Why you Should Get the Doberman Pinscher Instead of the Fila Brasileiro.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Fila Brasileiro: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiro. 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 Fila Brasileiro.

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 Fila Brasileiro.

Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro are Working Dogs. This means both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiro: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiro

FactorDoberman PinscherFila Brasileiro
Tolerates Cold Weather1/52/5
Dog Friendly1/52/5
General Health1/53/5
Low Prey Drive5/51/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/53/5
Life Span10 to 13 years9 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder24 to 30 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/51/5
Good For Novice Owners3/51/5
Kid-Friendly3/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/54/5
Does NOT Drool2/53/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/53/5
Easy To Groom5/54/5
Easy To Train5/52/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/52/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds90 to 180 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years10.5 years
Average Price$1910$1330
Price Range$1100 – $2500$1000 – $1575
Temperament Score79.5 percent78.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • No Data
    *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 Fila Brasileiro. 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 Fila Brasileiro is 62 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Fila Brasileiros have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train. However, Fila Brasileiros are not easy to train.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very playful. However, Fila Brasileiros not very playful.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiro can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro are highly intelligent.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro.

    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 Fila Brasileiro weighs 90 to 180 pounds when fully grown. The Fila Brasileiro is 24 to 30 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Fila Brasileiro

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro

    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

    Fila Brasileiro Colors

    The Fila Brasileiro comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Brindle
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    The Fila Brasileiro comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

      Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

      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 Fila Brasileiro is between 9 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Fila Brasileiro is 10.5 years.

      The Doberman Pinscher live longer than the Fila Brasileiro.

      Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

      Temperament of the Fila Brasileiro Versus the Doberman Pinscher

      The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Fila Brasileiro.

      This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 percent while the temperament score for the Fila Brasileiro is 78.6 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 78.6 percent, the Fila Brasileiro has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

      The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Fila Brasileiro by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 14 Fila Brasileiros.

      Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Fila Brasileiro

      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 Fila Brasileiro puppy is $1330. The price of the Fila Brasileiro typically ranges from $1000 – $1575. However, the price of the Fila Brasileiro can be as low as $1000 and as high as $1800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 4 Fila Brasileiro puppies listed for sale from various sources.

      The Doberman Pinscher is more expensive than the Fila Brasileiro.

      Doberman Pinscher Fila Brasileiro
      Average Price $1910 $1330
      Price Range $1100 to $2500 $1000 to $1575

      The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and Fila Brasileiro. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiros

      A breakdown of the prices of Fila Brasileiros

      Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Doberman Pinscher puppy or the Fila Brasileiro 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 Fila Brasileiro

      Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro

      Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

      Fila Brasileiros can be left alone only for a short time.

      Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Fila Brasileiros?

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

      Fila Brasileiros do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

      Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Fila Brasileiro?

      Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

      Fila Brasileiros are very easy to groom.

      Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Fila Brasileiro?

      Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

      Fila Brasileiros do not get along well with other dogs.

      Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Fila Brasileiros?

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

      Fila Brasileiros are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

      Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Fila Brasileiro?

      Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

      Fila Brasileiros are not easy to train.

      Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Fila Brasileiro

      Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

      Fila Brasileiros drool moderately.

      How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Fila Brasileiros?

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

      Fila Brasileiros get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

      Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Fila Brasileiro?

      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.

      Fila Brasileiros 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 Fila Brasileiros?

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

      Fila Brasileiros bark and howl, but not very much.

      Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

      Fila Brasileiros cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

      Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Fila Brasileiro

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

      Fila Brasileiros 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 Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Hot Weather?

      Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

      Fila Brasileiros can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Fila Brasileiro?

      Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

      Fila Brasileiros do not adapt well to apartment living.

      Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Fila Brasileiro?

      Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

      Fila Brasileiros 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 Fila Brasileiro. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

      Doberman Pinscher versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Doberman Pinscher versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Doberman Pinscher versus Karelian Bear Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Papipoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Doberman Pinscher versus Spinone Italiano     Doberman Pinscher versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Boxer     Doberman Pinscher versus Ibizan Hound     Doberman Pinscher versus Standard Poodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Scottish Deerhound     

      Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Fila Brasileiro. 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 Fila Brasileiro better suits you and your family.