Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher" Compare Labrador Retriever and American Pit Bull Terrier. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or American Pit Bull Terrier or Doberman Pinscher?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Labrador Retriever	American Pit Bull Terrier	Doberman Pinscher
Origins	England Canada	United States	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Hunting Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	1	336	16
Reviews	3	3	1
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Other Names	Labrador, Lab	APBT, Pit Bull, Pitty, Pit, Pitbull	Dobie, Dobermann, Dobynm, Doberman
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Pinscher and Schnauzer type section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	American Canine Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Backwoods Bulldog Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$1000-$2000	$500-$700	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Size	Large	Medium	Medium
Weight	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	22-78 pounds (10-35 kg)	Male: 88-99 pounds (40-45 kg), Female: 71-77 pounds (32-35 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	50 pounds (22.5 kg)	Male: 93.5 pounds (42.5 kg), Female: 74 pounds (33.5 kg)
Height	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	14-24 inches (35-60 cm)	Male: 26-28 inches (66-71cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	19 inches (47.5 cm)	Male: 27 inches (68.5 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Coat	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Fine	Fine
Colors	Yellow Chocolate Black	Blue Gray White Tan Brown Red Yellow Black	Blue Red Tan Brown White Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The American Pit Bull Terrier requires minimal grooming.	Easy to groom: The Doberman Pinscher doesn't require a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	American Pit Bull Terriers shed moderately.	Doberman Pinschers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Temperament	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Affectionate Clownish Friendly Loyal Strong Willed Aggressive Courageous Intelligent Obedient Stubborn	Alert Fearless Loyal Energetic Intelligent Obedient
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: American Pit Bull Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Doberman Pinscher is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	American Pit Bull Terriers are easy to train.	Doberman Pinschers are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The American Pit Bull Terrier is a playful breed.	Doberman Pinschers, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Doberman Pinschers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	American Pit Bull Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Doberman Pinschers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	American Pit Bull Terriers are a social breed.	Doberman Pinschers need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Average: The American Pit Bull Terrier barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Doberman Pinscher rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers are average watchdogs.	Doberman Pinschers are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	American Pit Bull Terriers are average defenders.	Doberman Pinschers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	High The American Pit Bull Terrier has a high chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Doberman Pinscher has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	American Pit Bull Terriers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Doberman Pinschers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Wanderlust potential of the American Pit Bull Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.	Doberman Pinschers tend to escape less than other breeds.
Prey Drive	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	American Pit Bull Terriers have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Doberman Pinschers don't have an impulse to catch or chase small animals.
Apartment Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	American Pit Bull Terriers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Doberman Pinschers are very apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	American Pit Bull Terriers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Doberman Pinschers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	American Pit Bull Terriers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Stranger Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers are average friendly towards strangers.	Doberman Pinschers are not stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.	Doberman Pinschers are average friendly dogs towards children.
Cat Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs.	Doberman Pinschers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers are not dog-friendly.	Doberman Pinschers are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No American Pit Bull Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Doberman Pinscher is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	American Pit Bull Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Doberman Pinschers are commonly okay with elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	American Pit Bull Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	Doberman Pinschers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No American Pit Bull Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Doberman Pinschers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really American Pit Bull Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Doberman Pinscher breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Health Issues	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	American Pit Bull Terriers tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	Doberman Pinschers are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Demodectic Mange Hip Dysplasia Skin Allergies	Cardiomyopathy Hip Dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Wobbler's Syndrome
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	10-14 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	American Pit Bull Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Doberman Pinschers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	American Pit Bull Terriers have an average exercise need.	Doberman Pinschers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	American Pit Bull Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Doberman Pinschers sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	5 to 6 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers warm weather
Stinkiness	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The American Pit Bull Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Doberman Pinscher has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The American Pit Bull Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Doberman Pinscher drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.

Reproducibility - Labrador Retriever vs American Pit Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	5-10 puppies	5-8 puppies	6-10 puppies
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