Red Girls Rock! Dobermans Colour Genetics.

Doberman colour is controlled primarily by two gene locations: black vs red and dilution. In this litter, the dam is genotype #7 (red) and the sire is genotype #3 (black carrying red). Because red is a recessive trait, a puppy must inherit the red gene from both parents to be red.

That pairing can produce a mix of red and black puppies. The red girls inherited a red gene from both parents, while their black littermates inherited only one red gene and therefore express black (while often still carrying red).

This isn’t random, rare, or engineered — it’s classic Doberman genetics, predictable when the parents’ genotypes are known and responsibly paired.

Red Dobermans: Same Dog, Different Jacket

Red Dobermans are not a separate type, and their colour does not determine temperament, intelligence, or working ability. Red and black Dobermans are genetically the same dog — the difference is pigment expression only. Well-bred red Dobermans are confident, athletic, loyal, and versatile, just like their black littermates.

Why Ethical Breeders Track Colour Genetics

Ethical breeders track colour genetics not to chase colour, but to make informed, predictable breeding decisions while prioritizing health, temperament, and correct breed type. Colour is simply one visible outcome of careful planning — never the goal itself.

“As an ethical Doberman breeder in Ontario, my focus is always health, temperament, and correct breed type—colour is just the icing on the cake.”