Dobermann (-ology)

Often called the Ferraris of the dog world, Dobermanns are athletic, muscular, and energetic

The Dobermann is the only German breed that bears the name of its original breeder – Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (1834-1894). He held a variety of jobs during his adulthood, including work as a butcher, night watchman, tax collector, and dog catcher. It was his job as a tax collector in Apolda that became problematic, however, as he often carried money. He bred with animals from the reservoir of stray dogs, choosing ones that were particularly sharp, large enough to be imposing to robbers, but not too large to handle and care for. He wanted a short coat for easy care and an intelligent dog that was easy to train, alert, and protective. The so-called “butcher’s dogs”, which were already considered a relatively pure breed at that time, played an important role in the origination of the breed. These dogs were an early type of Rottweiler, mixed with a type of Shepherd, which existed in Thuringen as a black dog with rust-red markings.