm-Athen advanced the cause of the dobermann. Prinz was one of the greatest breeding dogs of all time with outstanding hereditary powers to produce dark markings.. and sharpness. He can be found in the 5 generation pedigrees of the greatest breeding and show dogs into the 1930′s. Five main (blood) lines descended from him. Lady v.Calenberg (not registered) was another bitch of part or full blooded Manchester Terrier and her entire progeny were known for admirable smooth, short hair and sharpness towards everything preditorily inclined. Her immense influence over the breed was through her son, Tell v.Kirchweyhe and his sons, Hans & Fedor v.Arpath. This year brought many good dogs including *Veronica v.Thueringen(photo below),best known for her descendants and *Graf Wedigo v.Thueringen
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