Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier" Compare Australian Shepherd and Standard Schnauzer. Which is better: Australian Shepherd or Standard Schnauzer or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

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

Name	Australian Shepherd	Standard Schnauzer	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Origins	United States	Germany	Ireland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	17	90	49
Reviews	1	0	1
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Other Names	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	Mittelschnauzer, Schnauzer, Wirehair Pinscher	Wheaten, Wheatie, Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
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 1904 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973 as a Terrier 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 Pinscher and Schnauzer type section.	Not recognized by FCI.
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 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	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 Irish Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry Club Espanol De Terriers
Price	$600-$800	$1200-$1500	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Size	Large	Medium	Medium
Weight	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 30-40 pounds (14-18 kg)	Male: 35-45 pounds (16-20 kg), Female: 30-40 pounds (14-18 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 35 pounds (16 kg)	Male: 40 pounds (18 kg), Female: 35 pounds (16 kg)
Height	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 18-20 inches (46-51 cm), Female: 17-19 inches (43-48 cm)	Male: 18-20 inches (46-51 cm), Female: 17-19 inches (43-48 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 19 inches (48.5 cm), Female: 18 inches (45.5 cm)	Male: 19 inches (48.5 cm), Female: 18 inches (45.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Coat	Feathered	Wiry	Curly
Colors	Red Blue Merle Black	Pepper Salt Black	Wheaten
Grooming	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.
Shedding Level	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Standard Schnauzers shed none to minimal.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are low shedders.

Characteristics - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Temperament	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Devoted Intelligent Playful Good-natured Lively Trainable	Affectionate Faithful Playful Energetic Intelligent Spirited
Intelligent Rank	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Very smart: Standard Schnauzer is an excellent dog breed.	Average: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Standard Schnauzers are easy to train.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	The Standard Schnauzer is a highly playful breed.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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.	Standard Schnauzers are highly affectionate dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Standard Schnauzers are a social breed.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Average: The Standard Schnauzer barks occasionally.	Average: The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Standard Schnauzers are good watchdogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are good watchdogs.
Territorial	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Standard Schnauzers are extremely protective guard dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Standard Schnauzer has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Standard Schnauzers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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.	Standard Schnauzers have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Wanderlust potential of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Standard Schnauzers have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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.	Standard Schnauzers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Standard Schnauzers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all 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.	Standard Schnauzers 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.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Stranger Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Standard Schnauzers are average friendly towards strangers.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Standard Schnauzers are kid-friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Standard Schnauzers are cat-friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Standard Schnauzers are dog-friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Standard Schnauzer is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Standard Schnauzers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Standard Schnauzers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family.
Good For First Time Owners	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Standard Schnauzers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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.	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 Standard Schnauzer breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Health Issues	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Standard Schnauzers tend to have a lot and frequent health issues.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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)	Follicular Dermatitis Hip Dysplasia	Addison's Disease Allergies Cancer Renal Dysplasia
Life Expectancy	12-15 years	12-15 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	Yes	Yes
Energy Level	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Standard Schnauzers are high energy dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Standard Schnauzers need quite a lot of exercise.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Standard Schnauzers don't need too much sleep.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals.	Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Low.	Average.
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 average to cold weather conditions The Standard Schnauzer can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions
Stinkiness	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The Standard Schnauzer has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Standard Schnauzer is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Australian Shepherd vs Standard Schnauzer vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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	4-8 puppies	5-8 puppies
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