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?
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Name | German Shepherd | Golden Retriever | Bloodhound |
---|---|---|---|
Origins | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
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. | Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort. | Easy to groom: The Bloodhound doesn't require a lot of grooming. |
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. | Golden Retrievers shed moderately. | Bloodhounds shed moderately. |
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. | 2-3 weeks Frequent. This breed has high-maintenance hair and may require a bath every 2-3 weeks. | 4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. |
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. | Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: Bloodhound's has great intelligence. |
Trainability
German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound trainability comparison. | German Shepherds are easy to train. | Golden Retrievers are easy to train. | Bloodhounds are easy to train. |
Playfulness
German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound playfulness comparison: | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed. | The Bloodhound is a highly playful breed. |
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. | Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. | They are a little bit more sensitive than other 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. | High: Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | High: Bloodhounds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs
German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound social needs comparison: | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. | Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. | Bloodhounds need a lot of social interaction. |
Barking
Which dog barks more/less: German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever vs Bloodhound? | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks. | A lot: Bloodhound is a particularly loud breed. |
Watchdog Ability
Which is the better watchdog: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs. | Bloodhounds are not the best choice if you want a good watchdog. |
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. | Golden Retrievers are average defenders. | Bloodhounds can't provide protection for their territory. |
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. |
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. | Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Bloodhounds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds. | Bloodhounds have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
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. |
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. |
---|---|---|---|
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. |
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 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. |
---|---|---|---|
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). |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. | High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to be overweight. | Average: The Bloodhound has an average risk for 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. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
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. | 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: German Shepherd or Golden Retriever or Bloodhound? Which is better for autism? | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | 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 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. | Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. | Not really Bloodhound breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
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. | Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
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. | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Litter Size
How many puppies can German Shepherd and Golden Retriever and Bloodhound have? | 6-10 puppies | 5-10 puppies | 8-10 puppies |
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 |
Popular Dog Compares
Sharing is caring.
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: 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
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/german-shepherd-vs-golden-retriever-vs-bloodhound">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</a>
Help our free service by spreading information about dog breeds.
Link to this: 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
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-dog-breeds/german-shepherd-vs-golden-retriever-vs-bloodhound">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</a>