Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer" Compare Australian Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog. Which is better: Australian Shepherd or Bernese Mountain Dog or Boxer?

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

Name	Australian Shepherd	Bernese Mountain Dog	Boxer
Origins	United States	Switzerland	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	17	25	11
Reviews	2	3	1
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Other Names	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Cattle Dog, Berner	German Boxer, Deutscher Boxer
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America	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 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
Price	$600-$800	$800-$1000	$600-$1200

General Appearance - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

Size	Large	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	Male: 85-110 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 80-105 pounds (36–48 kg)	Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	Male: 97.5 pounds (38–50 kg), Female: 92.5 pounds (36–48 kg)	Male: 65 pounds (29.5 kg), Female: 59 pounds (26.5 kg)
Height	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 24-28 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 23-27 inches (58–69 cm)	Male: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm), Female: 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 26 inches (61–71 cm), Female: 25 inches (58–69 cm)	Male: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm), Female: 22.5 inches (57 cm)

Hair & Care - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

Coat	Feathered	Dense	Waterproof
Colors	Red Blue Merle Black	White Black	Brindle White Fawn
Grooming	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Boxer requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Bernese Mountain Dogs shed above average.	Boxers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

Temperament	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Affectionate Intelligent Faithful Loyal	Brave Confident Fearless Intelligent Playful Bright Energetic Friendly Loyal
Intelligent Rank	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Very smart: Bernese Mountain Dog is an excellent dog breed.	Average: Boxer's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are easy to train.	Boxers are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	Bernese Mountain Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Boxer is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Boxers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Bernese Mountain Dogs need for social interaction is average.	Boxers need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Average: The Bernese Mountain Dog barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Boxer rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.	Boxers are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Boxers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Bernese Mountain Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Boxer has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Boxers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have average wanderlust potential.	Boxers have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Boxers 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.
Apartment Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Boxers are apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Bernese Mountain Dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Boxers adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Australian Shepherds 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.	Boxers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.
Fighting 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.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

Stranger Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards strangers.	Boxers are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Boxers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Boxers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.	Boxers are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Bernese Mountain Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Boxer is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	Boxers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally with other pets.	Boxers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Bernese Mountain Dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Boxers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good 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.	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.	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.	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	Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Bernese Mountain Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Boxer 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.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

Health Issues	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Very healthy dog breed.	The Boxer is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Bloat Cancer Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Panosteitis Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease	Allergies Aortic Stenosis Bloat Boxer Cardiomyopathy Cancer Corneal Dystrophy Deafness Demodectic Mange Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism
Life Expectancy	12-15 years	7-10 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Boxers are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Bernese Mountain Dogs have an average exercise need.	Boxers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Bernese Mountain Dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Boxers don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average to High.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers cold weather The Bernese Mountain Dog can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions
Stinkiness	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Bernese Mountain Dog has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Boxer has a high chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Bernese Mountain Dog drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Boxer is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Australian Shepherd vs Bernese Mountain Dog vs Boxer

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	6-9 puppies, average 7	1-14 puppies, average 8	2-10 puppies, average 6
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