Dobermans make fantastic guard dogs.
They’re loyal, huge, and muscular.
So they can make intruders run for their lives.
But what if they must defend against their ancestor, the wolf?
Will a Doberman stand a chance?
Continue reading to discover:
- 5 epic differences between a wolf and a Doberman.
- The likely winner in a fight between a wolf and a Doberman.
- Whether wolves and Dobermans are animals meant for fighting.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Wolf vs Doberman: Who would win in a fight?
In a fight between a wolf and a Doberman Pinscher…
The former would likely be the victor.
But what are wolves’ edges over Dobermans and dogs, in general?
I’ll discuss each of them below.
5 differences between a wolf and a Doberman
#1: Bite force
First, both wolves and dogs use their mouths to attack and defend.
So if they fight, the strength of their bites may also determine the winner.
And usually, it’s measured by ‘psi’ or pounds per square inch.
Simply put, it’s the amount of pressure caused by force applied to an area.
Now, between the 2 species, which one has stronger jaws?
Let’s talk about the canine first.
Dobermans have a bite force of 229 to 305 psi
There’s no official study on this yet.
But compared to the other data you’ll see on the Internet…
These numbers are the most believable.
And it’s because an unverified report says that Dobermans have a bite force of 600 psi.
“Why’s this impossible?”
First, Rottweilers or ‘Rotties’ have a bite force of only 328 psi.
Meanwhile, lions have around 650 psi.
These animals are way bigger than Dobermans.
And also, a study shows that:
Dogs with bigger heads bite stronger…
It says that the larger a Fido’s head is, the higher their bite force.
Now, due to Dobermans’ small heads, they can’t apply much force to their jaw area.
And that’s why their bite is weaker than Rotties with huge heads.
So there’s no way that Dobes can ‘outbite’ larger Fidos like Rotties.
And have jaws almost as strong as the ‘King of the Jungle.’
Thus, it’s only believable for Dobermans to have bite force up to 305 psi.
On the other hand…
Wolves have a bite record of 406 psi
In the video below, NatGeo made a wolf bite a tool that measures their jaw’s strength. And they revealed it to be 406 psi.
However, some claim that a determined wolf can bite harder, up to 1200 psi.
But researchers haven’t done any tests to prove this.
So summing up…
Wolves have stronger jaws than Dobermans
And this makes sense because in the wild…
Wolves need to rip off the flesh and break the bones of their prey.
So with a single bite on the neck, wolves can easily defeat these canines.
#2: Weight
Pet dogs and wolves belong to the same family called ‘Canidae.’
And other animals that belong to this order are:
- Foxes.
- Jackals.
- Coyotes.
- Dingoes.
But among all the members…
Specialists say that gray wolves are the largest.
So even though Dobermans have bigger, muscular bodies compared to small breeds…
Wolves are still more enormous than them.
“How much do Dobermans weigh?”
According to AKC, the average weight of an adult Dobe varies per gender:
- Males: 75-100 lb (34-45 kg).
- Females: 60-90 lb (27-40 kg).
“What about wolves?”
Typically, experts say that an adult wolf weighs:
- Males: 70-145 lb (32-66 kg).
- Females: 60-100 lb (27-45 kg).
But a report reveals that some wolves may grow up to 175 lb (79 kg).
So if you compare these numbers to Dobermans…
Wolves outweigh the dogs’ lean, muscular bodies.
“But does having a heavy weight matter in fights?”
Researchers say so.
A study found that heavier wolves are more effective ‘killers.’
They observed that an increase of 2.2 lb (1 kg) in weight made them 3 to 5 times stronger.
However, it only applies to ‘killing’ skills, like:
- Grappling.
- Repressing.
And it’s because a heavier body made wolves less effective in attacking.
For example, they became slower in chasing or getting prey.
#3: Agility
When it comes to brawls, speed’s also one factor.
Dobermans are athletic dogs.
And based on reports, they can run as fast as 32 miles (51 km) per hour.
In contrast, wolves usually sprint up to 35 miles (56 km) an hour.
Plus, specialists say they can go as far as 30 miles (48 km) every day as they search for food.
So, even though speed isn’t wolves’ strongest point…
They’re still faster than Dobermans.
Thus, a wolf’s agility could help them charge quickly and avoid attacks.
#4: Strength
Based on the factors above…
You may already know who’s stronger between a wolf and a Doberman.
Due to their large size and powerful jaws, the former is more robust than the latter.
“But why?” you might ask.
Because of this topic, I remember a book written by Theodore Roosevelt.
It’s called “Hunting the Grisly and Other Sketches.”
And it’s all about his hunting adventures.
Now, there’s a part in the book about wolves and dogs.
According to Roosevelt, he saw a lone wolf defeating a group of Fidos
The wild animal only used their jaw.
And the wolf won the fight without any damage at all.
So he says that even bigger Fidos won’t stand a chance against a wolf. That’s whether a dog is trained to combat or not…
And that conclusion was due to Roosevelt’s findings that a wolf is:
- Ferocious.
- More agile.
- Stronger claws.
- Equipped with long-toothed jaws.
#5: Fighting instincts
Next, another important question is…
“How willing are these animals to fight?”
First, wolves don’t kill for sport.
Experts say these wild beasts only slay animals they can consume immediately.
So, they won’t risk their lives for bigger or more prey just for killing.
But still, wolves are born to kill for survival.
On the flip side…
People bred Dobermans to be guard dogs.
Mr. Dobermann, the founder of the breed, first used these Fidos to defend him from bandits.
And until today…
Dobermans are still excellent at their job.
That’s why police and military also use them as K9s. Along with German Shepherds.
Now, these dogs are loyal and fearless.
So they’ll protect their humans against an intruder.
But despite this…
Most Dobermans aren’t that much of an ‘attacker’
When they have to be aggressive…
These dogs will only be in defensive mode.
And they’re usually hostile to strangers. But less violent to other canines.
Thus, compared to Dobermans, wolves have more will to fight if needed.
And once they do, it won’t be easy for a dog to escape.
You might also like: Why Are Police Dogs Called K9? 9 Things You Need To Know
#6: Intelligence
In a fight, the victor isn’t always the largest or strongest.
Sometimes, it’s the smartest one that wins.
So, between a wolf and a Doberman…
The former already got the size and strength.
But let’s say that a young wolf is in a fight with a full-grown and bigger Doberman.
Is the Fido a likely winner this time?
It could be if the wolf is sick and weak.
“But why?”
It’s because wolves are extremely intelligent
Plus, they’re extra careful too.
Since survival is wolves’ priority…
They don’t attack their prey hastily.
Wolves usually hunt in packs.
And if the target’s big, like an elk, they have tactics to catch it.
For example, they’ll surround their prey.
Then some members of the pack will bite the nose of the elk. While other wolves will go for the rear side.
Now, although a wolf’s alone…
They might still play hide and seek with a Doberman before attacking.
Or, the wolf can run and distract the dog first.
“So, who’s smarter between wolves and Dobermans?”
Vets say that Dobermans are the 5th smartest breed in the doggy land.
Also, based on a study, an untrained pooch can learn about 89 human words.
Meanwhile, other Fidos may know up to 1022 names of things.
And it’s proven by research about a Border Collie named ‘Chaser.’
So, in general, Fidos are bright too.
But, experts say that wolves beat dogs in problem-solving
To determine this, they studied:
- 14 wolves.
- 15 mongrel dogs.
Both animals in the study were 6 months old at that time.
And researchers made each of them watch 2 situations.
So, in front of them, a trained dog opened a wooden box using either their:
- Paw.
- Mouth.
Then, specialists observed both species. And see which one of them will copy what they saw.
And the results?
After watching the demonstration…
All wolves in the study imitated the Fido. And they opened the box right away.
On the contrary…
Only about 27% or 4 out of 15 dogs solved the problem.
So experts say that most Fidos tend to ask for help from humans.
That’s why your pooch often stares at you when they need something. As if they’re telling you to…
“Mom/Dad, will ya please do this for me? *puppy eyes*.”
Conversely, wolves are more independent than canines.
Thus, the one who thinks fast will likely win in a fight.
So the wolves have the upper hand in this aspect too.
#7: Fighting skills
Last but not least.
Another study claims that skills might be more vital in animal fights than size and strength.
The researchers call it ‘agonistic behavior.’
And it’s different from aggression.
That term refers to any behavior linked to fighting. And experts say that each animal has different styles.
So in other cases, the one with the best ‘skill’ wins.
“How can I say an animal has a better fighting style?”
Based on the same paper, watch out for the one who can:
- Avoid attacks well.
- Maintain their stamina.
- Do more damage to their rival.
Now, let’s talk about wolves’ and dogs’ skills
Usually, Dobermans may only attack these wolf’s parts:
- Head.
- Neck.
- Shoulder.
On the other hand, wolves might block those.
And since they’re more careful and experienced in fights…
Wolves will take it slow.
And when the timing’s right, they’ll also aim for the Doberman’s critical areas.
Then wolves would likely win the combat.
Are wolves fighting animals?
Wolves aren’t fighting animals. They only attack and kill for food.
Since wolves need to survive in the wild…
They won’t do anything that’ll risk their lives. So they’re careful in picking fights.
Also, they hunt in packs.
And it’s because it’s more efficient for them to take down bigger prey, such as:
- Elks.
- Bison.
- Moose.
Are Dobermans fighting dogs?
Dobermans aren’t fighting dogs. People first bred them to guard. So usually, they’ll be on defense, not in the offense.
But some traits of these Fidos can be helpful in combats, such as being:
- Agile.
- Smart.
- Strong.
- Gifted with toned muscular bodies.
However, Dobermans have less fur and a thin built…
So usually, they take more damage in fights. And this puts them at a disadvantage.
That’s why they do better in protecting their humans from danger.