Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Doberman Pinscher Versus German Shepherd Dog: Introduction

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

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

Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog

Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog: Overview

Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are similar in size. The Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are both large-sized dogs.

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 German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog

FactorDoberman PinscherGerman Shepherd Dog
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Dog Friendly1/52/5
General Health1/54/5
Low Prey Drive5/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/52/5
Life Span10 to 13 years10 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/51/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/54/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/53/5
Good For Novice Owners3/52/5
Kid-Friendly3/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/54/5
NOT Rambunctious3/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/55/5
Easy To Train5/55/5
Intelligence5/55/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds75 to 95 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years12.0 years
Average Price$1910$1280
Price Range$1100 – $2500$800 – $1500
Temperament Score79.5 percent85.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds152
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)53
    *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 German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog is 77 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, German Shepherd Dogs can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, German Shepherd Dogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, German Shepherd 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, German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Doberman Pinschers are not prone to nip and chew at things. However, German Shepherd Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, German Shepherd Dogs do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog weighs 75 to 95 pounds when fully grown. The German Shepherd Dog is 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of German Shepherd Dog

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd 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

    German Shepherd Dog Colors

    The German Shepherd Dog comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Sable
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Apricot / Beige
    • White / Cream
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Golden

    The German Shepherd Dog comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Golden
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Sable
    • White / Cream
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Bicolor

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the German Shepherd Dog is 12.0 years.

    The German Shepherd Dog live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd Dog

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the German Shepherd Dog

    The German Shepherd Dog has a better temperament than the Doberman Pinscher.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 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 85.3 percent, the German Shepherd Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 3383 German Shepherd Dogs.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog puppy is $1280. The price of the German Shepherd Dog typically ranges from $800 – $1500. However, the price of the German Shepherd Dog can be as low as $195 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1776 German Shepherd Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more expensive than the German Shepherd Dog.

    Doberman Pinscher German Shepherd Dog
    Average Price $1910 $1280
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $800 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and German Shepherd Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shepherd Dogs

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

    Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the German Shepherd Dog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Doberman Pinschers and many German Shepherd 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, German Shepherd Dogs are also available for adoption. For example, Petricia Tuck Os 0813 is a Male German Shepherd Dog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more German Shepherd Dogs like Petricia Tuck Os 0813 that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd Dog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    Also, Apollo is an adorable Male German Shepherd Dog on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd Dogs are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd Dogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog

    Doberman Pinscher German Shepherd Dog
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 3 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 German Shepherd Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 3 out of 130 dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that German Shepherd Dogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Doberman Pinscher.

    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 German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Doberman Pinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Shepherd Dog is 2 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Doberman Pinscher is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank
    2013 12 2
    2014 14 2
    2015 14 2
    2016 15 2
    2017 16 2
    2018 17 2
    2019 19 2
    2020 18 3
    2021 16 4

    Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Doberman Pinscher.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Shepherd Dog than for the Doberman Pinscher.

    6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 7 tests are recommended for the German Shepherd Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Doberman Pinschers and in German Shepherd 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.

    German Shepherd Dog Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test

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

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the German Shepherd Dog ranks 8 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 149 German Shepherd Dogs, 5 of them had Shoulder problems.

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

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 8 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 11 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 22 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 40 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 41 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 42 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 64 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 71 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 102 out of 145 Dog Breeds

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

    Disease Doberman Pinscher Rank German Shepherd 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 41 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 26 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 40 out of 49 dog breeds 42 out of 49 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 45 out of 115 dog breeds 71 out of 115 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 53 out of 70 dog breeds 11 out of 70 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 75 out of 182 dog breeds 64 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 133 out of 144 dog breeds 22 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 147 out of 198 dog breeds 40 out of 198 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 8 out of 22 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 102 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 German Shepherd Dog

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than German Shepherd Dogs?

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

    German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    German Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about German Shepherd Dogs?

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the German Shepherd Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd Dog

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    German Shepherd Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd Dogs?

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

    German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Shepherd 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.

    German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dogs?

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. German Shepherd 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.

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    German Shepherd Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the German Shepherd Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Shepherd Dog?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Doberman Pinscher versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Doberman Pinscher versus Rottweiler     Doberman Pinscher versus Xoloitzcuintli     Doberman Pinscher versus Mal Shi     Doberman Pinscher versus Black Mouth Cur     Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyredoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Irish Water Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Beagle     Doberman Pinscher versus Portuguese Pointer     Doberman Pinscher versus Berger Picard     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen     Doberman Pinscher versus Maltipoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Valley Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog better suits you and your family.