Many Doberman lovers aren’t even familiar with the fact that there is such a thing like a White Doberman. However, as beautiful as these dogs are, there is a lot of drama surrounding them.
First of all, let’s clear things up — Albino Dobermans and White Dobermans aren’t the same thing. While albino dogs don’t produce any pigment in their skin, a white Doberman simply has a very light coat.
The reason why white Dobermans are wired up in drama is that many people believe it’s unethical to breed them. The reason being a few health concerns.
In this article we will go over all the things that you should know before buying a white Doberman.
What is a white Doberman?
Like we already said — a white Doberman is a Doberman with a very light coat. It isn’t exactly white, but it is a very light cream color. Unlike albinos, they still have some pigment — like in their eyes.
It’s widely agreed upon that white Dobermans are technically “tyrosinase-positive Albinoids”. Sure, this is a type of albinism, but not the traditional albino that you or I might think of.
The first white Doberman was born in November 10, 1976. Her name was Padula’s Queen Sheba. She was an albino and her parents were black and rust-colored Dobermans. Sheba was also the first white Dobi who was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) even though she did not fit in the breed standard of Doberman colors. She was AKC registered in 1978.
Genetics
The color of a dog’s coat is produced by a blend of a black pigment called Eumelanin and a red pigment called Phaeomelanin. A dog’s genes determine the quantities of these pigments in the coat and the dilution of the pigments.
It is presently accepted that white Dobermans come from a recessive gene that essentially disguises the dog’s final color they would have had with a normal gene. That gene is a mutated version of a SLC45A2 gene. It lacks a huge part of the standard genetic code, resulting in a usual kind of albino; however, there is no actual term. This mutation can also appear as Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 4 or OCA4 in other types of animals.
If your Doberman has just one copy of this altered gene, then they are a “carrier”. However, if they inherit two copies of it — they will be either cream or white. So, they have to have two copies of the altered gene to end up being white.
Appearance
Obviously the main thing that makes the white Doberman so unique is the color of his coat. But white Dobermans aren’t really white, but a light cream with possible white markings. Some other traits that set them apart from other Dobermans are their blue eyes, pink nose, and pink eye rims.
To differentiate them from albinos, remember that white Dobis still have some pigment in their skin. Albinos have non.
But besides that, white Dobermans look like your standard Doberman breed dog. These strong and muscular dogs look almost noble due to the elegant lines of their body, their proud posture and determined expression. Many fans of this breed believe that they embody the ideal canine.
The sleek and threatening appearance was reinforced earlier by cropping the ears. At first, cropping was not practiced on the basis of appearances, but rather to support the guarding and protection tasks. Fortunately, for animal welfare reasons, cropping of the ears was prohibited in the 80s and 90s.
Personality
Dobermans are among the most intelligent dog breeds in the world and have a great ability for learning. Even if the Dobi is no longer bred so aggressively, he is always ready to bravely defend his family. He has a low to medium stimulus threshold and is always suspicious of strangers. For this reason, he sometimes has to struggle with a bad reputation. In the circle of his human pack, the Doberman is a peaceful cuddly animal and also copes well with children.
This faithful and affectionate dog would like to be everywhere and does not like to be alone. He needs a caregiver who takes care of him from the beginning and shows him where to go, then he can become a great partner for life.
They are stubborn, passionate and natural born leaders. Dobermans can be dominant, which is why it’s so important to train them from an early age. Owners have to establish themselves as the leader of the pack, or else their dog will think he can do whatever he pleases. In those cases he could even develop some temperament issues.
As intimidating as they look, all Dobermans are deep down calm and sweet beings. With their family, these dogs are extremely loyal, affectionate and child-loving. A well-behaved and socialized Doberman will never attack or bite anyone for no reason. Dobermans need an experienced and safe pack leader who clearly shows him where to go. A Doberman is the reflection of his owner. A confident and calm owner will also have a confident and obedient dog by his side.
Grooming
Their smooth, white fur requires minimal care. He is a clean dog, with only the slightest odor.
Additionally, brush weekly with a care glove or a rubber bar. Bathe him only when he rolls in something stinky or plays in the mud. Frequent bathing is unnecessary. However, due to his light coat, stains could be a problem. Try to prevent them by wiping his coat with a damp cloth when needed.
Brush the teeth of your Dobie at least two or three times a week to remove dental plaque and bacteria. Daily brushing is even better to avoid gum disease and bad breath.
Cut your dog’s claws once or twice a month if he doesn’t wear them out naturally. If you hear the claws clink on the floor, they are too long. Short, well-trimmed claws keep the paws in good condition.
Dog claws have blood vessels in them and if you cut too far, you can cause bleeding – and your dog could panic next time he sees the nail clipper. So if you have no experience with cutting the dog claws, ask a veterinarian or dog hairdresser for advice.
You should check his ears weekly for redness and bad smell in order to detect infections. When you check your dog’s ears, wipe them out with a cotton ball soaked with a gentle PH-neutral ear cleaner to prevent infections. Do not insert anything into the ear canal.
Health Worries
There are a few health problems that surround white Dobermans. And a lot of them are directly linked to their skin. The most common health issues include:
- Sunburns. Due to the fact that they don’t have a lot of pigment, white Dobermans burn very easily. You might not know this — but you can actually use SPF on your dog too. However, make sure it’s a mineral and not a chemical sunblock. Other skin problems such as skin tumors or cancer are possible as well.
- Tumors. Twelve of twenty studied white Dobermans ended up having tumors, while only one regularly colored Doberman was found to have a tumor. All of the white Dobermans older than five had one or more tumors. However, not all these tumors were cancer. Some of them were benign.
- Sight. Lack of pigment in white Dobermans’ indicates additional light can pass through it right directly to the retina. That causes these dogs to squint in bright sunlight frequently.
Chances are that it will take you a bit of dedication to keep your white Doberman healthy. However, the problems surrounding their health aren’t nearly as common as people make it out to be. By taking steps in preventing the listed conditions, your white Doberman can live a long and healthy life.
While you’re here, why not learn about other dog breeds as well:
- Bernedoodle puppies: Five facts to know!
- Schnoodle puppies: The cutest hybrid breed ever
- Golden retriever Chow mix: Golden Chow
- Pitbull Beagle Mix: A very unusual hybrid dog
- Pitbull Dachshund Mix: Complete Guide