5 Fun Facts About Doberman Pinschers

5 Fun Facts About Doberman Pinschers

How did the Doberman Pinscher get its name?  What group of Dobermans appeared in three movies in the 1970s?  What color is unacceptable in a Doberman?  The answers to these questions and more follow: 

1. The Doberman Pinscher is Named After a Person

In fact, it's one of the few dog breeds named after a person. The dogs are believed to be named after Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector who developed the breed in the 1890s to be strong guard dogs. 

2. Bank-robbing Dobermans Do Exist

A trio of movies were released in the 1970s starring six Dobermans trained to rob a bank. The Doberman Gang premiered in 1973, followed by sequels The Daring Dobermans in 1974, and The Amazing Dobermans in 1976. The dogs were named Dillinger, Bonnie, Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, and Ma Barker. According to IMDB.com, The Doberman Gang was the first movie to be given the “No animals were harmed …” end credit by American Humane Society. 

3. Dobermans Make Great Soldiers

A Doberman named Kurt saved 250 U.S. Marines on Guam in 1944 when he alerted the troops to Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, Kurt also has the not-so-fun distinction of being the first canine casualty when he was wounded by a Japanese grenade later that year. The dog depicted in bronze on top of the World War II War Dog Memorial in Guam is modeled on Kurt, according to Olive-drab.com

4. No Such Thing as White Dobermans

However, albinos of the breed do exist and stem from a cream-colored Doberman female born in 1976. While albino Dobermans are easily identifiable, breeders have not been able to detect the mutant gene, says the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. The albino mutation is not an allowed color under the American Kennel Club standard for the breed for show purposes.

5. There was a Doberman Drill Team

The Doberman Drill Team toured the United States for 30 years, performing at football game half-time shows and visiting hospitals. Started by Rosalie Alvarez, the drill team demonstrated the Dobermans’ agility, intelligence, and obedience over a series of challenging obstacles. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America gave Alvarez its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

Image: pato_garza / via Flickr