Dogbreeds911.com - Doberman vs German Shepherd
German Shepherd versus Doberman Pinscher

Doberman vs German Shepherd

Dog breed comparison between German Shepherd and Doberman Pinscher breeds. Differences and similarities between these working dog breeds.

Difference between Doberman and German Shepherd

Doberman vs German shepherd bite force

Doberman vs German shepherd size

Doberman vs German shepherd shedding

Doberman vs German shepherd speed

Doberman versus German shepherd lifespan

Doberman vs. German shepherd origin

Doberman vs German shepherd good with kids

Doberman Pinsher versus German shepherd other dogs

Doberman vs German shepherd intelligence

German shepherd vs Doberman trainability

Doberman Pinscher compared to German shepherd barking

Doberman vs German shepherd personal protection

Doberman vs German shepherd exercise needs

Doberman vs German shepherd health issues

Doberman vs German shepherd behavior problems

Doberman compared to German shepherd popularity

German shepherd vs. Doberman Pinscher loyalty to the owner

German Shepherd vs Doberman
German Shepherd pros and cons

Comparison between Doberman and German Shepherd
Doberman vs German Shepherd
Doberman pros and cons

German Shepherd vs Doberman

When comparing a Doberman Pinscher and German Shepherd breeds, it is important to note that these dogs are among the top working breeds. Similarities between German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers include the fact that these breeds respond well to training and can be trained to a high standard. Versatile Dobermans and multitalented German Shepherds make excellent personal protection dogs and guard dogs. German Shepherd and Doberman breeds are highly intelligent and popular dog breeds that are easily recognizable. Both of these working breeds are employed by the police and have proven themselves to be reliable and strong working dogs. There are significant differences between German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers that need to be taken into consideration that include temperament, size, shedding amount and trainability.

Potential owners of German Shepherd or Doberman breeds need to have plenty of time, energy and dedication to spend on the dog. These are very active breeds that need a lot of exercise during the day and a job to do. Dobes and German Shepherds need at least an hour of walking and some mental stimulation every single day to stay physically and mentally sound. A bored and lonely German Shepherd or Doberman can start developing behavior and psychological issues. These breeds need to be active and busy. An ideal home for these large working breeds should include a large fenced yard, where the dog can explore and stay active.

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As family pets German Shepherds and Doberman Pinshers need experienced owners who understand these breeds and can provide mental and physical stimulation, obedience training and leadership to a strong and intelligent dog. In the right hands these dogs can be the stars in obedience. Positive training techniques work best with these breeds and bringing out the best qualities in a pet takes dedication and a lot of work on the part of the owner.

Compare German Shepherd and Doberman Pinscher

Doberman vs German Shepherd: PSI (pound force per square inch)

Doberman has a Bite Force of 200 to 400 PSI
In comparison, the German Shepherd has a Bite Force of 238 PSI
Doberman and German Shepherd are in the top ten dog breeds with the strongest bite force.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Size

Dobermans are a couple of inches taller than German Shepherds on average. Compare German Shepherd to Doberman size:

German Shepherd male weight: 30 to 40 kg (66 to 88 lb)
Doberman male weight: 34 to 41 kg (74 to 90 lb)

Doberman male height: 61 to 70 cm (24 to 27 in)
German Shepherd male height: 60 to 65 cm (24 to 26 in)

Dobermans are slightly heavier than German Shepherds.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Shedding

Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds both shed. Dobermans shed a couple of times per year, which is known as seasonal shedding. When compared to Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds shed constantly and the longer coat means more amount of shedding happens every day. German shepherds have a longer coat and require more coat maintenance to manage the abundant shedding and keep the dog's coat in best condition. Dobermans have a short coat that is much easier to manage in comparison to German Shepherd's coat.

Managing a German Shepherd's shedding is much easier with the right tools. Furminator Deshedding tool for large breeds may be very useful for removing the dead hair from the dog's coat. Brushing a German Shepherd daily with a Furminator tool can help to significantly reduce the amount of dog's hair around the home. Brushing the dog outdoors makes the clean up much easier as there will be a lot of dog's hair around when using a Furminator on German Shepherd.

Potential owners need to have a good strategy for managing all the shedding and having the right tools for the job is a must with German Shepherd breed.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Running Speed

German Shepherd top speed is about 30 miles per hour (48 km/h).
Doberman top running speed is about 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). Dobermans are faster than German Shepherds and can accelerate faster than German Shepherds.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Lifespan

Larger breeds such as Doberman Pinshers or German Shepherds have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dog breeds. When comparing life span of Doberman Pinscher to GSD, Dobermans live a few years longer on average. A dog's life expectancy depends on many factors that include lifestyle, diet, overall health of the dog and so on.

Doberman life expectancy is about 10 to 12 years.
German Shepherd life span is shorter and is about 9 to 12 years.

Doberman Pinscher vs German Shepherd: country of origin

Doberman breed was developed in Germany as a personal protection dog.
German Shepherd breed was developed in Germany as a sheepherding dog.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Good with kids

German Shepherds are calmer than Dobermans and make good family dogs for seasoned owners who have a job for this working breed. Dobermans tend to be more dominant and may be more difficult to manage than German Shepherds for novice dog owners. In a family setting Dobermans can be good companion dogs for kids when raised with the children from puppyhood.

Both breeds have the potential to be kid friendly dogs but a lot of work needs to be put into training. As with any large dog breed, small children need to be supervised around the dog. Athletic and tireless Dobermans and German Shepherds need plenty of physical exercise during the day as well as mental stimulation to flourish. Potential owners need to have plenty of time to devote to bringing out the best of GSDs or German Shepherds. Working dogs need a home environment which provides these breeds with ample opportunity for activity and tasks to perform during the day. German Shepherds and Doberman Pinshers are more suitable for a country life, where the dog gets a nice fenced yard to enjoy. GSDs or Dobes living in a city environment must have an access to a park or a fenced yard, where the dog can spend energy daily. Both breeds require from one to two hours of exercise every day. These dogs aren't suitable for low energy owners who don't have the time or desire to walk for miles with a pet companion.

Doberman and German Shepherd comparison: Good with other dogs

German Shepherd and Doberman are both good with other dogs with supervision. Level of socialization depends of each individual dog (how much time the owner spent getting the puppy comfortable around other dogs) plays an important role in determining how good the dog is around other dogs.

Doberman Pinscher vs German Shepherd: Intelligence

Dobermans and German Shepherds are working dog breeds that score high on intelligence. Not all German Shepherds are equal in terms of intelligence, just like not all Dobermans are equal in intelligence when compared to other dogs of the same breed. Due to these variations within each breed, intelligence level needs to be tested on individual dogs to make a reasonable estimation.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Trainability

Large breeds such as German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers should begin obedience training early in life. Puppies are more flexible and respond well to gentle positive training. Dobermans are highly trainable dogs and can achieve excellent training results. German Shepherds are intelligent and respond well to obedience training. German Shepherd and Doberman Pinscher are eager to please their owners, which makes these breeds well suited for obedience training. Dobes and German Shepherds can be trained to a high standard.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Barking

About the same barking level for both of these breeds. Doberman Pinscher and German Shepherd bark when necessary. Dogs left alone for long periods or that lack mental stimulation may become destructive or start to bark excessively. Working dogs such as Dobermans or GSD need a home environment that will allow ample opportunity for exercise, activity, and tasks to perform. Both of these breeds are ideal for country dwellers. Dobermans and German Shepherds that live in the city should really have a reasonably sized yard or a convenient access to a park for long walks. These breeds are not recommended as apartment dogs.

Doberman vs German Shepherd: Personal protection

Dobermans and German Shepherds both are naturally protective dogs and are capable of accomplishing great results in Personal Protection Training. Doberman breed's original purpose was to be a personal guard dog. German Shepherds perfected their guarding dog skills for centuries during herding. Personal protection training can channel the dog's protective instinct to be properly applied in case of an attack on the owner.

German Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher: Exercise needs

Both breeds are highly active and require daily mental and physical exercises to stay in best shape. About the same level of physical activity is needed for both of these breeds. One to two hours of walking daily is a must for these active breeds. Owners must have sufficient time and energy level to devote to either a GSD or to Doberman Pinscher. If you can not spend quality time daily with your dog, do not consider a German Shepherd or a Doberman Pinscher. It is unfair to subject either of these active working breeds to a life of boredom or solitude if you are out at work all day.

A big, active dog such as the German Shepherd or Doberman needs space and is unsuited to apartment life or a home without a secure yard.

Dobermans vs German Shepherds: Health issues

Both breeds have a set of genetic diseases associated with each breed. German Shepherds are prone to joint issues while Dobermans are susceptible to Wobbler's syndrome, cervical vertebral instability (CVI), and cardiomyopathy.

Doberman vs GSD: Dog behavior issues

German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers are active, strong working dogs that need a job to do. Each of these breeds is programmed to be a busy and active dog, serving a purpose. With nothing to do the whole day, either a Doberman or German Shepherd will try to find a way to keep busy. When bored, either of these breeds will get destructive. Destructive behavior is a way for the dog to keep himself busy and the animal is not trying to do something that makes the owner unhappy - the dog is simply looking for a way to keep himself busy. Some of these self-assigned jobs may not be appreciated by the owner, and the owner will use the term "destructive behavior" when in reality the dog is not intentionally being destructive.

The dog is simply trying to find a way to keep himself busy doing something when the owner doesn't present the dog with a constructive way of spending his day.

Doberman versus German Shepherd: Popularity

German Shepherd takes the second place among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Doberman is not as popular and takes 15th place among the most popular dog breeds in the United States.

Doberman compared to German Shepherd: Loyalty to the owner

Both of these breeds are very loyal to their owners. Both of these guard dog breeds are protective of their owners and there are numerous documented cases when a Doberman or a German Shepherd gave their lives to protect or save their owners. With proper socialization from a young age either the German Shepherd or Doberman will be able to distinguish a dangerous situation from a safe one.
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