‘He's coming around the corner’ – Thomas Mann, the dog lover

The same applies to this article as to the preface to Thomas Mann's story A Man and His Dog. It should be added, however, that this article is not only about Bauschan, but about all of Thomas Mann's dogs, insofar as anything is known about them.

With the short story A Man and His Dog, Thomas Mann presented himself not only privately but also publicly as a dog lover. His love for his four-legged friend is already evident in the opening scene, in which the author describes how Bauschan comes 'around the corner' and his entire behaviour, body language and expression are described in great detail. When Bauschan, the chicken dog, stands in front of his master,

The dog walk that is about to take place here was also an integral part of Thomas Mann's everyday life. Again and again, one finds entries in his diaries such as the following: "An hour and a half walk to the Föhringer Bridge with Bauschan, who was wearing his new collar." (Diaries, 21 November 1918)

Walking the dog was an important part of the writer's rhythmic daily routine. Bauschan even became so famous through the story A Man and His Dog that another dog named Jack wrote to him. Unfortunately, Thomas Mann had to inform the dog that Bauschan had already passed away at that point. (cf. GkFA 15.1, 501)

But who came before and after Bauschan? How many dogs did Thomas Mann actually have in total?
This is not so easy to find out, as it is well known that Thomas Mann's diaries do not cover all years, and even the Thomas Mann Handbook has no entry on the writer's dogs. If you ask the artificial intelligence ChatGPT, you get a fictitious answer. Supposedly, Thomas Mann had four dogs and a dachshund named ‘Pip’. Unfortunately, both of these statements are incorrect. The only correct piece of information here was that dogs played a certain role in his everyday life.

If you search for dogs in general in the ETH's e-pics, all kinds of anonymous animal faces appear among the familiar ones.

What can be said for certain, however, is that Thomas Mann had a four-legged companion by his side throughout his life. Not all of them, however, had the necessary character to stay there for the long term ...

Through extensive diary and image research, it has been possible to establish the following chronology of Thomas Mann's dogs:

1895/97

Titino, a small Italian dog. From Heinrich Mann's autobiography An era is being observed, it is known that Thomas Mann already owned a dog when he was in Italy with Heinrich Mann and wrote Buddenbrooks:

From 1909 at the latest until before 1918

Motz, a collie (immortalised as the literary dog 'Percy' in Royal Highness)
In the novel Royal Highness, the dog Percy is described as having a wild temperament:

Until 1920

Bauschan, German chicken dog, was portrayed in the novel A Man and His Dog. This can also be traced in the diary: "Wrote a generous page on Bauschan. Long walk with the model." (Diaries, 10 October 18)

From 1920 to at least 1932

Lux or Luchs, German Shepherd. The acquisition of the dog is described in the diary entry of 23 March 1920: "Purchased a new dog named Lux for 750 M from the police sergeant who recently offered his services as an intermediary. Small sheepdog, docile, good-natured and alert, it seems." But did he also have enough strength of character for his demanding owner Thomas Mann? A diary entry from 3 April 1920 raises doubts: "The new little dog Luchs is docile to the point of having no character." Nevertheless, Lux remained at Thomas Mann's side for many years.

The 1920s to 1936

Alongside Lux and, at times, Toby, there was another small white family dog, a Maltese named Muschi. The family letters reveal that Muschi was "gently put to sleep" in 1936 and that "stupid Toby [...] was now the sole ruler" (Katia Mann to Klaus Mann, 1 February 1936; in: Die Briefe der Manns, ed. by Tilmann Lahme et al., S. Fischer 2016, p. 148)

From 1934

Toby, terrier. At first, Toby was welcomed into the family, as can be seen here in the diary entry from 25 December 1934:

1939

Jimmy, breed no longer identifiable, was only lucky enough to be at Thomas Mann's side for a very short time. The diary entry for 30 May 1939 reads: "Took K. and the growing Jimmy for a walk." Accompanied by the sad comment: "Jimmy: a small house dog, later run over, predecessor of the poodle Nico."

1939 to 1950

Niko, a black poodle who initially had a different name: "Found Miss Caroline at home with a poodle named Gueulard, which she gave me as a gift. A silent, shy, noble animal." (Diaries, 28 October 1939) Thomas Mann was apparently particularly fond of this animal, as the following diary entry shows: "Longing to see Niko again, whom I even dreamed about at night." (Diaries, 28 February 1940) However, Niko seems to have had a tendency to cause mishaps: "Niko causes a short circuit by pulling down the night lamp to his horror. – Other mishaps with the curtains in the bedroom." (Diaries, 30 June 1946) Niko also apparently had a strong urge for freedom, much to his master's annoyance, and one day he ran away: "No sign of Niko. [...] Went far down Amalfi Drive without Niko." (Diaries, 10 January 1950) Thomas Mann then considered getting a female poodle: "Yesterday, exchanged telegrams with Caroline N. about a successor. Can't bring myself to like the recommended female poodle." (Diaries, 28 January 1950) So the plan was scrapped again.

From 1950

Alger, the poodle who failed the character test. From the diary entry of 28 January 1951: "The neurotic poodle, impossible in character, who is to be given away and will probably go to Krishna Murti, crept shyly into my study in the afternoon, laid his head and paw on me, and we had a long, sad conversation."

From 1953 to 1954

Boris, a German shepherd, was actually the dog of Thomas Mann's youngest son, Michael Mann. However, Thomas Mann became a temporary 'dog sitter': "Boris is a good, pleasant and grateful animal who quickly bonds with people. He feels comfortable on his blankets down by the front door, where he now spends the night." (Diaries, 27 August 1953). In September 1954, Michael Mann takes the dog back and Thomas Mann says goodbye to his temporary companion: "Bibi [...] takes Boris with her, who indeed could not be kept here during the winter. Farewell to the familiar animal with a kiss on his head. Good, he is going to the boys." (Diaries, 16 September 1954)

1955

Niko, a black poodle, was a gift to Katia and Thomas Mann on their golden wedding anniversary. Thomas Mann describes in his diary on 11 February 1955 how Niko came into the family:

Niko seems to have given Thomas Mann many happy walks in the last year of his life. Mann was also happy with the character. The diary records that the poodle was 'funny and well-behaved' (Diaries, 4 March 1955), and nowhere is there a critical word about the lively animal. So it was a good last year with a dog for Thomas Mann.

The fact that Thomas Mann did not want to be without a dog throughout his life perhaps reveals more about the writer than many interpretations of his work: the need for a companion who shared his strictly regimented daily routine without disturbing it – and who offered the only company with which Mann could be sure of not being drawn into conversation.