The Rotterman has limited history about its beginnings, therefore we must look to the parent dogs for clues to its lineage. The Doberman originated in Germany, in the state of Thueringe, by a man called Herr Louis Dobermann who used many cross breeds of dogs such as the Rottweiler, Great Dane, Greyhounds, and Manchester Terriers. Many others were included in the mix over his 60 years of developing the breed. Herr Louis Doberman was a night watchman, dog catcher, and tax collector, so he needed a dog who was strong and protective. The first Doberman was registered in the German studbook in 1893. The breed suffered from the first World War, and were nearly wiped out. The few dogs that were left were going to be eaten or put down as no one could afford to keep them. Thankfully American servicemen had become fond of the breed, and they took several home where they began breeding from the original lines. During World War ll, the US Marines used Dobermans when they went ashore to flush out the enemy. An English couple name the Curnows who were dedicated to establishing the breed in England, started with English stock, but later decided that the American Doberman was more sophisticated, elegant and much larger, so they began their breeding program again using American stock. Loyal, strong, quiet and dignified, the Doberman Pinscher is a dog who needs a firm leader to bring out the best in him. The Rottweiler was a working dog whose ancestors marched to Germany with the Romans, and was used to drive and protect the cattle and their owners along the way. The owner would fill their purse with cash from the cattle sales, and would tie it around the Rottweiler's neck. Butchers in the area also used these strong dogs to pull carts loaded with meat. As rail transport replaced the cattle drives over the years, the Rottweiler nearly became extinct. Thankfully, that changed in 1901 as breeders strived to revive the breed. The Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub founded in 1921 survived the second World War and continued to perfect the Rottweiler breed. The first Rottweilers are thought to have arrived with German emigrants in the late 1920s. Since then, the breed has soared in popularity and are well known as police dogs. Today, the Rottweiler ranks 17th among 155 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.
