About Cara

Ray Carlisle

Ray Carlisle has owned and cared for dogs most of his life. He purchased his first Doberman in 1961 beginning
a lifelong "love affair" with the breed.

An avid student of the Doberman, Ray has developed
a well planned and successful breeding program under
the kennel name CARA; combining the best American and European bloodlines, striving for the TOTAL Doberman. CARA Dobermans can be found all over the world; competing in the conformation, obedience, and agility show rings, on the sport field, as search and rescue dogs, police canine dogs, and as loyal family companions. At the American Working Dog Federation (AWDF) 2000 Championships, the three-member Doberman team won for the first time. Two of the
three team members, Schutzhund I and Schutzhund II, were CARA littermates.

Since becoming an AKC licensed judge in 1981, Ray has had the honor of judging many National Specialties around the world including Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2006), United Doberman Club (UDC), Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Uruguay, Venezuela, England, South Africa, Jamaica, and Canada. He also has judged specialties in Australia and Germany as well as the DPCA Top 20 event in 1991 and 1998.

A founding member of the UDC, Ray served for two years as its first President and accepted the honor again for 2006 and 2007. He continues to serve as an officer, conformation, Breed Survey and temperament test judge, and Director of Judges (DOJ) Ray co-chaired the War Dog Committee, and is responsible for having the statue "Always Faithful" erected in Guam in honor of the courageous Doberman Pinschers that valiantly served during the war in the Pacific. He also has been an active member of the DPCA for many years, serving as its President for two years; First Vice President for two years, and Director for six years. Ray served on several DPCA committees including Judges Education, and was Chairman of the DPCA Schutzhund committee for several years. He presently serves on the DPCA ROM committee and is a ROM evaluator. Ray is licensed to judge Doberman Pinschers, German Pinschers, Great Danes, and Jr. Showmanship. Ray is a member of the Great Dane Club of America, and also past President and member of the Rockland County Kennel Club (all breed), member of the DVG and USA Schutzhund clubs, the Abteilund Kiel (Doberman Verein in Germany), and founding member and past President of the Doberman Pinscher Club of the Tappan Zee. He served as American Working Dog (AWDF) President for 2 years and Treasurer for 4 years. Ray is the current president and founder of the Tri-State Doberman Club.

Ray published Top Dobe and The World of the Working Dog magazines for 10 years in the mid-‘70’s. During that time he originated the "Top 20" event, later turning it over to the DPCA. The event has not only endured, it has become one of the most prestigious and well attended of Doberman events. It is hosted annually in conjunction with the DPCA National Specialty since 1973, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2008. A number of other national breed clubs in the U.S. and abroad now hold their own Top 20 events.

Ray shares his home in Warwick, New York with several Dobermans.