Doberman Pinscher vs Great Dane

A Doberman Pinscher
Photo: Stonda
A Great Dane
Photo: Arabsalam

Side by side

Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
Adult weight
Males 40–45 kg (88–99 lb); females 32–35 kg (71–77 lb)1
Males 64–79 kg (140–175 lb); females 50–64 kg (110–140 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 80–90 cm; females 72–84 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 11.2 years3
Median 10.6 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
12 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
Pinschers & molossoids5
Coat
Short coat1
Short coat5
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Health
Underactive thyroid (far more likely); Bone cancer (much more likely)6,7
Bone cancer (far more likely); Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)7,8
Class
Watchdog
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Great Dane is much larger: about 64 kg (141 lb) as an adult, against 38 kg (84 lb) for the Doberman Pinscher.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Doberman Pinscher, and a moderate amount with the Great Dane.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Doberman Pinscher: needs daily brain work; Great Dane: easy-going, simple routines) and on independence (Doberman Pinscher: keen to work with you; Great Dane: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Doberman Pinscher
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

In temperament the Doberman is alert, energetic and quick to learn, closely attached to its household and typically reserved with strangers.

Great Dane
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

In temperament the Great Dane is friendly, patient and dependable. It is affectionate with its household and usually calm indoors, but watchful with strangers.

The Doberman Pinscher page →The Great Dane page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Great Dane grows to the heavier adult, about 65 kg against the Doberman Pinscher's 39 kg.
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
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More comparisons

Compare the Doberman Pinscher with
Doberman Pinscher vs German ShepherdDoberman Pinscher vs RottweilerGreat Dane vs Irish WolfhoundDoberman Pinscher vs German PinscherBelgian Malinois vs Doberman PinscherBeauceron vs Doberman PinscherAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·