Why the Doberman Pinscher is Better than the Bergamasco Sheepdog as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Doberman Pinscher Versus Bergamasco Sheepdog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog? 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog. 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog.

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 Bergamasco Sheepdog.

Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Bergamasco Sheepdog 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Bergamasco Sheepdog 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog

FactorDoberman PinscherBergamasco Sheepdog
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Dog Friendly1/54/5
General Health1/55/5
Low Prey Drive5/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/53/5
Life Span10 to 13 years13 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder20 to 24 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/53/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Kid-Friendly3/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/54/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/54/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/54/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
Intelligence5/55/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds55 to 85 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years14.0 years
Average Price$1910No Data
Price Range$1100 – $2500No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds15169
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    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 Bergamasco Sheepdog. 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog is 95 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Bergamasco Sheepdog, we still believe that the Doberman Pinscher is a better pet than the Bergamasco Sheepdog.

    This is because Doberman Pinschers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Doberman Pinscher will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Doberman Pinscher :-). We are for the Doberman Pinscher. So get a Doberman Pinscher!

    Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Bergamasco Sheepdogs can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Bergamasco Sheepdogs get along well with other dogs.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Bergamasco Sheepdogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Bergamasco Sheepdogs do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Doberman Pinschers are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone. However, Bergamasco Sheepdogs are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog.

    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 Bergamasco Sheepdog weighs 55 to 85 pounds when fully grown. The Bergamasco Sheepdog is 20 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

    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 Bergamasco Sheepdog is between 13 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Bergamasco Sheepdog is 14.0 years.

    The Bergamasco Sheepdog live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog
    Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

    The Popularity of Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Bergamasco Sheepdog. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Doberman Pinscher is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Bergamasco Sheepdog is 169 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Popularity of Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Bergamasco Sheepdog Popularity Rank
    2013 12 no data
    2014 14 96.0
    2015 14 174.0
    2016 15 184.0
    2017 16 181.0
    2018 17 187.0
    2019 19 180.0
    2020 18 173.0
    2021 16 179.0

    Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bergamasco Sheepdog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Doberman Pinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Bergamasco Sheepdog.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Doberman Pinscher than for the Bergamasco Sheepdog.

    6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 2 tests are recommended for the Bergamasco Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Doberman Pinschers and in Bergamasco Sheepdogs.

    Doberman Pinscher Health Problems

    Doberman Pinschers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Doberman Pinscher puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Doberman Pinscher puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Doberman Pinscher breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Doberman Pinschers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Doberman Pinschers here.

    Bergamasco Sheepdog Health Problems

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bergamasco Sheepdog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Bergamasco Sheepdog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bergamasco Sheepdog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bergamasco Sheepdogs for:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bergamasco Sheepdogs here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Bergamasco Sheepdogs?

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Bergamasco Sheepdogs?

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bergamasco Sheepdog

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Bergamasco Sheepdogs?

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    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.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs 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.

    Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Bergamasco Sheepdogs?

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bergamasco Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Bergamasco Sheepdog

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

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Bergamasco Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bergamasco Sheepdog?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Bergamasco Sheepdogs are very good 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Pug     Doberman Pinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Collie     Doberman Pinscher versus Akbash     Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Pinscher     Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen     Doberman Pinscher versus Cavapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Kai Ken     Doberman Pinscher versus Border Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Boxerdoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Shepherd     Doberman Pinscher versus Carolina Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyredoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Bluetick Coonhound     Doberman Pinscher versus Stabyhoun     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Bergamasco Sheepdog. 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 Bergamasco Sheepdog better suits you and your family.