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Lera Brinkley

Doberman Legend

Dobermans are brave, committed to those they love, emotional, sensitive, yet strong and powerful. Power comes not only from size and muscle, but from the amount of inner drive a spirit possesses. They say humans select dogs based on their own characteristics. Knowing this, it is no wonder that the Doberman breed was the only one for Lera Brinkley.

Lera was more than a Doberman owner, breeder and competitor. She made it her personal responsibility to passionately protect and represent the breed in times of conflict and pressure from those that tried to harm, restrict or otherwise take away from our beloved breed. She believed in the total Doberman and was one of the few that practiced what she preached. I never saw Lera stop anyone from sharing their thoughts on conformation, temperament, health or working ability. She had experience, an opinion of her own, and always listened and shared her knowledge with others. She knew that together we could all preserve and maximize our breed, or divided we would fail. She worked diligently to set up dog clubs and run local shows and trials. She worked nationally on the association board, talked with the community about Dobermans, was concerned about insurance laws, airlines and passionate schutzhund trainers that did not appreciate the Doberman breed. Whatever arose that tried to tarnish or limit Dobermans, Lera was always there.

She formed Triple D Dobermans with her best friend Jill Harris. Together they worked Dobermans in schutzhund, showed them in conformation and loved them. All of their energy went into bettering the breed. They supported each other without conditions. Although this attribute is common in our beloved breed, it is rare in humanity. They partnered with friends such as Linda Guidry, Linda Mangum, Teri Holt, Georgia Derleth, Carla Griffith, Jeanne Ann Stasny and more. She worked with top trainers of schutzhund and beginners alike with no disrespect to either. To Lera, if your heart was concerned for Dobermans and you put your effort into the breed, that is what mattered.

Lera Brinkley taught me respect. She taught me to believe and stand up for my own opinion and that it was possible to do that without tearing at someone else's opinion. Her life was a tribute to all those that truly give their soul to something other than themselves.

May all of our community remember Lera for what she meant to Dobermans and to us. That by carrying her spirit forward we will all be a little more committed, a little more supportive of each other, and never walk away from standing up for our beliefs and our beloved breed.