Why the Doberman Pinscher is Better than the Bernese Mountain Dog as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog.

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 Bernese Mountain Dog.

Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are Working Dogs. This means both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.

Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog

FactorDoberman PinscherBernese Mountain Dog
Tolerates Cold Weather1/55/5
Dog Friendly1/53/5
General Health1/51/5
Low Prey Drive5/51/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/52/5
Life Span10 to 13 years6 to 10 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/51/5
Does NOT chew on things4/51/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder23 to 28 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/51/5
Good For Novice Owners3/52/5
Kid-Friendly3/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/51/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Does NOT Drool2/52/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/53/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds70 to 115 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years8.0 years
Average Price$1910$2390
Price Range$1100 – $2500$1500 – $2995
Temperament Score79.5 percent86.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1525
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)522
    *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 Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Doberman Pinschers are not prone to nip and chew at things. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most similar:

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog weighs 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. The Bernese Mountain Dog is 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    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

    Bernese Mountain Dog Colors

    The Bernese Mountain Dog comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Brindle
    • White / Cream

    The Bernese Mountain Dog comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

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

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog is 8.0 years.

    The Doberman Pinscher live longer than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has a better temperament than the Doberman Pinscher.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 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 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is $2390. The price of the Bernese Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1500 – $2995. However, the price of the Bernese Mountain Dog can be as low as $300 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 920 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher Bernese Mountain Dog
    Average Price $1910 $2390
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $1500 to $2995

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and Bernese Mountain Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Doberman Pinscher puppy or the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Bernese Mountain Dog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Doberman Pinschers and many Bernese Mountain Dogs 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, Bernese Mountain Dogs are also available for adoption. For example, Hank is a Male Bernese Mountain Dog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Bernese Mountain Dogs like Hank that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Twinkie 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Doberman Pinscher Bernese Mountain Dog
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 22 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Doberman Pinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 5 out of 130 dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Doberman Pinschers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 22 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more intelligent than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 25 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Bernese Mountain Dog

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Bernese Mountain Dog Popularity Rank
    2013 12 32
    2014 14 32
    2015 14 29
    2016 15 27
    2017 16 25
    2018 17 22
    2019 19 23
    2020 18 22
    2021 16 20

    Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Doberman Pinscher.

    6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 6 tests are recommended for the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Doberman Pinschers and in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    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.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs for:

  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bernese Mountain Dogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Doberman Pinschers and Bernese Mountain Dogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Doberman Pinscher Breed is Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    This is because the Doberman Pinscher ranks 1 out of 3 dog breeds for Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 562 Doberman Pinschers, 37 of them had Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Doberman Pinschers, and how common these diseases are in Doberman Pinschers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems: Rank 1 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 1 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 26 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 26 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 40 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 45 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 53 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 75 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 133 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 147 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Bernese Mountain Dog Breed is Basic Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 2 out of 16 dog breeds for Basic Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 121 Bernese Mountain Dogs, 0 of them had Basic Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Bernese Mountain Dogs, and how common these diseases are in Bernese Mountain Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 11 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 17 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 17 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 37 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 47 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 62 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 65 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 82 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 91 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 127 out of 145 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Doberman Pinscher and in Bernese Mountain Dog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Doberman Pinscher and the Bernese Mountain Dog:

    Disease Doberman Pinscher Rank Bernese Mountain Dog Rank
    Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems 1 out of 3 dog breeds Not Common
    Von Willebrands problems 1 out of 15 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 26 out of 71 dog breeds 47 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 26 out of 159 dog breeds 62 out of 159 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 40 out of 49 dog breeds 37 out of 49 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 45 out of 115 dog breeds 82 out of 115 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 53 out of 70 dog breeds 17 out of 70 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 75 out of 182 dog breeds 91 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 133 out of 144 dog breeds 11 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 147 out of 198 dog breeds 65 out of 198 dog breeds
    Basic Cardiac problems Not Common 2 out of 16 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 17 out of 22 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 127 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    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.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Bernese Mountain Dog

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dog. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus English Toy Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Lhasa Apso     Doberman Pinscher versus Leonberger     Doberman Pinscher versus Norwich Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Kuvasz     Doberman Pinscher versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Doberman Pinscher versus Portuguese Water Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Pharaoh Hound     Doberman Pinscher versus Schipperke     Doberman Pinscher versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Doberman Pinscher versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Doberman Pinscher versus Lhasapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Brittany     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog better suits you and your family.