Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei"
Compare Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Golden Retriever or Australian Shepherd or Shar-Pei?
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| Name | Golden Retriever | Australian Shepherd | Shar-Pei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Scotland |  United States |  China |
| Group | Gun Dog | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Companion Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 3 | 17 | 64 |
| Reviews | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat | Aussie, Little Blue Dog | Chinese Fighting Dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1992 as a Non-Sporting breed. |
| FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers 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 |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd 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 |
| Price | $1000-$2000 | $600-$800 | $1000-$1200 |
General Appearance - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| Size | Large | Large | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) | Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg) | 40-55 pounds (18- 25 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) | Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) | 47.5 pounds (18- 25 kg) |
| Height | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) | Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm) | 18-20 inches (46-51 cm) |
| Avg. Height | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm) | Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm) | 19 inches (48.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| Coat |
Silky Wavy Shiny Straight | Feathered | Dense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors |
Golden Light |
Red Blue Merle Black |
Apricot Blue Cream Red Brown Fawn Black |
| Grooming | Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Shar-Pei requires average grooming effort. |
| Shedding Level | Golden Retrievers shed moderately. | Australian Shepherds shed moderately. | Shar-Peis shed none to minimal. |
Characteristics - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| Temperament |
Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy |
Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective |
Affectionate Independent Reserved Devoted Loving Suspicious |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence. | Average: Shar-Pei's has average obedience intelligence. |
| Trainability | Golden Retrievers are easy to train. | Australian Shepherds are very easy to train. | Shar-Peis are quite easy to train. |
| Playfulness | The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed. | The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed. | Shar-Peis, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Sensitivity Level | Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. | Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | Shar-Peis are less sensitive than other dog breeds. |
| Affection Level | Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs. | Shar-Peis may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. |
| Social Needs | Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. | Australian Shepherds are a social breed. | Shar-Peis are kinda antisocial. |
| Barking | Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks. | Low: The Shar-Pei barks none to minimal. |
| Watchdog Ability | Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Shar-Peis are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Golden Retrievers are average defenders. | Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. | Shar-Peis are extremely protective guard dogs. |
| Biting Potential |
Moderate The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Shar-Pei has a low chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Shar-Peis have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds. | Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Shar-Peis tend to escape less than other breeds. |
| Prey Drive | 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. | Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Shar-Peis 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 | Golden Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | Australian 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. | Shar-Peis are apartment-friendly dogs. |
| Adaptability | Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Shar-Peis adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Australian Shepherds 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. | Shar-Peis handle alone time quite well. |
| Fighting 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. |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Good With - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| Stranger Friendly | Golden Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | Shar-Peis are not stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. | Shar-Peis are not kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. | Shar-Peis are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly | Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs. | Shar-Peis are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment |
No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Shar-Pei is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Shar-Peis are not recommended for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. | Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets. | Shar-Peis are generally with other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Yes Shar-Peis are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going 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 |
Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Shar-Pei 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. |
Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| Health Issues | Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs. | The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | Very healthy dog breed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems |
Allergies Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease |
Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) |
Bloat Cancer Cutaneous Mucinosis Demodectic Mange Elbow Dysplasia Entropion Fever Glaucoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Patellar Luxation Pyoderma Seborrhea |
| Life Expectancy | 10-12 years | 12-15 years | 8-10 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Golden Retrievers are high energy dogs. | Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs. | Shar-Peis have a lower energy level than other dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises. | Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises. | Shar-Peis exercise need is minimal. |
| Sleeping Need | Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep. | Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep. | Shar-Peis like sleeping so they do sleep a lot. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 2 to 2.5 cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. | Average to High. | Average to High. |
| Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
High The Shar-Pei has a high chance of bad smell. |
| 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 Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Shar-Pei is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed. |
Reproducibility - Golden Retriever vs Australian Shepherd vs Shar-Pei
| 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 | 5-10 puppies | 6-9 puppies, average 7 | 4-6 puppies |
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