Wendy Schmitt is known across the globe for her legendary Landgraf Working Dobermans. Located in Sacramento, California, the Landgraf kennel produces dogs that excel in the sport of Schutzhund, have become drug detection dogs, winners in the obedience ring, and excellent family companion and protection dogs.
Our artists’ goal for Landgraf’s custom dog kennel logo design was to create a design that would be as impressive, noble, and keen as the Doberman breed itself. We devised a line art silhouette in an aristocratic V-shaped bust style of both a Doberman with cropped ears and a Doberman with natural ears, inspired by Wendy’s own highly successful dogs.
This depiction of the two distinct styles of dog within the breed was accompanied by the kennel name in a classic serif font, rendered in full capitalization with neat accent lines for added emphasis. This simple, elegant vector style design is perfect for use as a Doberman decal representing Landgraf’s renowned bloodlines, on business cards, as well as on jackets and crate covers.
Stunning Hand Drawn Dog Logo Featuring Silhouette of Doberman With Cropped Ears and Natural Ears
Wendy Schmitt, owner of Sacramento, California’s Landgraf Working Dobermans, is known as one of the world’s top breeders of Doberman Pinschers for Schutzhund and other working purposes. Schmitt’s working Dobermans have a reputation for having incredible drive and hard bites in the Schutzhund arena, while being good-minded enough to exhibit incredible obedience and social skills.
Dogs used in the breeding program at Landgraf are subjected to rigorous health testing to ensure the overall wellness, soundness, and longevity of every puppy that leaves the whelping pen. Wendy has a knack for pairing handlers with dogs that will match their handling skill level and lifestyle, and is therefore a highly respected breeder within the working dog world with many satisfied buyers.
Wendy’s reputation as a respected breeder is due largely in part to her commitment to matching prospective buyers with puppies or adult dogs that are best suited to the owner’s lifestyle, personality as a handler (are they bold or timid?), handling knowledge, and intended use for the dog. Landgraf’s brood dogs and sires are also subjected to a number of health tests and certifications for conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This helps ensure the durability, health, soundness, and longevity of the breed as crosses are made.
You will see both the Doberman with cropped ears and the Doberman with uncropped ears at Landgraf. As we will discuss later in this article, there is a purpose for both styles although most of us in the United States are unaccustomed to seeing the Doberman with ears down.
Visit Landgraf Working Dobermans on Facebook to view more photos of a Doberman with cropped ears as well as a Doberman with natural ears: https://www.facebook.com/people/Landgraf-Working-Dogs/100046239647433/
Doberman With Natural Ears and Doberman With Cropped Ears Both Show Breed History in Hand Drawn Custom Logo
Dobermans are dogs of German origin. Karl Friedriech Louis Dobermann began breeding these noble dogs in the late 1800’s. Dobermann was a tax collector who happened to be over the local dog pound, and with a variety of dog breeds at his disposal he set out to develop a breed of dog for personal protection purposes. His vision was of a dog with great stamina, intelligence, and strength.
Most believe that the Doberman Pinscher is a combination of the German Pinscher, the Rottweiler, the Weimaraner, and the Beauceron. There has also been evidence the Greyhound and Manchester Terrier were used in some of the crosses that produced the Doberman with natural ears. The American Kennel Club also cites influences by the shorthaired shepherd and the Black and Tan Terrier.
Another early breeder, Otto Goeller, became the founder of the National Doberman Pinscher Club and is credited with ultimately refining the breed. The first Doberman was registered through the American Kennel Club in 1909, and the breed began to gain popularity after being named the official war dog of the United States Marine Corps. A Doberman with cropped ears was preferable to a Doberman uncropped in wartime use in order to present a more imposing figure to foes on the battlefield.
Doberman Silhouette in Landgraf Working Doberman’s Custom Logo Depicts Doberman Ears Uncropped and a Doberman with cropped ears
The Doberman’s conformation and type is a result of the various breeds that were crossed in order to create these regal dogs. The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) publishes the breed standard for the Doberman with advice from the International Dobermann Club. The American Kennel Club holds a different standard for the breed, but it is consistent with the International Dobermann Club standard.
Males should be well muscled dogs with a distinctly intimidating appearance, a nod to their original purpose as guard dogs. Females are similar in appearance but should not be as heavy. Dobermans come in several colors-black, black and tan, black and rust, fawn, and several red variations. The classic Doberman outline is square in frame, with the length and width of the dog being equal.
A Doberman’s natural tail is long. As seen in a Doberman with cropped ears, the long tail is often docked shortly after birth so that it doesn’t hinder the dog’s performance.
The Doberman with cropped ears is what most of us are accustomed to seeing. A Doberman with uncropped ears often does not seem as intimidating as a Doberman with cropped ears. It has also been thought throughout history that Doberman ears uncropped do not allow the dog to pinpoint the location of sound as easily as a Doberman with cropped ears can when performing guard dog duties. The classic Doberman silhouette cuts an imposing figure, with cropped ears and neatly docked tail. You may recognize the Doberman with cropped ears as the most popular image on a Doberman decal.
The Doberman with Cropped Ears or Natural Ears – A European Versus American Debate
The Doberman European style has several distinct differences when compared to the American style Doberman. The Doberman European style dog displays more Shepherd influence when viewed beside the American style dog. European style Dobermans typically have a blockier head and more downhill topline, reminiscent of breeds like the German Shepherd.
The Doberman silhouette in the American style is more sleek, refined, and graceful while the European style Doberman has a heavier, more powerful appearance. The common ground between the two types is that the Doberman with cropped ears is preferable to most owners than the Doberman with uncropped ears.
Temperament is also often different between the Doberman European style dog and the American Doberman. European Dobermans have an incredible amount of “drive,” the intense will to complete the task at hand by any means required. This style of dog is often used in police work, military use, and protective capacities. The American style Doberman is generally more calm and gentle, a better choice as family companions than their European style counterparts.
Both the American and European styles of Doberman are extremely loyal and protective of their families. They are generally able to interpret human emotion fairly well. The Doberman European type dog has a much stronger prey and chase drive and does require a stronger, more confident handler than the American style dog in most cases.
Does the Intimidating Look of the Doberman With Cropped Ears Match the Breed’s Level of Aggressiveness?
The Doberman has long had a reputation for being one of the more aggressive (and sometimes dangerous) dog breeds. A Doberman with cropped ears certainly appears to be a fearsome creature at times. The truth is, every dog is an individual and a Doberman with natural ears may look friendlier than it really is. Likewise, the fierce look of a Doberman with cropped ears may give way to a gentle family dog.
Dobermans are considered one of the most intelligent breeds, an important quality when paired with the fact that the breed was originally bred to be a personal protection dog. The dogs were meant to protect their families at all costs, but only at the express command of their handler. The modern Doberman is generally easy to train, good natured, and obedient. One caveat-the Doberman breed does have a slight propensity for aggression toward unfamiliar humans and dogs, especially if they have not been properly trained and socialized.
Doberman With Cropped Ears Makes Imposing Figure at Schutzhund Competitions
The dogs at Landgraf Working Dobermans compete in a canine competition known as Schutzhund-German for “protection dog.” The purpose of this unique sport is rewarding fine working dogs, with participants being tested in tracking, protection, and obedience skills. Training dogs for participation in Schutzhund inherently prepares the dog for potential work in search and rescue, specific odor detection, police work, and more.
Schutzhund tests the dog’s strength, obedience, character, stamina, and drive. You will find that a Doberman with cropped ears as well as the Doberman with natural ears participate in this event. The required tests often determine whether individual dogs should be considered for use in a breeding program.
Every dog must pass a temperament test before being allowed to compete in Schutzhund trials. This prerequisite ensures that the dog is not overly fearful or aggressive and that it has basic obedience skills. From there, the Schutzhund trial begins with the tracking phase. A track is laid in a large field, with several items being deposited throughout.
After a set amount of time, the dog is instructed to follow the track while the handler follows on a 33 foot long leash. The dog should alert the handler when it has found an object by lying down with the object between its front paws. The dog is scored on how well it follows the track and the intensity with which it alerts the handler as it finds the items.
Next comes the obedience phase. Two dogs are present in the working area at a time, and each dog is asked to perform a set of tasks including heeling, staying, retrieving, and a “run out,” when the dog is sent out to run in a straight line away from the handler before lying down and waiting to be recalled. A variety of distractions are introduced throughout the test, including groups of people and gunshot.
Last comes the infamous protection phase. The judge is accompanied by a helper who wears a padded sleeve on one arm. This helper hides behind one of several “blinds” in the testing field, and the dog must search for the helper until he finds him and indicates this by barking. The dog prevents the helper from “escaping” until the handler recalls him. Each dog then goes through a series of exercises similar to police dog training where they will be confronted by the helper attacking the dog or handler, or trying to escape.
The dog should engage the helper with high drive to stop the attack or escape while being under the constant control of his handler, ending the attack as soon as he is recalled. Both the Doberman with cropped ears and the Doberman with uncropped ears can excel at this sport.
Striking Original Logo Design for Working Doberman Breeder Featuring Traditional Doberman With Cropped Ears
Our artists wanted to incorporate both a Doberman with cropped ears and a Doberman uncropped in Landgraf Working Doberman’s unique custom logo. We created a simple and elegant line art, bust style Doberman silhouette design that culminates in a V-shaped taper for an added aristocratic aesthetic. The vector style design contains both a Doberman with cropped ears and a Doberman with natural ears, taking inspiration from Wendy’s own dogs and earning a place in our “Living Logos” collection.
The Doberman company name was added simply as “Langraf” in a classic serif font, framed by bold art deco style accent lines. The kennel name is hand lettered and fully capitalized for added emphasis without overpowering the regal Doberman silhouette design. This gorgeous, highly professional custom logo will make a fabulous addition to Wendy’s business cards, as a Doberman decal for her vehicle, and embroidered on shirts, jackets, and crate covers.
Although we are known for our work in the equine industry, we would be honored to help you create a beautiful, hand drawn custom logo for your kennel or training business. Our artists take the time to listen to each of your ideas, and carefully discuss your breed’s type and standards to ensure an accurate portrayal of the dogs you specialize in within your original logo artwork. If you’re ready to get started on your one of a kind logo, visit www.EqGraphics.com to schedule a complimentary design consultation. You can also follow us on Instagram @EqGraphics for equestrian and canine inspiration and motivation, as well as design ideas!
