HALO Doberman Pinschers

Does albinism affect behavior?

The albino trait produces many deleterious changes besides just pale fur. All albinos have changes in their eyes and optic nerves related to their albinism. At least some types of albinism are known to cause several types of behavioral changes, as well as decreased intelligence. For instance, albinos of some species may be excessively emotional, or slow to learn new tasks, or especially fearful, or have a multitude of other behavioral problems. Unfortunately, no controlled behavioral research has been performed specifically on albino Dobermans, as of the present time. So, despite many reports of severe fearful and/or aggressive behavior in albinistic Dobermans, we can't prove (yet) that these behavioral problems afflict the albino Doberman in particular. However, there is also no reason to suspect that behaviors associated with albinism in other species will be any different in the Doberman than in those other species. In particular, it appears that albino Dobermans often lack behavioral adaptability -- that is, they may behave normally in familiar surroundings and with familiar people and animals, but may adapt very poorly and become fearful around strange surroundings, strange animals, or strange people.

It also seems evident from performance competitions that albinism does affect normal behavior in the albinistic Doberman. It appears that albinistic Dobermans are unable to perform at the level of normal Dobermans. Only fouralbinistic Dobermans have obtained any AKC-sanctioned performance titles, and even these have been only the most basic titles -- three CD (Companion Dog) titles, and one NAJ (Novice Agility, Jumpers) title. No albinistic Dobermans have obtained ANY advanced performance title. There were 10,402 AKC obedience titles earned by Dobermans between 1980 and 1995. This includes CDs, but does not include agility, schutzhund, flyball, or any other non-AKC working titles. In that same time, 620,074 Dobermans were registered. From these numbers we can calculate that there are approximately 1.7 AKC-sanctioned obedience titles earned for every hundred Dobermans registered in the United States. In comparison, roughly 1200 albinistic Dobermans have been registered by the AKC since 1979 (roughly 5500 albino-factored dogs were registered during the same period). If albinistic Dobermans obtained performance titles at the same rate as normal Dobermans, there would be approximately TWENTY albinistic Dobermans with AKC obedience titles alone. This doesnât even consider the many additional agility, flyball, schutzhund, ring sport, tracking, herding, carting titles, SAR certifications, etc., that they should have. But there are only four AKC titles earned by ANY albino doberman, and these are only the CDs and NAJ. It appears pretty obvious from this overall lack of titles that albinistic dogs are either incapable of gaining the titles, or their owners aren't interested enough in their own dogs to work with them.