What Is the Difference Between a German Pinscher & Doberman Pinscher?

There are many similarities between Doberman pinschers and German pinschers. For example, both dog breeds have docked tails and ears that are erect or kept natural. There also are subtle differences between the two types of dogs, ranging from function and size to coat color and eye shape. Knowing the variations will help you better differentiate the breeds.

  1. Origin

    • The Doberman pinscher was developed in Germany in the 1860s, while the German pinscher officially was recognized in Germany in 1879. The creator of the Doberman pinscher was Louis Doberman, a German tax collector, who decided to develop a watchdog and bodyguard capable of protecting him. The German pinscher was developed to hunt vermin, herd livestock and act as a watchdog and family pet.

    Function

    • A Doberman pinscher is primarily bred to be a guard dog or police dogs and is aggressive even though it's still friendly and good with children. In contrast, a German pinscher is bred to hunt vermin and also can act as a watch dog but is not good around children.

    Size

    • A German pinscher is smaller than a Doberman pinscher. On average, a German pinscher is 16 to 19 inches tall and weighs 25 to 35 pounds, while a Doberman pinscher is 26 to 28 inches tall and weighs 66 to 88 pounds.

    Coat

    • A Doberman pinscher has a coat that is black, black with tan markings, red, fawn and white or blue-gray. Many Doberman pinscher's have markings that appear above each eye, on the throat, muzzle, legs, chest, feet and on the tail. Most German pinscher's have a coat that is black with tan markings, although some have coats in red, fawn or dark brown with yellow markings.

    Eyes

    • A Doberman pinscher has almond-shaped eyes in various shades of brown, depending on the coat color of the dog. In contrast, a German pinscher has oval eyes that are medium in size in various colors.