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There is much controversy about the “white” or “albino” Doberman Pinscher- and there are people on both sides of the issue who feel very strongly. The real truth is this;

There is no scientific evidence either to prove or disprove

the theory that white Dobermans are, in fact, albino.

Anyone that you talk to, on either side of the issue, is merely stating their opinion (myself included). I personally have found white Dobies to be as healthy, friendly and intelligent as any other color. I am aware that the Doberman Pinscher AKC parent club, the DPCA, is strongly against the breeding of white and white factored dogs, and as stated on their web site they believe these Dobermans are “albino or tyrosine positive, partial albino or tyrosine negative”. This theory is the result of a study that the DPCA conducted in the 1980’s. Since then, science has come a long way;

“Some non-spotted breeds that are generally dark-coloured produce occasional white dogs. These include the… Doberman Pinscher. In these breeds, a recessive gene segregates for white... White dogs in these breeds are controversial with some breeders, usually because the white colour is assumed to be correlated with skin, eye or ear defects. A few studies have failed to demonstrate that relationship, but even so, white dogs in these breeds remain unpopular. The locus at which this recessive white resides is controversial, although it appears not to be at the albino locus” (Italics mine)

The Genetics of the Dog, 2001

Anatoly Ruvinsky, Jeff Sampson

“It was suggested that "albino" Dobermans may have a mutation in tyrosinase, since that is the cause of many types of albinism in humans and mice. However, in a recently completed study, the entire coding sequence of TYR was normal in such Dobermans (GenBankAY336053) and also in blue and Isabella Doberman Pinschers. ” (Italics mine)

Color Implications in Health, 2004
Sheila M. Schmutz and Tom G. Berryere

“We obtained the complete coding sequence of TYR from a cream Poodle, an albino Lhasa Apso, and 2 albino Doberman Pinschers as well as a blue Doberman Pinscher and black-and-white Large Munsterlanders as controls. Although several SNPs were detected which caused an arginine to be replaced by a glutamine or which caused a lysine to be replaced by a phenylalanine, none were consistent with either cream or albinsim when compared with the sequence obtained from additional dogs of the same phenotype.” (Italics mine)

The Genetics of Cream Coat Color in Dogs

Journal of Heredity, August 2007

This newer research, my knowledge of the controversy surrounding other dogs (such as white German Shepherds), and my opinions about how the DPCA sometimes operates, has led me to my decision. If at any point in time it is proven scientifically that the white Doberman is, in fact, an albino or albinoid animal, I will immediately stop breeding Z factored dogs. Until that day, or the day the DPCA accepts them all with open arms, I will continue to breed healthy, intelligent, sound z factored dogs.