Overview
- A non-doberman is bred to a doberman to produce the first generation ("F1") outcross litter
- An F1 dog is bred to a doberman to produce the second generation ("F2") and first backcross litter
- Subsequent backcrosses are performed until the third backcross/F4 generation. This generation is now considered entirely doberman.
- This process is repeated several times using various outcrosses, eventually creating a group of dobermans who can continue to disseminate their genetically diversity back into a greater doberman gene pool and improve the breed's overall health.
- In addition to backcrossing, dogs may be further outcrossed. For example, an F2 may be outcrossed to a non-doberman, or F3's from different initial outcrosses may be bred together. Such decisions are always made with the goal of a return to doberman type and temperament while maintaining health and diversity as the foremost priority.
Selecting the next generation
As the goal is to introduce and retain as much diversity as possible, prospective breeding dogs will use UC Davis' Canine Genetic Diversity Test in comparison to the current Doberman population statistics. All breedings will be done with the expectation of improving an aspect of diversity in the next generation. Read more about this here.
In addition to diversity testing, all dogs used in the program will be health tested. The following is a non-exhaustive list of tests that may be used:
*No dog with any copies of the albino mutation will be used in this project.
The Doberman Preservation Project does not condone or support the breeding of the "white"/albino doberman.
In addition to diversity testing, all dogs used in the program will be health tested. The following is a non-exhaustive list of tests that may be used:
- orthopedic x-rays: hips, patellas, shoulders, elbows, dentition
- heart health: echocardiograms, Holter monitoring, NT-proBNP & Troponin blood tests
- organ function: liver, kidney, thyroid, eyes
- genetic diseases: deafness, narcolepsy, degenerative myelopathy, bleeding disorders, albinism*
*No dog with any copies of the albino mutation will be used in this project.
The Doberman Preservation Project does not condone or support the breeding of the "white"/albino doberman.
Return to Type
Breed type is what makes a dog identifiable as a member of its breed, and what sets it apart from all other breeds of dog. While breed type is primarily physical, typical breed temperament is also important: dobermans should be dobermans, not golden retrievers in a doberman suit.
As the Doberman Preservation Project is an attempt to preserve the doberman breed, it is of paramount importance that each outcrossed line have the ultimate goal of returning to type. The initial outcross will lose type but subsequent backcrosses will be chosen to ensure an efficient return. First priority in selecting for type will generally go to temperament as a weak temperament is hard to breed away from. Coat coloring is a lesser priority because generally selecting away from improper color/markings takes only a couple generations and has the least impact on type. For example: the following brown sable dog may not seem typey because of his off color, but a photo edit reveals the same dog in red & rust looking quite typical. |
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What's Next
Project Progress
Check the progress page for an informal archive of past and upcoming planned breedings done by or in collaboration with the Project. |
Participate
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Project Progress
Check the progress page for an informal archive of past and upcoming planned breedings done by or in collaboration with the Project.
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Participate
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