How much does a Doberman Pinscher Cost?

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

A purebred dog, elegant, athletic, and very vigilant, the Doberman Pinscher can be a reliable friend of the family due to his sensitivity and loyalty.

The Doberman breed is recognized for being the best guard dog. Alternatively called Doberman Pinscher, one of the most powerful dog breeds is still at the top of people’s preferences today. It is a pet that falls into large dog breeds and, contrary to its harsh appearance, it is very playful and friendly.

How much does a Doberman Pinscher Cost?

If you are planning on purchasing a Doberman Pinscher, be prepared to pay an initial cost somewhere between $510 and $2,300 for a Doberman puppy from a reputable breeder, with an average of $1,100.

Besides the cost of purchasing, in his first year of life, you will get to spend around $4,300. After that, the additional costs per month are around $150, almost $1,800 per year. The expenses during the lifetime of a Doberman usually cost around $21,800, and these include the supplies, puppy food, adult dog food, treats, licenses, puppy classes and training costs, microchips, grooming costs, and medical expenses.

Some other costs, not included here may refer to neuter/spay procedures, pet insurance, dog boarding, and dog walking services. Taking into consideration these costs as well you will spend anywhere between $71,100 and $188,200, with an average cost of $126,500.

As with everything you purchase, the higher costs will apply to high-end products and services, while the cheaper products and services will fall in the lower range category.

In this article, we are going to break down the costs into more categories so you can have a better understanding of how much you should budget to own a Doberman Pinscher.

Puppy costs

According to more than 500 online ads, the price of a Dobie puppy would be anywhere between $510 and $2,260, with an average cost of $1,050 for an average doberman. For a purebred puppy with documents, you may pay even more than $4,000.

Factors affecting the cost of a Doberman pup

According to veterinarian Leslie Brooks, Doberman Pinscher breeding dogs should be tested or evaluated for the next conditions before breeding and during their breeding period: von Willebrand’s Disease (DNA tests), hip dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis (blood tests), cardiac and eye problems. Also, the buyer should ask the Doberman breeder about what health screening tests have been performed.

The cost of buying a Doberman will vary for the same breed as it depends on many factors like the following:

Registration pedigree/papers

Some breeders are members of a kennel club and one of the most famous is the American Kennel Club (AKC). The cost of the puppy will increase if it is AKC registered.

Mixed or purebred

In most cases, purebred dogs will be more expensive compared to mixed breeds, like miniature pinschers.

Bloodline and breeder’s reputation

The costs will be much higher if the parents of the pups are show-quality dogs from a reputable breeder. This is because the breeders spend more to taking care of their breeding dogs.

Age

Costs tend to be lower for older dogs because most people prefer to buy a Doberman Pinscher as young as possible. For instance, an 8-week-old puppy will likely cost more than a 6-month-old one.

Coat color and marking

Trends regarding the coat color of a dog are changing permanently and when most people are interested in a specific color, the cost of the Doberman Pinscher puppy will increase. However, purebred dogs are accepted by kennel clubs only if they have a specific color. Also, the most expensive puppies are the ones with rare colors.

Breed popularity in the buyer’s location

The price of a such a pup will be greatly affected by the local supply and demand, not only in 2023 but every year. For instance, in big cities where people don’t have very much living space, small dogs are very popular, while in colder climates where hunting is popular, breeds are in demand. It is recommended to get informed about how much a Doberman Pinscher costs in different locations, but also to visit the breeder’s location before purchasing the dog.

Health screening and medical expenses

A reputable breeder will maintain their dog’s health in good condition and will permanently test and evaluate their health at a vet clinic and this will result in a higher cost but will reduce the risk of buying a sick dog.

Training and socialization

Some breeders choose to train the dogs before selling and this way they increase their value. However, it will save you money as you will not have to pay for dog training.

Supplies costs

To raise a Pinscher, you will need some supplies such as food, bowls, toys, sanitary equipment, cleaning products, collars, beds, and many more. Depending on the place you purchase them from and their quality, these supplies may cost anywhere between $250 and $940.

Training costs

You might also like our articles about the cost of Doberman ear cropping, or about the price of breeds like the Miniature Pinscher, or the Weimaraner Dog.

Doberman dogs can be quite different in their ability to be trained. Thus, while some of them can be easily trained, their intelligence allowing them to learn new tricks quickly, others prove to be very stubborn and hard to work with. But regardless of these aspects, a Doberman must be trained with a firm hand, constancy, and maintaining the hierarchy, showing him that you are the Alpha of the pack. At the same time, you need to train him gently, because a severely treated Doberman will become stubborn and might tend to be aggressive.

Plan to spend anywhere between $920 and $1,250 on dog training, with an average cost of $1,300.

Monthly costs of owning a Doberman

Medical costs

To keep your Doberman healthy, you should expect to spend around $635 (plus a one-time fee of $60 to $510 for neutering/spaying the dog) in the first year of life and almost $680 per year after that, depending on the place where you are living.

According to the vet Leslie Brooks, in the first year of life, a Doberman should have at least three vet visits and each one costs anywhere between $70 and $175.

Besides the basic check-up, a flea and heartworm prevention treatment is recommended which will result in a cost of $80 to $130 each.

Moreover, you should plan on spending on some extra vaccines to prevent some diseases such as:

• Lyme – $60 to $80 including the booster shot;
• Influenza – $75 to $95 including the booster shot;
• Leptospirosis – $25 to $30.

Dr. Leslie Brooks also recommends the Gastropexy procedure for your Doberman because it is a large, deep-chested dog, and this way you will prevent the twist of the stomach itself. Expect to pay anywhere between $210 and $410 for this procedure.

Adult Dobermans will need at least one vet check-up every year and this would cost anywhere between $130 and $270, depending on the geographical location and the clinic. For the heartworm and flea prevention medications, you will pay anywhere between $100 and $310 each. Also, for the annual vaccine booster shots, you will pay from $15 to $55 each.

In the table below you will find the costs associated with some of the most common health problems that a Doberman Pinscher may have.

Health Problem	Likelihood	Treatment Cost Estimate
Dilated Cardiomyopathy	High	$650 – $2,300
Hypothyroidism	Medium	$400 – $800
Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)	High	$1,500 – $3,000
Wobbler Syndrome	Medium	$500 – $6,000

The Doberman breed is a breed that has quite a lot of health risks compared to other breeds. Among the diseases that can occur in this breed are the following:

• Hip dysplasia and shoulder dysplasia, most often occur with the aging of dogs of this breed. It is best to find out if the dog’s parents have suffered or are suffering from such a disease.
• Cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the electrical system of the heart, leading to arrhythmias. When irregular heartbeats are successive, this can even lead to death.
• Von Willebrand disease means a lack of a substance that helps platelets form clots, which is why dogs with this disease bleed excessively when injured, no matter how small the wound.
• Gastric dilation/torsion or “volvulus syndrome” is characterized by rapid accumulation of air in the stomach and stomach misalignment. This means that the stomach keeps swelling and no longer allows food to flow through it.

Pet insurance

If you want to make budgeting much easier consider enrolling your Doberman in a health insurance plan. According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s latest State of the Industry Report, the average cost just for accident plans is around $200 per year, while for accident and illness plans you will have to pay around $570 per year.

Food costs

For good health, the dog needs a balanced diet that meets the individual needs of the body at each stage of life. The Doberman can eat dry food, but also natural foods such as beef, lamb, beef, and not pork or bones.

Boiled meat products such as liver, heart, lungs, fish, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, cereals, and dry bread may also be included in his daily diet.

Grooming costs

Getting a Doberman doesn’t imply extra care, as it doesn’t have the specific dog odor. It needs brushing once a week to remove dead hairs from the fur, and bathing when necessary. Instead, dental care should be done several times a week with a special dog toothbrush to remove tartar deposits.

If you want to take your Doberman Pinscher to a salon for professional dog grooming that includes teeth brushing, nail trimming, ear and eye cleaning, and brushing, plan on spending anywhere between $50 and $65 per session.

On the other hand, you can purchase a grooming kit that costs $30 to $300 and groom him yourself.

Doberman Pinscher details

One of the most beautiful dogs in the world, the Doberman first appeared in the city of Apolda, in the German land of Thuringia. The father of the Doberman was Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. He was a tax collector, and this job was often dangerous and aroused resentment among the citizens, which is why he thought he needed a strong and imposing watchdog.

He wanted to intimidate his possible aggressors and set out to unite a perfect combination in a canine specimen, namely: intelligence, power, loyalty, strength, and ferocity. The appearance of the Doberman is not known exactly, as the different breeds of dogs used in crossbreeding are not known, but there has been speculation in the past that the Rottweiler, German Pinscher, and Black and Tan Puppies have been used. The breed was officially recognized in 1900.

What are the extra costs?

There are some extra costs you need to consider when owning a Doberman Pinscher such as the licenses, microchipping, dog walking, and boarding.

Doberman Pinschers – breed details

The color of purebred dogs is a black or brown background with copper spots on the jaw and above the eyes, on the cheeks, on the limbs, and perianal.

The eyes are dark, the ears are traditionally cut, and the tail is cut short from the third day of life.

Because they are guard dogs, they are always energetic, agile, and ready to jump to help their owner. They are intelligent, fearless, and very determined to take action to the end. They are not as aggressive as their reputation tells us but only act when they feel threatened.

Their desire to work with people, their ability to carry out their tasks, and their appearance made them excellent police dogs for many years.

Dobermann is prone to bloating and stomach problems. Smaller and more frequent meals can help reduce this risk.

A special aspect of a Doberman dog is weather sensitivity, being lifeless and without the desire for activities in the rain, preferring to rest in anticipation of sunny days. This is quite unusual for the energetic temperament of a Doberman and can cause signs of concern to a master who does not know the dog’s lack of attraction for rainy days. No worries, however – with the appearance of sunny days, the Doberman will again be full of energy and enthusiasm as usual, ready for new adventures and games with his masters.

How can I save money?

If you want to save money when planning to own a Doberman Pinscher then adopting one would be much more affordable as the adoption fees are anywhere between $55 and $510.

You can save money on dog supplies such as harnesses, door gates, or dog clothing by checking out second-hand stores.