American vs. European Doberman Pinschers – What is the difference?

If you’re looking into Doberman Pinscher puppies for sale, or even thinking about adopting an older Dobie, you’ve probably figured out by now that there’s a distinction between European Dobermans and the American Doberman. Technically they are the same breed, for AKC breed specification purposes. However, when you dive into the details, the differences are distinct. Let’s take a look at some of these differences:

Size, Shape and Appearance

The European Dobie will have a stockier build all around. His head will be boxier, with prominent features and harder lines. His limbs will be muscular, bulging at times. His torso and chest will be thick and broad. He will weigh more on average, but perhaps not be quite as long as an American. For color variations including Rust, such as Black and Rust, the European will generally have a darker Rust color. The American Dobie will have a generally sleeker look over their whole body – sleeker head with softer lines, less muscular limbs, a higher tuck in the belly. This creates the traditional AKC show dog look for Doberman. After all A.K.C stands for AMERICAN Kennel Club. The Rust colors on Americans tend to be lighter (leaning towards Tan) than Euros. This is an example from a popular info-graphic floating around the internet. Note, we did not create it, but we tend to agree with the representation.

Temperament

The American Doberman will require less “work” to be a satisfied dog. They have less drive to work, so the flip side of that is they won’t be as apt to work for you. A European will have more drive to work, and if the drive to work is fulfilled, then they will seem more satisfied. Americans may retreat from a threat, however, they may be on a higher level of alert and will be potentially quicker to provide you with an alert/bark. Europeans are more likely to stand their ground, or charge a threat. They tend to be more laid back, though. Both types of Doberman Pinschers can have strong prey drive. Much of the temperament of both can be molded through proper and adequate amounts of training. And, in each type, there are a variety of personalities (as there are with any breed) that you will find in a litter. It’s important to choose your puppy based on personality traits that suit what you desire in a dog.

So which is better?

Which is better you ask us, or yourself? That question is like asking “Should I buy the Ferrari or the Aston Martin?” Both are beautiful, high performance cars just like these are both beautiful high performance dogs. The answer is easy – which ever one you like better! For some people, working drive may be most important. For others, the sleek look of an American might be what they want the most. Republic Dobermans aim to produce dogs that have a high percentage of European Doberman ancestry while incorporating a minority of American Doberman DNA for good genetic diversity.

There are several good resources that go into greater detail on the matter. Here is an excellent article on the subject, on Dobermanplanet.com.