Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
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Compare Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd. Which is better: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd?
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| Name | Great Pyrenees | German Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Spain  France |  Germany |
| Group | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) |
| Popularity Rank | 66 | 2 |
| Reviews | 1 | 3 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Great Pyrenees, Patou, Chien Des Pyrénées, Chien De Montagne Des Pyrénées, Montañés Del Pirineo, Gos De Muntanya Dels Pirineus | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1933 as a Working breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. |
| FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. |
| 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 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 |
| Price | $500-$600 | $800-$2000 |
General Appearance - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Size | Giant | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Male: from 100 pounds (45 kg), Female: from 85 pounds (38 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: from 100 pounds (45 kg), Female: from 85 pounds (38 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) |
| Height | Male: 27-32 inches (69-81 cm), Female: 25-29 inches (63-74 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) |
| Avg. Height | Male: 29.5 inches (75 cm), Female: 27 inches (68.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Coat | Dense Double | Fuzzy |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White | Silver Tan Red Black |
| Grooming | Average: The Great Pyrenees requires average grooming effort. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
| Shedding Level | Great Pyreneess shed above average. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. |
Characteristics - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Temperament | Affectionate Fearless Patient Confident Gentle Strong Willed | Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Average: Great Pyrenees's has average obedience intelligence. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
| Trainability | Great Pyreneess are easy to train. | German Shepherds are easy to train. |
| Playfulness | Great Pyreneess are not the most playful dog breed. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level | Great Pyreneess are average dogs regarding their affection level. | German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs | Great Pyreneess are a social breed. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. |
| Barking | Average to high: The Great Pyrenees is a vocal breed. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. |
| Watchdog Ability | Great Pyreneess are one of the best watchdogs. | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Great Pyreneess strongly protect their territory. | German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Great Pyrenees has a low chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Great Pyreneess have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Great Pyreneess have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. |
| Prey Drive | Great Pyreneess have a high impulse to chase and catch something. | German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
| Apartment Friendly | Great Pyreneess are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | 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. |
| Adaptability | Great Pyreneess adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. | German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Great Pyreneess 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. | Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner. |
| Fighting 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 - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Stranger Friendly | Great Pyreneess are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Great Pyreneess are kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Great Pyreneess are cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly | Great Pyreneess are average friendly towards other dogs. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Great Pyrenees is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Great Pyreneess are usually recommended for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Great Pyreneess are usually friendly towards other pets. | German Shepherds are generally with other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Great Pyreneess are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
| Service Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
| Therapy Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
| Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
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. |
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. |
| Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
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. |
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. |
| Boat Dog |
Not really Great Pyrenees breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
| Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Yes 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 - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Health Issues | Great Pyreneess are commonly healthy dogs. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | Addison's Disease Bloat Cataracts Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Entropion Hip Dysplasia Patellar Luxation | 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 |
| Life Expectancy | 10-12 years | 10-13 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Energy Level | Great Pyreneess have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | German Shepherds are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Great Pyreneess have an average exercise need. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. |
| Sleeping Need | Great Pyreneess don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 8 to 10 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. |
| Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Low to Average. |
| Weather & Climate |
Prefers cold weather The Great Pyrenees can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Great Pyrenees has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Great Pyrenees is a perfect example for low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd
| Gestation Length | 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. |
| Litter Size | 6-9 puppies | 6-10 puppies |
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Reviews
- jordan
Apr 7, 2020, 4:16:47 PM:
- hmm idk witch is better i think the better wone is great pyrenees and german shepherd mix
Sep 3, 2020, 11:55:52 AM:
- Shannon
Oct 1, 2020, 2:34:41 PM:
GREAT PYRENEES are fantastic dogs. I own 1 & she's the 1st dog I've ever had. She's so easy to care for. I go in the bush to camp/ walk & never worry that she won't come back. She comes back to check on me then roams again. Best decision ever