Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Comparison - Dog breed selector: Chien De Montagne Des Pyrénées or Alsatian wolf dog or Little Blue Dog? Find the right dog for you
"Find similarities and differences between Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd"
Compare Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd. Which is better: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd?
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Name | Great Pyrenees | German Shepherd | Australian Shepherd |
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Origins | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs |
Popularity Rank | 66 | 2 | 17 |
Reviews | 2 | 13 | 7 |
User Ratings |
Other Names
What other names do they have? |
Chien De Montagne Des Pyrénées Chien Des Pyrénées Gos De Muntanya Dels Pirineus Montañés Del Pirineo Patou Great Pyrenees |
Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian |
Little Blue Dog Aussie |
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Breed Type
Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd breed type comparison: | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Price and Availability Comparison
Price
Which is cheaper, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Which is more expensive? | $500-$600 | $800-$2000 | $600-$800 |
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Availability
Which is easier to get, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Very frequent: The Great Pyrenees is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The Australian Shepherd is quite easy to get. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Size Comparison
Size
Which is bigger, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Which is the smallest dog, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Giant | Large | Large |
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Weight
Which is heavier, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or German Shepherd? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd weight comparison: | 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) | Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg) |
Average Weight
Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight? | Male: from 100 pounds (45 kg), Female: from 85 pounds (38 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) |
Height
Which is taller, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd height comparison: | 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) | Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm) |
Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average 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) | Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm) |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Grooming, Hair and Care Comparison
Coat / Hair Types
What type of coat/fur do they have? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd coat comparison: |
Dense Double | Fuzzy | Feathered |
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Colors
What are the original Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd color? | White |
Black Tan Red Silver |
Black Red Blue Merle |
Grooming
Which dog is easy to maintain, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd grooming comparison: | Average: The Great Pyrenees requires average grooming effort. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level
Who sheds more Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or {name3 shedding: | Great Pyrenees dogs shed above average. | German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. | Australian Shepherd dogs shed moderately. |
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency
Which dog should be bathed more: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | 3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. | 8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 6-8 weeks Rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Personality / Temperament Comparison
Temperament
Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd behavior/temperament comparison: |
Confident Affectionate Patient Gentle Strong Willed Fearless |
Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful |
Active Loving Protective Intelligent Friendly Affectionate Good-natured |
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Intelligent Rank
Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd intelligence: | Average: It takes patience to teach this breed any tricks or commands, but the effort is worth it. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: The Australian Shepherd dogs have great intelligence. |
Trainability
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd trainability comparison. | Great Pyrenees dogs are easy to train. | German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. | Australian Shepherd dogs are very easy to train. |
Playfulness
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd playfulness comparison: | Great Pyreneess are not the most playful dog breed. | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed. |
Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference? | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | Sensitive: Australian Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. |
Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | Average: Great Pyrenees dogs are average dogs regarding their affection level. | High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Average to High: Australian Shepherd dogs are highly affectionate dogs. |
Social Needs
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd social needs comparison: | Great Pyrenees dogs are a social breed. | German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. | Australian Shepherd dogs are a social breed. |
Barking
Which dog barks more/less: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | Average to High: The Great Pyrenees is a vocal breed. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks. |
Watchdog Ability
Which is the better watchdog: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. |
Guarding Behavior / Territorial
Which is a better guard dog Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd?
Which dog is most likely to protect its owner?
Which is the best dog to use for protection? | Great Pyrenees dogs strongly protect their territory. | German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. |
Biting Potential
Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison: | Low 🔽 The Great Pyrenees has a low chance of biting somebody. | High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. | Low 🔽 The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Bite Force
Which bite is stronger: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Above 400 PSI 🔼 Great Pyrenees bite force: The Strongest. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Australian Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. |
Mouthiness
Which is the better dog? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd mouthiness comparison: | Great Pyrenees dogs have a lower than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. | German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. | Australian Shepherd dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? | Great Pyrenees dogs have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. | German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. | Australian Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. |
Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting? | Great Pyrenees dogs have a high impulse to chase and catch something. | German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Australian Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
Apartment Friendly
Which dog is more apartment friendly Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | It is not recommended to keep the Great Pyrenees breed in the home. | 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 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 Australian Shepherd indoors. |
Adaptability
Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog? | Great Pyrenees dogs adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. | German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Australian Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone
Which dog can be left alone: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs 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. | Australian Shepherd dogs 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. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Good With Comparison
Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Which dog is more friendly? | Great Pyrenees dogs are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are not the most stranger-friendly dogs. |
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Pet Friendly
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | Great Pyrenees dogs are usually friendly towards other pets. | German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. | Australian Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. |
Child Friendly
Which dog is more child/kid friendly Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs are kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs are cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. | Australian Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. |
Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs are average friendly towards other dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards other dogs. |
Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is good for the first-time owners: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? |
Yes Great Pyrenees dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes German Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Yes Australian Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality. |
Office Friendly
Which one fits better in the office? |
No Great Pyrenees is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly
Which dog is good for elderly people? | Great Pyreneess are usually recommended for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Health Comparison
Health Issues
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd health comparison. Which is the healthier: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyreneess are commonly healthy dogs. | German Shepherds 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. |
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Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd health problems comparison: |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Patellar Luxation Bloat Entropion Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Addison's Disease |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Cancer Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Von Willebrand's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Blindness Cherry Eye Elbow Dysplasia Diabetes Heart Disease Retinal Dysplasia Demodectic Mange Degenerative Myelopathy Wobbler's Syndrome Panosteitis Hemophilia B Megaesophagus Cushing's Syndrome Lens Luxation Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Digestive Problems Hemophilia A Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lupus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Paralysis Perianal Fistula Seborrhea Vitiligo |
Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Cancer Hypothyroidism Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Epilepsy Deafness Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Distichiasis Collie Eye Anomaly Detached Retina Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes |
Veterinarian Visits
Which one may need more or less veterinary visits? |
Rare The Great Pyrenees should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
Average The Australian Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year. |
Life Expectancy
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd lifespan comparison. How long do Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy? |
10-12 years The average lifespan of Great Pyrenees: 11 years |
9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years |
11-15 years The average lifespan of Australian Shepherd: 13 years |
Hypoallergenic
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not? | No See more. | No See more. | No See more. |
Energy Level
Who has more energy a Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd?
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd energy level comparison: | Great Pyrenees dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. | Australian Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. |
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Great Pyrenees dogs have an average exercise need. | German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise. | Australian Shepherd dogs need a lot of exercises. |
Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | Great Pyrenees dogs don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. | Australian Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. |
Average daily food consumption
Which dog eats more: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? | 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. | 1.5 to 2.5 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? Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd weight gain potential comparison: | Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Great Pyrenees's weight, he can easily gain weight. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. | Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Australian Shepherd's weight, he can easily gain weight. |
Weather and Climate
Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | 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 Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. | 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. |
Stinkiness
Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | Medium ⏺ The Great Pyrenees has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling Tendency
Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least? | The Great Pyrenees is a perfect example of a low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. | The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd As a Working Dog Comparison
Service Dog
Which one could be a service dog? | Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. | Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. | Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
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Therapy Dog
Which one could be a therapy dog: Great Pyrenees or German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd? Which is better for autism? | Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog
Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog? | Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)
Which one could be a search and rescue dog? | Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog. |
Boat and Sailor Dog
Which one could be a boat dog: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd? | 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. | Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog
Which one could be a 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. | Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Fighting Dog / Military Dog | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat 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. |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Reproducibility Comparison
Gestation Length | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. |
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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 Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd have? | 6-9 puppies | 6-10 puppies | 6-9 puppies, average 7 |
Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Recognition Comparison
AKC Group
Which dog is recognized by the AKC? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1933 as a Working breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed. |
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FCI Group
Which dog is recognized by the FCI? | 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. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs 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 |
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 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 |
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Link to this: Great Pyrenees vs German Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd Comparison - Dog breed selector: Chien De Montagne Des Pyrénées or Alsatian wolf dog or Little Blue Dog? Find the right dog for you
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