Years ago, almost a quarter of a century ago, in fact, the DPCA sent to the AKC delegates a series of "studies" done by "experts" in the fields of Genetics, Physiology, Pathology and Veterinary Medicine in an attempt to prove white Dobermans to be albinos.
They claim success in this endeavor and claim white Dobermans to be inferior due to albinism. The point of this web page is to definitively prove that they have failed in this endeavor!
The general public considers an albino to be the classic red-eyed, non-pigmented individual. This is partially true and partially incorrect. The fact of the matter is that the term "albinism" can be used to describe all animals whose appearance is a certain way due to genes located at the ‘c’ locus of the chromosome. The gene causing a red-eyed non-pigmented individual has been mapped at the ‘c’ locus of the chromosome. However, many other genes, primarily related to the distribution of pigment, also occur at the ‘c’ locus. The ‘c’ locus is so named because alleles in the "c series" occur there. Because the allele for true albinism is in the ‘c series’, this has also been called the ‘albino series’. Remember, though, other alleles occur there as well.
The DPCA, in a rather poor attempt to support their claim of white Dobermans being inferior, calls them "tyrosinase positive" albinos. This is misleading. This is intentional.
Tyrosinase is an enzyme nessesary for the formation of pigment. It is typically associated with the formation of the pigment melanin. However, melanin is only one of several pigments causing ‘color’ in hair. While melanin is the black pigment found in black dogs (and other black mammals), eumelanin is the pigment responsible for the brown, red and tan coat and markings shades, phaeomelanin for yellows. And their are others. White Dobermans DO have pigment. The DPCA refers to them as "tyrosinase positive albinos" (or "Ty-pos" albinos) in a feeble attempt to ‘label’ them as albinos despite the FACT that they have both tyrosinase AND pigment. (See below, letter written by Dr. Padgett to Judy Doneire on 3/13/86, confirming existence of pigment. It is also visually apparent.) Nobody contests the fact that they have tyrosinase.
Because the canine genome has not yet been fully mapped, they do not KNOW where the gene causing white is found on the chromosome, yet they continue to call them ‘partial albinos’. When people ask me, as an owner and breeder of black, red, blue, fawn and white Dobermans, if these dogs are partial albinos, I tell them the honest truth - I don’t know. Nobody does at this time. The point that matters is that these dogs show NONE of the health problems described as associated with any of the classic red-eyed white non-pigmented albino individuals. Weather or not they are partial albinos is irrelevant so long as they have none of the medical issues affecting true albinos, which they do not. In addition, they have no medical problems that are unique to white Dobermans and unseen in any/all of the other colors.
The chinchilla gene is believed to occur at the ‘c’ locus, as is the gene causing "siamese" (or "himilayan") markings.
I will use these 2 as examples.
First, a chinchilla has a banded hair shaft. When homozygous for this gene (containing 2 copies, in this case of this recessive), the effect is different in short haired then from long haired animals. In short haired animals, the result is the removal of much of the phaeomelanin pigment with only a slight effect on black pigment, causing bands of black, silver-gray and white all on the same hair. In long-haired animals, some of the melanin is "reduced" causing a gray-blue-smoky appearance with a black "overlay".
The ‘Himalayan’ or ‘Siamese’ gene causes dark extremities as seen in Himalayan and Californian rabbits, shaded Netherland Dwarf rabbits and Siamese Cats. The effect in the homozygous animal is temperature-dependent eumelanin formation resulting in the formation of more pigmentation on the extremities, i.e., ears, nose, feet, tail.
Are these animals (Chinchilla/Salt & Pepper Shnauzers, Siamese/Himalayan cats and/or rabbits) generally considered to be albinos? The answer is NO. Perhaps you could call them partial albinos or tyrosinase positive albinos, but would that ‘label’ make them less desirable as pets then the solid, spotted, mottled, brindle, patched, striped or otherwise colored, marked and/or patterned animals of the same breed and/or species? Again, the answer is No.
IF the gene for white in Dobermans does in fact occur at the ‘c’ locus of the chromosome, which has NOT been definitively determined one way or the other, so what?
Following are selected (by the DPCA) portions of the "research" contracted by the DPCA to prove their point. It is what was submitted by the DPCA to the AKC in an attempt to persuade the AKC into allowing whites and their relatives a Restricted (Limited) registration only. That would mean that none of their offspring could ever be AKC registered and the restricted individuals themselves would be ineligible for conformation showing. This was to be applied to both white and white-factored Dobermans as well as "possibly" white-factored Dobermans. (At this time, all whites, w/f's and possibly w/f's are "labeled" with a "Z" in their registration number, as well as several that we know NOT to be w/f.)
In a sincere effort to bring to light the FALLACY of the DPCA report, I have shown IN BLUE some of the major problems with their premises.
THE DANGER
Our problem may someday be your problem. Please help us provide all parent clubs with their constitutional right to protect their breed. The Restricted Registration Proposal serves us all.
THE PROBELM
In 1979, the owner of a Doberman bitch sent the blue slip to AKC listing her color as ALBINO. AKC returned the blue slip stating ALBINO was NOT a color. The owner then submitted photographs to the AKC committee which returned the opinion the bitch’s color was white consequently the first ALBINO Doberman was registered. EVEN if an owner applies for registration as an ALBINO, AKC simply changes the color to white and registers the dog. Registrations are now increasing exponentially. *Note; a picture of a light cream colored dog may well appear white even in a color photograph. Neither of the dogs pictured below is actually white. Left; Mousethatroared von Ernest CD CGC, CERF, BAER, age 9 years. Right; Phantom’s Prodigy BH CGC TT, OFA, age 7 years. Neither of these dogs has ever been sick, sunburned, or unhealthy in any way.
THE TERMINOLOGY
AKC defines;
White as another acceptable color for a Doberman.
Veterinary pathologists and geneticists define;
White Dobermans as ALBINO, different from breeds we tend to accept as normal white. *This is a misleading and FALSE statement as you will see as you read the statements of the Veterinary pathologists and geneticists the D.P.C.A. has quoted in this report.
Webster’s Third New World Dictionary defines;
ALBINO - Any organism exhibiting deficient pigmentation as a human being or other animal affected with albinism and typically having a milky or translucent skin, white or nearly colorless hair, and eyes with a pink or blue iris and a deep red pupil.
ALBINISM - 1.) The state or quality of being ALBINO; 2.) The inability to produce pigment, a recessive genetic condition of wide occurrence, esp. in coat, skin and eye color of mammals.
ALBINIC - of, or relating to, or affected with albinism
or ALBINISTIC - resembling or having the appearance of
-OID (suffix)
THE RESEARCHERS
M. Diane Gerrard, BS, Research Assistant
Jeff Hogans DVM, Salinas, California
Mark Ladd Ph.D., (Geneticist) University of Surrey, England
George Pagett DVM, Professor of Veterinary Pathology, Michigan State University
Charles Parshall, DVM, ACVO, The Ohio State University
Donald Patterson, DVM, D.Sc., ACVIM (Geneticist), University of Pennsylvania
D. J. Priur, DVM, Professor of Pathology, Washington State University
John Paul Scott, Ph.D., (Geneticist), Bowling Green State University
Erwin Small, DVM, MS, ACVD, ACVIM, University of Illinois
DVM = Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
MS = Master of Science
PhD = Doctor of Philosophy
ACVD = American Collage of Veterinary Dermatology (Specialty)
ACVIM = American Collage of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Specialty)
ACVO = American Collage of Veterinary Ophthalomology (Specialty)
The DPCA conferred with all of the above either as conductors of the research or as consultants. Test litters were bred, raised and evaluated by DPCA members Judy Doniere and Nancy Heitzman under the direction of the afore mentioned panel of experts.
THE RESULTS
Nancy Heitzman-Judy Doniere: 2 litters yielded 17 live black and tan pups that were normal until 5 -10 months old, then all but 2 from each litter were euthanized for attacking family members, especially children. All were photophobic and many were considered fear biters. *But they were all black and tan! How does this in any prove anything about white Dobermans, good or bad? Was the white parent a photophobic fear-biter or the non-white (non-white-factored) one? At least one parent had to be non-white (and non-white-factored) or there would have been some white puppies. Did they breed a white at all? Assuming they did, which we do not know from this report, what did they breed it to? One of their champions? Some unadoptable, fear-biting, dog-pound reject?
Dr. Parshall: (referral report) "No significant pigment on lids or occular structure; iris-white/blue; fundus-no pigment but has a prominent yellow-green tapetum." *Notice there is no reference to the color of the pupil. See "Webster’s" definition of albino above.
*Left; eyes are blue and do NOT have 'a deep red pupil’. This is an enlarged image from the above picture of Mousethatroared von Ernest. Although fuzzy, it clearly shows a dark pupil. Right; Startlight Dobes has a white Doberman with light brown eyes. Again, notice that the pupil is dark.
Dr. Patterson: "My own guess is that the gene is a member of the C locus series of alleles. Included in this series in a number of animals is the ALBINO allele." *Guess? Included in this series? So, being at the C locus does not nessesarily mean albino, right? Not a very scientific statement. Merely an OPINION.
Dr. Scott: (initial visual assessment of puppies) "the whites appear normal except for photophobia." *Which puppies are these? I thought they wound up with 17 black and tan puppies. Where did the whites come in? Is there more to this research then the DPCA is telling us? Actually, there is. Dr. Scott went to the Padula’s kennel to examine their dogs first hand. What the report did NOT state was that all of the dogs were kept confined in a 50 x 50 ft building with no windows. The electric lights were only used when the dogs were being cared for or shown to people, purchasers of and visitors to the Padula’s dogs. Dr. Scott has confirmed this as have purchasers of dogs from the Padulas. Purchasers have reported that after a few days of normal exposure to light, the photosensitivity disappeared. I have seen the same in a white rescue who was originally purported to be blind, then as "visually handicapped". He was kept in a crate in a basement w/ minimal exposure to light but after a few days with me in a normal situation, his eyesight was just fine.
(1981 report to DPCA) "Photophobia would constitute somewhat of a handicap to a working dog."
(Nov. 1994, AKC Gazette) "Something must be done. I realize that most breeders are responsible, selecting strains that seem good. But once an undesirable trait enters a breed, it’s not an easy thing to eliminate." *Have we determined this to be a reference to white as an undesirable trait or is it merely a generalization to make a point? Perhaps it refers to photophobia? Has it been determined that photophobia is unique to white Dobermans? I don’t think so. However, in the case of a photophobic white (or of any color, for that matter), is that genetic or environmental?
Dr. Ladd: " ‘white’ should be regarded as an abnormality." "It is a tragedy that some people will ‘cash-in’ on the so-called rarity of the ‘white’ Doberman."