Doberman Pinscher

I

History

Bred in the 1890s by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a tax collector in the town of Apolda, who wanted a dog of intelligence, courage, and unmistakable presence to accompany him on his rounds. Within a generation the Doberman had become the world's foremost personal-protection and service dog — decorated as a US Marine Corps war dog on Guam and enshrined in the pantheon of great working breeds.

II

Personality

Alert, athletic, and profoundly loyal to the household. They form an almost telepathic bond with their people and read a room faster than most humans. With family: warm and steady. With strangers: courteous but watchful. With intruders: unambiguous.

III

To Live With One

Estates, city townhouses, and households that want an intelligent, athletic companion with an unmistakable presence. They require daily work of body and mind — long runs, obedience, protection sport, or scent work — and repay every hour tenfold.

IV

Notable Companions

The United States Marine Corps adopted the Doberman as its official war dog in the Second World War; the Guam memorial to the twenty-five Dobermans killed in the 1944 landings still bears their names. In our own century Nicolas Cage, Kevin Hart, and the late William Shatner have all kept them — a breed for people who want a serious dog with unmistakable style.