Doberman Male vs Female: Key Differences (With Pictures)
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The Doberman is easily one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. These beautiful dogs are known for being loyal, protective, and loving to their owners and families. While the breed overall is amazing, you will find slight differences between males and females that can dictate which sex would be better suited for life in your family. Let’s learn more about this amazing dog breed, show you how the sexes compare, and help you make the best overall decision on whether a male or female Doberman should become your new best friend and family pet.
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Average height (adult): 26–28 inches
- Average weight (adult): 75–100 pounds
- Character: Silly
- Reach Maturity: Around 4 years old
- Trainability: Intelligent and eager to please but requires consistency as they are more distracted.
- Average height (adult): 24–26 inches
- Average weight (adult): 60–90 pounds
- Character: Serious
- Reach Maturity: Around 2 years old
- Trainability: Easier to train due to their need to excel and undivided attention.
Doberman Dog Breed 101
The Doberman is known as one of the world’s best guard dogs. This is understandable due to their fierce appearance and the reputation that precedes them. The breed itself was developed during the late 19th century in Germany. A tax collector named Louis Dobermann wanted dogs to use as protection while he performed his job duties. Louis Dobermann wasn’t only a tax collector, however. He was also a dog catcher and helped care for a dog pound. This knowledge and access to dogs allowed him to take several breeds, including the German Shepherd, German Pinscher, Great Dane, and Rottweiler to create the formidable Doberman.
Dobermann’s success led to more people choosing his dog breed as a guard dog, noting their fierce appearance and intimidating bark. It was also clear that Dobermans were fiercely protective of their owners and were ideal working dogs. This also led to them being used as military, police, and even service animals. Now, however, due to continued breeding to help socialize the breed, Dobermans are family pets that show lots of love and affection to their owners.
The Doberman breed is active and needs lots of exercise no matter the sex. They do well with training, games, and sports. The key to a Doberman is early training and socialization due to their high levels of intelligence. This helps them be loving and protective of their families without being overly aggressive.
Male Doberman Overview
Personality / Character
Male Dobermans enjoy playing and being silly. Males don’t reach maturity until around 4 years of age. At this time, you may see a bit of their silliness wane, but they are still fun-loving dogs. As the larger of the Doberman breed, males can appear a bit clumsy or accident-prone. They also require firm training considering they don’t mature until later in life.
Male Dobermans tend to be family bonders instead of sticking with one person. They are eager to please and normally do well in new situations with strangers and other pets when properly socialized. Socialization should start at an early age to help deter males from showing aggression or dominance to other male dogs they may encounter.
Training
Male Dobermans aren’t as easily trained as females but in comparison to other dog breeds, they excel. Although males are eager to please, they can also become distracted due to their playfulness. To successfully train a male Doberman you should stay consistent and keep their attention. Using a strong, clear voice is best. Dobermans also do well with positive reinforcement. Scolding them often leads to upsetting them and setting their training back. The high intelligence level of the breed makes training quick and easy if the right guidelines are followed.
Health & Care
Sadly, the male Doberman has a shorter life expectancy than a female. Their larger size and bulkier build play a big role in this. Males are naturally more susceptible to joint dysplasia which happens when too much pressure is placed on the bones and joints. Males also contract dilated cardiomyopathy more than females. DCM is a serious heart condition where the heart becomes enlarged.
- Bonds well with the entire family
- More accepting of strangers
- Playful and fun-loving
- Can be easily distracted
- Matures later in life
Female Doberman Overview
Personality / Character
Female Dobermans are easily considered the more serious of the two sexes. They aren’t near as goofy and endearing as males but that is a good thing for owners who cannot spend all their time around the house. Lady Dobermans mature around 2 years of age which makes leaving them alone safer. Unlike the male, they do not have the same issues with their attention span and are not known for making messes or being accident-prone.
Females tend to choose a human to bond with instead of attaching themselves to the entire family like males. This bonding tendency makes males a better choice if you have a family with small children. You’ll also find that female Dobermans do well in homes where their owners leave for work or other activities as females enjoy their own space and don’t require as much attention as male Dobermans.
Training
Female Dobermans are easier to train due to their need to excel. They have a better attention span than their male counterparts but are not people pleasers. When training, females give you their undivided attention once you have it. Like with the males, a clear voice and good commands make training easier. Females do great with new pet owners, especially those that are mature.
You’ll also notice that females aren’t as open to strangers. This makes them great at being off-leash. In most scenarios, your female Doberman will not rush up to a new person or pet to introduce themselves. To avoid any issues with these types of scenarios it is best to work on socialization skills early in life with them.
Health & Care
Females aren’t as bulky as males, so this lowers their risk of DCM and joint dysplasia. A lowered risk doesn’t mean it can’t happen, however, considering they are also larger-sized dogs. Their leaner build means a slightly longer life expectancy but not by much. A healthy Doberman, no matter the sex, can easily live 12 years with its owner or family. All Dobermans have the possibility of developing certain illnesses due to their sizes like bloat and Von Willebrand Disease.
- Tend to be healthier
- Easier to Train
- Matures quicker than males
- Not as outgoing and playful
- Bonds to one person
- Can be wary of strangers
Which Gender Is Right for You?
The Doberman breed overall is a great pet to bring into your home. The key, no matter the sex, is to train and socialize early so your Doberman can excel. If you have a large family that wants a dog that will love everyone equally, the large, playful, social butterfly that is the male Doberman could be the right choice for you. They are more accepting of people and have a great time playing in the backyard. If you need a dog that is more reserved and well-mannered, a female Doberman would do well in your home. These dogs do better in solo situations as they tend to bond to only their owner. You’ll also find that they do better when alone and don’t require the same attention as males of the breed. However, no matter your situation, the Doberman breed is an all-around great dog to bring into your home.