Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher" Compare Rhodesian Ridgeback and Dutch Shepherd Dog. Which is better: Rhodesian Ridgeback or Dutch Shepherd Dog or German Pinscher?

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

Name	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Dutch Shepherd Dog	German Pinscher
Origins	Zimbabwe	Netherlands	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	41	525	136
Reviews	6	0	1
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Other Names	African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound	Dutch Shepherd Dog, Hollandse Herder	Standard Pinscher, Glatthaariger Pinscher
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a Hound breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Miscellaneous breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2003 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US	American Canine Registry America's Pet Registry Continental Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Foundation Stock Service National Kennel Club United Kennel Club American Canine Association, Inc.	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry 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
Price	$900-$1200	$1000-$1200	$1400-$1600

General Appearance - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher

Size	Large	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 80-90 pounds (36-41 kg), Female: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg)	Male: 61-70 pounds (27-31 kg) Female: 52-61 pounds (23-27 kg)	25-35 pounds (11-16 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 85 pounds (38.5 kg), Female: 70 pounds (31.5 kg)	Male: 65.5 pounds (29 kg) Female: 56.5 pounds (25 kg)	30 pounds (13.5 kg)
Height	Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)	Male: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm), Female: 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)	16-19 inches (41-48 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm)	Male: 23.5 inches (60 cm), Female: 22.5 inches (57 cm)	17.5 inches (44.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher

Coat	Dense	Wiry	Dense Shiny Smooth
Colors	Golden Red White Gray Wheaten	Blue Brindle Golden Grey Silver Yellow Salt & Pepper	Blue Red Tan Brown Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Rhodesian Ridgeback requires minimal grooming.	Easy to groom: The Dutch Shepherd Dog doesn't require a lot of grooming.	Effortless: The German Pinscher requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed none to minimal.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs shed moderately.	German Pinschers shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher

Temperament	Dignified Loyal Sensitive Intelligent Mischievous Strong Willed	Affectionate Alert Loyal Obedient Reliable Trainable	Outright Tempered Courageous Loving Familiar Lively Spirited
Intelligent Rank	Average: Rhodesian Ridgeback's has average obedience intelligence.	Smart: Dutch Shepherd Dog's has great intelligence.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.
Trainability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite easy to train.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are quite easy to train.	German Pinschers are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a playful breed.	The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a playful breed.	The German Pinscher is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are highly affectionate dogs.	German Pinschers are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a social breed.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are a social breed.	German Pinschers need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low to Average: The Rhodesian Ridgeback rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Dutch Shepherd Dog rarely barks.	Average: The German Pinscher barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average watchdogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.	German Pinschers are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Rhodesian Ridgebacks strongly protect their territory.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	German Pinschers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Dutch Shepherd Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The German Pinscher has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	German Pinschers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs tend to escape less than other breeds.	Wanderlust potential of the German Pinscher is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs 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.	German Pinschers have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	German Pinschers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Rhodesian Ridgebacks adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	German Pinschers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs 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	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher

Stranger Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	German Pinschers are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very kid-friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are average friendly dogs towards children.	German Pinschers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	German Pinschers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.	German Pinschers are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Dutch Shepherd Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No German Pinscher is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are commonly okay with elderly people.	German Pinschers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually don’t get on well with other pets.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs usually don’t get on well with other pets.	German Pinschers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	Yes Dutch Shepherd Dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No German Pinschers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used 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	Not really This breed generally not used as a 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	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.	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)	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.	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.
Boat Dog	Not really Rhodesian Ridgeback breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Dutch Shepherd Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really German 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 - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German Pinscher

Health Issues	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	German Pinschers are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Dermoid Sinus Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia	No set	No set
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	12-15 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	German Pinschers are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Rhodesian Ridgebacks need quite a lot of exercise.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs have an average exercise need.	German Pinschers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Dutch Shepherd Dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	German Pinschers don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2 3/4 to 4 3/8 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals.	3 to 4.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 2.5 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	Low to Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Dutch Shepherd Dog has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The German Pinscher has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.	The German Pinscher is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Dutch Shepherd Dog vs German 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	6-8 puppies	6-10 puppies	6-8 puppies
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