Editor in Chief Robin Nuttall DD Graphix

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3 Official Publication of the United Doberman Club Mission Statement The United Doberman Club or UDC is made up of Doberman enthusiasts dedicated to preserving and protecting the Doberman and its heritage as a working dog. UDC is advancing the interests of the breed by educating members about working ability, conformation, temperament, health, breeding, training and maintenance of the total Doberman, sound in mind and body. The UDC encourages its members to participate in a variety of activities for which the Doberman is suited, including Agility, Conformation, Drill Team, Guide Dog, Obedience, Ring Sports, IPO, Search & Rescue and Therapy. Editor in Chief Robin Nuttall DD Graphix Publisher DD Graphix Robin Nuttall 3506 Westwind Drive Columbia, MO info@ddgraphix.net is published three times a year (plus the National Catalog) by the United Doberman Club, 238 S. Lincoln St., Denver, CO UDC Focus is a tax exempt educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in this publication, either editorially or in advertising copy, are those of the authors and do not necessarily constitute endorsement by the United Doberman Club. This publication is not liable for contents used in advertisement. The editor reserves the right to reasonably edit all copy submitted. 3

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5 Message from the Editor With this issue of Focus, we move to a three-issuea-year format. I am hoping we can soon be back on a larger scale and more issues, but that is up to the membership. It just so happens that on the day I am writing this editorial, the subject of useless titles has come up on the UDC Official list. And since this is my editorial, I get to talk about it! I think a lot of people get passionate about a specific dog sport or sports. Which are important? Which are less important? Which mean more to the breed? Which are the basis for qualification for breeding a dog? Should a dog have a full range of working/conformation titles before being bred? Is it ever okay to breed a dog without titles? What do those letters mean? I think the first thing we all have to acknowledge is that all of the titles dogs earn denote sports. (note, I am not discussing certifications such as FEMA and SAR). A sport, by definition, is a stylized and rules-limited imitation of real life. Real life doesn t come with ordered routines and safety to dog and handler. For me, letters before and/or after a dog s name who I have not met or seen working, standing at ease and in motion mean pretty much nothing. A talented trainer can put a lot of titles on a dog. A professional handler can put a Championship on almost anything. There is no way for the average owner to know whether that IPO 3 might only be the result of a good trainer scraping by with a weak dog, or the Ch has been earned more because of who is on the end of the lead and who the dog is taken to than through true good structure and movement No titles, or lower level titles on a dog s name or in the pedigree doesn t necessarily denote lack of quality either. Is it a young dog? Is it a dog with a trainer who can t maximize what he s got? Is there another issue such as money or time? I start to learn about a dog when I see that dog working in the ring. I learn more if I can directly interact with that dog; talk to it and engage it. Play with it. Seeing the dog work begins to give some meaning and context to the titles that dog has. But I think titles are really only valuable to the person who actually trains the dog to that title. Only the trainer has the tools to know and understand the strengths and weaknesses inherent in a specific dog s character which are exposed by training. A good teacher can be vital to beginning trainers as well, but in the end, it is up to the trainer to work to expose and shore up weaknesses while bringing strengths to the fore. And only the trainer really knows how to best maximize that dog s strengths Robin with Zipper (UAG2 URO1 Ch Regatta It s About Time, BN RE MX MXJ MJS RATN RS-O JS-O GS-N RL2 CGC) Prada, (Ch Regatta Devil Wears Blk-N-Tan RATN JS-N) and Cala (UAg1 URO2 USJ ARCH BJF O er The Hills N Far Away, RE OA NAJ WAC TT CGC, RATO, 12 years young) through breeding. If you haven t been there, if you do not know the fight drive of the dog, the bite strength, the resilience, the food drive, the toy drive, the agility, the physical adeptness or lack of it, then all the letters in the world are really just decorations. As for useless sports and titles; I think every sport has value for a smart owner/trainer who understands how to use sports to their advantage. A CD may not mean much but it may have told the trainer that the dog gets stressed on downs or loves quick recalls. Agility cannot measure fight drive or bite strength but can tell the trainer that the dog balances better on the left, recovers quickly from knocks and bangs, is unfazed by unstable surfaces, and much, much more. Even instinct sports like the new Barn Hunt have value; does the dog have persistent hunt drive? Is the dog comfortable with strangers in a small space? Able to go into dark tight spaces? From the outside looking in, sports are useless. No stranger can or should take for granted that every dog with upper level titles is a great, or even mediocre, dog. From the inside looking out, sports are critical. To the trainer, no title is ever useless. Robin Nuttall CORRECTIONS There were a few items from the 4th Quarter 2013 issue which were incorrect. Apologies! 1. Under list of advertisers, Monica Anthony s name was misspelled. 2. Photos credited to Bonnie Guzman where actually taken by Doug Matson and submitted by Bonnie Guzman 3. Photo credits given to Victoria Hall where actually taken by Monica Anthony 5

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7 The Progression of DCM in One Dog Since I have owned Dobermans for nearly 30 years and all but one of my Dobermans has come to me secondhand, odds are that I would have to deal with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in my dogs at some point. I was unceremoniously introduced to the disease with my second Doberman. One night while sitting down to unwind after work, her heart was beating so fast that we could see it rising and falling in her chest. A trip to the emergency veterinary hospital resulted in a diagnosis of DCM. We followed all of the recommendations of the cardiologist, but had to euthanize her 6 months later because of congestive heart failure. I have learned much about the disease since that time. Yet, when a routine 24-hour holter test in March of 2012 showed elevated ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) on my then 4 year old male, I still struggled to find accounts of how the disease progressed in individual dogs. I found many stories of beloved dogs succumbing to the disease, but was unable to find test results which showed how the diseased progressed with those individuals. Being analytical by nature, I wanted numbers. So, I am here to share Griffin s numbers. But I must first start with a bit about the dog himself because at the end of the day, no matter the numbers or percentages, it is the loss of the individual that matters. Griffin was picked up as a stray when he was approximately 18-months old. My original intent was to transport him from the local shelter to the breed rescue I volunteer with. But before I got him to the breed rescue, I decided to adopt him and keep him in my own pack. Griffin was not an easy dog. He was not a dog that most people would enjoy or want to live with. He was a big, tough dog who had learned not to trust anyone. He had also learned to control uncomfortable situations with aggression. As one friend put it, He wouldn t win any pet of the month awards. But, he did respond to consistent handling. And he learned to trust. He learned that I would not put him in a dangerous situation. And he learned, if he was concerned, to control himself and let me handle the situation. Once he learned that, he blossomed! He became the dog everyone could enjoy. He was full of life and joy. His love of life was infectious and he paid me back in full for every struggle we ever had. He became a source for all that was fun and good and made us happy every day we had with him. And then he was gone too soon. March 13, 2012: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: None heart-related. Throughout this time until his death, he was on 0.8 mg soloxine every 12 hours for hypothyroidism, which by Alissa Weaver, all photos Alissa Weaver was diagnosed around 3 years of age. Because this article focuses on DCM, the following entries will only address the heart-related supplements/medications. Holter: 718 single VPCs. March 28, 2012: Echocardiogram Medications/Supplements: None Echocardiogram: right atrium normal, right ventricle normal, left atrium 3.15 cm, aorta 2.72 cm, left atrial to aorta ratio (LA/AO) 1.16 normal left atrial size, left ventricle: intervernicular septum in diastole (IVSd) 1.24 cm, intervernicular septum in systole (IVSs) 1.64 cm, left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVDd) 4.88 cm, left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVDs) 3.01, left ventricle posterior wall in diastole (LVPWd) 1.24 cm, left ventricle posterior wall in systole (LVPWs) 1.54, E point-septal separation (EPSS) 0.40, fractional shortening 38%, left ventricular outflow tract 1.22 m.sec, right ventricular outflow tract 0.87 m/sec, mitral valve 1+ mitral regurgitation (MR) central jet, tricuspid valve normal. Normal left and right ventricular function. Left ventricular measurements are borderline enlarged. Systolic phase measurements are within normal limits. June 30, 2012: 24-hour Holter Test 7

8 Medications/Supplements: Compound Dan Shen, Heart Qi Tonic, Bio-Cardio, Heart Liquescence Holter: 4 single VPCs. Note: At this time, Griffin s heart disease was at the very beginning stages and the cardiologist did not recommend any medications. My regular veterinarian specializes in Chinese herbs and homeopathy and we decided to give him supplements to support his heart function. As you can see by this test, those supplements did improve the test results for a period of time. September 28, 2012: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: Compound Dan Shen, Heart Qi Tonic Holter: 33 single VPCs. One run consisting of 4 beats. 37 total VPCs. January 16, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: Compound Dan Shen, Heart Qi Tonic, Bio-Cardio Holter: 1,723 single VPCs. 3 paired VPCs. 1,729 total VPCs. January 24, 2012: Echocardiogram Medications/Supplements: Compound Dan Shen, Heart Qi Tonic, Bio-Cardio Echocardiogram: right atrium normal, right ventricle normal, left atrium 3.70 cm, aorta 2.80 cm, LA/AO 1.17, left ventricle: IVSd 1.24 cm, IVSs 1.44 cm, LVDd 5.15 cm, LVDs 3.42, LVPWd 1.18 cm, LVPWs 1.39, EPSS 1.0, fractional shortening 34%, left ventricular outflow tract 1.38 m.sec, right ventricular outflow tract 0.81 m/sec, mitral valve mild thickening of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, 1+ MR, tricuspid valve normal. Equivocal for occult dilated cardiomyopathy. Note: At this time, with his holter tests showing elevated VPCs and his echo showing fairly normal systolic and diastolic function, the cardiologist began to warn me that Griffin was prone to sudden death. May 3, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 80 mg Sotalol every 12 hours Holter: 1,354 single VPCs. 89 paired VPCs. One run consisting of 3 beats. 1,535 total VPCs. 1 single supravetricular premature contractions (SVPC). 2 paired SVPCs. 5 total SVPCs. August 1, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 200 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours Holter: 3,283 single VPCs. 14 paired VPCs. Two runs including 6 beats. 3,317 total VPCs. 2,140 single SVPCs. 26 paired SVPCs. 6 runs including 21 beats. 2,213 total SVPCs. August 15, 2013: Echocardiogram Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 200 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours Echocardiogram: right atrium normal, right ventricle normal, left atrium 3.21 cm, aorta 2.51 cm, LA/AO 1.28 left atrial size has increased, now mildly enlarged, left ventricle: IVSd 1.01 cm, IVSs 1.49 cm, LVDd 5.17 cm, LVDs 3.34, LVPWd 1.15 cm, LVPWs 1.47, EPSS 0.6, fractional shortening 35%, left ventricular outflow tract 1.32 m.sec, right ventricular outflow tract 0.77 m/sec, mitral valve thickened valve leaflets, 1+ MR, tricuspid valve trivial to 1+ tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Chronic Degenerative Valvular disease. DCM. Note: After this test, we began to more rapidly change Griffin s medications & doses to try to control his arrhythmias. August 28, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 300 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours Holter: 12,649 single VPCs. 34 paired VPCs. 137 runs including 616 beats. 13,333 total VPCs. 73 single SVPCs. Note: This dose of Mexiletine clearly had a pro-arrhythmic affect for Griffin and his dose was immediately adjusted when the holter results were received. September 9, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 150 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours; 40 mg Sotalol every 12 hours Holter: 2,055 single VPCs. 2,794 paired VPCs. 7,643 total VPCs. 1,393 single SVPCs. September 28, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 150 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours; 60 mg Sotalol every 12 hours Holter: 2,325 single VPCs. 1,896 single SVPCs. November 16, 2013: 24-hour Holter Test Medications/Supplements: 15 mg Benazepril every 24 hours; 150 mg Mexiletine every 8 hours; 80 mg Sotalol every 12 hours Holter: 1,748 single VPCs. 13 paired VPCs. One run of 3 beats. 1,777 total VPCs. 150 single SVPCs. 6 paired SVPCs. 9 runs of SVPCs including 58 beats. 220 total SVPCs. Note: After receiving these results, the cardiologist recommended dropping the Sotalol back to 60 mg every 12 hours. Griffin was due for another round of holter and echo testing in February He didn t make it. 8

9 Around 10 PM on January 27, 2014 Griffin lay down on his dog bed, right beside me, and passed away without a sound. I never limited his exercise or changed his life because of his disease. He was not a dog to sit quietly in the house. In fact, keeping him on an even keel mentally and behaviorally required regular romps in the woods and plenty of time to just be a dog. My only concession to the disease was to make sure I had a cell phone with me at all times in case I needed to call for help. On the day that Griffin died, I was convalescing at home. My mother often takes my pack out for hikes and did so on that day for me. She tells me they went on a long hike, which likely consisted of over 3 miles. Griffin never walked. He always ran with sheer joy through the woods. They returned home and the pack settled in for a short nap before dinner and their nightly marrow bones. After chewing his bone, Griffin joined everyone in the living room, as he did every night. He usually lay on the dog bed nearest my spot on the couch and watched the girls trade bones back and forth. By the time we noticed anything abnormal, he was already gone. He was inches away from me and I did not hear him make a noise. He was not yet 7 years old. I was happy that he passed without struggle, surrounded by his family. But I will always regret not having the chance to tell him one more time how much I loved him. His impact on our lives was immense. He was not an easy dog. He was not a quiet dog. His delight and glee was infectious. Two more things I would like to bring up. Not everyone wants to look for the early warning signs of this disease. For pet owners (with dogs that will not be bred), this is a decision for each individual. This disease cannot be stopped, only delayed. Some choose to deal with it once the dog become symptomatic. I chose to test and do what I can to keep my dogs asymptomatic as long as possible. For me, it was better knowing what was coming and doing what I could to prepare everyone in Griffin s life. But, I do recognize this is a very personal decision. Breeders don t have a choice! They need to search for any and all signs of this disease and, most importantly, share those results. DCM is so inherent with this breed, the only way to stop it is through open and honest communication. There is a stigma for breeders if one of their dogs develops DCM. But hiding those results only fosters a perpetuation of the disease. Education, research, and communication are the best weapons that we have to stop this. I beseech each and every breeder to test and tell. And I beseech every person who buys a puppy to only support breeders who do. My struggle with the disease continues. My 9 year old retired competition dog, Portia, was diagnosed with DCM in May

10 PCA DCM WEBINAR NOTES By Linda Lindic listened in on the DPCA Webinar on DCM on August 12, The webinar consisted of an audio presentation by Sonya I G. Gordon DVM, DVSc, DACVIM-- Ca Associate Professor of Cardiology College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University. The audio presentation was accompanied by a Power Point slide presentation. The webinar was titled Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the Doberman Pinscher: What breeders and owners need to know I found the webinar very interesting and informative. I would recommend participating in upcoming DPCA webinars as I feel the information is well worth the small fee charged to attend. The following are my personal notes that I took during the seminar. DPCA DCM Seminar Notes Disease effects electrical system as well as pumping system of heart. Holter and EKG diagnoses electrical system of heart Echo looks at the size and pumping system of heart DCM is rare in dogs younger than 5. Average age where DCM shows up in Dobermans is at age 7. Dobermans get more DCM than all other breeds combined. Lifetime risk of 25% to 60% that they will develop DCM. Hard to diagnose as disease starts off as occult (does not show systems). Sudden death occurs in 30% of cases. It is a gene based disease muscle cells are abnormal. Muscles get weaker and valves may leak. Arrhythmia is part of this disease heart beats become very irregular. Watch for fast breathing rate when sleeping, coughing, restless behavior, tired faster, may faint. Count breathing rate when sleeping greater than 30 is a problem. Resting respiration rate is app for smart phones. Can detect early heart failure. Occult Stage and Clinic Stage. In Occult Stage may have two forms of disease - some only have arrhythmia and Echo are normal. Some have only Echo based and some have both. X-ray not a good test. EKG is as almost as good as doing Holter. There is a app available for this. PD4K gene is prevalent in Dobermans. During an Echo dog will lie down and you need good quality image of left ventricle. LVIDS is an important number. Holter report VPC is important number. How to they occur couplets or runs. A good Holter needs an experienced person to read report and supervise machine. Bio Markers can look at an objective number substance that is release by heart that goes up as severity of disease goes up. Troponin I. To have Troponin in blood means heart muscles cells have to be dying. NT- ProBNP shows you have a dog is getting sick number climbs as dog goes into heart failure. PD4K This gene does not identify ALL the dogs that have DCM. It is a RISK FACTOR. Has implication for breeding. Breeding decisions should be cautious Breed negative dogs to negative dogs Breed negative dogs to heterozygote dogs (1 copy of the gene) Do not breed homozygote dogs (2 copies of the gene) 70% of Normal dogs in the study were females. DCM dogs rate of females went down and rate of males went up. No dog at show/study less than 6 years was diagnosed with DCM. Echo abnormal dogs have rising ProBNP. Toponian high in dogs Echo abnormal. 47% of dogs at show/study had at least one copy of abnormal PD4K gene. With Echo abnormalities - 75% of dogs have abnormal PD4K gene. Magic number is 535 for ProBNP. If number is less than 535 Echo would likely be normal. If number is greater than 535 than 50% would have an abnormal Echo. If you have abnormal PDK4 and number is more than 535 there would be a higher than 50% rate that dog would have an abnormal Echo. Pimobendan (medication) extends the dogs symptom free life by 9 months if caught early. Stopper, owned by Tammy Marshall Weldon, with his holter. Photo Tammy Marshall Weldon 10

11 It s All About You & Your Dog is a new section in the UDC FOCUS that will give you the opportunity to publicize the recent accomplishments of you and your dog. This is one of the advantages of your UDC membership. We will recognize any title you have earned at any recognized canine organization. This is all about you and your dog! Accomplishments earned October 31, 2013 to February 27, 2014 IPO Traci Mulligan & Doozie : UDC CH Rebholzer Iron Butterfly, BH New BH Renee Michel & Trevor : Balckheart Atrevido, BH, TR1, CA, ATTS-TT New-TR1 Kay Lewis & Pyro : Pyro v.d. Burgstatte. BH, CGC New BH, CGC Tammy Marshall Weldon & Casanova : Swift Run Casanova CGC, WAC, BH New - BH Alissa Weaver & Portia : DRU s Portia d Aurelia, SchH3, IPO3, FH2, AKC CD, WAC, CGC New FH2 Ellen Gilmour & Renna : Cara s Hard Decision, BH, CGC IPO2 New IPO 1 Scores: 97,89,93 New IPO 2 Scores: 93,92,89 Chris Rasmussen & Quinna: Quinna vom Aurachgrund, IPO3, ZTP SG1A New IPO3 Chris Rasmussen & Cabo : Cabo von Moeller Hof, BH New - BH Leslie Carpenter & Penny : Morgana s Irresistible Treasure, CD,IPO3 New IPO3 Scores: 79, 90, 85 New IPO2 Scores: 78, 90, 71 New - AKC CD with scores of 194.5, 198.5, 197. The earned her a High in All-Breed Obedience Trial, and she is currently #17 in the DPCA Top 20 Obedience rankings! Wendy Schmitt & Kiss : Kiss vom Landgraf New - BH Rally Catherine LaBarre & Beckham : Rebholzer Bad Company CD, BN, RAE, CGC, ATT, VC New RAE & VC SAR Pamela Stevens & Ciaran : Hunter dei Dohse, DEA Cert.5 Drug Narcotics Dog New Certified 5 Drug Narcotics Dog Tony DeGregorio & Rudy : UDC Ch. Beja s Redneck Brother Rudy, SchH 1, ZTP, NW-1, CD, OB-1, TR-1, BH, WAC, VCX, CGC, CHIC, Certified Advanced HRD New Passed Advanced Certification in Human Remains Detection (HRD) through an outside evaluator, Lisa Higgins. Obedience Meryl Winnie & Joules : Cara s Steal the Sun From the Sky, CDX, BN, RN, ASCA-CD, CGC New CDX Frank DeLaglio & Pompuschk : Livonija Baron Pompey, CD New - CD Leslie Carpenter & Penny : Morgana s Irresistible Treasure CD,IPO3 New CD Show News Sandra Urbacke & Raven : Int. CH Maysaya s Elegant Empress New Int. CH. And CGC Traci Mulligan & Doozie : UDC CH Rebholzer Iron Butterfly, BH New UDC Championship Agility Sue Beckage & Divine : AKC/UKC Dezperado s Divine Intervention,NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ, AX, AXJ New - NA, NAJ, NF, OA, OAJ, OF, AX, AXJ and brand new ROM! All achieved within four months and before her second birthday! 11

12 Versatility Report Congratulations to the following very special Dobermans and their proud owners for their attainment of the VC and VCX titles during the months of November 2013 through February 2014! New Versatility Companion (VC) 11/09/13 Riva Von Luka, BH, IPO-VO, CD, WAC, RN-AKC, BN-AKC, CGC, CGN: Monica Anthony 11/19/13 Siro Saffir del Littorio, AX, AXJ, AXP, BH, CDX, CGC, FAX, FN, FX, MXJ, NA, NAP, NJ: Stacia Gunderson 11/19/13 Int l CH Titan s Summer Lightning Strikes Twice, BH, TT, ATT, WAC, CGC, CAX, HIT, TDI, NS-J,RATI: Diane Linstrom 11/20/13 Rebholzer Bad Company, CD, RE, UDC-ATT, CGC: Catherine LaBarre and Robert Armstrong 12/6/13 Irinland Ingeborge Isida Cara, UD, RA, CGC, ASCA-CD, ATT: Meryl Winnie and Ray Carlisle 1/17/14 Blue Chip Brick Road V Enchant, UD, WD1, WAC, BH, IPO1: Pam Burns 1/31/14 Thunder Valley s WhyPrincessWhy, CD, BH, RAE, NA, NAJ, TDI, CGC: April Ward 1/31/14 Thunder Valley s You Gotta Want It, CD, BH, OB1, UPR2, RAE, NAJ, CGC, BARK Therapy Dog: April Ward 2/11/14 IABCA Ch. Masaya s Adrenaline Rush, BH, APR1, CD, CGC, WAC: Brandi Williams 2/11/14 Masaya s Black Sabbath, BH, IPO3, ZTP SG1A, BSA VG1A, WAC, PSA PDC-SD, AD: Brandi Williams New Versatility Companion X (VCX) 12/6/13 UDC Ch. Rebholzer Iron Butterfly, BH, ATT, NS-J, CA: Traci Mulligan 1/17/14 UDC Ch. Blue Chip Reign of Terror, BH, WD-TT, BSB E3A, WAC, UD-AKC, CDX-UDC, IPO1: Pam Burns Send me your new and updated Versatility Profile Questionnaires for the quarterly Versatility Spotlight feature in Focus! Don t pass up this unique opportunity for recognition of your Doberman companion and your accomplishments together as a working team! If you have a VC or VCX Title and would like to submit or update your Versatility Profile Questionnaire, please call or write and I will be happy to send you a new questionnaire. If you have earned new titles since your VC or VCX Title was awarded, let me know and I will be pleased to announce your new titles in the next Versatility report! If you would like more information on the UDC Versatility program or a VC-VCX application, please print out the Versatility Title Requirements and Application Form from the UDC website at or call me at (425) (evenings, or anytime to leave a message), or contact me at my address: feradobes@gmail.com. Julianne Ferado, UDC Versatility Committee, P.O. Box 58455, Renton, WA

13 So you want a Fawn or Blue Doberman... And the breeder is telling you that they are rare, so you better act fast Wrong. The breeder trying to sell you this cute, beautiful, soft coated bundle of joy is wrong. And you should run. Not necessarily from the fawn or blue Doberman, but from the breeder. Fawn and Blue Dobermans are not rare. They are an acceptable color in the United States and can be shown in all events. But if that is the case, why do you not see as many Fawns and Blues as you do Blacks and Reds? Because in order to get a Fawn or Blue Doberman both parents must carry the Dilute Gene. Let s back up a step and explain what a fawn and a blue Doberman are. They are a dilute or color dilution in the hair shaft of the black or red dominate colors of Dobermans. Blue Dobermans are a dilute form of the color black, blue Dobermans colors can range from light grayish blue to almost black. Fawns or Isabella as they are sometimes called, are the dilute form of Red Dobermans. They are, as the name suggest, fawn in color. Fawns and blues keep their Rust markings like on their black and red counterparts. Now that you know the difference between the two, how do you tell them apart? Well Blues being a dilute of black will have a blackish/blue nose and Fawns, being from Reds will have a pinkish/brown nose. So if you encounter one and are not certain, look at the noses, and you should be able to tell. As asked earlier, why do you not see as many fawns and blues? Well its genetics. In order for a Doberman dam to produce dilutes she must carry the Dilute Gene AND the sire she is bred to must also carry the Dilute Gene. And as with most genetics it doesn t always happen every time. Now reputable breeders will know their Dam and Sires genetic history, normally to include which color genes they carry, and they may or may not avoid breeding two dilute gene carrying Dobermans together. For reputable breeders other factors like conformation, temperament and health of the parents weigh into the decision and they will choose to breed two dilute carrying dogs together and they may end up with a dilute in the litter. Since the dogs they have breed together are excellent examples of Dobermans, you have no harm no foul, as in the United States they deem them acceptable colors. Reputable breeders rarely breed Fawn or Blue Dobermans but again it falls back on the conformation, temperament and health of the dogs being bred. IF the dam or sire is fawn or blue make sure you check for all Written by Michelle Shelby Frye health testing and titling of the dogs to make sure you are purchasing from a reputable breeder. On the other end of the scale, you have the BYB s and greeders who do no genetic workup on the dogs they breed, no health testing and certainly don t care what the dogs produce so long as they can sell the puppies. If a dilute or two comes along from the litter even better, they can sell it for more, claiming it is rare, when in fact; it s just a matter of parent s genetics. So why are reputable breeders not breeding for dilutes? Well, they tend to have lots of hair and skin issues. 93% of Blue Dobermans and 75% of Fawn Dobermans develop CDA or Color Dilution Alopecia (source Wikipedia). Like the name implies, they start losing their hair and get bald(ing) patches of their blue or fawn hair. And there is not a lot you can do about it, after all it is genetic. So all those people who paid lots of money for their beautiful, soft fawn or blue Doberman puppy, will end up with a rough coated and probably patchy (or bald) adult Doberman. Dilutes have less hair on their bodies per square inch than a Black or Red, so even the best dilute coat as an adult is lacking the luster of their counterparts. CDA does not happen overnight. Its normal onset is between 6 months of age and when the dog reaches maturity at around 2 years old. So is owning a dilute Doberman really a problem? 13

14 Well that depends on what you are looking for in your Doberman. Now you know your dog will have at least a 75% chance of balding. If you re ok with that, than think of the health issues that come along with CDA Because of the clumping of the pigment in the hair shaft it makes the hair shaft is softer, or rather not as strong as the Black or Red, it tends to break easily or is unable to push through the follicle and cause the dog to have ingrown hairs or staph infections. These issues will result in more vet visits and antibiotics or other remedies you and your vet discuss. If you live in colder climates you will probably have to purchase sweaters or jackets to help keep their thin furred bodies warm. In the warmer climates you will probably have to purchase dog safe sun block or cooling coats to protect their sensitive skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Let s talk treatment. There is no effect treatment for this disorder. It s progressive and incurable. But there are some things you can do to help prevent infections and promote the health of the hair left. Do not over or excessively brush or bathe. Since the hair shaft is not as strong as black or red, it breaks easily during excessive brushing or even shampooing. Some suggestions that have been made to me are shampoos with keratin in them, but I find its better not to bathe at all unless she s gotten into something absolutely disgusting. Then I use an antimicrobial shampoo with very little scrubbing. Some people suggest moisturizers on the coat to make the hair less brittle, but I m of the mind of less chemicals and more natural. Plus won t they just end up licking it off? I prefer a scoop or two of coconut oil in her dinner. Speaking of dinner, the absolute best thing I have found for her is a high quality diet filled with fatty acids. She started on a kibble as a puppy and even though it was a high quality kibble she still was getting patchy and her hair was very course and broke easily. I switched her over to completely raw diet and cannot believe the difference it has made. Weekly she gets an array of raw meat; Sardines, ground pork, green tripe, turkey tails, duck necks, chicken livers, ground beef organ and bones. I know that CDA is curable, but given her the best possible food has made her the healthiest dog she can be, therefore helps her have the healthiest coat she can have. My number one treatment suggestion: feed raw. It s worth it. What is the most important part of this lecture? If you are still interested in a dilute, make sure that you look to a reputable breeder, who will be there for the life of your Doberman to help you with any issues associated with Dilutes and Dobermans in general. Michelle (Shelby) Frye, owner of Shelby s Crowning Gem BN RA CGC, is a member of VTDC Vermont Total Doberman Club and the UDC. Information obtained in this article has been gathered through research and should cite the following list of resources: DCPA and Wikipedia, along with firsthand knowledge of owning a dilute and speaking with reputable breeders and owners from the UDC about their practices. 14

15 UDC MEMBER CLUBS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2014 MIDEAST REGION WORKING DOBERMANS OF KENTUCKY BRANDI WILLIAMS P.O. Box 1042 Jeffersonville, IN workingdobermansofkentucky.com Working Dobermans of the Carolinas LINDSAY DAVIS 3157 Dry Bread Road White Plains, VA (h) (434) workingdobermansofthecarolinas.com MIDSOUTH REGION CENTRAL TEXAS DOBERMAN CLUB IRINA SASU 2800 Perry Lane Austin, TX (512) TOTAL DOBERMAN ASSN JIM CLARY 358 E. Pecan Tree Road Waxahachie TX (h) MIDCENTRAL REGION MID-CENTRAL WORKING DOBERMANS CLUB SUZAN SHIPP 795 NE 101 Road Warrensburg, MO (660) NORTHEAST REGION NEW ENGLAND WORKING DOBERMANS NAZARENE MONDELLO 256 Moss Hill Road Jamaica Plain, MA (617) VERMONT TOTAL DOBERMAN CLUB TRACI MULLIGAN P. O. Box 71 Arlington, VT (802) TRI-STATE DOBERMAN CLUB RAY CARLISLE 20 Orchard Street Ramsey, N.J (h) (c) (o) NORTHWEST REGION PACIFIC NORTHWEST DOBERMAN PINSCHER CLUB SUE KELLY WALSH S. Molter Road Rockford, WA (509) SOUTH REGION MID-SOUTH WORKING DOBERMAN CLUB CARMA CLEVELAND Monterey Rd. Collierville, TN (901) SOUTHWEST REGION SPORT DOBERMAN CLUB OF COLORADO JOANNAH DAVIS 915 E. 23rdAvenue Denver, CO (303) WEST REGION CENTRAL VALLEY DOBERMAN CLUB ERYNN LUCAS Riverbank CA (520)

16 UDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2014 OFFICERS President PATRICK O CONNOR 3163 Juniper Ave. Santa Rosa, CA info@incrediblecanine.com (707) Vice President MARSHA SHEPPARD 1584 Red Tree Court Draper, UT legacydobermans@msn.com (801) Treasurer MERYL WINNIE 220 Crow Hill Rd. Delanson, NY Meryl@arcon.bz (h) (518) (c) (518) Recording Secretary ALISSA WEAVER 35 Dudley Road Sutton, MA (774) alissaweaver@verizon.net Corresponding Secretary BETH BISHOP P.O. Box 159 Bath, MI bishop@msu.edu (517) Membership Secretary BONNIE GUZMAN 238 South Lincoln St. Denver, CO bonefinder@comcast.net (303) Member Club Secretary LINDSAY DAVIS 3157 Dry Bread Rd. White Plains, VA davislindsaye@aol.com Directors Canada MICHELLE LIMOGES Ave. Edmonton AB T6C 1E5 udcdoberman@shaw.ca Northeast JIM TOMAN 308 Washington Ave Milltown, NJ JTandsun@aol.com (732) Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland Mid-East BRANDI WILLIAMS P.O. Box 1042 Jeffersonville, IN masayadobermans@yahoo.com West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky South VIRGINA ROGERS P.O. Box County Road 167 Crane Hill, AL dobegirl@bellsouth.net (256) Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina Mid-South DOUG MATSON 6721 N Seneca Wichita, KS doug@kansadobe.com (316) Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana Mid-Central VACANT North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri Southwest VICTORIA HALL P.O. Box Casa Grande, AZ vicaral@yahoo.com Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico Northwest MAKAYLA KING Alaska, Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming West ERYNN LUCAS 3604 Riverside Dr. Riverbank CA (520) workingk9s@msn.com California, Nevada, Hawaii 16

17 Advertise in Focus In order to continue to provide our membership with a quality publication, we face two challenges content and advertising revenue. It is only through the support and contributions of our membership that we are able to make the FOCUS a viable publication. We need our membership to assist us in providing content by acting as reporters and sharing their experiences with the membership when and attend our National and Member Club events and by providing articles on health, training and general interest. We also need to offset the expense of the FOCUS by doing a better job of generating ad revenue. We need to have more members place more advertisements in both the digital and printed versions. Focus Deadlines Issue Spring 2014 (web issue) Summer 2014 (web issue) Fall 2014 (printed issue) Ads & Articles Due March 1st July 1st. November 1st Publication Date April 15th August 15th December 15th (sent to printer) Our costs for placing advertisements are shown below: Digital Edition Ad Prices (Color Only) Front Cover... $ Inside Page (Full)... $50.00 Inside Page (Half)... $25.00 Business Card... $15.00 Print Edition Ad Prices (Color Only) Front cover reserved for National Events Back Cover...$ Inside Front or Back Cover...$ Inside Page...$ Special Advertising Package We also have a one year Advertisement Package for full size ads. You get three full size ads. One in each of the web issues and one for the printed issue (inside pages only) for a total price of $160.00! GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS Adobe CS5 to CC are accepted. Acceptable formats include Photoshop (psd), Adobe Illustrator native file (ai), encapsulated PostScript file (eps) or jpg. Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files are also accepted, and should be exported as Press Ready. InDesign files are acceptable. For InDesign and Illustrator files, all text must be converted to curves. Photoshop files should be flattened. Design Intructions for Digital Editions: Save ads at actual size, at 150 dpi in RGB format. Design Instructions for Printed Edition: Ads must be saved at a resolution of 300 dpi. If you wish your ad to bleed off the edge of the page, ad 1/8 to each side, for a full page size of 8.75 x Place critical text at least 3/8 away from the actual (non-bleeding) edge. Low resolution web ready jpg photos will not print well! Average size of photos of sufficient resolution to be printed will be over 1.5 megabytes and over 1,200 pixels wide. Ads submitted with low-resolution photos or copy will produce a final ad with an unsatisfactory blurry/pixelated effect. Focus accepts no responsibility for camera ready ads submitted in low resolution. For your convenience, Linda Lindic at pllindic@ roadrunner.com or Robin Nuttall at robinjn@gmail.com for an easy to use template to ensure your advertisement meets size and design requirements. Designer Created Advertisements: If you would like to have a designer create an advertisement for you, we have two resources for you (see below). Contact the designer directly for their charges for designing your advertisement. Charges may vary depending on the number of photos and the complexity of your request. 1. Cindy Noland cindy@nolanddogart.com Samples of Cindy s work can be viewed at 2. Linda Lindic pllindic@roadrunner.com Payment Instructions: UDC Advertising Policies All advertising is subject to the editor s approval before publication. No advertising layout will commence until the UDC Treasurer receives and verifies the payment in full. US Funds Only. Ads cannot be canceled after the deadline. No refunds for published adver tisements. Pay by check or money order payable to UDC, mailed to the UDC Treasurer: MERYL WINNIE, 220 Crow Hill Road Delanson, N.Y meryl@arcon.bz (518) Please mark UDC FOCUS AD and INDICATE THE MAGA- ZINE QUARTER on the memo line of your check OR Pay by credit/debit card or bank draft using PAYPAL. PAYPAL address is treasurer@uniteddobermanclub.com To ensure credit for your payment, please make sure to indicate UDC- FOCUS AD and INDICATE THE MAGAZINE QUARTER in the Comments section of your electronic payment. 17