The Dobermann was created by Mr Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann in a small town, Apolda, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. Mr Dobermann was known to have a number of jobs which mainly included working or dealing with various dog breeds on a daily basis. He worked as a Tax Collector, dogcatcher, night watchman and also ran the local dog pound. The Dobermann was created between 1860 and 1870 to be a powerful, intelligent guard and protection dog to assist Mr Dobermann with his work. There is a lot of debate as to what breeds were used by Mr Dobermann in the creation of his new breed but it’s believed that the Rottweiler and the German Pinscher played a crucial role and were heavily involved in the beginning. Many of the early pictures of the Dobermann would definitely confirm that as most do look like crosses between early Rottweilers and German Pinschers. Later, its believed that small amounts German Shepherd (short hair type), Black and Tan Terrier, Beauceron, Pointer and Greyhound blood was added to create the athletic type of Dobermann that we have today.

Dobermann in 1906

A Dobermann that immigrated with its family from Germany to Newport, Kentucky, USA in 1932