German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Golden Flat Coat or St. Hubert Hound? Find the right dog for you

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

Price and Availability Size Grooming, Hair and Care Personality / Temperament Good With Health As a Working Dog Reproducibility Recognition Show differences only

Name	German Shepherd	Golden Retriever	Bloodhound
Origins	Germany	Scotland	France Belgium
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral / Herding Dogs	Gun Dog	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	2	3	50
Reviews	12	13	2
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian	Golden Flat Coat Yellow Retriever	St. Hubert Hound Saint Hubert Hound Chien de Saint-Hubert Flemish Hound
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Price and Availability Comparison

Price Which is cheaper, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which is more expensive?	$800-$2000	$1000-$2000	$800-$1200
Availability Which is easier to get, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Golden Retriever is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Bloodhound is quite easy to get.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Size Comparison

Size Which is bigger, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which is the smallest dog, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	Large	Large	Large
Weight Which is heavier, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Golden Retriever? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound weight comparison:	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 90-110 pounds (41-50 kg), Female: 80-100 pounds (36-45 kg)
Average Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 100 pounds (45.5 kg), Female: 90 pounds (40.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound height comparison:	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)	Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 23-25 inches (58-63 cm)
Average Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm)	Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 24 inches (60.5 cm)

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Grooming, Hair and Care Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound coat comparison:	Fuzzy	Silky Wavy Shiny Straight	Rough
Colors What are the original German Shepherd, Golden Retriever and Bloodhound color?	Silver Tan Red Black	Golden Light	Tan Red Liver Black
Grooming Which dog is easy to maintain, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound grooming comparison:	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. See more.	Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort. See more.	Easy to groom: The Bloodhound doesn't require a lot of grooming. See more.
Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds		High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
Shedding Level Who sheds more German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or {name3 shedding:	German Shepherds are heavy shedders. See more.	Golden Retrievers shed moderately. See more.	Bloodhounds shed moderately. See more.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Shed The Most
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. See more.	2-3 weeks Frequent. This breed has high-maintenance hair and may require a bath every 2-3 weeks. See more.	4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. See more.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Personality / Temperament Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound behavior/temperament comparison:	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy	Affectionate Gentle Independent Outright Tempered Stubborn
Intelligent Rank Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound intelligence:	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.	Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.	Smart: Bloodhound's has great intelligence. See more.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Trainability German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound trainability comparison.	German Shepherds are easy to train. See more.	Golden Retrievers are easy to train. See more.	Bloodhounds are easy to train. See more.
Least Obedient Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Easy To Train
Playfulness German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound playfulness comparison:	Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed. See more.	The Bloodhound is a highly playful breed. See more.
Most Playful Dog Breeds
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference?	Sensitive: German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. See more.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. See more.
Most Sensitive Dog Breeds		Less Sensitive Dog Breeds
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	High: German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: Bloodhounds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.
Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
Social Needs German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound social needs comparison:	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. See more.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. See more.	Bloodhounds need a lot of social interaction. See more.
Barking Which dog barks more/less: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. See more.	Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks. See more.	A lot: Bloodhound is a particularly loud breed. See more.
Quiet Dog Breeds That Don't Bark		Dog Breeds That Bark The Most
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs. See more.	Bloodhounds are not the best choice if you want a good watchdog. See more.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which is a better guard dog German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	Golden Retrievers are average defenders. See more.	Bloodhounds can't provide protection for their territory. See more.
Guard Dog Breeds List
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Moderate ⏺ The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low 🔽 The Bloodhound has a low chance of biting somebody.
Bite Force Which bite is stronger: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Golden Retriever bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Bloodhound bite force: Ordinary.
Dog Breeds With The Lowest Bite Force		Dog Breeds With the Strongest Bite Force
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound mouthiness comparison:	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	Bloodhounds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct?	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. See more.	Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds. See more.	Bloodhounds have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. See more.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting?	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Golden Retrievers 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. See more.	Bloodhounds 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. See more.
Dog Breeds With Low Prey Drive		Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	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 Golden Retriever breed in the home.	Not an apartment-friendly dog the Bloodhound breed.
The Worst Dog Breeds for Apartment Living		Apartment Friendly Dogs List
Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Average: Bloodhounds adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Bloodhounds tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Good With Comparison

Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which dog is more friendly?	German Shepherds are stranger-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very stranger-friendly dogs.	Bloodhounds are very stranger-friendly dogs.
Dog Breeds That Are Aloof With Strangers		Dog Breeds That Are Friendly To Strangers
Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Bloodhounds are one of the friendliest dog breeds.
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Bloodhounds are very kid-friendly dogs.
Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Bloodhounds are very cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Cats
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Bloodhounds are very dog-friendly dogs.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is good for the first-time owners: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	Yes German Shepherds are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Bloodhounds are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment	No Bloodhound 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.	Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Bloodhounds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Health Comparison

Health Issues German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound health comparison. Which is the healthier: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs.	Very healthy dog breed.
Healthiest Dog Breeds
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound health problems comparison:	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 Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease	Bloat Ectopic Cilia Ectropion Elbow Dysplasia Entropion Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism
Veterinarian Visits 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).	Rare The Golden Retriever should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Rare The Bloodhound should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Life Expectancy German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound lifespan comparison. How long do German Shepherd, Golden Retriever and Bloodhound breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy?	9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years	10-12 years The average lifespan of Golden Retriever: 11 years	10-12 years The average lifespan of Bloodhound: 11 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No See more.	No See more.	No See more.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Energy Level Who has more energy a German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound energy level comparison:	German Shepherds are high-energy dogs.	Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs.	Bloodhounds are high-energy dogs.
Low-Energy Dog Breeds		High-Energy Dog Breeds
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Bloodhounds need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Bloodhounds don't need too much sleep.
Dog Breeds That Sleep A Lot
Average daily food consumption Which dog eats more: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound?	3 to 4 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.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Dog Breeds That Eat A Lot
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound weight gain potential comparison:	Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. See more.	High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. See more.	Average: The Bloodhound has an average risk for obesity. See more.
Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity
Weather and Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium ⏺ The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.	High 🔼 The Bloodhound has a high chance of bad smell.
Drooling Tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least?	The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.	The Golden Retriever drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed. See more.	The Bloodhound is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed. See more.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound As a Working Dog Comparison

Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.
Most Popular Service Dog Breeds
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which is better for autism?	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.
Therapy Dog Breeds
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog?	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.
Boat and Sailor Dog Which one could be a boat dog: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound?	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. See more.	Not really Bloodhound breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.
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. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.
Fighting Dog / Military Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.	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.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.
Litter Size How many puppies can German Shepherd and Golden Retriever and Bloodhound have?	6-10 puppies	5-10 puppies	8-10 puppies
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German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound Recognition Comparison

AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Hound 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 Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Scent hounds section.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	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 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. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club

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