IDC Congress 2004, exposure by Dr. Pierluigi Pezzano
Translation from Italian by Renata di Fazio

In summary only working dogs will be able to win big titles

Mr. President of the congress, Members of the Presidium of our International Club, Congressmen, and you Mr. Wiblishauser: first of all let me welcome you in Desio today and let me thank you for your attendance here and for your many foreign show entries.

I wish you a pleasant permanence at the world cup Dobermann IDC 2004, and I wish you to keep many good memories of this great event that we are honoured to host for this year.
Please feel free to interrupt at any time if my speech is not clearly expressed, if you have problems with the simultaneous translation, or if you have questions of any kind.
Today, in quality of the AIAD president, on behalf of the AIAD National Board and in representation of all our peripheral delegations and all the Italian breeders, I'm here to submit an official request to this Committee to modify the rules and regulation about awarding the IDC titles. Starting from next year we would like to assign the IDC titles only to those dogs that have accomplished the Ztp and have also a minimum of working grade.
Among the reasons that induce someone to choose a pure breed dog there is one very important, that we all should keep in mind, and it is the foreseeable of certain morphological and characterial attitudes typical of the breed. This concept should always be a cornerstone in the pure breed dogs' selection.
The dogs' domestication started about 14000 years ago. During this time men decreed certain breeds favouring the reproduction of certain subjects that mostly express and respond to those working necessities like hunting, herding, watching...

For this reason we can consider a direct selective system done on the temperament and behavioural attitudes but there was also an indirect system of selection for the morphological characteristics (for example the coat colour or the ears shape). The population division in relation to their working attitudes was the first constitution of the "primordial breeds". This first division constituted the genetic pool on which is now based the modern selection of the pure breed dog. For this reason it is fair to say that the modern breeds descend from the primitive working dogs.
The working attitude together with the research of the ultimate harmonic dog, was the main selection goal for a long time.

When the morphological aspect became the main goal, the dogs working attitude seemed to become of less importance. During the breed standard layout and the advent of the first 'registry data' (stud book) (toward the end of 1800) most of the importance given to the working attitudes was lost.
Luckily, for the Dobermann breed that did not happen. The standard layout kept in high consideration the dog's working attitude and even in the third and last edition, the standard strongly refers to the natural (innate) endowments and the docile temperament of our dobermanns.
The high consideration of those characteristics has been, and is, a big help for the selection work done during the zoothecnical demonstrations as well as for breeding.
The Specialized Breed Clubs' main work is to select those dogs that are physically and psychically healthy and stable keeping in mind those specific breed 's characteristics described in the official standard, with reference to the whole breed population.

Any officially organized zoothecnical manifestation has the main purpose to pick out and exclude from the breeding those dogs that do not meet with the standard codes, and to point out those subjects that meet with the standard in all parts and that could be a positive improvement for the breed.
This can be possible with the consideration of a predetermined work that is: judging- breeding- selecting.
It is necessary to follow this exact order because the judgment can condition the breeding and these two together can operate toward the selection that is concreted by picking out the next generation reproducers.
The phenotype control has a key role for the selective goal's evaluation and it covers several different fields, like: health, behavioural and working attitudes and morphological aspects.
I always remind myself that the in cynothecnique the judgement is an expression of a critical evaluation done on every single subject in consideration not only of the breed standard but also of the past, of the present and of the future turn that is to wish to be taken within a single breed.
At this point the specialized breed clubs provide specific selection programs to protect and divulgate the pure breed dogs.

The European judging method always ends with the subjects' qualification and in the case of several competitors also with a classification among them. This classification is not and must not be an arbitrary interpretation but only an application of the breed standard. The judgement is the most important aspect of it. A wrong judgement can bring to wrong conclusions regarding the temperament, the conformation and the natural endowments of the single subject. The wrong conclusion can bring to wrong mating and can take us away from the breed standard. The breed standard describes the Dobermann as the ultimate dog: beautiful and useful. It means that the standard requires our Dobermanns to be at the best of their functionality as well as at the best of their beauty. The qualities that express the 'functional beauty' are the most important to determinate the Dobermann singularity. That is why it's better not to even consider for breeding a dog that is not an expression of the dobermann type. The Ztp is based on this very simple concept.

Thanks to the Ztp we can verify and control the temperament, the conformation and even the health of our dobermanns. (hereditary pathologies could jeopardize the breed, but we need to consider also the incidence and the frequency shown in relation to the entire population).

The criterion dictated by the Ztp rule and regulation is rigid and scientifically planned not only on the experience of the German Dobermann breeders but also in coherence with studies done by many important experts as prof. Seiferle and prof. Menzel (specialized and experienced researchers of the watch dogs behaviour)
Applying to the dobermann all the studies done we can derive that:

The basic general characteristics of the dobermann breed are:

Disposition/Temperament: goes from average to high

Braveness in a calm (peaceful) situation: very high

Braveness in a fight situation: very high

Docility: average to high

Hardness: average to high

Physical resistance: average to high

Psychic resistance: average to very high

Fearless of the shot gun

Hedigher's critical distance: very reduced


Guard and fight complex:

Defence impulse: very high.

Fight impulse: high or very high.

Aggressiveness: mild.


Other impulses:

tracking attitude med-high, very high .

Search impulse: med-high very high.

Retrieving impulse: med-high .

Watch instinct low or absent.

Motility attitude: high-very high.

Hunting qualities: low -absent.

Undesired characters: anxiety, fear, low temperament, poor connection with the owner.

These are the Dobermann's moral endowments so as expressed and defined by the science. This is the Dobermann nature where for nature is intended the whole of the characteristics, the inclination, the innate and acquired abilities (either bodily or psychic), that define manage and regulate the dog 's behaviour in relation to the external world. I'm sure all of you have already in mind the exact scheme of judgment for the Ztp. I have just exposed few scientific concepts to confirm such scheme.

All of us are aware that to guarantee a real improvement in our Dobermann population we should admit for reproduction only (strictly only) those dogs that have successfully passed the Ztp test.

Nobody here can deny that the winners of an important show like the IDC world cup are automatically recommended for reproduction. Someone can object this to be true for male dogs and that could be a point right there but I have never seen any kennel born from a male. On the other side I can easily affirm that there are not good kennels that did not come from a good bitch and this is not only because of the mitochondrial Dna's aspects.
Today we can proudly affirm that the European Dobermann made giant footsteps and all was possible thanks to our teachers who, in the past 30 years, showed us the turn and the breeding criterions to follow. I 'm referring to the Dobermann Verein &v. thanks to whom we were able to select a unique and very typical breed with an homogeneous population that meets with most of the standard codes.

For many other breeds (like Shepherds, hunting dogs…) we have witnessed a different reality, that led the breeds toward a " genetic disaster".
Such disaster, that I'm always afraid could concern us also in the next future and especially in those Countries where there are no breeding rules, is given by the co-existence of 2 different breeds, two negations belonging to the same standard but selected in two different ways: the sport- working dog and the conformation-show dog.
For many of these breeds this process became irreversible because even within the same specialized club there are different mentalities coexisting and consolidated . There are breeders that select morphologically corrected dogs but with a weak, insecure and timid temperament. These dogs are to be considered " problematic dogs" . On the other side there are breeders that select only focusing on the temperament, leaving behind the conformation characteristics, raising sport and competition 's proper dog, but that sometimes are excessively nervous and aggressive. These dogs are to be considered " problematic dogs" also because of their not easy (and not for everyone) manageability.
Our Dobermann are very successful in national and international working competitions, but they are also very typical dogs with good conformation, stable temperament and a good expression of the standard in the whole meaning.
Most of these dogs have accomplished the Ztp and a good part of them also the Koerung.
These are the dogs that were the cornerstones of our kennels; their genes and their offspring are the accomplishment in our present.

Just for a minute let me recall your memories to some dogs like Alva von Franchenhorst and her offspring : Chrystel van der Elannd and Baron Cesar von Resloo, to Bronco von Zenn to Ero von Franchenhorst, to Esta and Bingo von Ellendonk, to Icarus von der Kollau Bingo's nephew , to Helena von Eshenhof, to Ali Von Langhenhorst and his son Castor von der Mooreiche, to Hertog Conan Manesheide, to Orson van Roveline and allow me to say also to Gale del Citone.

All these dogs that I've mentioned in a very small portion only are to be considered an example to follow to ensure a genetic improvement for the Dobermann breed.
It is my believe that the IDC represents the main and the best place to operate strategic choices and to address the new breeding criterions to all the affiliated National Clubs and to all the breeders worldwide.
The IDC should also become the main reference for discussing and resolving breeding problems and those issues related to several laws and absurd prohibitions that lately we have been tormented with.
An other remarkable issue that I would like to expose to you is related to the world evolution. In the past years many breeders quitted producing and selling pups and we saw new kennels rise (especially in certain Countries). I guess this can depend also from the fact that there is no much personal relationship anymore between breeders and breed passionates.

It is hard to believe but the market is now days ruled mostly by Internet.
There are several web sites that are publicizing dogs in a unmentionable way and even with the good faith of the site's managers, there are very incorrect advertisements especially in relation to the hereditary pathologies.
We already know that in many Countries there are no official veterinarians that could perform clinical or radiological diagnostic conformed to the FCI regulations. There are not hip dyspalsia certification centres that are approved by the DV & v either. Well, apparently all the dogs that I've seen advertised on these web sites, are free from all the possible pathologies existed in the past years.

I believe that we cannot ignore this issue either and the IDC should dictate some rules, we should inform and publicize the name and the location of those authorized diagnostic centres and all the National Clubs affiliated should be taking care of the correct and specific information divulgation.
AIAD edits its own magazine " I Nostri Dobermann" published in Italian language as well as in English language wrote it out in 25000 copies, distributed to all the members, the subscribers, and available at the magazine stores also.
If the IDC Presidium thinks that our periodical magazine can be useful to divulgate information we are more than willing to print a copy, in English only if necessary, to distribute to all the IDC dobermann's friends worldwide.
Our tasks and our experiences are at your disposal with the hope that all our efforts can contribute to a better dobermann protection and divulgation.
I believe all of us can contribute and give more strength to our International organization by providing a better and more technical IDC championship with more official controls for those dogs that are aspirant for breeding champions
This position would also permit us to answer to all those social and Governor worries that are afflicting many Countries.

The public attention regarding the " dangerous breeds" and the several prohibitions for the ear and tail cropping, keep us with a constant doubt regarding the future of our breed. Nationwide and in several Countries many are the laws that have been proposed due to incorrect information or to political opinion regarding the animal health and the animal well -being.

This historical moment we are going through is a big danger for the breed. The Dobermann breed is under a spot light for several reasons. In Europe we are risking a biological genocide of the breed and it would not worth much if only a couple of Countries are exempted from it
We need to fight together because there is still a lot that can be done.
We cannot give up or give in to an uncertain future for our breed.
There was a considerable birth loss in those Countries that laws passed against the cropping or the "dangerous breeds". This is a significant symptom that should worry us all. Shortening the dobermann numbers available for the breeding will inevitably bring us toward a genetic drift. This phenomenon is strictly related to the drastic reduction of the breed genetic pool.

This is one more reason to believe we do need an official central international breed direction.
Some decisions taken from the DV & v and our President Hans Wiblishauser allow us to keep fighting and keep hoping, and I'm referring to the issue related to the change of the breed Standard in relation to the ears and tail cropped.(That alone is a lot!!)
The IDC together with the breed specialized club need to be coherent with their choices and address the turn for the breed future (short term as well as long term).
The Dobermann verein &v. are already doing their part of work with not easy sacrifices. We all should do the same. All the IDC affiliated countries should take their responsibility and show their coherence by following the same politic choices.

Our choices can positively influence our Government.
Please do not forget that some National Kennels (for example ENCI, DKC…) are already considering a strategic reinstatement of the pure breed dog co-operating with the specialty clubs.
In Italy about one year ago we had to face a new ordinance that saw the dobermann listed with other 92 breeds as a "dangerous breed". We had been forbidden to perform any kind of training to all the utility dogs. AIAD worked very hard to prove that, in the past 20 years, we have been selecting our Dobermann temperament as well as the conformation and we have the full control of our breed. We were granted back then of a moratorium regarding the training and today, one year later, the Government and the kennel ( ENCI) recognized our selection work to be positively effecting the breed and the ordinance was changed excluding the dobermann from the dangerous breeds list. It was not an easy battle.

I believe we can still do a lot more for the breed. I believe the new politic should be based on:

1) Utilizing for breeding only those dogs that meet with morphological, temperament and health 's codes. These single subjects will guarantee a real selection.

2) Protect and improve the breed aptitude and behavioural characteristics

3) Protect and divulgate the dobermann docility and affability

4) Protect and improve the breed constitutional type.

Those are the priority goals that I'd like all of us to consider in our breeding programs.
If we analyse the worldwide breeding situation we can realize that half of the breeders have good faith but they are not very well informed or instructed and the other half act like small businessmen. That is why there is an urgent need to centralize the choices and to establish strict rules. There is the need to inform and teach our breeders. Without addressing the choices, in a proper central way, every single breeder can diverge and go far from the genetic improvement that we all worked for.

We have often witnessed litters born from unchecked parents. These litters can jeopardize the future goal of the Dobermann entire population. A good breeding conduct is to consider the population best interest over the single subject one. Only by going this direction we can guarantee a future to our breed. This is the breeding goal. This is the reason of our controls and our shows. All of you here today know that the selection we are operating is not just morphological. It is easier to select one factor at the time (like height…). A total selection is to breed in consideration of the conformation as well as the temperament. For these reasons it is very important to understand which ones are the factors that need to be improved and work on every single one by planning selection goals and strict action rules.

This would be the right scheme to pick out the next generation reproducers.
From a genetic point of view the selection goal is to improve the average quality for the entire population and not just producing few subjects that are out of the average level. Many specialized clubs and many Kennels are already using the basic breeding criteria I have exposed. There are many breeders that for years have been producing only with this criterions and I believe we should all sacrifice a little to reach their level. Thank you very much for your attention. Please give the right consideration to my proposal. I 'm here to answer all your questions.

Long life to the Dobermanns! Long life to the people that love and protect them.

Pierluigi Pezzano