A Detailed Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier.

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Doberman Pinscher and for the Skye Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Doberman Pinscher or the Skye Terrier

Doberman Pinscher versus Skye Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Skye Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Doberman Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Skye Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Doberman Pinscher versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Skye Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Doberman Pinscher Skye Terrier
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 2/5
General Health 1/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 60 to 80 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1910 $2000
Price Range $1100 – $2500 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 79.5 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 15 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 5 55

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Doberman Pinscher in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Skye Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Skye Terrier is a better pet than the Doberman Pinscher. So, you should get the Skye Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Skye Terriers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Skye Terriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Skye Terriers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Skye Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Skye Terriers do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train. However, Skye Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Doberman Pinscher versus Skye Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier.

    Doberman Pinschers weigh 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Doberman Pinschers are 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Skye Terriers weigh 25 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Skye Terriers are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 percent while the temperament score for the Skye Terrier is 37.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 79.5 percent, the Doberman Pinscher has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 37.5 percent, the Skye Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Doberman Pinscher puppy is $1910. The price of the Doberman Pinscher typically ranges from $1100 – $2500. However, the price of a Doberman Pinscher can be as low as $300 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 476 Doberman Pinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Skye Terrier puppy is $2000. The price of the Skye Terrier typically ranges from $2000 – $2000. However, the price of a Skye Terrier can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Skye Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Skye Terrier is more expensive than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher Skye Terrier
    Average Price $1910 $2000
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $2000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and Skye Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many Skye Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Doberman Pinscher puppy or the Skye Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Doberman Pinscher Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Doberman Pinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 5 out of 130 dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Doberman Pinschers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Skye Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 55 out of 130 dog breeds. The Skye Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Skye Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more intelligent than the Skye Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Doberman Pinscher is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 12 161
    2014 14 177
    2015 14 175
    2016 15 178
    2017 16 172
    2018 17 178
    2019 19 187
    2020 18 183

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Skye Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Skye Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Skye Terrier

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Skye Terrier

    Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Skye Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Skye Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Skye Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Skye Terrier

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Skye Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Doberman Pinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Doberman Pinscher that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Doberman Pinscher:

  • Rottweiler (68 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Rottweiler.
  • Schnoodle (67 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Schnoodle.
  • Neapolitan Mastiff (67 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Neapolitan Mastiff.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Skye Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Skye Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Skye Terrier:

  • Lakeland Terrier (78 percent match with Skye Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Doberman Pinscher vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Doberman Pinscher and how the Skye Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher and of the Skye Terrier to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Doberman Pinscher versus Yorkipoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Alaskan Malamute     Doberman Pinscher versus Bulldog     Doberman Pinscher versus Mudi     Doberman Pinscher versus Dutch Shepherd     Doberman Pinscher versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Border Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Pomapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Lowchen     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Lancashire Heeler     Skye Terrier versus Airedale Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Portuguese Pointer     Skye Terrier versus Standard Schnauzer     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Malinois     Skye Terrier versus Pomsky     Skye Terrier versus Border Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Italian Greyhound     Skye Terrier versus Morkie     Skye Terrier versus Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Skye Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Doberman Pinscher and the Skye Terrier better suits you and your family.