German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or American Akita or Sheepdog? Find the right dog for you

"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie" Compare German Shepherd and Akita. Which is better: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?

Size and Weight Price and Availability Trainability and Intelligence Personality and Temperament Activity and Playfulness Adaptability and Independence Bite Characteristics Health and Lifespan Energy and Activity Diet and Weight Management Allergies and Grooming Good With As a Working Dog Reproducibility Recognition Show differences only

Name	German Shepherd	Akita	Border Collie
Origins	Germany	Japan	England Scotland Wales
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral / Herding Dogs	Working Dogs	Pastoral / Herding Dogs
Popularity Rank	2	47	38
Reviews	19	9	13
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian	American Akita Japanese Akita Great Japanese Dog	Sheepdog Scotch Sheep Dog
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Size and Weight Comparison

Size Which is bigger, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which is the smallest dog, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	Large	Large	Large
Weight Which is heavier, German Shepherd or Akita or Akita? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie weight comparison:	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 75-120 pounds (34-54 kg), Female: 75-110 pounds (34-50 kg)	Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 kg)
Average Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 97.5 pounds (44 kg), Female: 92.5 pounds (42 kg)	Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie height comparison:	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 26-28 inches (66-71 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)	Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 cm)
Average Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Male: 27 inches (68.5 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm)	Male: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm)

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Price and Availability Comparison

Price Which is cheaper, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which is more expensive?	$800-$2000	$800-$1200	$600-$800
Availability Which is easier to get, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Akita is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Border Collie is quite easy to get.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Trainability and Intelligence Comparison

Intelligent Rank Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie intelligence:	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.	Average: It takes patience to teach this breed any tricks or commands, but the effort is worth it. See more.	Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Trainability German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie trainability comparison.	German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. See more.	Akita dogs are easy to train. See more.	Border Collie dogs are easy to train. See more.
Least Obedient Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Easy To Train
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	Akita dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	Border Collie dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which is a better guard dog German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	Akita dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	Border Collie dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.
Guard Dog Breeds List

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Personality and Temperament Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie behavior/temperament comparison:	Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful	Dignified Independent Protective Alert Courageous Intelligent Friendly Responsive Docile Faithful Vigilant Willing	Energetic Protective Alert Intelligent Responsive Loyal Tenacious
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference?	Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Sensitive: Akita dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Sensitive: Border Collie dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.
Most Sensitive Dog Breeds		Less Sensitive Dog Breeds
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: Akita dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: Border Collie dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.
Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
Social Needs German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie social needs comparison:	German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. See more.	Akita dogs need for social interaction is average. See more.	Border Collie dogs need a lot of social interaction. See more.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct?	German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. See more.	The wanderlust potential of the Akita is strong enough to escape from home. See more.	Border Collie dogs have average wanderlust potential. See more.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting?	German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Akita dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Border Collie 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. See more.
Dog Breeds With Low Prey Drive		Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Activity and Playfulness Comparison

Playfulness German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie playfulness comparison:	Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	Average: Akitas, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	The Border Collie is a highly playful breed. See more.
Most Playful Dog Breeds
Barking Which dog barks more/less: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. See more.	Low: The Akita barks none to minimal. See more.	Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks. See more.
Quiet Dog Breeds That Don't Bark		Dog Breeds That Bark The Most
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	It is not the best choice if you want to keep them indoors, however, with careful exercise and several walks a day, they will tolerate the indoor environment, so it is possible to keep German Shepherd indoors.	Very house-friendly dog the Akita breed.	It is not recommended to keep the Border Collie breed in the home.
The Worst Dog Breeds for Apartment Living		Apartment Friendly Dogs List

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Adaptability and Independence Comparison

Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Akita dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Border Collie dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Border Collie dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Bite Characteristics Comparison

Bite Force PSI Which bite is stronger: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Akita bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Border Collie bite force: Ordinary.
Dog Breeds With The Lowest Bite Force		Dog Breeds With the Strongest Bite Force
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Moderate ⏺ The Akita has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low 🔽 The Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie mouthiness comparison:	German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	Akita dogs have an average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. See more.	Border Collie dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Health and Lifespan Comparison

Health Issues German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie health comparison. Which is the healthier: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	The Akita is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Healthiest Dog Breeds
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie health problems comparison:	Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Cancer Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Blindness Cherry Eye Elbow Dysplasia Diabetes Heart Disease Retinal Dysplasia Demodectic Mange Degenerative Myelopathy Wobbler's Syndrome Panosteitis Hemophilia B Megaesophagus Cushing's Syndrome Lens Luxation Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Digestive Problems Hemophilia A Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lupus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Paralysis Perianal Fistula Seborrhea Vitiligo	Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Bloat Sebaceous Adenitis	Hip Dysplasia Allergies Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Epilepsy Collie Eye Anomaly Osteochondrosis Dissecans
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits?	Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Average The Akita should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.	Average The Border Collie should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Life Expectancy German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie lifespan comparison. How long do German Shepherd, Akita and Border Collie breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy?	9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years	10-14 years The average lifespan of Akita: 12 years	11-15 years The average lifespan of Border Collie: 13 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Weather and Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.	Prefers cold weather The Akita can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog. See more.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Border Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. See more.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Energy and Activity Comparison

Energy Level Who has more energy a German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie energy level comparison:	German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs.	Akita dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Border Collie dogs are high-energy dogs.
Low-Energy Dog Breeds		High-Energy Dog Breeds
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	Akita dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	Border Collie dogs need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep.	Akita dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend too much time with sleeping.	Border Collie dogs don't need too much sleep.
Dog Breeds That Sleep A Lot

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Diet and Weight Management Comparison

Average daily food consumption Which dog eats more: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 3 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day.	1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals.
Dog Breeds That Eat A Lot
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie weight gain potential comparison:	Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. See more.	Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Akita's weight, he can easily gain weight. See more.	Average: The Border Collie has an average risk for obesity. See more.
Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Allergies and Grooming Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie coat comparison:	Fuzzy	Fluffy Dense Waterproof Straight	Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long
Colors What are the original German Shepherd, Akita and Border Collie color?	Black Tan Red Silver	Black Red White Brown Fawn	Black Tan Red Sable Brindle Lilac Gold Seal White & Red Slate Sable Merle Black & White Tricolor Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red Merle White Ticked White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal
Grooming Which dog is easy to maintain, German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie grooming comparison:	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. See more.	Easy to groom: The Akita doesn't require a lot of grooming. See more.	Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort. See more.
Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds		High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
Shedding Level Who sheds more German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? German Shepherd or Akita or {name3 shedding:	German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. See more.	Akita dogs are heavy shedders. See more.	Border Collie dogs shed moderately. See more.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Shed The Most
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. See more.	3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. See more.	6-8 weeks Rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. See more.
Hypoallergenic German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No See more.	No See more.	No See more.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium ⏺ The Akita has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium ⏺ The Border Collie has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling Tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least?	The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.	The Akita is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed. See more.	The Border Collie is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Good With Comparison

Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets.	Akita dogs are generally with other pets.	Border Collie dogs are generally with other pets.
Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which dog is more friendly?	German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs.	Akita dogs are not the most stranger-friendly dogs.	Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards strangers.
Dog Breeds That Are Aloof With Strangers		Dog Breeds That Are Friendly To Strangers
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.	Akita dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Border Collie dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.
Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Akita dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Cats
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie?	German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Akita dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.	Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is good for the first-time owners: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	Yes German Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Akita dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Border Collie dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Akita is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Border Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Akitas are usually recommended for elderly people.	Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie As a Working Dog Comparison

Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.
Most Popular Service Dog Breeds
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: German Shepherd or Akita or Border Collie? Which is better for autism?	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.
Therapy Dog Breeds
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog?	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.	Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases.	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.	Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.
Boat and Sailor Dog Which one could be a boat dog: German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie?	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Not really Akita breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Not really Border Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a cart pulling or drafting dog?	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.
Fighting Dog / Military Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.
Litter Size How many puppies can German Shepherd and Akita and Border Collie have?	6-10 puppies	3-12 puppies	4-8 puppies
Dog Name Generator – Find A Perfect Name For Your Puppy

German Shepherd vs Akita vs Border Collie Recognition Comparison

AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Asian Spitz and related breeds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	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 German Shepherd Dog Club Of America	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club	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 United Kennel Club The American Int. Border Collie Registry The American Border Collie Association

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