HALO Doberman Pinschers

Louis Dobermann (left), above in only known printed picture.

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 Beauceron 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. It was around this time that the white Doberman (albino) emerged. This raised a challenge for the breed, as white was not an accepted color for a Doberman in show. The AKC was convinced by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America to tag the dogs likely to carry the albino gene with a registration number using the letter “Z”, so that breeders would be able to identify and avoid using dogs carrying the albino gene.

There are no records, only speculation, as to the dogs which went into the creation of the original Doberman, but it is documented that crosses were made to two of the English breeds around the turn of the century, using the Black and Tan Manchester Terrier and the black English Greyhound, in order to improve the Doberman's appearance. It is generally accepted as fact that the two German breeds, which played a major role in the Doberman's ancestry were: the old German Shepherd, now extinct: and the German Pinscher - the ancestors of the Rottweiler and the Weimaraner.

The old German Shepherd contributed ruggedness, intelligence and physical and mental soundness, with the Pinscher adding the terrier fire and quick reaction time. The Weimaraner gave to the Doberman its hunting, retrieving and scenting capabilities, for the Weimar Pointer, as it was called, was an all purpose hunting dog. However, it was to the Rottweiler which the early Doberman strongly resembled, that the breed owes so much of its substance, bravery and reliable guarding ability.