Just a general question about Germ. Shep vs. Dobermans. It seems that both are used in Schutzhund/Tracking. However, when I see police service dogs, the majority are Malinois or German Shepherds. I know most of the people on this board own Shepherds. But I'm just curious if the two breeds have characteristics that are similiar and also how they are different.

Which make better service dogs? Which would be better suited for obedience training, etc??

I have a Shep/BorderCollie mix (best guess..ha ha) Anyway, she seems to possess some of the traits that I really like in a dog.....intellgence, loyalty, devotion, high energy. She is a great companion, who I LOVE spending time with and working/training.

I've just been researching those 2 breeds. Am hoping to get some educated input.

Thanks,

Linda

We own both German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers.

Dobermans:

As far as physicality goes, they have shorter hair that doesn't shed as much as Shepherds. They make good housedogs for this reason. They are very agile and "deer-like." However, they cannot withstand the cold weather due to their thin coats. I always wondered how they survied originally in colder climates. They are also lean muscle as opposed to stout and solid like some shepherds. I don't have a Malinois nor have ever owned one so I can't comment on that. They are HIGHLY intelligent and tend to learn things very quickly. Just like shepherds, however, they need obedience training, or they'll run all over you. A Doberman's looks and barks tends to be able to scare the Dickens out of people. As a co-worked calls them, "they look like scary Skeksies (from The Dark Crystal)." My female Doberman was a Search and Rescue dog if that tells you anything about their workability. Dobermans also have what's called a "Scissor bite." A well-bred doberman's teeth will fit together in a scissor-formation and makes a VERY hard bite.

German Shepherds:

They do shed a lot more than Dobermans; however, they tend to be more weather hardy than Dobermans do. I have found intelligent shepherds and less than intelligent shepherds. As our dogs are well-mannered and well-trained, I can only assume an untrained Doberman would be like an untrained German Shepherd as well. Shepherds tend to be stockier than Dobermans as well.

I don't know of any Police Forces in the U.S. that use Dobermans, but those are only that ones I know about; there could be several forces that use them, but I have definitely seen more Shepherds and Malinois.

Shelby,
Thanks for your input. Thats cool that you have both breeds. I kind of figured that both would definitely need obedience, structure and work, or as you said, they would run all over you. I never considered the tolerance to the weather, as you mentioned. Dobermans, by appearance anyway, seem like they would be a bit more nimble/agile. They have longer limbs than the sheperds.

I think they both are so beautiful. They seem like they would be great dogs for anyone wanted to really get involved in dog sports/activities.

Have fun with you dogs!!

Thanks,

Linda

I had a shep/dobe mix long ago. He could be obstinate...
and though stories heard then about dobes flashing when testing you, and all that entails never occurred, I often wondered if that wasn't the dobe half shining thru, and have
elected to go shepherd since. Still miss him though,eons later.

lunyov

While it's difficult to judge the breed as a whole based on two dogs, I have never experienced a stubborn Doberman. Both of our's are willing to please and work.

Uhh... almost all breeds have scissors bites.

I was debating getting a dobie for my next pup, I may get one some day, but I figured the odds of finding a really serious nice working dobie were so much slimmer than one of the other breeds that I decided not to take the risk.

i've owned (and do) both GSD and Dobes. i've never competed with either; i've also, as a vet tech, worked with both.

Dobes are (generally) sweet hearts when it comes to people--they're easy to work with in a hospital situation. they tend to have high pain thresholds (which makes them a bit harder to diagnose when they're feeling bad). they are awesome in agility--my 8-yr old rescue plays football with the kids, and blows right past them. i love his easy coat. but finding one with the drive and courage to even do Sch, much less ring, in north america could be a challenge.

GSD: the good ones are a lot more reserved than a Dobe; a vet once told me he'd rather work on a Dobe than a GSD because the Dobes are like a "light-switch; you can turn them on/off. a GSD thinks too much.." this was when i brought my GSD in with a 3" gash across his ribs. i thought it needed stitches, i offered to muzzle the dog for an exam, and the vet stood at the door of the exam room, said "it looks all right from here", and prescribed antibiotics.

last time i gave HIM money!!

at any rate. a GSD definitely blows a coat twice a year. dog hair every where!! i think i'll desensitize my new pup to the vacuum so i can at least use that (if i can do a horse/cow, i guess a dog can get used to it...).

sorry to cut it short, but i got to get gone. hope it's worth reading.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Having had both, and like Ann, having worked with both as a tech, I agree with her assessment. Pretty much what is a plus for one person can be a minus for someone else, like the coat. Great if you want house dogs, not so great if you have to kennel them in a cool climate. Really the main reasons we decided to get GSDs after we lost our old Dobi-boys, is (1) not having to mess with the ear trim business and (2) it is easier to find a good working lines GSD than a working Doberman. Since we wanted to get back involved with sport, we went with GSDs. Not to say I wouldn't or won't have another Dobe someday! I really love them. Males tend to be a little goofier and little more hard-headed, my females have practically trained themselves. Health-wise, you have pretty much the same issues as GSDs as far as hips and elbows, but in Dobes you also have cervical spine issues that can sneak up you, and Von Willenbrands disease (which can be checked for).

I've also been researching Dobes...I actually love this breed before I loved the Shepherd, but from what I've found it's very, very difficult to get one that's working-quality, and you pay more for it than a good Mal or Shepherd. Consequently, unless there's a specific reason you want one (i.e. you really really like their character), I think you'll be better off with a good working quality GSD, especially if you're a newbie. A good GSD seems to be much more 'user-friendly'...I think (correct me on this if I'm wrong) that Dobes may be too sharp or soft.

I've handled a non-working Dobe before and he was really nice. But he was really sharp...he will react to kids and people and everything, even though he really is quite friendly if you approach him right. He was willing to please (I only saw him on the days I trained him and he bonded to me anyway). As much as I love my shepherd now, I miss him.

I'll probably get a Dobe for my third dog, after my second shepherd. When I can afford to spend 2k on a dog without promises that it'll turn out that great. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />