Doberman Pinscher vs German Shepherd
Compare the Doberman Pinscher to the German Shepherd. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both the Doberman Pinscher and German Shepherd are good choices for new or inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Doberman Pinscher and German Shepherd are child friendly.
- Grooming - The Doberman Pinscher is very easy to groom. The German Shepherd has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - The German Shepherd bark/howls frequently. The Doberman Pinscher has a low tendency to bark.
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| Breed Name | Doberman Pinscher | German Shepherd |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. |
| Height | 24-28 in. | 22-26 in. |
| Weight | 65-99 lb | 75-95 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Germany | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1890 AD | 1899 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | No | Yes |
| Large Yard | No | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 75°F | 40°F to 85°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | Medium-High | High |
| Top Running Speed | 30 mph | 30 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | Medium-High |
| Shedding | Low | High |
| Dander | Low | High |
| Drool Amount | Low | Medium |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Doberman Pinscher | German Shepherd |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | Yes | No |
| Family/Pack | No | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | High | Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | High |
| Fighting | Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | High | High |
| Herding | Below Average | High |
| Hunting | Below Average | High |
| Protection | High | High |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Watch | High | High |
| Breed Name | Doberman Pinscher | German Shepherd |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Blindness | No | Yes |
| Bloat | No | Yes |
| Cancer | No | Yes |
| Cardiomyopathy | Yes | No |
| Cataracts | No | Yes |
| Cherry Eye | No | Yes |
| Chronic Diarrhea | No | Yes |
| Cruciate Ligament Rupture | No | Yes |
| Cushing's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Degenerative Myelopathy | No | Yes |
| Demodectic Mange | No | Yes |
| Diabetes | No | Yes |
| Digestive Problems | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency | No | Yes |
| Heart Disease | No | Yes |
| Hemophilia A | No | Yes |
| Hemophilia B | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy | No | Yes |
| Lens Luxation | No | Yes |
| Lupus | No | Yes |
| Megaesophagus | No | Yes |
| Myasthenia Gravis | No | Yes |
| Nail Bed Disease | No | Yes |
| Osteochondrosis | No | Yes |
| Pannus | No | Yes |
| Panosteitis | No | Yes |
| Paralysis | No | Yes |
| Perianal Fistula | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Yes | Yes |
| Retinal Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Seborrhea | No | Yes |
| Vitiligo | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | Yes | Yes |
| Wobbler's Syndrome | Yes | Yes |
| Breed Name | Doberman Pinscher | German Shepherd |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Smooth Coat | Yes | No |
| Double Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Medium | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black & Rust | Yes | No |
| Blue & Rust | Yes | No |
| Isabella & Rust | Yes | No |
| Red & Rust | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| Bi-color | No | Yes |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Black & Tan | No | Yes |
| Black & Cream | No | Yes |
| Black & Red | No | Yes |
| Black & Silver | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Gray | No | Yes |
| Liver | No | Yes |
| Sable | No | Yes |