Doberman Heroes

We Have a Winner!

2008-09-04T00:53:00.004-04:00

The winner of our art contest is Mary Nagy. She will soon be the owner of a Kevin Roeckl fine art print titled "Southwest Colors." You can learn more about Kevin and his work here.

Art Giveaway and Salute to an Artist

2008-08-26T11:03:00.012-04:00

One of the first characteristics that seems to command the attention of even casual admirers of Doberman Pinschers is their natural beauty. Their clean, sleek, sculpted “lines,”arresting self-possession and the way they seem to own the ground they stand on, all add up to a picture of pure elegance.

Kevin Roeckl knows the breed well. And he has made capturing Dobermans as they are – their elegance as well as the softer side shared with close friends – a big part of his life’s work. An artist for more than 30 years, Roeckl has a talent for capturing real moments in time, and the character of his subjects, on “canvas” in a way that is so realistic they are often mistaken for photographs.

Each of his Doberman paintings has a story. We will share a few of those stories in future blog posts. In the meantime, enjoy the excerpt below of our conversation with Kevin Roeckl. And if you would like the opportunity to win a 12X16 inch reproduction of one of his Doberman inspired artworks shown here, simply post a comment to this blog indicating which of the four prints you’d like to win. A randomly selected winner (print valued at $65) will be announced one week from today. Our thanks to Mr. Roeckl for donating one of his fine art prints in honor of the Doberman Centennial.

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Q: What is it about Dobermans that inspires you to paint them?
A: Their poetic beauty and that near-human mind that makes them such fun to be around. Dobermans provide never-ending poses and expressions that are graceful, fascinating, or just plain cute.

Q: How and when did you start featuring Dobermans in your work?
A: In 1990, when my beloved Jake was 7 years old, I was injured in a violent crime. Jake saved my life. For the next year, while I was caught in the nightmare of the medical and legal system, there was retaliation from the "defendants." Twice more Jake stood by me and protected me from harm. Through it all, when everything around me seemed like treacherous quicksand, my courageous, devoted Doberman was a solid rock who never failed me. When I was finally able to work again, all I wanted to paint was Jake. I had such admiration for him, he was the most beautiful thing in the whole universe.

Q: What Doberman piece are you most proud of? Why?
A: My "Self Portrait with Jake", one of the first things I painted after the year of trauma. At that time it felt like me and Jake alone against the world, and the portrait captured that, the way we were connected at the heart. I was proud that I captured his dignity and nobility --- that head study of Jake is "Aristocrat", one of the prints I'm offering.

Q: What are you working on right now?
A: A portrait of a Doberman who was recently lost to cancer. Throughout my career I've painted more Memorial portraits - of both humans and dogs - than of living beings. This may sound strange, but I found that I have a gift for connecting with the spirit of the subject when I paint their portrait, and capturing their essence in a way you can't get from a photograph. That is the beauty of Fine Art, the emotion the artist puts into the work.

Colin Powell, JFK, Eisenhower and the Doberman?

2008-07-30T19:05:00.015-04:00

Whether you're a kid, or a kid at heart, you've probably heard of GI Joe. You may even know that the line of military toys produced by Hasbro led to the coining of the phrase "action figure" in the first place. Over the years, Hasbro has honored a few distinguished individuals with GI Joe action figures. Included on that list is Colin Powell, JFK, Eisenhower, George Washington and yes, the Doberman Pinscher.

The U.S. Marine Dog Unit, released by Hasbro a few years ago, features a GI Joe WWII-era marine action figure accompanied by his faithful Doberman friend. The toy pays tribute to the many real-life Dobermans who sacrificed their own lives to save the men in their marine platoon. This historical event is why Dobermans, like their Marine comrades, will forever be referred to as Semper Fi, or "Always Faithful." A permanent memorial was created at the Marine War Dog Cemetary in Guam to honor their many sacrifices. It is guarded by a Doberman Pinscher statue.

More details regarding the War Dogs' story is printed on the back of the Gi Joe toy box:

US Marine War Dog Unit

World War II saw a new breed of Marine digging in on the front lines of the Pacific theater. They were the USMC War Dogs, and they were fitting companions for Marines who had already earned the nickname of "Devil Dogs." The uncommon valor of these canine soldiers and their Marine Handlers saved countless American lives and made a major contribution to the struggle for victory.

Dogs have been widely used on the battlefield for years, even prior to World War II. However, the USMC War Dog program was the first to focus on the use of canines in combat situations. It was a gamble that paid off well. Shortly after 1942 when the program started, Handlers and their dogs found themselves in the midst of combat. They were so effective that by the end of the war, there were six platoons with over one thousand USMC War Dogs.

About seventy-five percent of the War Dogs were Doberman Pinschers. The Corps found the breed to have qualities that made exceptional fighters; they were loyal, intelligent, easily trained and their short hair helped them adapt to the hot, humid terrain of the Pacific theater. And like their human counterparts, the War Dogs underwent rigorous training to acclimate them to combat situations and to perform specific duties. As sniper hunters, their keen senses of smell and hearing allowed them to reveal the hidden assassins quickly and effectively. Up until then, sniper activity was a tremendous problem for the U.S. troops in the Pacific, especially within abandoned villages where snipers were easily concealed and extremely dangerous to find for humans, but easily sniffed out by the U.S. War Dogs. Perfect for detecting mines and booby traps, War Dogs could find mines that were buried six to eight feet deep. As messenger dogs, they were fitted with saddlebags, which carried maps, orders, ammo or medical supplies. As scouts, they took the "point" -- their superior senses enabled them to detect enemy activity well ahead of their position, sometimes up to twenty or thiry minutes away.

The heart of their military effectiveness was the unique bond that War Dogs shared with their Handlers. Functioning like a single unit, War Dogs and the Handlers were together every hour of the day. They protected each other. Handlers carried rations for their four-legged friends and were trained in canine first aid. In addition to their combat duties, the dogs gave a snese of security to all the troops, who knew the dogs would alert them to hostile sounds and smells beyond their own perception. Today, a War Dog Memorial on Guam commemorates the tremendous contribution made by War Dogs in the Pacific. Fiercely loyal, highly intelligent, and utterly fearless -- the USMC War Dogs were, in every sense, full-blooded Marines.

Help Us Unravel a Mystery of Doberman Proportions

2008-06-26T23:34:00.005-04:00

Doberman Heroes loves a good mystery and a reader from Atlanta supplied us with one that we need your help to solve.

As you can see, the Dobe depicted in the photo above is highly decorated with elaborate medals. What could the medals signify? What did this dog achieve? The photo has been in the family in question's possession since the 1970s, but the context behind the picture has been lost!

The most significant clue we have is located on the reverse side of the photo. The Russian text translates literally:

"In memory to sister Riva and brother Motya from brother Lazar and his dog “Dolli” Doberman-Pincher, year of 1971"

We do know the medals were from a Russian dog association (specific name of organization unknown).

Get in contact with Doberman Heroes if you can help us solve the mystery!

Doberman, the Movie?

2008-06-23T16:45:00.004-04:00

At its National Specialty in Topeka this year, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America will preview a new film that is sure to be a treat for dog lovers everywhere.

War Dogs of the Pacific covers the exploits of the courageous canines that served in the Marine war dog platoon during World War II. Check out the new film site to be among the first to get a sneak peek at the documentary, learn more about the war dog handlers featured in the film and check out the director's bio.

Also learn more about the fearless Dobermans spotlighted as part of this film at the Centennial Website.

We'll post more content and information about the film here as soon as it is available.

Stay tuned!

Dobermans Go Head to Head For Their Candidate

2008-06-01T01:47:00.012-04:00

The race isn't over. And it seems the whole world is watching the Democratic party's presidential hopefuls and their historic quest for their party's nomination. Hillary. Obama. Obama. Hillary. Democrats are so intensely passionate in their point of view that some fear the result will be a rift in the party that won't be repaired. Concerned citizens everywhere are weighing in, even our faithful four legged friends. May the best candidate win. Woof!

So What's a Hero Anyway?

2008-05-30T15:52:00.007-04:00

In ancient Greece heroes were legendary. The title was literally reserved only for the loftiest of gods, or those closely connected to them by blood. Average Joes need not apply. In general, the heroes we read about in European history and literature are great men and women who towered over great obstacles to triumph and "save the world." They were larger than life, and needed to be to reflect the cultural zeitgeist of their time and place in the world.

American culture has always approached heroism somewhat differently. The heroic stories we're inspired by come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes the hero wears a red cape and leaps tall buildings with a single bound. More often he is the guy or gal who quietly performs a random act of kindness for a total stranger. Overall, we root for the underdog . . . . the guy who like us has weaknesses, flaws and despite them beats the odds to achieve something important. We gravitate towards this kind of hero because in his very humanity (warts and all), he reflects the greatness that is possible in each one of us. And still other heroes -- despite their four-legged fur-bound status -- are often wiser and more intuitive than man gives them credit for. Predictably, that's the kind of hero we'll focus on here for the remainder of this post.

Hero literally means Protector, Defender or Guardian -- all descriptors that sum up the character of any of the best of our breed, including the Doberman described in the story below. He is our hero of the month:

The only times I have really felt, without a shadow of a doubt, that a dog saved my life, are not conventional stories of a heroic dog. Some people don't believe these to be anything except stories of coincidence. Make your own decision.

My Doberman, Cynic, was not an exceptional dog to anyone except me. Since puppyhood, he was a serious guy, very bonded to me. The easiest dog I've had to housebreak, he never destroyed anything, was not a chewer, just an all around good dog who got along with everyone and did what you asked of him. Never any trouble.

Several years ago, I was having my bathroom remodeled, and it was a mess. Lots of stuff all over one countertop, some stuff on the floor. I was not using that part of the bathroom at all due to the work being done. After the workmen had left for the day, I went in to see what had been done but
the light switch did not work. I figured they had turned it off for some reason and thought no more of it. A little later, I was in the kitchen and heard a racket. Cynic was the only dog loose in the house, so it was a big surprise when I saw that the noise was from him jumping up on the bathroom counter (in the dark) and sending things flying. When he saw me he came to me and went back and jumped on the counter again. My first reaction was to be preturbed and tell him to quit it, but he persisted. Again, from habit, I tried the light switch. No lights. In the dark, I went over to see if I could tell what was so interesting on the counter. For some reason, I checked the wall socket just above that countertop. It was HOT, very hot.
The wall around it was very hot! I got out of there and called the workers while also flipping off the breaker outside. Once the electrician came and took care of it, he said to give my dog a big steak, because if I had not noticed and had gone to bed- there was a good chance none of us would have woken up. He said that kind of fire stays in the walls so the smoke alarm does not go off until the fire is very bad.

That was the first "coincidence" for Cynic.

The second one was when I had gone to visit a friend who lived up in the moiuntains, a beautiful drive, but also on those famous winding Colorado mountain roads with no shoulder and very steep cliffs. On the way home, at night, we were winding down the mountain slowly as I usually did; no traffic, no reason to hurry. Suddenly, Cynic was up in his crate- spinning, barking, whining; just throwing a fit. All I could think of was that he suddenly really had to "go," maybe he had one too many dog cookies. So I braked almost to a halt, but there was simply no shoulder and the curves were not only blind, but also straight down from a few feet off the road. There was just no place to take him out. Nearly stopped, pulled as far to the side as possible (Cynic still spinning and barking), from the opposite direction, barreling out of nowhere, comes a big box truck. Taking the curve ahead of us way too fast, the truck is clear into my lane and obviously trying to regain control. It missed my bumper by maybe a few inches- OK, I closed my eyes at the last second because I really thought it was going to hit us. When I opened my eyes, first, we had not been touched. Second, Cynic is perfectly quiet and has laid back down, content as can be.

If I had not slowed, stopped and pulled all the way over; that box van would have hit us head on. Likely we'd have both gone off the road and several hundred feet down the mountainside. Cynic slept the rest of the trip home.

My best friend says Cynic was my Guardian Angel. I don't doubt her.

Funniest thing. Today, when I knew I needed to write this, I saw a sign at a church that said:

"COINCIDENCE IS WHEN GOD REMAINS ANONYMOUS"

So, you can choose to believe that Cynic saved my life twice during his own short life, or you can say it was coincidence. He was most certainly my Guardian Angel.

Story contributed by Nancy Christensen, Renejade Dobermans

America's Founding Dobermans

2008-05-14T19:16:00.012-04:00

"The Seven Sires were responsible for an era in American Dobermans which was as exciting and colorful as the dogs themselves. They towered over the Doberman world like mighty titans and the competition among them was brisk, awesome -- and sometimes fierce. The dog magazines fattened on their advertising, the like of which the breed has not seen before or since. Their names were familiar to the veriest novice, and their offspring could be found in the remotest hinterlands. Each had his loyal partisans, and the legends concerning them were inexhaustible. With their passing, passes an era. History will not soon see the time when seven males of such stature live contemporarily again," from Peggy Adamson's article: Illena and the Seven Sires (1951).

Ch Emperor of Marienland (born April 18, 1941)
You recently encountered Dictator. Enjoy an early glimpse of yet another of the great sires who would would one day serve as an architect of the breed.

Alltel Releases Damaging Ad Featuring Doberman

2008-05-07T00:24:00.005-04:00

Arkansas-based Alltel Corporation just launched a television campaign that negatively portrays the Doberman Pinscher. In response to complaints from numerous advocates for the breed, including the president of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Alltel distributed various versions of the following message:

"Thank you for writing to express your concern about Alltel's new TV spot that includes a Doberman Pinscher.The Doberman Pinscher in our ad is a well-behaved animal actor playing a fictional role, just as human actors often play roles that are opposite their true personalities. We are not suggesting that Doberman Pinschers are a vicious breed."

We do not dispute the fact the Doberman featured in the ad is a well-trained animal playing a role. But that portrayal plays into negative stereotypes that feed public fears and misconceptions about our breed. Such characterizations create an atmosphere that fuels breed specific legislation seeking to ban ownership of Doberman Pinschers around the country.

We are deeply disappointed in Alltel's portrayal of the Doberman Pinscher and strongly urge you to write to Alltel expressing your disapproval of its latest campaign. The appropriate contact appears to be Paul Sage, Alltel's director of marketing communications: paul.sage@alltel.com

Welcome to Kenmare

2008-04-30T22:20:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Kenmare, population of roughly 1,000, located in the great plains of North Dakota. According to its tourism reps, the city has "much to offer whether you stop for an hour, a day or longer." Catchy, isn't it?! But if you plan to do more than pass through and you happen to be a Doberman owner, consider yourself warned: No Dobermans Allowed!

According to an Associated Press story, residents now have 7 days to "remove" their pets. Where they will go, I have no idea.

And why? The Mayor says it's because residents feel threatened. That's it. No other reason. Residents feel vaguely uncomfortable and an entire breed gets kicked out of a city. And not just any breed, a breed with a tradition of saving lives. What happens next, will they ban men with long hair because they look shifty? This is 2008, not 1969.

You can argue point and counterpoint about the whys and the wherefores . . . There's nothing much I can add to the argument. Breed Specific Legislation (otherwise known as BSL) doesn't work, that is unless you ban all breeds. And the bottom line (at least for me) is that it all seems strangely un-American, doesn't it?

Ahem...Drumroll Please . . . .

2008-04-28T09:54:00.021-04:00

We launched a contest seeking your best and most beautifully shot Doberman Pinscher photography. Our friends from Myspace, Facebook and all over the Web delivered in grand style. We received nearly 400 phenomenal photos. But in every contest, there has to be a winner and here they are:

1st Place - Photographer, Peter Pavlovich. Owner, Anthony DeGregorio: "The photo of Katie (registered name Cara's Katarina) snatching the dumb bell photo was taken at a trial in June of 2007 she was almost 8 years old. She is the best teammate anyone can have."

2nd place - Photographer, Rebecca Zaun: "This is my wonderful Dobe Travis. He loves to hunt and chase squirrels in the backyard."

3rd place -Photographer, Kim Kadel

Owner Rebecca Zaun said: "This is my boy Manorie Dobe's Golden Legacy WAC, aka Travis, doing what he loves to do...play with tennis balls."

And a few stellar photagraphers we also wanted to recognize (in no particular order):

By Andrea Heibeck

By Mary Hawkins

By Lora Van Epp

By Lora Van Epp

By Kristena Bravo

By Lydia Maduri

By Craig Bolen

By Laura Hulke

By Kerry Boyd

By John Addison

By Carla Mai Nissen

By Randy Shelton

BMW Ad Has Bite

2008-04-26T01:03:00.011-04:00

Just stumbled on a viral video promoting M3, the newest high-performance, high power (at least that's what the ad suggests) BMW coupe.

The commercial opens with a roar . . . the roar of the motor against the roar of a "viscious" [sarcasm intendend here!] black Doberman Pinscher wearing a pointy choke collar . . . grill to grill . . . mean versus meaner . . . ready to engage in battle.

What's tough enough to take on "Doberman the Terrible" and win? You guessed it! One shiny, sleek, luxurious, black BMW. Must be some powerful car, right? You betcha.

Artistically, it's a strong video -- beautifully shot and well done. It's effective. Effective at playing on fears and serving up power-laden wishes we didn't even realize we had.

The spot is shot from the coupe's perspective. We the viewers "become the machine," while the well-trained Doberman convincingly plays the role of villainous opponent. Good versus evil. David versus Goliath. Man-made machine versus "loathsome beast." It's only a commercial. But the dangerous Doberman myth it feeds can mean real-life, catastrophic consequences. Just ask the good people of Kenmare, North Dakota, who are battling for the right to keep their beloved dobermans (expect more from us on the Kenmare situation in the near future)

What Color is Your Dog's Parachute?

2008-04-24T17:26:00.009-04:00

These days sheep herding isn't just a pastoral pastime for shepherds and their canine partners. Thanks in large part to organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC), people all over the country are pursuing sports that help them expose their purebred dogs to work they are hardwired to do. Experts say providing an outlet for these natural instincts and enabling dogs to return to their "career roots" means fulfillment, stress relief and better behavior. And according to the AKC, competitive herding is a sport that people are, well, flocking to. The sport grew by 30 percent each year between 1997 and 2002 alone.

While AKC herding is only open to breeds specifically bred for the work (like Collies, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and the Old English Sheep Dog), a number of Doberman Pinscher owners are breaking away from the herd to showcase the breed's versatility.

We spoke to one such owner, Carla Mai Nissen, who is now exposing her 7-month old Doberman Pinscher, Irongate's Midnight Seduction, HIC (aka, Flirt) to the sport:

Most people don't think of Dobermans as natural herders. What made you consider the sport? I previously trained my old girl Jayman in herding, went out for a HIC (herding instinct) test with her and had a great time. I was hooked immediately. Jayman loved to work sheep, but was extremely hard on her feet -- literally blowing the pads off of them. So although she entered two trial weekends, we were unable to title and I retired her from the sport as she continued to lame herself in training. Her enthusiasm was her achilles heel! The experience did convince me that Dobermans do have herding capability, and it also showed me what great fun the sport is. Dobermans are recognised by the AHBA herding program and permitted to participate and title. Canadian Kennel Club herding is open to all breeds.

What challenges have you faced in introducing a doberman to herding?
Jayman's biggest problem was slowing her down. Flirt is much calmer in her approach and takes direction better. She seems to be a natural!

Do you have to adopt a very different approach in training a doberman for the sport? Dobermans and other "upright" style herding breeds such as Boxers move more quickly and are in motion most of the time, generally speaking, and do not tend to crouch and bide their time the way Border Collies do. The trick is finding instructors who understand the different style and know how to work with the team to achieve the desired end result.

What kind of reaction do you get from others (including people who work other breeds in herding)? The reaction is nearly always positive. While some of the herding "purists" would like to see a more traditional border collie style of herding maintained, for the most part the reaction is enthusiastic! With the adoption of All Breed Canadian Kennel Club herding there is a lot more awareness of the different styles of work. All of my friends and family go "Wow! You're kidding . . .. A sheep-herding doberman?!" I assure them I am not!

How is Flirt's performance as a herding dog?
Flirt has only been on stock once, but she took to it immediately. Her evaluator was a CKC and AHBA judge and Flirt really impressed her. Flirt took direction well and displayed immediate instinct and desire to work the sheep.

Any future aspirations for her in the sport?
Flirt and I will be entering structured training classes shortly with the intention of titling in the sport.

Does she compete in other sports?
Flirt is only seven months old right now, but she is currently training in obedience, agility, and tracking. She is going to be a multi tasker. She is also being shown in conformation in the US and Canada.

Shoe Fetish

2008-04-21T21:01:00.007-04:00

We know Black Eyed Peas star Fergie loves her Mary Janes, but she's leaving the trendy Candies shoe brand for a much more glamorous relationship. Too bad for Dobe fans who enjoyed the "Glamorous" Candies campaign featuring a black, bejeweled doberman representing all that is luxurious and elegant in life. The pop princess signed a lucrative spokesmodel deal with Calvin Klein earlier this year. And while her relationship with Candies may be over, thanks to Youtube, you can still indulge your shoe fetish (and get a doberman fix) here.

A Political Animal

2008-04-15T21:27:00.007-04:00

Lately discussions about sex and politics have somehow linked the Doberman Pinscher with a certain breed of woman characterized (or should I say caricatured) by her blood-lust for control, prickly demeanor, aggressive approach and foul attitude.

I give you Exhibit A : Today's Huffington Post blog features a cartoon in which an angry Doberman bitch named Hilla barks orders at Bill.

And as for Exhibit B, do you remember that infamously inflammatory comment made by McCain supporter, pastor John Hagee? He said: "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman Pinscher? The answer is lipstick."

If Doberman equals nasty, aggressive woman (aka, "bitch"), lets dig a little deeper into what the b-word really means:
1: the female of the dog or some other carnivorous mammals
2 a: a lewd or immoral woman b: a malicious, spiteful, or overbearing woman —sometimes used as a generalized term of abuse
3: something that is extremely difficult, objectionable, or unpleasant

And with these kinds of insiduous cultural cues, we wonder why the general public fears, avoids and mistrusts Dobermans?

Breed Profiling Leads to Police Brutality?

2008-04-15T11:24:00.010-04:00

News stations in New Orleans reported a tragic "mistake" yesterday. Local police responded to an accidentally tripped burglar alarm and were greeted at the door of the home in question by a 4 year old black Doberman Pinscher. They reacted with gunfire. 8 bullet shell casings were found at the scene. The doberman, who was recovering from spinal cord surgery and could barely walk, did not survive the shooting. The owner was obviously grief-stricken at the senseless loss of his beloved pet.

I have three reactions to this story:

1) The Dog's Actions Were Appropriate: I am impressed by the character and fortitude exhibited by this physically ill Doberman, who overcame his own pain to attempt to defend his home and prevent a threat to his family. He died in the line of duty.

2) The Cops' Actions Were Not: It's easy to understand how a dog charging at you could inspire fear. Sometimes fear causes us to act impulsively. However, cops are in the danger business. They are trained to keep their wits about them when dealing with situations involving extreme stress. They also are governed by codes of conduct that arm them with specific guidelines on how much force to use in dealing with an unruly perpetrator or potential threat. There are many options officers are encouraged to consider before escalating to gun fire. The rules of force don't necessarily apply to animals, but 8 rounds of gun fire?! That was about something much more complex than fear and certainly doesn't qualify as impulse.

3) There Were Contributing Factors: Police brutality is generally defined as the use of excessive force by officers. It is often associated with profiling where race, religion, or socioeconomic status play a contributing role in the punishment meted out by cops. It's obvious that neither race, religion or politics were at work here. And yet, I wonder if the officers' reaction would have been different if a dog of another breed had met them at the door to the home. What if it had been a golden retriever, a weimaraner, or collie that had come to check out the situation. Afterall, they are "not dangerous." There is no mythology surrounding them that tells us: "Be careful. They even turn on their masters." They aren't perceived as mindless attack machines trained to kill. Unfortunately Doberman Pinschers carry heavy cultural baggage. Yesterday, that "baggage" meant the senseless death of a faithful friend.

To learn more about the Doberman Pinscher breed and its century of work to support American communities, please visit dpca.org/faithful

Dogs of War

2008-04-07T10:56:00.006-04:00

A story we received inspired us to start something new. Moving forward, we will highlight a new Doberman Pinscher hero on the blog each month. Our first story is pasted below in the words of a woman who served her country during Vietnam with the support of a very heroic doberman. While the doberman in question has long since passed on, the story is relevant today for a number of reasons. In particular, it brings to mind the men and woman serving our country right now whose time of service is a little easier to bear, and for some, perhaps a little more secure because of a special animal in their lives. We hope you enjoy this short story:

"I was stationed in the Phillipines from 1985 through 1988. I was Nurse Corp-Anesthesia at Clark Air Force Base in the Phillipines. I had previously been stationed in Germany, where I first saw Dobermans. I lived off base in the Phillipines in a housing complex of 8 homes with guards on both ends of the complex. The complex was surrounded by a block wall to 5 feet and wire to 12 feet. I had a large walled yard. We were not allowed to own weapons so you could have a dog or a nigredo (jungle person who lived in your back yard at night and shot curare darts into intruders). I opted for a dog . . . "

The rest of the story is available here:
http://dpca.org/faithful/lovestory/interact_letters29.htm

Rare Historical Video Footage

2008-04-04T22:35:00.013-04:00

If Herr Louis Dobermann is to be considered the forefather of the breed, then certainly Peggy Adamson was it's leading lady. At a time and place when women weren't prominent in the dog world, Peggy Adamson took the conformation dog show ring by storm as a handler in post WWII America. She was accompanied by her first Doberman, Dictator von Glenhugel, who became the start of her now legendary breeding program. Dictator, or Tater as he was affectionately called by his friends, would rise to the heights of the conformation world to become the most famous dog of the 1940s and not only for his exploits in the ring. He was one of the first great ambassadors for the breed. His wins, public appearances, and work for Dogs for Defense were chronicled by newspapers around the country. During a period in history when the breed was best known for inspiring fear, Tater presented the first public image we have of a Doberman with the character to work and the temperament to welcome all potential friends. Perhaps inspired by the temperament exhibited by Dictator, Peggy later became one of the first conformation judges to dismiss a Doberman from the ring for displaying inappropriate aggression. It was a decisive move that shaped the breed's future in America. Dobermans evolved from "untouchable" guard dogs to animals that could respond to threats, but also thrive in society as faithful friends working side-by-side with their human partners. We are proud to be able to share a rare glimpse of Peggy Adamson and Dictator as they were in their private life together. An excerpt from home video footage of the duo is available here:

The film will later be posted in its entirety to http://www.dpca.org/faithful in honor of the breed's 100 year history in America.

Doberman Commits Tax Fraud??

2008-03-21T15:41:00.005-04:00

The IRS had to re-issue an Ohio man's tax refund check this month. Why? The $4,100 check was stolen and not by just any thief. The culprit was the family's 4-legged friend, a Doberman Pinscher puppy with an apparently voracious appetite for crime. Check out the video on Fox8, Cleveland's news channel: http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6090796&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Who knew Dobermans had such expensive taste??

After They're Gone . . .

2008-03-13T21:05:00.008-04:00

I don't want to picture a world without dobermans. I'd miss that characteristic "doberman lean" into my hand to savor my attention. The favorite toy or blanket they mouth on and carry around with them everywhere they possibly can. Big babies! What about seeing two dobies at play galloping against the horizon in a wide open field? As hard as they play, I'd miss the way they want to work, need to work and must do so with you. Velcro dogs they call them. It's true. And the way you can count on them to watch for signs of danger and faithfully stand in harm's way ... They serve us so willingly, with such heart and intelligence! How I would miss them . . . if they were gone.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I thought I'd share this one with you tonight. Check out "After They're Gone" on the DobermanHeroes Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prITul0cYqw

Photo Copyright Megan Lodder. Used by the DPCA with permission.

The Black Dog Myth

2008-03-11T12:51:00.004-04:00

MSNBC.com did a piece last week that struck me as interesting. "Black Pups Face Doggie Discrimination:" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23472518. Apparently rescue groups traditionally have a tough time finding homes for "big black dogs." And because it takes so long to find these dogs homes, they are apparently among the most likely to be euthanized! Why? Do Americans harbor some sort of deeply rooted fear or dislike of dogs that happen to be black? Is that prejudice simply because of their color? Well . . . maybe. And is there a doberman connection? Of course.

A source quoted in the article says people may harbor superstitious beliefs about black dogs without even knowing it. The writer points to a couple of different examples from popular culture that may be feeding the myth machine -- namely popular stories in British lit where the black dog appears as a harbinger of death (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of Baskervilles; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).

But how could those two stories (albeit popular ones) be so powerful and pervasive that even rescue groups in America feel the bite? I took the liberty of researching it further and found too much content to capture here, but below are a few examples:

1) Myth of Black Shuck: Black Shuck is the name given to a ghostly apparition described as a "large black hellhound with flaming eyes." Legend says Shuck wanders the Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk countryside. His name may have an etymological link to the Anglo-Saxon word "scucca," translated as "demon." He is also referred to as a "doom dog." Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck and here: http://norfolkcoast.co.uk/myths/ml_blackshuck.htm

2) The black dog myth also appears in Latin American folklore. According to the myth, a black dog with burning red eyes appears at night to travellers seeking to kill them before they can complete their journey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadejo

3) Another linked myth is the Wild Hunt. In the legend a ghostly horseman with a team of barking dogs (sometimes they are black) ride the skies and round up the dead: http://www.arkanefx.com/unpred/portender/wildhunt.html

4) The evil vampire, Dracula transforms into a black dog to make his escape in the famous Bram Stoker story

5) A similar hellhound appears in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

6) The black dog death omen myth also surfaces here in America. Find out more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dog_%28ghost%29

7) You can also observe evidence of the myth in American film: Patrick Swazye's movie "Black Dog" and "The Omen"

8) Countless video games feature the black hellhound. A few examples are: Dungeons and Dragons, Devil May Cry 3, Pokemon

If the black dog myth is deeply rooted, it's not hard to see why. So what's the connection to our doberman friends? The breed comes in fourAmerican Kennel Club approved colors: http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/. Regardless, most people think of the black doberman when they picture the breed. Perhaps something as simple (or complicated) as color prejudice adds a few layers onto the Doberman Pinscher's breed baggage?

A Blog About Dobermans?!

2008-03-10T10:43:00.003-04:00

Welcome to my first blog post! In the coming weeks and months, I'd like to share great stories, photos, videos, news and observations about a subject near and dear to my heart -- doberman pinschers. Yes, dobermans. Why?

The breed has been in America for 100 years. In fact this marks its Centennial anniversary. But, in the year of it's "birth" in this country, the breed faces a number of serious challenges. Discriminatory legislation is spreading like wildfire. Many doberman owners have trouble securing home owner's insurance. Some day (perhaps not too far in the distant future) we may not even have the opportunity to own the breed, but that's a story for another time.

The stereotypes, generalizations and "dangerous dog" myths about dobermans that seem so pervasive in popular culture are very far removed from my reality. I'd like to share a little of that reality here . . . my own personal experiences, stories from friends . . . I'd like to help separate the myth from the reality if I can. Perhaps we'll meet somewhere in the middle?

In the meantime, check out the Doberman Pinscher Club of America's Website created to help commemorate the breed's anniversary: dpca.org/faithful. You can also find us on our very on youtube channel: youtube.com/dobermanheroes. There's a lot of content already and more is on the way. Enjoy!

Happy 100!