The Dobermann memorial was unveiled on September 11, 1999 to commemorate its breeder and the founding of the Dobermann Club more than 100 years ago.

The breeder of the dog breed named after him is Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. This makes the Dobermann the only German dog breed to bear the name of its breeder.

The breeding of the Dobermann dates back to 1860. Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann from Apolda was known as an ambitious and hard-working man. He earned his living as a knacker, dog catcher, police servant and law enforcement officer. He was always accompanied on his rounds by sharp and obedient dogs, called "Dobermann dogs" by the citizens of Apolda. The Doberman dogs of the time bore no resemblance to the Doberman we know today. He merely tried to increase his income by breeding and selling dogs.

By the end of the 19th century, the Doberman Pinscher had been created by crossing Greyhounds, Manchester Terriers, Pinschers, hunting dogs and Great Danes. After Louis Dobermann's death, his friends Göller, Tischler and Krumbholz continued his work and have since been referred to as the initiators of Doberman breeding. The first German "Dobermann Pinscher Club" was founded in the course of the 1899 dog fair in Apolda. From 1899 onwards, breeding was only carried out according to certain breeding guidelines.

At the beginning of the 20th century, new associations and clubs were formed. The ever-growing breeder community organized itself in these clubs. From Apolda and other breeding areas, the Dobermann was spread and exported on a large scale, quickly becoming known and bred all over the world.

With the development of the Martinskirch quarter, the Dobermann monument was moved from Teichgasse to Martinsplatz and officially unveiled again on December 18 as part of the "Living Advent Calendar 2019".