The Doberman Pinscher was bred in Germany in the late nineteenth century, almost exclusively as the work of one man—Louis Dobermann.
Dobermann was a tax collector who sought to breed an alert guard dog for personal protection. Within a decade, a breed similar to the modern Doberman Pinscher had been created, popularized, and imported to America.
In America, it became a popular guard and police dog, and later a well-admired show dog. By the late 1970s, the Doberman Pinscher was the second most popular breed in America.
Today, it serves mostly as a pet. Famous Doberman Pinschers include Zeus and Apollo, ‘the lads’ from ‘Magnum, P.I.’. Doberman Pinschers are the official combat dog of the U.S. Marines.