White Dobermans

What is the "z" factor? (White Factored)
The "z" refers to the Registration number assigned by AKC for your puppy. It simply means that the puppy is white or has a white in its background. If the white in the background is more than 3 generations it is doubtful that the gene is still there. Both the male and the female must carry the gene to produce white puppies.

The parent club for the breed, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) considers this genetic & "anomaly" to be a defect and therefore does NOT promote the breeding of this color. In fact, the DPCA appealed to the AKC and now any descendants of Rasputin VI and / or Dynamo Humm are listed with a "Z" in their AKC numbers instead of the usual "p". Please keep in mind that the Doberman Pinscher breed itself is a mixed breed that's a little more than 100 years old. It was developed in the late 1880's by Herr Louis Dobermann, who, as the tale goes, was a Tax Collector and Dog Catcher in his town. Therefore, he had many diverse breeds at his disposal to "create" his "perfect dog". Some of the breeds used, mostly notably, the Greyhound (introduced by USA breeders into the US gene pool in approximately 1908), come in many colors including solid white, so it was only a matter of time before the anomaly occurred.

The coat color is a creamy white, but can vary with individuals from a very light snow white to a dark almost fawn color. The markings are a bright silvery white, and they appear in the normal locations (above the ears, on the checks, under the throat and tail, on the chest and on the lower legs). The eyes are blue, the pads, lips, and skin are pink.

When was the first White doberman registered by the AKC?
The first "white" Doberman, registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) as Padula's Queen Shebah, was born on November 10, 1976. She was sired by Rasputin VI and her dam was Dynamo Humm, both of which were black and rust. When Shebah's application for registration was sent in to the AKC, they had never before been asked to register a Doberman of this color before so they implemented an investigation. The AKC determined that Shebah was, in fact, purebred, since she was produced by two purebred Doberman Pinscher parents, so her registration was approved and accepted in 1978.

In the following years, many tests were performed on both Shebah herself, and on her offspring. It was determined from this testing that the gene which produces this color is a masking gene. In other words, it "takes over" and masks the color that the dog would be otherwise. (Incidentally, this is the same gene which produced the famous white tigers and lions owned by Siegfriend & Roy in Las Vegas). There is no evidence however, that this gene carries with it any deleterious or adverse health concerns that are sometimes associated with all white animals such as deafness, blindness, or unstable minds

What is the DPAA and How does it differ from the DPCA?
The Doberman Pinscher Alliance of America was founded in 1993 and is dedicated to the preservation of this unusual and beautiful manifestation of the Doberman Pinscher. We are certain that the whites HAVE existed in the past and in fact, Shebah's dam, Dynamo Humm, produced white male pup in a previous litter by a different stud. Shebah was simply the first lucky one to be allowed to survive and then registered with the AKC. They believe that these beautiful animals have the right to life and should not be destroyed at birth as so many were in the past (and unbelievably there are still breeders that destroy blues and fawns...!!!) Call them albinoid hypomelancitic or call them what you will, they are still Dobermans in every way. Some are working in obedience, Schutzhund, some are trained to pull a cart, some are beloved family companions and protectors-many have Canine Good Citizen awards from the AKC - each one is competent in its task, each one a DOBERMAN from nose to tail.