Some people claim that Doberman Pinscher looks like a canine from some story. The Warlock Doberman then probably sounds like a creature from some fairytale!
Doberman is a former war dog turned guard dog. They have been our loyal protectors since the late 1800s when Louis Dobermann bred the first Dobe.
Many dog owners argue that a Doberman Pinscher is the ultimate watchdog and no dog can do a better job of keeping us safe.
So, what’s the deal with Warlock Dobermans? Are they even real, or are they just another scam by irresponsible breeders? Is there even a need for an ‘improved’ version of our beloved Dobie, considering how perfect the original seems to be?
Here’s the truth!
What Is A Warlock Doberman?
While this seems like a straightforward question, the answer isn’t as simple as you might like.
Generally, a Warlock Doberman is a term used to describe oversized Dobermans. Some people might even call them ‘enhanced’ Dobermans, although I would disagree with this for reasons I’ll explain later.
These pups are tall, heavy, and strong, among the rarer types of Dobermans, which is also why they have a higher price range.
So, no, they are not some mythological warlock descendants or creatures from fables. They are simply Dobermans that are larger than usual.
Warlock Doberman Vs Doberman
| Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| American Doberman | 24 – 28 inches | 60 – 100 lbs |
| European Doberman | 25 – 28 inches | 71 – 100 lbs |
| Warlock Doberman | 27 – 32 inches | 100 – 180 lbs |
There are several ways in which a Warlock Doberman differs from a standard Doberman – both the American Dobe and its European counterpart.
The first and most noticeable one is that the Warlock Doberman is much taller.
A female Doberman will stand at a height of 24-26 inches at the shoulder, while males will be a bit taller, reaching around 28 inches.
A Warlock Doberman, on the other hand, can easily reach a height of 32 inches. Some can grow to be even larger!
Not only that, but the Warlock Dobe will also be heavier.
While finding a healthy Doberman heavier than 100 lbs is challenging, Warlocks typically weigh anywhere between 100 and 180 lbs. In other words, an adult Warlock male can have twice the weight of a female Dobe!
The Sad Story Of The First Warlock
Now that we’ve found out what differentiates Warlocks from standard Doberman, it’s time to familiarize ourselves with the history of the breed – and understand why it’s so controversial.
The most common theory is that Warlock Dobermans originate from Borong Warlock, the legend of the Dobe world memorized by Frank Grover in his book “American Doberman Pinscher Legends“.
When pup Borong was born in 1955, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Quickly, however, it became clear that Borong would grow to be much larger than his peers.
Borong’s owners, Henry G. and Theodosia Frampton, enrolled him in various conformation shows and breed rings, and he quickly became a champion like no other.
Some of Borong’s achievements include winning:
- 230 Best of Breed
- 66 Working Groups
- 30 Specialty Shows
- 6 all-breed Best in Show
Not only that, but he was the only Doberman in history to have won three victories in the DPCA National Specialty Show! It’s easy to see how he became a local phenomenon.
Borong was also successful as a sire. He did a lot of breeding and fathered many champions.
Almost none of the current Warlock Dobermans are true descendants of Borong. Still, this is where the Warlock’s name came from. Nowadays, the term is used for any Dobe that is a larger dog than usual.
Borong’s life had a sad end. He died shortly after Henry, his beloved human companion. While some might argue that he died of old age, others like to say that he died from a broken heart.
Which ever story is true, this is a sad ending for such a magnificent canine.
Rise of Warlock’s Popularity
Borong was a wonderful dog many Dobe fanciers looked up to. They wanted a dog just like that, so many breeders sold what they claimed to be Borong’s offspring.
This was also helped by the fact that the Doberman Pinschers became more popular in the 1970s, not long after Borong died.
After a number of years, the legend of Borong the Warlock was forgotten, but canine lovers still wanted to have Dobermans of a great size.
Not only that, but people love owning special dogs not everyone has. Unfortunately, this can result in many unethical breeding practices – which was also the case here.
Are Warlock Dobermans Purebred?
Borong the Warlock was a purebred Doberman Pinscher. Many people, hence, think that all other Warlock Dobies are also purebred. This isn’t the case.
Nowadays, most Warlocks are not purebred Dobermans. They are a product of backyard breeders looking to earn money and using Warlock’s name as a selling point.
These pups are usually hybrids. Most of the time, breeders will crossbreed Dobermans with large dogs such as Great Danes. Rottweilers are also sometimes used to help these pups gain stockiness and strength.
This also means these dogs are not accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and cannot participate in dog shows.
In theory, there is nothing wrong with mixed-breed dogs. Mutts deserve love, just like any purebred dog.
The problem lies with irresponsible breeders trying to pass a crossbreed as a purebred dog.
Also, Dobermans are territorial dogs that might have aggressive tendencies. This is why it’s important to purchase from reputable breeders who are carefully choosing their breeding stock.
Only Dobermans with good backgrounds and healthy genetic material should be bred to avoid spreading bad genes to the offspring.
Puppy mills and backyard breeders don’t really care about this. Instead, they only worry about profit, which is why they’ll breed and sell anything with an interesting name and popularity.
Health Problems
Another issue with Warlock Dobermans is the numerous health issues they might carry.
First off, all large dogs have a greater chance of developing bone and joint problems, including hip dysplasia. Doberman mixes with big breeds are even more prone to this, as their bodies might not be predisposed to all that additional weight.
Next, if the Doberman parent isn’t carefully chosen – which, in the case of Warlocks, is rarely the case – your puppy has greater chances of developing some of the serious blood problems that plague Doberman Pinschers, such as Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD).
Finally, as Dobermans, Great Danes, and Rotts are all prone to various tumors, chances are your Warlock might also suffer from them.
Should You Get A Warlock Doberman?
While Warlock Dobermans are not as popular as standard types of Dobies, they still fascinate people worldwide.
So, should you consider getting one, or should you pass on this great Dobe?
Personally, I would never advise anyone to get a Warlock Doberman. You might end up paying a higher price for medical expenses than what you’ve paid to get a dog who isn’t even a purebred Doberman.
There is no such thing as a purebred Warlock Doberman. These are just mixed-breed dogs that are a result of certain bad people wanting to earn money.
Also, you can never predict the personality of a Warlock. While it’s true that any dog might surprise us with some bad habits, this is extremely dangerous when dealing with a dog that weighs almost 200 pounds!
Dobermans and other potential dogs used in the Warlock mix are all territorial dogs that require lots of training and socialization.
You’ll need to dedicate a great deal of time to disciplining such a canine, and even then, you can never be entirely sure a Warlock will behave itself.
Finally, it is never a good idea to support irresponsible breeders who don’t care about the animals they help bring into this world.
I am certain you won’t spend a long time searching for a responsible breeder in your area who will help you get the best purebred Dobie possible.
The Bottom Line
While there are many unique facts about Warlock Dobermans, the sad truth is that these dogs are just a gimmick made by greedy people who decided to profit from trends and people’s naivety.
Warlock Dobermans are mixed breed dogs that have been irresponsibly bred to be large and strong so that people will think they have bought a unique dog that not many people in the world have.
Don’t be disappointed after learning that Warlocks are just a myth. This legend has an interesting history, and it’s always fun to learn something new.
And if you have a Warlock Doberman, don’t worry. Your dog is still special, as he is your beloved companion. It doesn’t matter if he’s purebred or not.
No matter the type of Doberman you have, make sure to train him properly to avoid behavioral issues. Also, don’t forget about regular veterinary checks. All of these can help your pup live a long and healthy life.
Vanja’s passion for writing started at an early age, which is why she pursued Journalism as her college degree. She can research any topic and find all the information before you bat an eye, which is a great thing for her job but a terrible one for her husband.
Even as a young child, she fell in love with everything fluffy – but dogs have a special place in her heart due to her childhood companion, a Corgie named Archie.
Motivated by her experiences and driven by a desire to give back to her four-legged companions, she spends her free time volunteering at a local dog shelter.