Narcolepsy can occur in Dobermans with many of the same symptoms that are seen in humans. Narcolepsy is a disabling neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. Symptoms in dogs with narcolepsy are excessive sleepiness regardless of the amount of rest the animal has had or the sudden blanking out of the awake dog. Hip dysplasia is also an inherited problem with Dobermans. It causes malformations and laxity in the hip joint itself, which in turn can cause pain, limping and instability of the hip.
Dysplasia is diagnosed by radiographs.
The first recorded albino was born in November 1976 and named Padula s Queen Shebah. She was the result of breeding two normally colored Dobermans, Rasputin VI and Dynamo Humm. When the breeders first attempted to register Shebah with the American Kennel Club, the registration was rejected because albino isn t an actual color. Eventually Shebah was registered with the AKC as white without the DPCA s approval. Once Shebah s registration became official in 1979, her owners began breeding her.