So What's the Big Difference between European verses American Type Doberman?
What is the difference between Imported lines and American lines in a breeding program?? A question often asked . . .Aren’t there enough dogs to choose from in the United States?? The answer is long and has a long explanation, but the short answer is YES. The AKC standard produces a very different 'type' of dog and has a slightly different standard description than that of the FCI standard description.
Any two dogs that have AKC registration papers can have a registered litter, we all know that. So therefore, some dogs bred are not bred with any standard in mind-just production, to get puppies to sell. . . (this presents a problem for everyone and for dog lovers of any breed).
With the FCI guidelines & registries, each dog is temperament tested and tested for it’s ability to work and each must pass a ‘breed survey’ (known as a ZTP which defines the FCI standard) where it is evaluated in several areas including conformational correctness, before they are allowed to have a registered litter. They are given a ‘breeding license’. Either the Sire or the Dam is required to have a working title.
Two different types of dogs are produced:
The European lines produced today give us a Doberman suited for it’s original purpose, closer to it’s original structure- larger in bone and mass, with a more stable temperament, with it's deep rich colorations, while maintaining a desire and working drive for the versatility it is intended to have. The Doberman Pinscher puppy is genetically designed to be a working dog as well as a magnificent show dog.
The AKC lines produce a very sleek, refined, beautiful and a more petite (not small, but much smaller bone structure) lovely show dog, also capable of the activities the breed is suited for, but for the most part the working drive has been bred out of it. It is a matter of preference as to which you are looking for and what you wish to do with your Doberman.
You will also find in many cases, European bred crossed with American bred. This can produce very nice combinations that have attributes to both styles. As for that, most European bred dogs here in the United States are also in the AKC registry. Each can compliment the other, when we have the same goal in mind.
Any two dogs that have AKC registration papers can have a registered litter, we all know that. So therefore, some dogs bred are not bred with any standard in mind-just production, to get puppies to sell. . . (this presents a problem for everyone and for dog lovers of any breed).
With the FCI guidelines & registries, each dog is temperament tested and tested for it’s ability to work and each must pass a ‘breed survey’ (known as a ZTP which defines the FCI standard) where it is evaluated in several areas including conformational correctness, before they are allowed to have a registered litter. They are given a ‘breeding license’. Either the Sire or the Dam is required to have a working title.
Two different types of dogs are produced:
The European lines produced today give us a Doberman suited for it’s original purpose, closer to it’s original structure- larger in bone and mass, with a more stable temperament, with it's deep rich colorations, while maintaining a desire and working drive for the versatility it is intended to have. The Doberman Pinscher puppy is genetically designed to be a working dog as well as a magnificent show dog.
The AKC lines produce a very sleek, refined, beautiful and a more petite (not small, but much smaller bone structure) lovely show dog, also capable of the activities the breed is suited for, but for the most part the working drive has been bred out of it. It is a matter of preference as to which you are looking for and what you wish to do with your Doberman.
You will also find in many cases, European bred crossed with American bred. This can produce very nice combinations that have attributes to both styles. As for that, most European bred dogs here in the United States are also in the AKC registry. Each can compliment the other, when we have the same goal in mind.