Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Scotch Sheep Dog or Alsatian?
"Find similarities and differences between Border Collie vs German Shepherd"
Compare Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which is better: Border Collie or German Shepherd?
 |  |
| Name | Border Collie | German Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  England Scotland Wales |  Germany |
| Group | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 38 | 2 |
| Reviews | 11 | 11 |
| User Ratings |
|
Other Names
What other names do they have? | Scotch Sheep Dog, Sheepdog | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund |
|---|---|---|
|
Breed Type
Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Border Collie vs German Shepherd breed type comparison: | Purebred | Purebred |
|
AKC Group
Which dog is recognized by the AKC? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 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 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 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 |
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, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which is more expensive? What is the difference in price between Border Collie and German Shepherd? | $600-$800 | $800-$2000 |
| Availability | Very frequent | Very frequent |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd General Appearance & Basic Info Comparison
|
Size
Which is bigger, Border Collie or German Shepherd?
Border Collie vs German Shepherd size comparison: | Large | Large |
|---|---|---|
|
Weight
Which is heavier, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Border Collie vs German Shepherd weight comparison: | Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 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? | Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) |
|
Height
Which is taller, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Border Collie vs German Shepherd height comparison: | Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 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: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Hair & Care Comparison
|
Coat / Hair Types
What type of coat/fur do they have? Border Collie vs German Shepherd coat comparison: |
Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long | Fuzzy |
|---|---|---|
|
Colors
What are the original Border Collie and German Shepherd color? Border Collie vs German Shepherd color comparison: |
Black & White Tricolor Tan Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Black Brindle Gold Lilac Red Sable Sable Merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red White & Red Merle White Ticked Seal Slate White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal |
Silver Tan Red Black |
|
Grooming
Which is easy to maintain, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Border Collie vs German Shepherd grooming comparison: | Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
|
Shedding Level
Who sheds more Border Collie or German Shepherd? Border Collie vs German Shepherd shedding: | Border Collies shed moderately. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. |
|
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency
Which dog should be bathed more: Border Collie or German Shepherd? |
6-8 weeks Rarely. |
8-12 weeks Very rarely. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Characteristics Comparison
|
Temperament
Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Border Collie vs German Shepherd behavior/temperament comparison: |
Intelligent Alert Tenacious Protective Energetic Responsive Loyal |
Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful |
|---|---|---|
|
Intelligent Rank
Which dog has more intelligence? Is a Border Collie or German Shepherd smarter? Which is best? Border Collie vs German Shepherd intelligence: | Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
|
Trainability
Border Collie vs German Shepherd trainability comparison. What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Border Collies are easy to train. | German Shepherds are easy to train. |
|
Playfulness
Border Collie vs German Shepherd playfulness comparison: | The Border Collie is a highly playful breed. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
|
Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Border Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
|
Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Border Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
|
Social Needs
Border Collie vs German Shepherd social needs comparison: | Border Collies need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. |
|
Barking
Which dog barks more/less: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. |
|
Watchdog Ability
Which is the better watchdog: Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies 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? | Border Collies 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 Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
|
Bite Force
Which bite is stronger: Border Collie or German Shepherd? |
Between 200 and 400 PSI Ordinary: Average dogs have bite force between 200 and 400 PSI. |
Between 200 and 400 PSI Ordinary: Average dogs have bite force between 200 and 400 PSI. |
|
Mouthiness
Which is the better dog? Border Collie vs German Shepherd mouthiness comparison: | Border Collies have a strong 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 Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Border Collies have average wanderlust potential. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. |
|
Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? Which can be better for hunting? | Border Collies 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 Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Nem ajánlott lakásban tartani Border Collie 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? | Border Collies adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
|
Tolerates Being Left Alone
Which dog can be left alone: Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner. |
| Fighting 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. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Good With Comparison
|
Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which dog is more friendly? | Border Collies are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
|
Child Friendly
Which dog is more child/kid friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies are very kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. |
|
Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies are average friendly towards cats. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. |
|
Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies are average friendly towards other dogs. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
|
Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is best for first time owners: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
No Border Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
|
Service Dog
Which one could be a service dog? |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
|
Therapy Dog
Which one could be a therapy dog: Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which is better for autism? |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
|
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog
Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog? |
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. |
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 Border Collie 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? |
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. |
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? | Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
|
Boat Dog
Which one could be a boat dog: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
Not really Border Collie 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? | Border Collies are generally 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? |
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. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Health Factors Comparison
|
Health Issues
Border Collie vs German Shepherd health comparison. Which is the healthier: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. |
|---|---|---|
|
Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Border Collie vs German Shepherd health problems comparison: |
Allergies Collie Eye Anomaly Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) |
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: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
Average The Border Collie should have a complete physical check-up at least once 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
Border Collie vs German Shepherd lifespan comparison. How long do Border Collie and German Shepherd breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy? What is the age limit of the Border Collie and German Shepherd? | 12-15 years | 10-13 years |
|
Hypoallergenic
Border Collie vs German Shepherd hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not? | No | No |
|
Energy Level
Who has more energy a Border Collie or German Shepherd?
Border Collie vs German Shepherd energy level comparison: | Border Collies are high energy dogs. | German Shepherds are high energy dogs. |
|
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Border Collie vs German Shepherd exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Border Collies need a lot of exercises. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. |
|
Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collies don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. |
|
Avg. daily food consumption
Which dog eats more: Border Collie or German Shepherd? Does the Border Collie breed eat more than the German Shepherd breed? | 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three 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? Border Collie vs German Shepherd weight gain potential comparison: | Average. | Low to Average. |
|
Weather & Climate
Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
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. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
|
Stinkiness
Which dog breed smells least? Which dog smells most? Which is best, Border Collie or German Shepherd? |
Medium The Border Collie 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 Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | The Border Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Border Collie 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 Border Collie and German Shepherd have? Border Collie vs German Shepherd litter size comparison: | 4-8 puppies | 6-10 puppies |
Popular Dog Compares
Sharing is caring.
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Scotch Sheep Dog or Alsatian?
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/border-collie-vs-german-shepherd">Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Scotch Sheep Dog or Alsatian?</a>
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Scotch Sheep Dog or Alsatian?
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/border-collie-vs-german-shepherd">Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Scotch Sheep Dog or Alsatian?</a>
Rate This Comparsion - Border Collie vs German Shepherd
Reviews
- Border collie
Dec 20, 2019, 7:59:59 PM:
Bella is extremely friendly with kids of all ages and loves to play!
- Michael
Apr 29, 2020, 1:47:50 AM:
Having both in the household, my opinion is the GSD is more inclined to do as its told, he is younger still in the puppy phase, still suffers from losing concentration and focus, but still more likely to do as he is told
- German Shepard
Apr 17, 2021, 10:17:12 PM: