Upon leaving his final university, Dohna entered the service of Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. On the death of Frederick IV, Elector Palatine in 1610, Frederick IV was succeeded by his 14-year-old son Frederick V, Elector Palatine. Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg became one of Frederick V's most trusted advisers, and, as Frederick's chancellor, exercised a large degree of influence over the young Elector. Upon Christian's recommendation, Frederick made Dohna a member of his Council (Rat). Under Christian's tutelage, Dohna rose to become Frederick's Chamberlain (Oberstkämmerer) in 1620. He married Ursula von Solms-Braunfels on 23 March 1620.
Dohna had also remained active as a scholar and was invited to join the Fruitbearing Society in 1619 due to his learning in the healing properties of natural herbs. He adopted the oregano plant as his emblem.
Following the collapse of Frederick V's policies in 1620 and the occupation of his territories by imperial troops later in 1620, Dohna fled to Küstrin. He later moved to Spandau, where his wife was entitled to an appanage. He spent the years between 1624 and 1628 as living privately on his ancestral estate at Carwinden (Karwiny). In 1628, he was forced to flee from there when the Polish–Swedish War spread onto his property, going first to Emden.
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