Differences and Similarities between the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Miniature Schnauzer: Introduction

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

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

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 Miniature Schnauzer.

Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer

Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Miniature Schnauzer is a small-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 Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer

FactorDoberman PinscherMiniature Schnauzer
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Dog Friendly1/53/5
General Health1/53/5
Low Prey Drive5/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/53/5
Life Span10 to 13 years12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/55/5
Does NOT chew on things4/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/54/5
Good For Novice Owners3/53/5
Kid-Friendly3/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
Does NOT Shed2/54/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Easy To Train5/55/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds11 to 20 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years13.0 years
Average Price$1910$1950
Price Range$1100 – $2500$1400 – $2500
Temperament Score79.5 percent79.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Mycobacterium Avian Complex
  • Myotonia Congenita
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1517
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)512
    *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 Miniature Schnauzer. 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 Miniature Schnauzer is 82 out of 125.

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

    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 Miniature Schnauzer

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer

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

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Miniature Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone. However, Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Miniature Schnauzers do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom. However, Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer

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

    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 Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Schnauzer is 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Miniature Schnauzer

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer

    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

    Miniature Schnauzer Colors

    The Miniature Schnauzer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Bicolor
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

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

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer

    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 Miniature Schnauzer is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is 13.0 years.

    The Miniature Schnauzer live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Schnauzer

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Miniature Schnauzer

    The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Miniature Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 percent while the temperament score for the Miniature Schnauzer is 79.3 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 79.3 percent, the Miniature Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 116 Miniature Schnauzers.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Miniature Schnauzer

    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 Miniature Schnauzer puppy is $1950. The price of the Miniature Schnauzer typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of the Miniature Schnauzer can be as low as $500 and as high as $8500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 913 Miniature Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Miniature Schnauzer is more expensive than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher Miniature Schnauzer
    Average Price $1910 $1950
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $1400 to $2500

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Schnauzers

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

    Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Miniature Schnauzer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Doberman Pinschers and many Miniature Schnauzers 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 Twinkie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Doberman Pinschers like Twinkie on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Schnauzers are also available for adoption. For example, Wrigley is a Male Miniature Schnauzer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Miniature Schnauzers like Wrigley that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    Also, Houser is an adorable Male Miniature Schnauzer on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Doberman Pinschers and Miniature Schnauzers are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Doberman Pinschers and Miniature Schnauzers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Miniature Schnauzer

    Doberman Pinscher Miniature Schnauzer
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 12 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 Miniature Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 12 out of 130 dog breeds. The Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Miniature Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more intelligent than the Miniature Schnauzer.

    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 Miniature Schnauzer

    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 Miniature Schnauzer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Miniature Schnauzer. 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 Miniature Schnauzer is 17 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Miniature Schnauzer

    Popularity of Miniature Schnauzer

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Miniature Schnauzer Popularity Rank
    2013 12 17
    2014 14 16
    2015 14 16
    2016 15 17
    2017 16 18
    2018 17 19
    2019 19 18
    2020 18 19
    2021 16 18

    Health Problems of Doberman Pinscher versus Health Problems of Miniature Schnauzer

    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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer.

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Doberman Pinscher while 4 tests are recommended for the Miniature Schnauzer.

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

    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.

    Miniature Schnauzer Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Mycobacterium Avian Complex
  • Myotonia Congenita

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

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Doberman Pinschers and Miniature Schnauzers

    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 Miniature Schnauzer Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Miniature Schnauzer ranks 13 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 157 Miniature Schnauzers, 0 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

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

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 13 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 96 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 125 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 187 out of 198 Dog Breeds

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

    Disease Doberman Pinscher Rank Miniature Schnauzer 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 96 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 133 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 147 out of 198 dog breeds 187 out of 198 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 13 out of 40 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 125 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 Miniature Schnauzer

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Miniature Schnauzers?

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

    Miniature Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

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

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Miniature Schnauzers?

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

    Miniature Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Miniature Schnauzer

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Miniature Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Miniature Schnauzers?

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

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    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.

    Miniature Schnauzers 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 Miniature Schnauzers?

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

    Miniature Schnauzers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Miniature Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Miniature Schnauzer

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

    Miniature Schnauzers 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 Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Miniature Schnauzers are OK 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 Miniature Schnauzer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Chihuahua     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyredoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Basset Hound     Doberman Pinscher versus Pomchi     Doberman Pinscher versus Border Collie     Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Shepherd     Doberman Pinscher versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Doberman Pinscher versus Kooikerhondje     Doberman Pinscher versus Boxer     Doberman Pinscher versus Great Pyrenees     Doberman Pinscher versus Whoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Lancashire Heeler     Doberman Pinscher versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Doberman Pinscher versus Standard Schnauzer     Doberman Pinscher versus Labradoodle     

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