History of the Dobermann

This article is a brief description of the breed's history. I feel this will give the reader a good idea of the breed's origin and intended use. There are several old breed books that go in depth. I will list some recommended books below at the end of this article. The Dobermann is the original name of the breed. The second "n" was dropped somewhere in time, yet the original spelling is still commonly used in Europe where the breed was developed. The Dobermann was named after the breed's developer, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. The breed was developed in Apolda, Germany somewhere around the year 1890. Mr. Dobermann was a tax collector, a night watchman, and was both a dog catcher and keeper of a dog pound which gave him ample access to different breeds at the time. The breeds used to develop the Doberman (I'll refer to the breed with today's common spelling here forward in this article as it's known by the general population) are not entirely known but believed to have been primarily the Rottweiler. The "Butcher Dog", and the old type "Shepherd Dog", crossed with Pinschers, were also used in the breed's development. Other breeds included the Beauceron, and a brief introduction of the German Pinscher. The addition of a black Greyhound bitch, "Stella",  was also introduced. The Dobermann was bred to be an athletic dog as was needed to keep up with Mr. Dobermann as he rode on horseback. Collecting taxes was a dangerous endeavor and Mr. Dobermann needed a dog that was both fearless and tenacious to protect him on his tax collecting runs. The Dobermanns of that day were a force to be reconned with and the only breed in existence to this day with the original purpose of being a personal protection dog. I personally believe this is why the breed is very handler focused (often referred to as "Velcro Dogs") and also generally "clean" animals as they would typically live in the home with the owner. After the war, famine was rampant in the region and to protect the breed, many of the dogs were sent outside of the country. The dogs that came to the U.S. were primarily used to create show lines and even as early as the 1940s the temperament of the dogs in the United States changed to suit its new purpose. While some were still used as working dogs and preserved for their working ability, many entered the show ring and both the temperament and look of the animals changed over time. Many breed enthusiasts and dog training professionals believe that by the end of the 1970s, the Dobermans in America (and the breed overall) became a far cry from the original Dobermanns of old. Today the American bred Doberman is very different from the European dogs. This has created name distinction in the breed as well. The breed is referred to as Doberman Pinschers, Dobies, Dobys, Dobermans, and Dobermanns. However, the European line dogs are often referred to as Dobermanns, or "European Dobermans" to distinguish them from the American bred lines. The breed is registered under the name "Doberman Pinscher" with the AKC. 

     Here at Crossroads Canine, we raise and train only full European line dogs. All of our Dobermans are either direct European Imports or were bred in the United States from other breeders that import from Europe and breed European lines. Even then, careful selection of individual breeding animals is imperative to the preservation of the breed. Crossroads Canine carefully evaluates each individual dog before we consider introducing the dog or bitch to our breeding program. We hold the quality of the female to the same high standards as we do males. Our goal is to produce dogs that are quality representatives of the breed. Our breeding's are planned out well in advance, and we breed with the future not short term in mind. Working ability is held to the highest standard. We also focus on breeding healthy individuals for longevity. While our dogs are indeed gorgeous animals, we do not focus on aesthetics but believe that form follows function in all animals. We breed to the strict standard of what the breed should be. Our dogs conform to the FCI Standards, and we do not breed colors outside of black/rust (also known as black/red or black/mahogany) and red/rust.

Breed History Books: "Book of the Doberman Pinscher" by Joan McDonald Brearley 1976

"The Dobermann Pinscher: History and Development of the Breed" Orange Judd Publishing Company 1939