Dobermans have maintained a popular status for decades, leaving little surprise that breeders sought after its handsome and no-nonsense appearance.
This article is going to feature 9 dogs that look like Dobermans in one way or the other. They are:
- Great Dane
- Rottweiler
- German Pinscher
- Beauceron
- Miniature Pinscher
- Manchester Terrier
- Pharaoh Hound
- Weimaraner
Now, let’s check out each breed one by one.
Watch the video or continue reading:
1. Great Dane
For our first choice in this list, we have a German contender in the Great Dane. The Great Dane, like the Doberman, is a working dog.
Though some compare it to the Doberman, the Great Dane’s origins go back a bit farther. Perhaps one might say that the Doberman is similar to the Great Dane rather than the other way around.
Danes can be found with a very similar coat of fur to the Doberman, color and all, but that’s where the similarities tend to end.
Temperaments, energy levels, alertness levels, and overall attitudes vary from one breed to the other.
Danes are far more laid back and are much lazier overall when it comes to playtime. Where the Doberman is more alert, curious, aware, and looking for a good time.
Check Out the List Of Famous Great Danes Below:
2. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is another very popular German breed that is often compared to the Doberman.
And like the two breeds above, the Rottweiler is the older of the two breeds and is, in fact, a significant genetic contributor to the Doberman.
As far as looks go, they share the same fur colors (black and brown). But that’s generally the end of it.
The Doberman is slightly taller and has a frame that is much more athletic and sleeker in appearance compared to the Rottweiler. Rottweilers are much wider, heavier, and more muscular than Doberman.
As far as their working dog reputations go, their resumes look more closely related than the dogs themselves. They’re both very popular police dogs, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, and, more recently, popular family pets.
3. German Pinscher
Though the German Pinscher was recognized decades after the Doberman, it’s actually quite a bit older of a breed. Actually, The German Pinscher is one out of the handful of breeds that created the Doberman- though its contribution was a small one.
People in the world of dog shows consider the German Pinscher to be a Doberman wanna-be.
The German Pinscher is probably the dog breed that is most similar to a Doberman. It shares the body type and physical features of the Doberman (though a bit smaller)
But when the rubber meets the road, their appearance is all that they share in likeness.
Behaviorally, the Doberman is much more focused on a task and is eager to obey commands. The German Pinscher does so to a point, but not nearly as predictably as the Dobie.
The German Pinscher is also a bit more headstrong or stubborn than the Doberman. This streak makes it a tad more difficult to train.
4. Beauceron
Being another fellow working dog, the Beauceron hails from Northern France. Though this breed has been used for security purposes similar to the Doberman, their original job was herding.
The Beauceron is generally a little bit smaller than a Doberman, and its double coat gives it a thicker appearance. Their similarity in coat colors is one of the reasons this breed makes this list.
These two don’t share too many more similarities outside of their color schemes and roughly similar sizes. But somehow, people often confuse the two or make the mistake of thinking that there is a relation somewhere when there isn’t.
Most concede that the Doberman is more intelligent and trainable than the Beauceron. Also, the Beauceron tends to develop mentally and physically at a slower pace than the Doberman.
5. Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie is another working dog that originates in Australia (just if the name didn’t give it away). These two are on opposite ends of the medium-sized spectrum.
Although both the Doberman and the Australian Kelpie are considered “medium-sized dogs,” the Doberman stands much taller and is much heavier. So, why is the Kelpie on this list?
Out of the color combinations available with the Australian Kelpie, it has three coat colors black, fawn and Blue, which is just like the Doberman’s, only shaggier and thicker.
People who are not familiar with the breed would assume that it must be a mix that includes a Doberman parent. However, there is no relation between the two.
Aside from color schemes, the similarities tend to come to a close from there. Kelpies tend to be more of an outdoor dog that can’t be couped up without getting obnoxious, and the Doberman can be just as happy in an apartment as he’d be at a farm.
6. Miniature Pinscher
What breed of dog looks like a small Doberman?
The Miniature Pinscher, of course! One look at the Miniature Pinscher, and you’d think that they must be closely related.
The Miniature Pinscher hails from Germany and is an uncanny spitting image of the Doberman. Perhaps a Doberman that was bred down to size, much like what happened to the British Bulldog.
Many believed that the Miniature Pinscher is a toy version of the Doberman. Surprisingly, this isn’t the case at all, and they are not directly related.
There is only one common link between these two breeds, and that would be the German Pinscher.
They are both related to that breed, however slightly in the case of the Doberman. Aside from the look, they’re two dogs that were bred for two completely different reasons.
The Doberman was bred to be a working dog, and the Mini Pinscher was bred to be a companion. Aside from the look, the Miniature Pinscher is nothing like its much larger doppelganger.
7. Manchester Terrier
The Manchester Terrier is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest, terrier breed out there. These days, they can come in two varieties- regular-sized and toy-sized. They are generally excellent sport dogs, very intelligent, and easy to train.
As we’ve observed with other breeds in this list, the Manchester Terrier is not an offshoot of the Doberman. The reverse is true.
The Manchester Terrier, along with the Rottweiler and German Pinscher, are existing, older breeds that contributed to the creation of the Doberman. Perhaps with this breed, we can see where the Doberman gets its sharp looks?
The Manchester Terrier Originated in the UK and was bred to hunt down rats in the 1800s. Over time, the toy version of the breed hit the scene but is still registered as a different breed- though inbreeding is permissible between the two.
8. Pharaoh Hounds
The Pharaoh Hound hails from Malta, with its purposes focused on being a hunting breed. To say that it’s an older breed than the Doberman would be an understatement. The history of the Pharaoh goes back over 2,000 years!
Between the Pharaoh and the Doberman, color is not what makes them similar, but they share very similar builds. Though the Pharaoh is a smaller, lighter dog, a side-by-side profile can reveal their physical similarities.
Surprisingly, they are similar in many other ways, such as intelligence, trainability, and friendliness. However, the Pharaoh was never meant to be a guard dog, but a hunter. So, their temperaments part ways that follow suit with that major difference.
9. Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a breed from Germany and was bred as hunting dogs, particularly bird retrieval. This breed has been nicknamed “The Grey Ghost” due to its shiny grey fur and matching eyes.
Though they have no similarities in coats or color schemes compared to the Doberman, the two breeds share many similarities in their physiques and temperaments.
The Weimaraner is nearly as tall and nearly as heavy as the Dobie. Some would say that the Weimaraner is just as intelligent as a Doberman, but not as easily trained.
These two breeds were created to serve two different purposes, reaping differences in temperament.
Despite their similarities, the Weimaraner does not have the “guard dog” mentality that the Doberman has. Generally speaking, they are much friendlier to strangers.
Final Thoughts On Dogs Like Doberman:
There are two characteristics that the dogs in the list have to look like a Doberman, but none of them have both.
- The first is the coat of fur– mainly its coloring.
- The second is physical attributes (shape of head and structure of their body).
Dogs Similar To Doberman But Bigger
Dobermans aren’t exactly small dogs. Depending on who you listen to, Dobermans push themselves to the upper limits of what’s considered to be a medium-sized dog.
There are two breeds that thrive in the “large dog” category that looks similar to the Doberman.
- Great Dane
- Rottweiler.
Doberman Look-Alike But Smaller
It’s a lot easier to find smaller dogs than the Doberman, yet share different similarities. Some of the dogs that are to follow are either close to the same size or smaller.
- German Pinscher
- Beauceron
- Australian Kelpie
- Miniature Pinscher
- Manchester Terrier
- Pharaoh Hounds
- Weimaraner
You might find that some of the breeds listed above appear more like a Doberman than others. The facts are, they’re not, so none of them will look or be just like a Doberman.
Having said that, some of them come pretty close in their own special ways. But if there aren’t any real reasons not to do so, why not just get your hands on the original article?
Dobermans are incredibly intelligent and easier to train than other dogs. The breed has been known to make great companions, guard dogs, and are playful members of the family when trained properly.
But if you’re just going for the look or physical attributes of the Doberman for whatever reason, I hope you find the above list helpful in your search!
Looking for dog breeds that look like German Shepherds?
Check out those GSD-looking dogs!