German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees" Compare German Shepherd and American Bulldog. Which is better: German Shepherd or American Bulldog or Great Pyrenees?

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

Name	German Shepherd	American Bulldog	Great Pyrenees
Origins	Germany	United States	Spain France
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Guard Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	2	272	66
Reviews	4	1	1
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Other Names	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund	AmBulldog, AM Bulldog, American Bulldogge, American Bulldoggee, Old Country Bulldog	Great Pyrenees, Patou, Chien Des Pyrénées, Chien De Montagne Des Pyrénées, Montañés Del Pirineo, Gos De Muntanya Dels Pirineus
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1933 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.	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 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 America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Backwoods Bulldog Club Animal Research Foundation American Rare Breed Association American Bulldog Association National American Bulldog Association John D Johnson Bulldog Registry American Bulldog Club Of Canada All American Bulldog 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
Price	$800-$2000	$500-$600	$500-$600

General Appearance - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

Size	Large	Large	Giant
Weight	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 70-120 pounds (32-54 kg), Female: 60-100 pounds (27-45 kg)	Male: from 100 pounds (45 kg), Female: from 85 pounds (38 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 95 pounds (43 kg), Female: 80 pounds (36 kg)	Male: from 100 pounds (45 kg), Female: from 85 pounds (38 kg)
Height	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 22-28 inches (55-70 cm), Female: 20-26 inches (52-65 cm)	Male: 27-32 inches (69-81 cm), Female: 25-29 inches (63-74 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	Male: 29.5 inches (75 cm), Female: 27 inches (68.5 cm)

Hair & Care - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

Coat	Fuzzy	Fine	Dense Double
Colors	Silver Tan Red Black	Fawn Brown White Black	White
Grooming	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The American Bulldog requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Great Pyrenees requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.	American Bulldogs shed moderately.	Great Pyreneess shed above average.

Characteristics - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

Temperament	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Affectionate Courageous Gentle Going Alert Energetic Loving Social	Affectionate Fearless Patient Confident Gentle Strong Willed
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: American Bulldog's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: Great Pyrenees's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	German Shepherds are easy to train.	American Bulldogs are quite easy to train.	Great Pyreneess are easy to train.
Playfulness	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The American Bulldog is a playful breed.	Great Pyreneess are not the most playful dog breed.
Sensitivity Level	German 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	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	American Bulldogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Great Pyreneess are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.	American Bulldogs are a social breed.	Great Pyreneess are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.	Low to Average: The American Bulldog rarely barks.	Average to high: The Great Pyrenees is a vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	American Bulldogs are one of the best watchdogs.	Great Pyreneess are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	American Bulldogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Great Pyreneess strongly protect their territory.
Biting Potential	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The American Bulldog has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Great Pyrenees has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	American Bulldogs have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Great Pyreneess have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	American Bulldogs tend to escape less than other breeds.	Great Pyreneess have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
Prey Drive	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	American Bulldogs 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.	Great Pyreneess have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	German 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.	American Bulldogs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Great Pyreneess are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	American Bulldogs adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Great Pyreneess adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	American Bulldogs 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.	Great Pyreneess 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.
Fighting Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

Stranger Friendly	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.	American Bulldogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Great Pyreneess are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	American Bulldogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Great Pyreneess are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	American Bulldogs are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	Great Pyreneess are cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	American Bulldogs are average friendly towards other dogs.	Great Pyreneess are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No American Bulldog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Great Pyrenees is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	American Bulldogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	Great Pyreneess are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	American Bulldogs usually don’t get on well with other pets.	Great Pyreneess are usually friendly towards other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No American Bulldogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Great Pyreneess are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good 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	Yes This breed makes a perfect 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	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.	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)	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.	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 German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really American Bulldog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Great Pyrenees 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 - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

Health Issues	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	American Bulldogs tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	Great Pyreneess are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	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	Allergies Cancer Cherry Eye Ectropion Elbow Dysplasia Entropion Hip Dysplasia	Addison's Disease Bloat Cataracts Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Entropion Hip Dysplasia Patellar Luxation
Life Expectancy	10-13 years	10-12 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.	American Bulldogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Great Pyreneess have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	American Bulldogs have an average exercise need.	Great Pyreneess have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	American Bulldogs like sleeping so they do sleep a lot.	Great Pyreneess don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	3 to 5 cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals.	8 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Low to Average.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers cold weather The Great Pyrenees can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The American Bulldog has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Great Pyrenees has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The American Bulldog 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 Great Pyrenees is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - German Shepherd vs American Bulldog vs Great Pyrenees

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	6-10 puppies	7-14 puppies	6-9 puppies
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