Searching for the perfect canine companion?
Well, you might have a hard time deciding between the Rottweiler and Doberman.
Now that you’ve researched a bit, you’ve stumbled upon an interesting-looking fella called Beauceron.
But what are the differences between these breeds really?
As a Rottie owner, I’ll try to shed some light on how to find the perfect breed for you and how they differ in temperament, size, and more.
Trust me, I’ve been there and went through a couple of other breeds as well before narrowing it down to these.
That being said, you might just be interested in these breeds and how they compare to each other in general.
Let’s dive in.
Rottweiler vs Doberman Temperament
I’m lucky to call a Rottweiler my own and if I’d have to use a single-word description, it’d be courageous.
Seriously, a well-bred and properly socialized Rottweiler can do nearly anything with you and I love it.
On a spectrum, I’ve seen pretty calm Rotties but also some who are quite alert.
Ideally, your Rottweiler is calm around the family and alert when there’s reason to prick up your ears.
My Rottweiler may have been a tiny bit easily excitable as pup.
With these strong-willed fellas, puppy blues can be real, not to mention puppy biting in general which Rotties are known for (interestingly, mine learned very quickly so there’s that plus).
But hey, as long as your Rottie is ignoring strangers who’s to complain when she’s going crazy with familiar people?
That’s the fruit of all your training and Rotties certainly make great family dogs.
From what I’ve heard, people who had both Dobermans and Rottweilers call the Doberman a tad smarter.
Rotties are knuckleheads, I can’t argue with that.
While they’re pretty smart, the average Doberman does seem to pick up new behaviors and tricks a bit faster.
However, this is just anecdotally and not definitive.
Genetics, socialization, and training contribute far more to how responsive your dog will be than breed alone.
Dobermans are very alert dogs too as they should be.
Rotties and Dobis have been bred for similar purposes, albeit one is suitable for protection work while Dobermans are generally more guard dogs with a fierce bark.
However, Rottweilers can be great for families with kids, the same can be said about the Doberman.
Rottweiler vs Doberman Size
While the Doberman is 1-2 inches taller than the Rottweiler, the Rottweiler is a couple of pounds heavier and when it comes to males, the difference can be as much as 20-40 pounds (9-18kg).
Dobermans are slender in appearance while Rottweilers can look pretty bulky, especially males.
If you’re getting your next pup partly as guardian for the family, both breeds should do the trick.
That being said, the Doberman might not look as menacing as a Rottweiler but their tall stature, strong posture, and dark color can be intimidating to potential intruders nonetheless.
A female Rottweiler is ideally around 23.5 inches (60cm) tall and weighs 90 pounds (41kg) while male Rottweilers are 26 inches (66cm) and weigh 110 pounds (50kg).
While deviations within the breed standard are possible, most dogs I’ve seen are somewhere around the ideal point.
Rottweiler Height:
Female: 22–25 inches (56–63 cm), Male: 24–27 inches (61–69 cm)
Rottweiler Weight:
Female: 77–110 lbs (35–48 kg), Male: 110–130 lbs (50–60 kg)
Doberman Height:
Female: 24–27 inches (61–68 cm), Male: 26–28 inches (66–72 cm)
Doberman Weight:
Female: 71–77 lbs (32–35 kg), Male: 88–99 lbs (40–45 kg)
Rottweiler vs Doberman Bite Force – Who Would Win?
Upon comparing the Rottweiler bite force to that of the Doberman, you’ll notice that the Rottweiler is more powerful with a larger skull and higher bite force.
Some people would argue that the Doberman’s speed would be an advantage, but it’s not like the Rottweiler is completely immobile.
Rotties can be quite agile at times and while their effortless trotting gait may not look quite as sublime as that of the Doberman, they make up for speed in ferocity and determination.
However, both breeds can be great with dogs (or at the very least acceptant of other dogs with the proper socialization) so you should never worry about any fights breaking out.
It’s good to know what to do once a dog-on-dog fight occurs but you should never ever provoke it in any way at all.
Theoretically debating their aptitude – assuming they’d live in the wilderness – is an interesting mental exercise but not more.
Similarly, bite force will probably never matter for regular dog owners but it can be said that the Rottweiler’s bite force is significantly higher than that of the Doberman.
Partly contributing to this fact is the Rottweiler’s large skull and overall thick head.
The Doberman’s head is more slender and bean-shaped with a longer muzzle compared to the Rottie.
Luckily, this also helps the Doberman with breathing and respiratory issues are far less common
To be fair, although Rotties are brachycephalic, they rarely struggle as much as Frech Bulldogs or Pugs do, for example.
Recommended Reading: Rottweiler vs Kangal Bite Force
Let’s check out how the Doberman stacks up against the Beauceron.
Doberman vs Beauceron Temperament
Beaucerons are described as gentle and faithful dogs but Dobermans are known to be quite a bit more loyal and bond closer to their family.
If you’d think that the Beauceron fits right in with the other two breeds in terms of temperament, you’re kinda right.
While the Beauceron is bred for herding work, they’re also suitable if you’re searching for a vigilant family dog.
However, you may have a harder time finding resources, groups with Beauceron owners, or just generally meeting people with the same breed compared to the others here.
The Beauceron is nearly 100 ranks behind the Rottweiler and Doberman when it comes to the AKC’s popularity list with the Rottweiler repeatedly making the top 10.
Beauceron’s are just not that common which may stem from the fact that there is quite some overlap between the breeds presented here.
Doberman vs Beauceron Size
The Beauceron sits right between the Rottweiler and Doberman when it comes to height since the Doberman is usually one or two inches taller but they weigh nearly the same.
Beauceron Height:
Female: 25-26 inches (64– 66 cm), Male: 26-28 inches (66–71 cm),
Beauceron Weight
Female: 65-85 (30-39 kg) lbs, Male: 70-100 lbs (32–45 kg)
So if you’re looking to introduce one of these breeds into your home, make sure you’re able to handle a large dog and provide the proper training regimen.
Rottweiler vs Doberman vs Beauceron Shedding
All of these breeds have smooth and short coats, but the Beauceron is the only one with a double coat which is also why they require more regular grooming, apart from the fact that all of these shed moderately.
The Rottweiler’s coat type is not as silky as that of the Doberman and a tad longer and thicker (makes them a great breed for the winter). Both breeds shed roughly the same during shedding season twice a year.
Due to the Beauceron’s double coat, you can expect a bit more shedding compared to the Rottweiler or Doberman.
Rottweiler vs Doberman vs Beauceron Colors
While the AKC recognizes various colors that differ between these breeds, their usual color is nearly identical for all of them – black as the base with rust/tan markings.
While the Rottweiler only has this black color accompanied by a varying shade of brown (rust, tan, mahogany), the other two do have other colors as well.
Among these is a deep red or even white (beware of this one though) for the Doberman and Harlequin for the Beauceron which is often seen in Great Danes.
However, these markings are rare and so they likely end up looking similar to the Rottweiler’s black with rust/tan markings just a different tone of brown which can range from reddish to bronze.
I actually have articles dedicated to the Rottweiler colors and Doberman colors only.
| Rottweiler | Doberman | Beauceron |
| Black & Rust | Black & Rust | Black & Rust |
| Black & Tan | Red & Rust | Black & Tan |
| Black & Mahogany | Blue & Rust | Gray Black & Tan |
| Fawn | Harlequin | |
| White |
In conclusion, you definitely need to be aware that the Rottweiler, Doberman, and Beauceron are all alert dogs with a relatively high need for physical exercise and mental stimulation.
All of them are big dogs with similar colors and comparable temperaments and yet they’re totally unique.
My female Rottie is a big goofie dog but also a handful with nearly 100 pounds (45kg) which is a weight neither the average Doberman nor the Beauceron male will achieve.
If you’re prepared to introduce a big dog into your life, go for it.
Still unsure about which big dog is right for you? I actually have an article for people looking for big dogs for apartments as well as one for first-time guard dog owner breeds.
Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.