Doberman Colors
Most people are familiar seing the Doberman in the traditional black and tan color, sometimes called black and rust. While this is the most common coloring, dobes are also seen in 3 other allowed colors. Below you see the traditional black and tan dobe and a red doberman.
Dobermans are also available in a red color which looks more of a brownish-red coloring. Lastly, seen even less often, the Doberman dog is also available in fawn and blue.
Blue dobermans and fawn dobermans are both color dilutions, the fawn doberman (or sometimes called Isabella color) being a diluted red and the blue being a diluted black. These colors are sometimes discouraged from breeding and considered a disqualifying fault in some dog shows. Even so it’s felt that these dogs are not inferior to the reds or blacks if good breeding is present.
Another color that exists in Dobermans is the white or light colored cream dog. The white doberman pinscher was created from inbreeding and are considered partial albino dobermans. It’s common knowledge that these white dobermans have health problems and behavioural issues. They commonly have skin and eye sight problems photo sensitivity problems. As a result of not being sure of it’s surroundings at times, this leads some dogs to fear biting. Some countries have banned the breeding of this dog mutation and breeders are encouraged not to breed for this color. It is seen as inhumane to the dog due to the serious health concerns. The white Doberman does look unique and interesting but again care should be taken that breeders avoid introducing these dogs into their bloodlines. Consumers and dog lovers also need to be educated and avoid purchasing these dogs and made aware that these white dogs should not command a higher sale price.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:58 am
[...] Jak Doberman’s Den [...]
November 19th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
The dogs in this are really beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! The one in white what type of doby is this????
January 19th, 2009 at 1:49 am
The albinos are very hard to take care of i wish people would quit breeding them. I have a male isabella named Apollo and a femal black and tan named annie we are expecting puppies any day now!!
January 31st, 2009 at 4:15 am
get rid of the whites no time for bad dogs
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
i have a question i have a blue dover and i want to know whats good to giveum so they can be strong,i’m giving him yukanuba what do u request for him thanks
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:29 am
Hi George,
check out the website dogfoodanalysis.com
It should help you out.
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
there is nothing wrong with white dobermans. they are not albino their eyes are blue. albinos have pink eyes. they are just another color variation such as the red or blue. if there is something wrong with it, it’s not because of its color.
March 26th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
There is a problem with the white dobe. It is born out of inbreeding. Ppl should not be breeding these animals. As far as loving them as a dog, absolutely. But it is not good for the breed’s future to perpetuate this mutation. They have KNOWN health issues far beyond the regular dobe. If you are uninformed pls get informed before speaking on the subject. Ppl who breed these animals are only concerned about earning $$ and not the animals.
As for good foods there are so many nowadays. I use Innova Red Meat food for my dog and healthy ppl food and he is healthy as a horse.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:26 am
RE: SARAH- please you are uninformed. The skin is Red/pink not the eyes. yes they are blue but that does not mean the dog is “white” it is ALBINO, there is no such thing as a white Doberman. Albino is not a variation of color it is a lack of color. Anyone who tries to sell an Albino Doberman has an inferrior breeding program, they are culls. While they may appear striking they have skin problems and are prone to sun burn. They cannot be shown and you will NEVER EVER find a Champion Albino Doberman.
April 12th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Sarah: I have to agree, albinos have red eyes not blue…so that kind of confuses me (Only on this subject because I wanted a little bit of advise before getting a white Doberman. They are very pretty, but I think now Im having a few doubts.) The only reason I am writing is because as I was reading through I found one message that said “get rid of the whites no time for bad dogs” writen by “miller”! I found that message not helpful in the least, being a person just looking for information on a dog I like. As far as what information you’ve given, I believe there is no such thing as a bad dog but there is such thing as a bad owner. Treat them right and the will do the same. So see “miller” to make my point your message was not only informationless to me and everyone else, it was also showing how much of a dog lover you are not,If you were you would be giving information on the health issues and such like everyone else. Maybe you should think about that before commenting on another animal site.
Thanks,
Marie
April 29th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I actually own a beautiful white doberman named Kapone and he is my baby. He is very gentle and extremely good with children. But I will say that i have never spent so much money on vet bills on any dog I’ve ever owned in my life. Not only has he got sensitive skin, he has stomach problems as well. We also own a blue female and she has been much easier to take care of. I was not aware of the health problems white dobermans have and if i had I may not have gotten him. But health problems or no, like I said he is my baby, I love him sooo much and I wouldnt trade him for the world. Even if he is expensive to keep healthy.
June 15th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Regarding the albinism debate and eye color: albinism can be partial in mammals (and also birds, even wild ones), and can come from various mutations in the genome. An animal can have albino skin & hair, but still have normal eye color; this is called partial albinism. The animal is still considered an albino, however, because it carries an albinistic mutation. Sometimes the mutation is harmful, sometimes it is not. Siamese cats are a classic example of a harmless albino mutation; they are genetically albino, but the mutation only affects the hair, and it is temperature-dependent. The mutation producing the albino color only functions at high temperature, hence the hair close to the body (where temps are warm) is albino, and the hair at the cooler extremities (ears, face, tail) reverts to the default color of the cat (usually the classic dark color, but sometimes orange, etc. based on what color genes are dominant). If inbreeding or line breeding is used in any breed of animal to create an albino animal, there is a good chance that the animal will have health problems because of harmful recessive traits that crop up with the subsequent lack of genetic diversity. Spontaneous albino mutations can potentially occur in any mammal (i.e. albino from parents with no albinistic mutations), but they are very, VERY rare.
June 21st, 2009 at 5:20 am
My name is nick. i am wanting to buy a doberman puppy as a pet because i have heard how intellegent and easily trainable they are. plus i have always wanted a bigger dog that i could run around and play with in the back yard. i have been reading up on the breed since i have never owned one, and have found alot of good information about them. however one thing that i have seen on most of the websites is that they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time, even in fenced in back yards. this makes sence, but i also have to work for a living. my biggest fear is the dog getting and then him getting into mischef while im at work. plus i want to keep him as happy as i can once i get one. i want to know what i can do to make his time better when he has to be alone. are there any kinds of toys or things i can leave in that would give him the stimulation that i have heard they need while im at work? let me no what you do for your dobes while your away. thank you.
June 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Nick I think all dogs are pack animals that don’t like being left alone, this includes dobes. Personally I work long shifts and what works for me is that I have two dobes to keep each other company. They get alot of play time together running and wrestling in the fenced yard (like 3-4 hours) then when it’s time for me to leave for work they are so tired, they naturally will fall asleep inside the house. Also don’t give them free rein of the house, maybe just the kitchen or a bedroom, just in case they get into trouble if bored, (use a baby gate). Kongs with peanut butter are great too, but these only last so long. Hope this helps you decide.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I own a white Dobeman “Tierra” who is now 7 years old. She is the best dog that I have ever owned. She does not have any health problems what so ever! Great skin and coat, awesome temperment, etc… As with any dog, problems are caused by poor breeding. Research your breeder!
February 17th, 2010 at 3:56 am
I have a comment about the white doberman puppies. I have owned a white puppy because my red female and black and tan male made 4 white puppies. The white puppies are not a MUTATION GENE that has never been proven and is a lie. The white doberman I kept has never had any health problems in the four years I have owned her. The vet told me the breeders usually put the white puppies to sleep and any animal lover would not do such a thing. The vet could not give me any reason not to keep the puppies or give them away to people who might want or even to sale the puppies. If white dobermans were not meant to exist God would not have produced them. The white doberman is obedient and beautiful also good with my children. She has always lived inside out of the sun. People should not judge what God has made just because they are wrong.
February 25th, 2010 at 5:29 am
For General information:
The white coloring of a Doberman IS the result of a genetic mutation. It does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with the dog itself. From what i have learned over the years, and from my families history with dobermans, the coloring can be an issue. It is not accepted by AKC for show (though the dog can still be registered and bred- although this practice is frowned upon) Although labeling the dogs albino or even partial is a common misunderstanding. The genetic mutation that occurs to create the white coat is not the same of that that occurs in albino dogs. There is alot of controversy on this subject. And all anyone can do is take the best care of their animal as possible. : )
March 4th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Have some bad news for people that are upset about white dobies being the result of inbreeding. Brace yerselves for it… ALMOST ALL PUREBRED DOGS ARE THE PRODUCT OF INBREEDING! Somewher down the line, someone decided to select for certain traits, and breed for said traits. That means a very shallow gene pool to start out with. Take for example the Bullmastiff. Today an incredibly regal and majestic dog. However we can trace it’s roots back to the late 19th century whence it was bred to halt poachers on gamekeepers land.They tried the English Mastiff; Too passive: poachers got away. They tried the Bulldogge (the original, not the chunky lil chap with respiratory problems that people are ga-ga over today); Too vicious: tore the poachers to shreds before they could hang them as an example. VOILA!!! They interbred the two and then bred the offspring (for several generations, I might add) and out popped what is in my opinion the finest canine ever produced. The white dobie has long since outgrown the initial inbreeding through which the breed was developed,as the Bullmastiff once did. That is why the AKC registers them (albeit with the distinguishable Z designation much in part to the decrying of folks whonm think they are much smarter than they are in the area of all things wise and wonderful). Of course, as is the case with ANY short haired whit dog, there are limitatipns to sun exposure, much the same as with fair-haired humans-They both sunburn easily. No-brainer. In the next 15 to 20 years, folks will be bucked off of their high-horses, and the Z designation will be dropped in the AKC registration, and people will be free to love these animals as they should and not revile.
Furthermore, whilst I don’t as of yet own one… I think I shall purchase one just to chagrin the louts that scream so loudly about topics such as this, illegal immigrants taking their jobs, and globak warming being an utter farce.
Brian
March 12th, 2010 at 9:48 am
White dobermans came from 1 dog…I repeat…1 dog…whos children were repeatedly bred back to her until more were produced.
AKC registered the first one…it is a purebred…but it is not allowed to show…just because it says AKC doesn’t make it right.
Bottom line…its irresponsible to propagate unhealthy breeding. Its not fair to the animals first and foremost. Second its not fair to the unknowing animal lover out there who ends up with said unhealthy animal.
Dobermans are beautiful…proud…noble…intelligent dogs and deserve the best we can give them…and breeding them to be sickly and have health problems is NOT the best we can give them.
Shame on anyone who does.
June 30th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I have a fawn doverman she turned three months yesterday her name is clare
July 8th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
For those who say albino’s have red eyes, are very misinformed. Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin. Blue eyes is actually a lack of pigment in the iris. These dogs eyes are quite large and thus produces enough pigment to lend opacity to the eye, often colouring the iris pale blue. However, there are cases in which the eyes of an albinistic animal appear red or purple, depending on the amount of pigment present. Some albino animals do have red or pink eyes because of the lack of pigmentation, what you are seeing the the blood behind their eyes.
Not all white dobermans will have skin issues, and other health issues. But most of them will. If you have a white and healthy doberman consider yourself lucky.
July 20th, 2010 at 4:13 am
I have a Blue doberman, white doberman and Black and Tan Doberman and I think the white and blue are better dogs then the black and tan. The blue and white are both puppies from are black and tans it is in there back ground so what are you trying to say these puppies don`t deserve to live what kind of animal lover are you You know who you are
August 26th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
wow…i totally agree with flower. It’s like saying you dont like people of colour. What does it matter what colour a dog is. People adopt children from other countries and still love them the same. It’s just the colour of the dog……HEllo it’s still a DOBERMAN! I have one of every colour and i don’t see the difference they play the same, love the same, eat the same, and bark the same.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:17 am
what color puppies will a blue female doberman and a black and tan male doberman most likely produce? just curious. thanks