Differences and Similarities between the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Doberman Pinscher Versus Lowchen: Introduction

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

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

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 Lowchen.

Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen

Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Lowchen is a tiny-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 Lowchen belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Lowchen 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 Lowchen

FactorDoberman PinscherLowchen
Tolerates Cold Weather1/53/5
Dog Friendly1/54/5
General Health1/55/5
Low Prey Drive5/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/52/5
Life Span10 to 13 years13 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/51/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/51/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/55/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Kid-Friendly3/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/53/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/53/5
Easy To Train5/55/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds9 to 18 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years14.0 years
Average Price$1910$3000
Price Range$1100 – $2500$2868 – $4200
Temperament Score79.5 percent75.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 12 months, with repeat evaluations recommended every two years.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds15162
    *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 Lowchen. 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 Lowchen is 85 out of 125.

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

    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 Lowchen

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen

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

  • Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Lowchens get along well with other dogs.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Lowchens 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, Lowchens 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, Lowchens are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Lowchens have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Lowchens do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen

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

    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 Lowchen weighs 9 to 18 pounds when fully grown. The Lowchen is 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Lowchen

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen

    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

    Lowchen Colors

    The Lowchen comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Apricot / Beige

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

      Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen

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

      The Lowchen live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

      Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen

      Temperament of the Lowchen Versus the Doberman Pinscher

      The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Lowchen.

      This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 percent while the temperament score for the Lowchen is 75.0 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 75.0 percent, the Lowchen has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

      The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Lowchen by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 12 Lowchens.

      Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Lowchen

      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 Lowchen puppy is $3000. The price of the Lowchen typically ranges from $2868 – $4200. However, the price of the Lowchen can be as low as $300 and as high as $4500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 11 Lowchen puppies listed for sale from various sources.

      The Lowchen is more expensive than the Doberman Pinscher.

      Doberman Pinscher Lowchen
      Average Price $1910 $3000
      Price Range $1100 to $2500 $2868 to $4200

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

      A breakdown of the prices of Lowchens

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

      The Popularity of Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Lowchen

      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 Lowchen over the years.

      Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Lowchen. 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 Lowchen is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.

      Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

      Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

      Popularity of Lowchen

      Popularity of Lowchen

      Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Lowchen Popularity Rank
      2013 12 154
      2014 14 165
      2015 14 161
      2016 15 171
      2017 16 169
      2018 17 168
      2019 19 158
      2020 18 161
      2021 16 157

      Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of Lowchen

      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 Lowchen 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 Lowchen.

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

      6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 3 tests are recommended for the Lowchen.

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

      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.

      Lowchen Health Problems

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

    • Eye Examination- after the age of 12 months, with repeat evaluations recommended every two years.
    • Hip Dysplasia
    • Patellar Luxation

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

      More Discussions on Health Problems in Doberman Pinschers and Lowchens

      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 Lowchen Breed is Patella problems.

      This is because the Lowchen ranks 19 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 149 Lowchens, 9 of them had Patella problems.

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

    • Patella problems: Rank 19 out of 145 Dog Breeds
    • Eyes problems: Rank 42 out of 182 Dog Breeds
    • Hips problems: Rank 163 out of 198 Dog Breeds

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

      Disease Doberman Pinscher Rank Lowchen 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 Not Common
      Congenital Cardiac problems 26 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
      Dentition Database problems 40 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
      Thyroid problems 45 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
      Degenerative Myelopathy problems 53 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
      Eyes problems 75 out of 182 dog breeds 42 out of 182 dog breeds
      Elbow problems 133 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
      Hips problems 147 out of 198 dog breeds 163 out of 198 dog breeds
      Patella problems Not Common 19 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 Lowchen

      Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

      Lowchens do not like to be left alone.

      Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Lowchens?

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

      Lowchens shed moderately.

      Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Lowchen?

      Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

      Lowchens are moderately easy to groom.

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

      Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

      Lowchens get along very well with other dogs.

      Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Lowchens?

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

      Lowchens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

      Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Lowchen?

      Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

      Lowchens are very easy to train.

      Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Lowchen

      Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

      Lowchens do have a very low tendency to drool.

      How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Lowchens?

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

      Lowchens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

      Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lowchen?

      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.

      Lowchens 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 Lowchens?

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

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

      Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lowchens Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

      Lowchens can moderately tolerate cold weather.

      Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Lowchen

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

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

      Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lowchens Tolerate Hot Weather?

      Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

      Lowchens can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

      Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Lowchen?

      Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

      Lowchens adapt very well to apartment living.

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

      Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

      Lowchens 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 Lowchen. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

      Doberman Pinscher versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Doberman Pinscher versus Maltese     Doberman Pinscher versus Tibetan Mastiff     Doberman Pinscher versus Boxerdoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Irish Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus English Cocker Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Labradoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Cattle Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Chihuahua     Doberman Pinscher versus Bracco Italiano     Doberman Pinscher versus Braque du Bourbonnais     

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