Boerboel vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better South African Boerboel or Alsatian?

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

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

Name	Boerboel	German Shepherd
Origins	South Africa	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Working Dogs	Pastoral / Herding Dogs
Popularity Rank	124	2
Reviews	1	11
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	South African Boerboel, South African Mastiff	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Boerboel vs German Shepherd breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2015 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	Not recognized by FCI.	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 Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc.	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
Price Which is cheaper, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Which is more expensive? What is the difference in price between Boerboel and German Shepherd?	$1500-$2000	$800-$2000
Availability	Frequent	Very frequent

Boerboel vs German Shepherd General Appearance & Basic Info Comparison

Size Which is bigger, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd size comparison:	Large Giant	Large
Weight Which is heavier, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd weight comparison:	154-200 pounds (70-90 kg)	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)
Avg. Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	177 pounds (80 kg)	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)
Height Which is taller, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd height comparison:	Male: 25-28 inches (64-70 cm), Female: 23-25.5 inches (59-65 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)
Avg. Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 26.5 inches (67 cm), Female: 23-25.5 inches (62 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)

Boerboel vs German Shepherd Hair & Care Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? Boerboel vs German Shepherd coat comparison:	Dense Shiny Smooth	Fuzzy
Colors What are the original Boerboel and German Shepherd color? Boerboel vs German Shepherd color comparison:	Brindle Cream Reddish Brown Red Tawny	Silver Tan Red Black
Grooming Which is easy to maintain, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd grooming comparison:	Effortless: The Boerboel requires minimal grooming.	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level Who sheds more Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd shedding:	Boerboels shed moderately.	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: Boerboel or German Shepherd?	4-6 weeks Average.	8-12 weeks Very rarely.

Boerboel vs German Shepherd Characteristics Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd behavior/temperament comparison:	Confident Intelligent Territorial Dominant Obedient	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful
Intelligent Rank Which dog has more intelligence? Is a Boerboel or German Shepherd smarter? Which is best? Boerboel vs German Shepherd intelligence:	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability Boerboel vs German Shepherd trainability comparison. What's the difference between Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Boerboels are quite easy to train.	German Shepherds are easy to train.
Playfulness Boerboel vs German Shepherd playfulness comparison:	Boerboels, like any other dog breed, like playing.	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference between Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Boerboels have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Boerboels are average dogs regarding their affection level.	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs Boerboel vs German Shepherd social needs comparison:	Boerboels need for social interaction is average.	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.
Barking Which dog barks more/less: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Low to Average: The Boerboel rarely barks.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Boerboels are one of the best watchdogs.	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	Boerboels are extremely protective guard dogs.	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	Low The Boerboel has a low chance of biting somebody.	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.
Bite Force Which bite is stronger: Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Above 400 PSI The strongest: Dogs that have a strong bite force are usually quite powerful and large.	Between 200 and 400 PSI Ordinary: Average dogs have bite force between 200 and 400 PSI.
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? Boerboel vs German Shepherd mouthiness comparison:	Boerboels have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? What's the difference between Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Wanderlust potential of the Boerboel is strong enough to escape from home.	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? What's the difference between Boerboel vs German Shepherd? Which can be better for hunting?	Boerboels 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.	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Nem ajánlott lakásban tartani Boerboel kutyafajtát.	Nem a legjobb választás German Shepherd, ha lakásban szeretnéd tartani, ugyanakkor alapos lemozgatással, napi többszöri sétával tolerálják a benti körülményeket is, így megoldható German Shepherd tartása lakásban.
Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	Boerboels adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: Boerboel or German Shepherd?	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.
Fighting Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Boerboel vs German Shepherd Good With Comparison

Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly Boerboel or German Shepherd? Which dog is more friendly?	Boerboels are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Boerboels are kid-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Boerboels are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Boerboels are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is best for first time owners: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Yes Boerboels are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: Boerboel or German Shepherd? Which is better for autism?	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/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.	Yes 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.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No Boerboel is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	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.	Yes 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.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	Boerboels are usually recommended for elderly people.	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Boat Dog Which one could be a boat dog: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Not really Boerboel breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	Boerboels usually don’t get on well with other pets.	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a cart pulling or drafting dog?	Yes 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.

Boerboel vs German Shepherd Health Factors Comparison

Health Issues Boerboel vs German Shepherd health comparison. Which is the healthier: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Boerboels tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Boerboel vs German Shepherd? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Boerboel vs German Shepherd health problems comparison:	Allergies Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Joint Dysplasia Vaginal Hyperplasia	Allergies Blindness Bloat Cancer Cataracts Cherry Eye Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Cushing's Syndrome Degenerative Myelopathy Demodectic Mange Diabetes Digestive Problems Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Heart Disease Hemophilia A Hemophilia B Hip Dysplasia Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lens Luxation Lupus Megaesophagus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Panosteitis Paralysis Perianal Fistula Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Retinal Dysplasia Seborrhea Vitiligo Von Willebrand's Disease Wobbler's Syndrome
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Frequent The Boerboel should have a complete physical check-up at least once (but preferably twice) per year.	Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).
Life Expectancy Boerboel vs German Shepherd lifespan comparison. How long do Boerboel and German Shepherd breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy? What is the age limit of the Boerboel and German Shepherd?	10-12 years	10-13 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic Boerboel vs German Shepherd hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No	No
Energy Level Who has more energy a Boerboel or German Shepherd? Boerboel vs German Shepherd energy level comparison:	Boerboels have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need Boerboel vs German Shepherd exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Boerboel or German Shepherd? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	Boerboels need quite a lot of exercise.	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Boerboels sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption Which dog eats more: Boerboel or German Shepherd? Does the Boerboel breed eat more than the German Shepherd breed?	8 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Boerboel vs German Shepherd weight gain potential comparison:	Average.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells least? Which dog smells most? Which is best, Boerboel or German Shepherd?	Medium The Boerboel has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least? What's the difference between Boerboel vs German Shepherd?	The Boerboel 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 German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Boerboel vs German Shepherd Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size How many puppies can Boerboel and German Shepherd have? Boerboel vs German Shepherd litter size comparison:	7-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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Reviews

Jackson
Feb 1, 2021, 11:43:09 AM:
Fair comparison.It has helped me decide which to go for as a family dog.
K GREAT
May 18, 2021, 8:16:48 PM:
Great review