American vs. European Doberman: A Side-by-Side Comparison

When I was first introduced to the Doberman breed, I had no idea that there were two main variants of Doberman—the American Doberman Pinscher and the European Doberman (or just “Dobermann”). Once I learned this, I realized I had no idea of the differences between the two or which one would be best for my family. If this is you, then you’re in luck, I’ll give you a crash course on all the differences between these two dogs. This took me years to learn on my own!

What’s the difference between an American and European Doberman? The main differences are that an American Doberman Pinscher is a sleek, elegant, show dog that possesses an ideal temperament for use as a family pet, while the European Doberman is a slightly larger, more muscular dog with a high drive and a temperament better suited for use as a working dog.

The differences certainly go a bit deeper than that, however, and there are certainly very good reasons why the Doberman breed has split into these two variations. While the two breeds might look very similar to someone who isn’t familiar with Dobermans, with some practice you’ll be able to spot a European Dobermann versus an American Doberman Pinscher fairly quickly. There are also significant temperament differences between the two that you should be aware of.

To figure out what genetic influences your dog has, including where it’s ancestors came from and if there are any other genetic influences besides pure Doberman in their past, check out my Doberman DNA Testing Guide here which will help you do a simple test at home to answer your questions!

Video: How to Choose Which One is Best for You

Doberman Buyer’s Guide: Take a look at my guide for selecting the right type of Doberman (here) which will walk you through how to select the best type of Doberman for your specific situation!

Physical Differences

The most obvious difference between the two varieties of Doberman is in their physical build. This is also what will allow you to quickly and easily identify the specific variation of Doberman. Although each dog will differ slightly based on its individual genetics, the following are the primary physical differences between the two.

The height and weights listed below are per the breed standard for the American Doberman Pinscher as described by the AKC standard and the European Dobermann as described by the FCI standard. The weights listed in the side by side comparison above are real-world weights that you are likely to see for each type of dog (and are not based on the breed standards). You’ll note that the AKC sets a very broad range on the acceptable weights of the American Doberman while the FCI sets a very tight weight range. Regardless, the European dog is almost always heavier than its American counterpart.

American Doberman Pinscher

The American Doberman Pinscher is a more elegant dog that is built to excel in the show ring. The overall look of the American Doberman is that of a longer, slimmer, and sleek looking dog. Think of the build of a high-endurance athlete.

Their legs are long and slim, their paws are smaller, and the head is a slim wedge shape with smooth angles. The muzzle is also long, slim, and come to more of a sharper point than the European variety. The overall body is also noticeably longer and thinner.

The following is the height and weights for the American Doberman Pinscher as outlined in the AKC breed standard.

• Height: 26 – 28 inches (males) or 24 – 26 inches (females)
• Weight: 75 – 100 pounds (males) or 60 – 90 pounds (females)

Probably the easiest physical characteristic to spot from a distance is the neck. On an American Doberman Pinscher, the neck will slope quickly upwards from the shoulders of the dog with a graceful sloping arch. The neck widens gradually towards the body. The neck is also significantly longer and thinner than its European counterpart.

European Dobermann

The European Dobermann is an overall larger dog that is built to excel as a working or personal protection dog. Overall, the European Dobermann is a larger, heavier, dog with a thicker bone structure. The dog is more compact and not as long as the American version.

Their legs are thick and muscular, paws are larger, and their head is a thicker block-shape with sharper angles. The muzzle of the European Dobermann is thicker and blunter at the end than the American variety.

The following is the height and weights for the European Dobermann as outlined in the FCI breed standard.

• Height: 27 – 28 inches (males) or 25 – 27 inches (females)
• Weight: 88 – 99 pounds (males) or 71 – 77 pounds (females)

Again, the differences in the necks of the dogs are the most apparent. The neck of the European Dobermann is thicker, shorter, and protrudes out from the shoulders with less of a noticeable upward arch.

The European Convention makes it illegal to crop the ears of all dogs and dock the tails of the majority of dog breeds. That means you likely won’t see European Dobermans, living in Europe, that have cropped ears. Some European countries haven’t adopted the European Convention, however, and therefore owners may still choose to crop their ears in most of those countries.

Color Differences

While the differences in color between the two Doberman variants are not as noticeable as the other physical differences, they can certainly be easily observed when the two dogs are side by side. The biggest difference is that the European version has more pigment than the American variety resulting in darker, deeper colors.

There are six known colors of Doberman to exist, however, not all colors are recognized as a “breed standard” by their respective kennel clubs. For a more in-depth examination of all the different Doberman colors (including pictures), see my article, All the Colors and Types of the Doberman Pinscher.

American Doberman Pinscher

The American Doberman has the same possible colors as the European, however, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the following colors as being standard colors for the breed:

• Black and Rust
• Red and Rust
• Blue and Rust
• Fawn (Isabella) and Rust

The markings on the coat of the American Doberman consists of sharply defined rust-colored areas that are lighter in color than the European. The rust markings appear above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, and chest. They also appear on the legs, feet, and just below tail—the same as the European variety. However, the American may have a small white patch appear on the chest area (not to exceed one-half square inch in size), something that isn’t present on the European Dobermann.

The eye color is generally a lighter brown color than that of the European Dobermann, although there are some variations in the color of the eye.

European Dobermann

The European Dobermann can have many variations of their color just as the American Doberman does. The most notable regulatory organization for the European Dobermann, the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) only recognizes the following colors as being the standard for the breed:

• Black and Rust
• Red and Rust (aka “Brown and Rust”)

Any dogs that are not of these two colors are not recognized by the FCI and cannot be certified by them or approved for breeding.

The markings on the European Dobermann are also sharply defined rust-colored markings above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, feet, and just below the tail. Although the European Dobermann’s markings are a darker rust color than the American variety. Also, the small white patch on the chest is not present.

The eye color of the European Dobermann is also a darker brown than the American variety, although some variation in eye color of the individual dog does exist.

NOTE

Like with people, every dog is different and possesses a unique genetic makeup. Therefore it’s common to see variations in temperamental and physical traits. This is true of any Doberman—American or European.

Behavior Comparison

In July of 2021, Doberman Planet conducted an extensive survey of experienced Doberman owners who had first-hand experience owning both American and European Dobermans. Through our search, we located 82 real-world owners who have experience owning both varieties of Doberman and had each of them complete a detailed survey comparing their behaviors. This information was compiled to provide amazing insight into the differences in how these two varieties of Dobermans behave.

The complete results can be found here: American/European Doberman Behavior Survey Results (PDF)

Legal Notice: The information below is the product of original research performed, compiled, and calculated by Doberman Planet LLC. This research is copyrighted and only intended for use on DobermanPlanet.com. All rights reserved. We will protect our original work and aggressively pursue legal action as necessary to do so.

Assertiveness

The assertiveness of both the American and European Dobermans was rated on a scale of 1 to 10 by owners who had both of these dogs. One being “very shy” at all and 10 being “very assertive”.

As you can see, while both Dobermans are certainly on the assertive side, the European Doberman was rated as a 7.7 out of 10 by those who have owned both varieties of Doberman. Whereas the American came in at 6.6. This is a significant difference. The European Doberman is more assertive and direct than the American Doberman. The European is known for asserting themselves when they want attention, something to eat, or are wary of a situation.

Training Style

The most effective training style for each type of Doberman was rated by owners on a scale of 1 to 10. With a rating of one being “positive reinforcement only”, 5 being “a mix of both”, and 10 being “firm direction only”.

The training style that seems the most effective for each type of dog is an incredibly important thing to know. All Dobermans seem to respond best to a mix of positive reinforcement and firm direction during training. But there are some differences. The American Doberman prefers a softer approach to training with frequent positive reinforcement while the European Doberman needs clear, firm direction during training.

Age at Mental Maturity

At what age each type of Doberman reaches a noticeable stage of mental maturity was also scored by owners who have owned both American and European Dobermans. This is the age when the dog noticeable “calms down” and seems to be past their high-energy puppy stage and enter into the stereotypical stoic Doberman stage.

The interesting thing here with this data is that Dobermans are thought as a whole, to reach that mental maturity by the age of two. According to this information:

• 61.8% of American Dobermans reach mental maturity by 2 years of age.
• 58.3% of European Dobermans reach mental maturity by 2 years of age.

Therefore you can conclude that American Doberman Pinschers tend to hit mental maturity earlier than European Dobermans. Although to be fair, the difference between them is quite small. It’s also interesting to see that a much larger percentage of European Dobermans didn’t hit that maturity level until after 5 years of age as compared to Americans.

Energy Levels

How energetic each type of Doberman is on an average day was also scored by owners on a scale of 1 to 10. A score of one was “very lazy (doesn’t need must exercise)” and a score of 10 was “tons of energy all day long (needs lots of exercise).”

How much energy a dog has is one of the top things for new owners to take into account when deciding if a breed is right for them. This can be very telling of how much time and dedication will be needed from you to keep your Doberman happy. A European Doberman will need significantly more exercise throughout the day than an American Doberman will.

The European Doberman scored a 7.7, significantly higher than the American Doberman as 6.2, indicating that they will need much more attention in terms of activities and exercise from their owners on a daily basis.

Acceptance of Strangers

How accepting each variety of Doberman was towards strangers who were brought into their homes was also rated in this survey. This was also a scale of 1 to 10, with one being “very accepting” and ten being “very suspicious”.

This section was a dead tie between both the American and European Doberman with both dogs having a slight bias towards suspicion of strangers at a score of 5.7, which of course rings true to the Doberman breed as a whole. While the European Doberman is often more confident than the American Doberman, both dogs are protective of their homes and often suspicious of strangers.

Of course, this behavior will vary greatly from dog to dog based heavily on factors such as how much socialization they receive during the “critical socialization window” of their development for example.

Behavior in New Surroundings

Owners of both American and European Dobermans also rated each of their dogs on how they behave in new or unusual surroundings. There were three options to describe how their dog behaves, see tables below.

It’s extremely interesting how well you can see the confidence of the European Doberman here as compared to the American Doberman. Traditionally the European has always been described as being more sure of themselves in new situations and this data certainly backs that up. American Dobermans are less likely to stray far from their owners in new surroundings than European Dobermans.

Only about 22% of European Dobermans will stick close to your side and never leave in a new situation whereas almost 46% of American Dobermans will. Remember that the most common reasons for sticking close to their owner’s side in a new situation specifically is fear, lack of confidence, or protectiveness.

In-Tune with Owner’s Emotions

How in-tune each dog seems with its owner’s emotions was also rated on a scale of 1 to 10. With a score of one being “not in-tune at all” and 10 being “very in-tune with my every emotion.”

Both varieties of dogs came in very close here, at 7.9 for the American Doberman and 7.4 for the European. Notice that both dogs are very in-tune with their owners which is a great feature of this breed, although the American is a bit more so. The American Doberman Pinscher tends to be more in tune with its owner’s emotions as compared to the European Doberman.

This makes things like bonding with and training your dog much easier. It also helps with the dog’s original purpose as a protection dog as they can easily “read” when their owners are uncomfortable in a certain situation and react accordingly.

Bonding with Family

Who a dog bonds with is also a critical piece of information to know for a new dog owner as it’ll give a glimpse into daily life with that dog. In this question, owners of these two varieties were asked about who the dog bonds most to, an individual, or the whole family.

This is another area where the differences between the American and European Dobermans are a bit difficult to see. You can see that Dobermans in general like to bond with one person overall. However, from this data, you could conclude that American Dobermans are more likely to bond to the whole family equally than European Dobermans are. Similarly, European Dobermans tend to bond tighter to one person more than American Dobermans.

Off-Leash Behavior

The behavior of European and American Dobermans while off-leash was also examined in this survey of experienced owners. Many Doberman owners love taking their dogs off-leash so knowing how each variety will act is incredibly important to those people.

American Doberman Pinschers are known to be more in-tune with their owners than European Dobermans which may explain some of these results. You can see from this data it appears that American Doberman Pinschers tend to be better off-leash dogs as compared to European Dobermans. They respond to commands more consistently and are more frequently trusted to be off-leash by their owners.

Although obviously other factors such as training and the dog’s individual genetics plays a major role here as well. It does make sense though that the head-strong European Doberman might be more likely to have some issues off-leash. I would suspect that these incidents have more to do with the stubbornness of the European variety than their abilities to be trained off-leash.

Summary of Behavior Differences

These dogs are similar in many ways as far as temperament—after all, they came from the same ancestors of Louis Dobermann’s creation. Both dogs are highly intelligent, easily trainable, loving, alert, protective, and loyal family companions. Both are very in-tune with their family (or “pack”) and both are happiest in an active household.

American Doberman Pinscher

When asked to pick a few phrases to describe their American Doberman, owners with experience raising both American and European Dobermans most often chose the words:

• Loving
• Protective
• Easy to train
• Good with kids
• Trustworthy while alone.

The American Doberman is considered to be an ideal family pet. They’re slightly calmer than their European counterparts with a bit less drive. Which can be great for a family since Dobermans, in general, have an extraordinarily high level of drive. Like the European, the American dog loves relaxing on the bed or couch, but the American variety is more comfortable sharing his personal space and more likely to cling to their owners.

The American responds very well to training that consists of positive reinforcement and soft corrections along the way. They thrive on reassurance from their owners and are more sensitive to human emotions. They’re cautious in unfamiliar surroundings and are generally a bit more “careful” with their behavior depending on the circumstances and their surroundings.

The American Doberman is protective of their family much like the European. If their family is threatened, however, they may be more cautious with their reaction as well. Their level of intervention will likely include barking and possibly physical intervention. On occasion, the dog may retreat. Overall, the American Doberman is great for a broader audience and less experienced dog owners.

European Dobermann

When asked to pick a few phrases to describe their European Doberman, owners with experience raising both types of Doberman most often chose the words:

• Loving
• Protective
• High-energy
• Confident
• Alert

The European variety can also be a great family pet, however, they excel as a working dog. This means that they’re ideally suited for police, military, search and rescue, and other similar types of work. The European Dobermann has a very high level of drive and determination. They also have higher exercise requirements to keep them happy throughout the day than their American counterparts. The European loves time spent on the couch or bed with its owners as well, but is more likely to be a bit of a “space hog”.

The European Dobermann generally needs clearer and firmer direction to be successful with their training. They can be considered a bit more “headstrong” than the American variety. They’re generally confident and not phased in chaotic environments and will behave the same regardless of their surroundings.

If their family is threatened, the European variety is more likely to have a reaction that involves physical intervention. They’re less likely to retreat than the American Doberman. Overall, the European Dobermann is a bit tougher to handle for the inexperienced dog owner but can certainly thrive with clear and concise training.

Health Differences

Information and studies regarding the health differences between the two breeds are few and far between. Both the American and European Doberman are prone to the same list of health issues including; Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV or Bloat), hip dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), chronic active hepatitis (CAH), von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), cervical vertebral instability (Wobbler Syndrome), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, and osteosarcoma (bone cancer).

Traditionally it has been thought that European Dobermanns are not as likely to be affected by genetic diseases as the American variety, however, this attitude is starting to change as health issues with the European dogs seems to have increased in recent years.

American Doberman Pinscher

The American Doberman Pinscher comes with the same laundry list of potential health issues as the European. However, in America, health testing of puppies (and potential breeding partners) is much more common and inexpensive.

There was one study on the matter however, that looked at a very common issue with both varieties of Doberman, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM or just “enlarged heart”). The study concluded that rates of DCM were much lower in American Dobermans than in Europeans (source).

European Dobermann

As mentioned earlier, the European Dobermann is susceptible to the same list of health issues as the American version. However, DCM is a growing issue in Europeans and the same study concluded that 58% of European Dobermanns will develop DCM in their lifetimes—a much higher rate than in American Doberman Pinschers (source).

Genetic health testing of dogs in Europe is far less common and much more expensive. Some will argue that this is because European Dobermans are less prone to genetic defects as compared to the American dogs and the breeding pool is larger, therefore health testing isn’t necessary. However, this issue is certainly not resolved and is vigorously debated on both sides.

Puppy Price Differences

Puppy prices from reputable breeders will vary dramatically based on bloodline, breeder reputation, genetic testing that’s been done, how many vaccines have been given, if ear cropping has been performed, and if the breeder considers the dog to be “pet quality” or “show quality”, with the latter being much more expensive.

Variety	Price Range
American Doberman Puppy	$1500 – $2500
European Doberman Puppy	$2500 – $3500

For a more in-depth explanation, see the article I wrote all about Doberman puppy prices (for both European and American puppies).

American Doberman Pinscher

The average price for an American Doberman Pinscher is between $1500 and $2500 in the United States. The lower end of that range will be for a “pet quality” Doberman and the higher end for a “show quality” Doberman. All this means is that the show-quality dogs have been examined by an expert and determined to have desirable physical traits that will make them competitive in breed conformation shows.

European Dobermann

The average price for a European Dobermann, purchased in the United States, is between $2500 and $3500. Since European Dobermanns are less common in the U.S., they command higher prices.

However, a European Dobermann purchased in Europe will be significantly cheaper since they are more common. The price range for a Dobermann in most European countries is between $500 and $2000. Russia, Ukraine, and Poland have reputations for having inexpensive Dobermanns near the bottom of this price range.

Many owners will go out of their way to purchase Dobermanns directly from Europe since it’s believed that European breeders send their less desirable dogs to the U.S. for breeding there, while their best dogs stay in Europe to be bred. If you live in the United States and do buy a Doberman directly from Europe, you’ll likely pay around $250 to fly home with your new dog should you decide to pick him or her up in person, or $800 to have it shipped back.

Breeding Regulation Differences

Breeding a Doberman in Europe is certainly a much different experience than in America. In Europe, laws and regulations exist surrounding the breeding of Dobermans where in America, the free market has a bigger role in driving what the breeders produce.

American Doberman Pinscher

In America, there are no laws surrounding the breeding of Dobermans, and anyone is free to do so without regulation. This is more of a free market way of progressing the breed than in Europe, which certainly has its downsides.

There are no requirements or tests to pass to breed a dog in the United States. Even registering your dog with the American Kennel Club (AKC) is very easy to do. Your dog merely has to be the offspring of AKC registered parents and certification can be obtained online with a simple fee. No inspection of the dog is required.

American Doberman Pinschers are much more likely to be successful in breed conformation shows but less likely to be successful in working dog events such as Schutzhund/IPO.

European Dobermann

In Europe, you are legally not permitted to breed a Doberman unless that dog has passed ZTP testing which is a standardized series of temperament tests. The ZTP tests are designed to gauge the self-assurance, stability, nervous disposition, natural drives, and protective instincts of the dog.

Among many other tests, the dog is tested by being placed in chaotic environments and in a situation where physical protection of the owner is necessary. If the dog fails to perform in these tests, it will not get ZTP certification and you will be unable to breed the dog.

Also, Doberman puppies in Europe are considered to be more valuable if their parents have successfully competed in working dog events such as Schutzhund/IPO. These working dog events are focused on the dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection qualities.

European Dobermanns are unlikely to be successful in breed conformation shows but more likely to excel in working dog events (Schutzhund/IPO).

The American vs. European Doberman Controversy

The main reasoning for the differences in the two variants is the differences between breeding dogs in Europe versus in America. In fact, the different regulations and motivations behind breeding the Doberman in these two areas of the world have gone on for so long, that it has resulted in the two dogs possessing many different traits from one another—both in disposition and physical characteristics. Many argue that the Doberman breed should be split into two entirely different breeds.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding both of these Doberman variants and there are certainly passionate people on both sides claiming that their Doberman type is “the best”. I will present the common arguments of both sides below.

American Doberman Pinscher

The predominant kennel club in the United States, the American Kennel Club (AKC) judges dogs primarily on looks, or “conformation”. So dogs that have won titles at AKC shows have primarily displayed exceptional physical characteristics in the show ring (as opposed to ideal temperamental traits).

Since puppies that are the offspring of “AKC Title Holders” are highly desirable and fetch higher prices, the Doberman Pinscher is bred largely based on looks in the United States. This means that the disposition of American Dobermans may not be consistent. However, many argue that this has created a much more elegant-looking dog. While most reputable breeders do consider the dog’s disposition before breeding, some do not and there are no regulations requiring breeders to.

Another factor that can help an American Doberman breeder fetch higher prices is producing a dog that is “family-friendly” and easy to handle for the novice dog handler. Proponents of the European Doberman argue that generations of breeding strictly for show or for a family pet have made the American Doberman much more timid, sensitive, fragile, and less driven than the breed was originally meant to be. They claim the American Doberman Pinscher needs constant reassurance and is not confident without their owners by their sides.

European Dobermann

The disposition of European Dobermans tends to be much more standardized than the American Dobermans, primarily due to the fact that every dog needs to pass ZTP temperamental testing prior to being approved for mating. To be successful with ZTP temperamental testing, the dog needs to maintain a certain level of confidence in many different situations and must also physically intervene to protect its owner during the testing.

Because of this, many American Doberman proponents will argue that generations of breeding merely to pass these tests have created head-strong alpha dogs that are not easy to handle for anyone except professional dog handlers—effectively making the dog out of reach for the average dog owner.

Proponents of the American Doberman also often argue that the European dog is a large, bulky, and clunky dog that is unrefined in appearance. They’ll also say the dog is independent to the point that it is not in tune with their master’s emotions like the American variety is.

“The European Convention forbids all ear cropping and most tail docking of dogs. That’s why you generally don’t see Dobermanns in Europe with either of these features.”

John Walter – DobermanPlanet.com

Choosing the Right Doberman — Which is better?

The right Doberman is the one that you believe will mesh the best with the environment you intend to bring it into. A dog whose temperament is a good fit for you should be your top priority. Since, like people, every dog is different and possesses its own temperamental characteristics, regardless of their genetics, each potential puppy that you’re considering should be evaluated to determine if they’ll be a good fit for you and your family.

Although I strongly believe the individual dog you pick is far more important than whether you pick a European or American Doberman, below is a good starting point to help you zero in on the right dog for you.

A European Dobermann might be best if you…

• Have an active family and want a dog to join a lot of family outings.
• Are an experienced dog owner.
• Want the best guard dog possible.
• Like a larger, more powerful looking Doberman with visible muscle mass.
• Want to compete in working dog events, protection events, join search and rescue organizations, etc.

An American Doberman Pinscher might be best if you…

• Have a tight family environment and want a dog that sticks close by your side.
• Are an inexperienced dog owner.
• Value a dog that can read human emotion well.
• Love the beauty of a refined and noble looking Doberman.
• Want to compete in breed conformation shows.

Once you decide which Doberman variant is most likely to fit your lifestyle, take the time to find a reputable breeder and then pick the specific dog from that litter that will be the best fit for your family.

For help on how to properly test a Doberman puppy’s temperament so that you can pick the one who’s the best fit for you, see my article How to Choose the Best Doberman Puppy from a Litter. This article also has a free printable puppy test worksheet that you can bring with you to help guide you through performing temperament testing on each puppy. Taking the time to pick the right puppy from a litter, instead of blindly purchasing any puppy, is critical to long-term success with your new dog.

If you are still torn about which Doberman you should be getting, let me set you at ease, I really don’t think you can go wrong. Both dogs are incredibly intelligent, loving, bond strongly to the family, and are easy to train. Both are wonderful with kids if socialized with them from a young age, and both are likely to make a great addition to your family. No matter what you choose, I’ll be here to help you through the process!

Now it’s time to choose whether you want a male or female Doberman. You may be surprised at how different they can be. To see exactly how they are different, see my article Male vs. Female Doberman: Which is Better?

Related Questions

Are European Dobermans more aggressive? European Dobermans are considered to have a better temperament for guard and protection work. While they don’t typically show aggression to their owners, they do display more drive and determination than the American Doberman Pinscher in protection dog competitions.

What is a king Doberman pinscher? The king Doberman pinscher doesn’t exist. Typically, puppies advertised for sale as “king Dobermans” are actually a cross between a Doberman and another breed, such as a Great Dane or Rottweiler.

What is the difference between a Doberman and a Doberman Pinscher? There is no difference between a “Doberman” and a “Doberman Pinscher”. These two terms refer to the same breed of dog.