This fierce looking dog was the result of specific breeding. Karl Dobermann was a tax collector in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century and at the same time in charge of a local dog pound. It was an ideal combination. Herr Dobermann wanted to create the ideal traits in a dog to assist him in his dangerous work of bringing in the state taxes. With its good mix of intelligence, aggression, size and good health, the Dobermann was an excellent tool for assisting the collection of taxes.
The success was obvious and quick. In 1890, the standard for the dog was established and as early as 1899 the first German Dobermann Club was established in 1899. The dog moved international quite rapidly with Doberman as a breed being registered with the American Kennel Club for the first time in 1908.
An early use in England was in Policeman’s Monthly in 1917 where four breeds are described as being useful police dogs – Continental Sheepdog, Airedale Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiller. Even if this is not actually the first time the word is used in English, it does confirm that the dog world really owes a lot to the Germans.
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