German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky" Compare German Shepherd and Rough Collie. Which is better: German Shepherd or Rough Collie or Alaskan Husky?

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

Name	German Shepherd	Rough Collie	Alaskan Husky
Origins	Germany	Scotland	United States
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Sled Dogs
Popularity Rank	2	40	495
Reviews	1	2	0
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Other Names	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund	Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-Haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog	Husky (Alaskan)
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Cross Breed
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
FCI Group	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.
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 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	Dog Registry of America Inc.
Price	$800-$2000	$400-$600	$1000-$1500

General Appearance - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

Size	Large	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg)	Male: 40-60 pounds (18-27 kg), Female: 35-48 pounds (16-22 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg)	Male: 50 pounds (22.5 kg), Female: 41.5 pounds (19 kg)
Height	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 24–26 inch (60–66 cm), Female: 22–24 inch (55–61 cm)	20-24 inches (51-61 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)	22 inches (56 cm)

Hair & Care - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

Coat	Fuzzy	Rough Soft Thick Straight Harsh Furry	Dense
Colors	Silver Tan Red Black	Black & White & Tan Blue & Merle Blue & Merle & White Sable Sable & White White White & Merle Merle	Gray White Blonde Orange Black
Grooming	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Average: The Alaskan Husky requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.	Rough Collies are heavy shedders.	Alaskan Huskys shed moderately.

Characteristics - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

Temperament	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Friendly Gentle Intelligent Loyal Protective Responsive Social Hard working Docile Obedient Elegant Herding	Agile Energetic Protective Alert Powerful Sensitive
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Rough Collie is an excellent dog breed.	Average: Alaskan Husky's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	German Shepherds are easy to train.	Rough Collies are very easy to train.	Alaskan Huskys aren't famous for their trainability.
Playfulness	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Rough Collie is a playful breed.	The Alaskan Husky is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Rough Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Alaskan Huskys don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Rough Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Alaskan Huskys are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.	Rough Collies need a lot of social interaction.	Alaskan Huskys need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Rough Collie rarely barks.	Average to high: The Alaskan Husky is a vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Rough Collies are one of the best watchdogs.	Alaskan Huskys are average watchdogs.
Territorial	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Rough Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Alaskan Huskys are average defenders.
Biting Potential	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low The Rough Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Alaskan Husky has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rough Collies have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Alaskan Huskys have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Rough Collies are not the biggest explorers.	Alaskan Huskys 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.	Rough Collies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Alaskan Huskys 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.	Rough Collies are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Alaskan Huskys are not apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Rough Collies adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Alaskan Huskys adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all 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.	Rough 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	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	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.

Good With - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

Stranger Friendly	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.	Rough Collies are stranger friendly dogs.	Alaskan Huskys are very stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Rough Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Huskys are average friendly dogs towards children.
Cat Friendly	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Rough Collies are very cat-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Huskys are not cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Rough Collies are dog-friendly dogs.	Alaskan Huskys are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rough Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Alaskan Husky is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Rough Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Alaskan Huskys are commonly okay with elderly people.
Pet Friendly	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Rough Collies are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Alaskan Huskys do best when they’re the only pet at the family.
Good For First Time Owners	No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rough Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Alaskan Huskys are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	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 Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect 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.	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.
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 Rough Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Alaskan Husky 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.	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.

Health Factors - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

Health Issues	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	The Rough Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Alaskan Huskys tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.
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	Collie Eye Anomaly Gray Collie Syndrome Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Hip Dysplasia	Hyperthyroidism Laryngeal Paresis Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Life Expectancy	10-13 years	14-16 years	10-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Rough Collies have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Alaskan Huskys are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	Rough Collies need quite a lot of exercise.	Alaskan Huskys need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Rough Collies sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Alaskan Huskys are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 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.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Average.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Rough Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers cold weather The Alaskan Husky 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 Rough Collie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Alaskan Husky has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rough Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Alaskan Husky is an average drooler.

Reproducibility - German Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Alaskan Husky

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	4-8 puppies	4-10 puppies
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