Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Comparison - Dog breed selector: Labrador or Alsatian or Teckel? Find the right dog for you

"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund" Compare Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd or Dachshund?

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

Name	Labrador Retriever	German Shepherd	Dachshund
Origins	England Canada	Germany	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Gun Dog	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	1	2	13
Reviews	3	11	4
User Ratings

Other Names	Labrador, Lab	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund	Teckel, Tekkel, Tekkel Doxie, Weenie Dog, Sausage Dog, Bassotto, Worshond
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Hound 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.	Recognized by FCI in the Dachshunds group, in the 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 Canadian Canine Registry	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 Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$1000-$2000	$800-$2000	$500-$700

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund General Appearance Comparison

Size	Large	Large	Small
Weight	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Toy: 8-11 pounds (3.5-5.0 kg)Standard: 16-32 pounds (7-15 kg), Miniature: 12 pounds (5.5 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Toy: 9.5 pounds (3.5-5.0 kg)Standard: 24 pounds (11 kg), Miniature: 12 pounds (5.5 kg)
Height	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Toy: 12 inches (30 cm)Standard: 8-11 inches (20-27 cm), Miniature: 5-7 inches (13-18 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Toy: 12 inches (30 cm)Standard: 9.5 inches (23.5 cm), Miniature: 6 inches (15.5 cm)

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Hair & Care Comparison

Coat	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Fuzzy	Fine
Colors	Yellow Chocolate Black	Silver Tan Red Black	Blue Red White Tan Brown Silver Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Easy to groom: The Dachshund doesn't require a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.	Dachshunds shed none to minimal.

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Characteristics Comparison

Temperament	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Clever Devoted Playful Courageous Lively Stubborn
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: Dachshund's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	German Shepherds are easy to train.	Dachshunds are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.	Dachshunds, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Dachshunds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.	Dachshunds are a social breed.
Barking	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.	High: The Dachshund is a very vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Dachshunds are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Dachshunds are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low The Dachshund has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Dachshunds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Dachshunds have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
Prey Drive	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Dachshunds have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Labrador Retrievers 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.	Dachshunds are apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Dachshunds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Labrador Retrievers 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.	Dachshunds 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.
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.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Good With Comparison

Stranger Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.	Dachshunds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Dachshunds are not the most kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Dachshunds are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Dachshunds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Dachshund is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Dachshunds are not the best breed for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Dachshunds are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Labrador Retrievers 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.	No Dachshunds 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.	Yes This breed makes a perfect 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.	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)	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.	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.
Boat Dog	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Dachshund 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.

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Health Factors Comparison

Health Issues	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	The Dachshund is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	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	Acanthosis Nigricans Baldness Bloat Cancer Canine Diabetes Mellitus Cushing's Syndrome Deafness Demodectic Mange Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Intervertebral Disk Disease Legg-perthes Disease Lymphocytic Thyroiditis Mitral Valve Disease Narcolepsy Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	10-13 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Dachshunds have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.
Exercise Need	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.	Dachshunds have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Dachshunds sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 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 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Low to Average.	High: The Dachshund breed has a strong tendency to overweight.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers warm weather
Stinkiness	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The Dachshund has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Dachshund is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd vs Dachshund Reproducibility Comparison

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	6-10 puppies	4-8 puppies
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