Why you Should Get the Doberman Pinscher Instead of the Pekingese.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Pekingese: Introduction

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

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

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 Pekingese.

Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Pekingese 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 Pekingese 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 Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Pekingese 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 Pekingese

FactorDoberman PinscherPekingese
Tolerates Cold Weather1/54/5
Dog Friendly1/52/5
General Health1/52/5
Low Prey Drive5/51/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl5/52/5
Life Span10 to 13 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Height24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/55/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Kid-Friendly3/52/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/54/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/51/5
Does NOT Shed2/52/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
Easygoing1/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/51/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Potential For Playfulness5/53/5
Weight60 to 80 pounds7 to 14 pounds
Average Lifespan11.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1910$1880
Price Range$1100 – $2500$1300 – $2200
Temperament Score79.5 percent93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1587
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)573
    *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 Pekingese. 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 Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese

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

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Pekingeses can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Pekingeses 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, Pekingeses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather. However, Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Pekingeses do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Doberman Pinschers 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. However, Pekingeses are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom. However, Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese 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 Pekingese shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

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

    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 Pekingese weighs 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. The Pekingese is 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Pekingese

    Appearance (Colors) of the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese

    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

    Pekingese Colors

    The Pekingese comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

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

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

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

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

    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 Pekingese is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Pekingese is 13.5 years.

    The Pekingese live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Pekingese

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Doberman Pinscher.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 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 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Pekingese

    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 Pekingese puppy is $1880. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1300 – $2200. However, the price of the Pekingese can be as low as $500 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 222 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Doberman Pinscher Pekingese
    Average Price $1910 $1880
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $1300 to $2200

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

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

    Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Pekingese

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

    Also, like Doberman Pinschers, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, 5969 Forrest is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like 5969 Forrest that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Ricky is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    Doberman Pinscher Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    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 Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    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 Pekingese

    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 Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. 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 Pekingese is 87 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 12 77
    2014 14 82
    2015 14 80
    2016 15 93
    2017 16 88
    2018 17 92
    2019 19 83
    2020 18 95
    2021 16 94

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Pekingese

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Pekingeses?

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

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingese?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Pekingese

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Pekingeses?

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

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    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.

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingeses?

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

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

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

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

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Pekingese

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

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingese. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Doberman Pinscher versus Australian Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Shihpoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Pug     Doberman Pinscher versus Saint Berdoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen     Doberman Pinscher versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Doberman Pinscher versus Sealyham Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Cavapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Clumber Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Shetland Sheepdog     Doberman Pinscher versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Doberman Pinscher versus Miniature Pinscher     Doberman Pinscher versus Bichon Frise     Doberman Pinscher versus Cockalier     

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