| A word about color | | | | kennel to have dilute puppies in Germany for |
| Let me share with you some facts about the four | | | | example. The DPCA has a very easy to read and |
| recognized Doberman colors. Blue is a dilution of black, | | | | understand Color chart at: a view of this chart also |
| and fawn is a dilution of red. All four colors are | | | | shows with science that breeding two dilutes |
| recognized and can compete in all AKC sanctioned | | | | together to get a dilute puppy has the same genetic |
| events and shows. Some have done very well. They | | | | makeup as other combinations. Many people argue |
| also can compete in other sports such as Schutzhund | | | | that two dilutes should never be bred together and |
| etc. Some people believe the dilute Dobermans i.e. | | | | this is not based on science, it does not matter what |
| blues and fawns to be inferior genetically and state | | | | is used to produce the color, the genetic makeup will |
| they should not be bred, owned etc. They will tell | | | | be the same. That assumes however that we are |
| you they will automatically have all kinds of health | | | | talking about breeding healthy well bred dogs. Again |
| problems and die early. Those are ridiculous | | | | the inbreeding in the dilute colors is what causes the |
| statements unfounded by research and fact. Here is | | | | problem, it is seperate from the color gene itself. |
| an example to help illustrate the point. I have brown | | | | You can see pictures of the allowable colors (Under |
| hair, I am balding, and at high risk for diabetes. | | | | the AKC) here: |
| Arguments against dilute Dobermans are the same as | | | | White is not allowed under any standard, but the |
| saying my brown hair caused my baldness and | | | | AKC will still register white offspring with a "z" |
| diabetes. The three are completely unrelated. It is the | | | | designation on the paperwork. Any descendant |
| same with Dobermans. The genes that cause the | | | | coming from white or "z" factored parents will also |
| change in hair color are not the same genes that | | | | carry the brand. What the Z factor means is that the |
| cause other problems. Here is where those | | | | registration number will begin with "WZ" instead of |
| statements come from though. There are some very | | | | "WS" for example. The Z designation does not |
| poor quality blue Dobermans out there and some | | | | designate a particular gene. White Dobermans have |
| poor fawn colored Dobermans as well though blues | | | | been known to have many problems, and there again |
| seem to be the ones most picked on. Many of them | | | | it is because of inbreeding not the color itself. The |
| have thyroid problems, skin problems etc. Thyroid | | | | exception is photosensitivity. The eyes and skin are |
| problems are the result of poor breeding selection, | | | | very photosensitive and can cause a host of skin and |
| not blue coats. It is possible to get good dilute | | | | eye problems, some of those eye problems are |
| colored Dobermans, we have proved it with a | | | | manifested in behavior such as fear biting. The dogs |
| successful breeding program that included using a | | | | are not any more aggressive than any other Dog, |
| very healthy and balanced fawn Doberman stud. If | | | | they are just always being surprised because they |
| you buy good Dobermans, they are never the wrong | | | | don't see well. This would lead me to having a bad |
| color. Buy Dobermans that come from healthy | | | | attitude as well! |
| parents and you will have healthy Dobermans. Buy an | | | | From the DPCA: WHITE DOBERMANS In 1980's the |
| inbred inferior dilute colored Doberman from an | | | | white Doberman made it's appearance and it has |
| uninformed or unprofessional breeder and you will | | | | been found that the white gene is a separate gene, |
| have one of the Dobermans that anti-dilute | | | | and is located at a different genetic site (locus) than |
| proponents hold up to the world and say "See they | | | | the color (B) and dilution (D) that is the basis of the |
| are bad!" It is not the color that made the Doberman | | | | four allowed colors for the Doberman. The white |
| bad, it was poor breeding selection. My fawn | | | | gene does not interfere with these four known |
| Doberman had a thicker fuller coat than any | | | | colors of the Doberman and does not need to be |
| Doberman I had owned, he produced full coated | | | | included in the color chart. |
| Doberman puppies, free of the problems people say | | | | The white Doberman is considered an incomplete or |
| dilution causes. Look at it all in perspective, there are | | | | partial albino. The dogs have blue eyes and are cream |
| also really poor quality black and red Dobermans out | | | | colored with light tan markings. The dogs suffer from |
| there, but people don't go around claiming that their | | | | photo phobia (photosensitive). This means the dogs |
| coat color was the reason. The exception to this rule | | | | cannot tolerate light, often closing their eyes and |
| is the white Doberman, which is not a dilution gene, it | | | | bumping into objects when put in unfamiliar |
| is the absence of a color gene. The white itself is not | | | | surroundings. Their temperaments range from being |
| the problem, it is how the eyes and skin are affected | | | | very shy to fear biters. These are not the attributes |
| that causes the problems. We have since retired our | | | | a responsible breeder or one that is familiar with the |
| fawn stud when we went back to the foundation | | | | criteria of a working dog wish to produce or |
| European Doberman lines. Dilute colors are however | | | | perpetuate. |
| considered a fault and disqualification in Europe. This is | | | | WARNING: The white Doberman is NOT considered |
| also based on opinion not on research or | | | | to be of great value (charging more/more expensive) |
| performance, but in Europe dilute puppies are often | | | | by Responsible Breeders. Responsible Breeders DO |
| quickly euthanized and the parents retired from | | | | NOT include the white Doberman in their breeding |
| breeding. It is considered and embarrassment to your | | | | stock/programs. |