German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Sheepdog or Japanese Fighting Dog? Find the right dog for you
"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken"
Compare German Shepherd and Border Collie. Which is better: German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken?
Name | German Shepherd | Border Collie | Tosa Ken |
---|---|---|---|
Origins | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Guard Dogs |
Popularity Rank | 2 | 38 | 352 |
Reviews | 21 | 13 | 0 |
User Ratings |
Common Names & Aliases
Compare alternative names and nicknames used for German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken breeds. |
Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian |
Sheepdog Scotch Sheep Dog |
Japanese Fighting Dog Japanese Mastiff Japanese Tosa Tosa Fighting Dog Tosa Ken Tosa Tōken Tosa Inu |
---|---|---|---|
Breed Classification
How do breed classifications differ between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken? Compare their breeding categories. | Purebred | Purebred | Cross Breed |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Size and Weight Comparison
Size Classification
Compare size differences between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is the largest? | Large | Large | Large Giant |
---|---|---|---|
Weight Statistics
How do weights compare between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken? Compare adult weight ranges. | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) | Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 kg) | Male: 88-176 lbs (40-80 kg), Female: 84-120 lbs (38-54 kg) |
Average Weight
Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight? | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg) | Male: 132 pounds (60 kg), Female: 102 pounds (46 kg) |
Height
Which is taller, German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken height comparison: | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) | Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 cm) | Male: 22-24 inches (55-62 cm), Female: 21-24 inches (54-60 cm) |
Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average height? | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) | Male: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22.5 inches (57 cm) |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Price and Availability Comparison
Price Range
Compare puppy costs for German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Find price differences between these breeds. | $800-$2000 | $600-$800 | $600-$1000 |
---|---|---|---|
Availability
Which is easier to get, German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? | Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The Border Collie is quite easy to get. | Average: The Tosa Ken is a commonly available dog breed. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Trainability and Intelligence Comparison
Intelligence Rating
Compare intelligence levels between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed ranks highest? | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Average: It takes patience to teach this breed any tricks or commands, but the effort is worth it. |
---|---|---|---|
Training Difficulty
Compare training difficulty levels between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is easiest to train? | German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. | Border Collie dogs are easy to train. | A slightly harder to train than average. |
Watchdog Rating
Compare watchdog abilities of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most alert? | German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | Border Collie dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | Tosa Ken dogs are one of the best watchdogs. |
Territorial Protection
Compare territorial instincts between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most protective? | German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Border Collie dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Tosa Ken dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Personality and Temperament Comparison
Personality Traits
How do personalities differ between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken? Compare temperaments. |
Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful |
Energetic Protective Alert Intelligent Responsive Loyal Tenacious |
Sensitive Intelligent Aggressive Fearless Brave Suspicious |
---|---|---|---|
Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference? | Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | Sensitive: Border Collie dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. |
Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken? | High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | High: Border Collie dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Average: Tosa Ken dogs are average dogs regarding their affection level. |
Social Needs
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken social needs comparison: | German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. | Border Collie dogs need a lot of social interaction. | Tosa Ken dogs are a social breed. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? | German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. | Border Collie dogs have average wanderlust potential. | The wanderlust potential of the Tosa Ken is strong enough to escape from home. |
Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting? | German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Border Collie dogs 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. | Tosa Ken dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Activity and Playfulness Comparison
Barking Frequency
Compare barking frequencies of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most vocal? | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Tosa Ken rarely barks. |
---|---|---|---|
Playful Nature
Compare playfulness levels between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most playful? | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Border Collie is a highly playful breed. | Average: Tosa Kens, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
Apartment Adaptability
Compare apartment suitability of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which adapts best to small spaces? | It is not the best choice if you want to keep them indoors, however, with careful exercise and several walks a day, they will tolerate the indoor environment, so it is possible to keep German Shepherd indoors. | It is not recommended to keep the Border Collie breed in the home. | Not an apartment-friendly dog the Tosa Ken breed. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Adaptability and Independence Comparison
Lifestyle Adaptability
Compare adaptability between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most flexible? | German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Border Collie dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Tosa Ken dogs don't adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. |
---|---|---|---|
Alone Time Tolerance
Which dog can be left alone: German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? | Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner. | Border Collie dogs tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Tosa Ken dogs 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. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Bite Characteristics Comparison
Bite Risk Assessment
Compare biting potential between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has lowest bite risk? | High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. | Low 🔽 The Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody. | Low 🔽 The Tosa Ken has a low chance of biting somebody. |
---|---|---|---|
Mouthing Tendency
Compare mouthing tendencies between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which uses mouth most during play? | German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Border Collie dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Tosa Ken dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. |
Bite Strength Rating
Compare bite forces between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has the strongest bite? | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Border Collie bite force: Ordinary. | Above 400 PSI 🔼 Tosa Ken bite force: The Strongest. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Health and Lifespan Comparison
Average Lifespan
Compare life expectancies of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed lives longest? |
9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years |
11-15 years The average lifespan of Border Collie: 13 years |
10-12 years The average lifespan of Tosa Ken: 11 years |
---|---|---|---|
Climate Tolerance
Compare weather adaptability between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which handles climate changes best? | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | 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 Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. |
Health Concerns
Compare health problems common in German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has fewer health issues? | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. | The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | Tosa Kens tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds. |
Vet Care Frequency
Which one may need more or less veterinary visits? |
Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
Average The Border Collie should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year. |
Frequent The Tosa Ken should have a complete physical check-up at least once (but preferably twice) per year. |
Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken health problems comparison: |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Cancer Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Blindness Cherry Eye Elbow Dysplasia Diabetes Heart Disease Retinal Dysplasia Demodectic Mange Degenerative Myelopathy Wobbler's Syndrome Panosteitis Hemophilia B Megaesophagus Cushing's Syndrome Lens Luxation Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Digestive Problems Hemophilia A Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lupus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Paralysis Perianal Fistula Seborrhea Vitiligo | Hip Dysplasia Allergies Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Epilepsy Collie Eye Anomaly Osteochondrosis Dissecans | Bloat |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Energy and Activity Comparison
Energy Rating
Compare energy levels between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which breed is most active? | German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. | Border Collie dogs are high-energy dogs. | Tosa Ken dogs have a lower energy level than other dogs. |
---|---|---|---|
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise. | Border Collie dogs need a lot of exercises. | Tosa Ken dogs exercise need is minimal. |
Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? | German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. | Border Collie dogs don't need too much sleep. | Tosa Ken dogs like sleeping so they do sleep a lot. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Diet and Weight Management Comparison
Obesity Tendency
Compare weight gain tendencies between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is most prone to obesity? | Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. | Average: The Border Collie has an average risk for obesity. | High: The Tosa Ken breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. |
---|---|---|---|
Food Consumption
Compare food requirements between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which needs most food? | 3 to 4 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. | 4 to 7 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Allergies and Grooming Comparison
Allergy Friendliness
Compare hypoallergenic qualities of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best for allergy sufferers? | No See more. | No See more. | No See more. |
---|---|---|---|
Coat Colors
Compare color variations between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. What colors are available? |
Black Tan Red Silver |
Black Tan Red Sable Brindle Lilac Gold Seal White & Red Slate Sable Merle Black & White Tricolor Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red Merle White Ticked White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal |
Black Brown Fawn Yellow Brindle |
Grooming Requirements
Compare grooming needs between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which requires most maintenance? | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort. | Effortless: The Tosa Ken requires minimal grooming. |
Drooling Tendency
Compare drooling tendencies between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which drools least? | The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. | The Border Collie is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. | The Tosa Ken is an average drooler. |
Stinkiness Rating
Compare odor levels between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has least natural smell? | Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Border Collie has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Tosa Ken has an average chance of bad smell. |
Coat Characteristics
Compare coat types between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. How do their fur characteristics differ? | Fuzzy |
Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long |
Dense Hard |
Bathing Needs
Compare bathing needs between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which requires most frequent baths? | 8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 6-8 weeks Rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. |
Shedding Level
Who sheds more German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? German Shepherd or Border Collie or {name3 shedding: | German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. | Border Collie dogs shed moderately. | Tosa Ken dogs shed moderately. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Good With Comparison
Child Compatibility
Compare child-friendliness between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best with kids? | German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Border Collie dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Tosa Ken dogs are average friendly dogs towards children. |
---|---|---|---|
Pet Compatibility
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. | Border Collie dogs are generally with other pets. | Tosa Ken dogs usually don’t get on well with other pets. |
Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? Which dog is more friendly? | German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards strangers. | Tosa Ken dogs are not stranger friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? | German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards cats. | Tosa Ken dogs are not the most cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly German Shepherd or Border Collie or Tosa Ken? | German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards other dogs. | Tosa Ken dogs are not dog-friendly. |
Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is good for the first-time owners: German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken? |
Yes German Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes Border Collie dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
No Tosa Ken dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Office Friendly
Which one fits better in the office? |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Border Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Tosa Ken is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly
Which dog is good for elderly people? | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Tosa Kens are commonly okay with elderly people. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken As a Working Dog Comparison
Service Dog Capability
Compare service dog potential between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best suited for service work? | Yes This breed makes good 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 Work Suitability
Compare therapy dog potential between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which excels in therapy work? | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Scent Detection Ability
Compare detection capabilities between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has best nose work ability? | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. |
Search & Rescue Potential
Compare search and rescue potential between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best for SAR work? | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog. |
Maritime Work Ability
Compare boating aptitude between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best suited for water work? | Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Not really Border Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Not really Tosa Ken breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Draft Work Capability
Compare cart pulling abilities between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which is best for draft work? | 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. | Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Military Service Background
Compare military service history of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has most military use? | Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. | Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Reproducibility Comparison
Puppy Litter Size
Compare typical litter sizes of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has most puppies? | 6-10 puppies | 4-8 puppies | 6-8 puppies |
---|---|---|---|
Pregnancy Duration
Compare gestation periods of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Any breeding differences? | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. |
Breeding Frequency
Compare breeding intervals between German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. What's recommended? | 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. |
German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Recognition Comparison
AKC Classification
Compare AKC groups for German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. How are they classified? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed. | Not recognized by the American Kennel Club. |
---|---|---|---|
FCI Classification
Compare FCI groups for German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. How are they classified internationally? | 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. | Not recognized by FCI. |
Kennel Club Recognition
Compare breed recognition status of German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Tosa Ken. Which has most 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 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 Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service |
Popular Dog Compares
Sharing is caring.
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Sheepdog or Japanese Fighting Dog? Find the right dog for you
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/german-shepherd-vs-border-collie-vs-tosa-ken">German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Sheepdog or Japanese Fighting Dog? Find the right dog for you</a>
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Sheepdog or Japanese Fighting Dog? Find the right dog for you
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/german-shepherd-vs-border-collie-vs-tosa-ken">German Shepherd vs Border Collie vs Tosa Ken Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Sheepdog or Japanese Fighting Dog? Find the right dog for you</a>