Why the Doberman Pinscher is Better than the Australian Kelpie as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

• Doberman Pinscher Versus Australian Kelpie: Introduction
• Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie: Overview
• Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie: Comparison Table
• The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie
• The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie
• Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie
• Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie
• Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie
• Temperament of the Australian Kelpie Versus the Doberman Pinscher
• Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Australian Kelpie
• Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Australian Kelpie
• Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie
• Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Australian Kelpies?
• Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie?
• Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie?
• Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Australian Kelpies?
• Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Australian Kelpie?
• Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie
• How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Australian Kelpies?
• Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Australian Kelpie?
• Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Australian Kelpies?
• Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather?
• Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Australian Kelpie
• Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather?
• Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds
• Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie. Which One is a Better Pet?

Doberman Pinscher Versus Australian Kelpie: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Doberman Pinscher and for the Australian Kelpie. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie.

Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Doberman Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Australian Kelpie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Australian Kelpie based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Doberman Pinscher in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Australian Kelpie. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

The Better-Pet score for the Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Australian Kelpie is 72 out of 125.

Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Doberman Pinscher is a better pet than the Australian Kelpie. So, you should get a Doberman Pinscher!

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie

Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie are most different:

The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie

The Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie are most similar:

Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie

Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie.

The Doberman Pinscher weighs 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Doberman Pinscher is 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

On the other hand, the Australian Kelpie weighs 25 to 46 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Kelpie is 15 to 20 inches when fully grown.

Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie

Doberman Pinscher Colors

The Doberman Pinscher comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

• Black
• Bicolor
• Red / Chestnut / Orange
• Brown / Chocolate
• Merle (Blue)
• Gray / Blue / Silver
• Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
• Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

The Doberman Pinscher comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

• Brown / Chocolate
• Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
• Black
• Red / Chestnut / Orange

Australian Kelpie Colors

The Australian Kelpie comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

• Brown / Chocolate
• Black
• Red / Chestnut / Orange
• Bicolor
• Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

The Australian Kelpie comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

• Bicolor
• Brown / Chocolate
• Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
• White / Cream
• Gray / Blue / Silver
• Black

Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie

The lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is 11.5 years.

The lifespan of the Australian Kelpie is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Kelpie is 12.5 years.

The Australian Kelpie live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

Temperament of the Australian Kelpie Versus the Doberman Pinscher

The Australian Kelpie has a better temperament than the Doberman Pinscher.

This is because the temperament score for the Australian Kelpie is 83.3 percent while the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

With its temperament score of 79.5 percent, the Doberman Pinscher has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

With its temperament score of 83.3 percent, the Australian Kelpie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 6 Australian Kelpies.

Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Australian Kelpie

The average price of the Doberman Pinscher puppy is $1910. The price of the Doberman Pinscher typically ranges from $1100 – $2500. However, the price of a Doberman Pinscher can be as low as $300 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 476 Doberman Pinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

The average price of the Australian Kelpie puppy is $590. The price of the Australian Kelpie typically ranges from $500 – $600. However, the price of the Australian Kelpie can be as low as $100 and as high as $1000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 20 Australian Kelpie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

The Doberman Pinscher is more expensive than the Australian Kelpie.

The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and Australian Kelpie. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many Australian Kelpie puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

A breakdown of the prices of Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

A breakdown of the prices of Australian Kelpies

Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Doberman Pinscher puppy or the Australian Kelpie puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Australian Kelpie

You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Doberman Pinschers and many Australian Kelpies are currently available for adoption.

These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

Below is an adorable Male Doberman Pinscher named Ricky that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Doberman Pinschers like Ricky on pefinder.com.

Also, like Doberman Pinschers, Australian Kelpies are also available for adoption. For example, Boss is a Male Australian Kelpie that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Australian Kelpies like Boss that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

Oliver is the name of another Doberman Pinscher (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

You can find more Doberman Pinschers and Australian Kelpies that are available for adoption on petfinder.

Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie

Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

Australian Kelpies do not like to be left alone.

Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Australian Kelpies?

Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

Australian Kelpies shed moderately.

Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

Australian Kelpies are very easy to groom.

Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

Australian Kelpies get along fairly well with other dogs.

Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Australian Kelpies?

Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

Australian Kelpies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.

Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie

Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

Australian Kelpies do have a very low tendency to drool.

How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Australian Kelpies?

Doberman Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

Australian Kelpies do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

Australian Kelpies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Australian Kelpies?

Doberman Pinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather?

Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

Australian Kelpies can moderately tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Australian Kelpie

Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

Australian Kelpies have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather?

Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather.

Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

Australian Kelpies do not adapt well to apartment living.

Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Australian Kelpie?

Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

Australian Kelpies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

You may also be interested in how the Doberman Pinscher compares to other breeds aside from the Australian Kelpie. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

Doberman Pinscher versus Dachshund     Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken     Doberman Pinscher versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Puli     Doberman Pinscher versus Papillon     Doberman Pinscher versus English Springer Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Borzoi     Doberman Pinscher versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Irish Water Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Great Pyrenees     Doberman Pinscher versus Sheepadoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Doberman Pinscher versus Standard Schnauzer     Doberman Pinscher versus Saint Bernard     Doberman Pinscher versus Catahoula Bulldog     Doberman Pinscher versus English Cocker Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Field Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Greyhound     

Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Kelpie. Which One is a Better Pet?

In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Doberman Pinscher and the Australian Kelpie better suits you and your family.