Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd"
Compare Labrador Retriever and Yorkshire Terrier. Which is better: Labrador Retriever or Yorkshire Terrier or German Shepherd?
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Name | Labrador Retriever | Yorkshire Terrier | German Shepherd |
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Origins | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Gun Dog | Companion Dogs | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) |
Popularity Rank | 1 | 9 | 2 |
Reviews | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Rate |
Other Names | Labrador, Lab | Yorkie | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund |
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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 1885 as a Toy breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. |
FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section. | Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Toy Terriers 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 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 |
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 | $1000-$2000 | $600-$1000 | $800-$2000 |
General Appearance - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Size | Large | Small | Large |
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Weight | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) | 2-3 kg (4-7 pounds) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) |
Avg. Weight | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) | 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) |
Height | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) | 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) |
Avg. Height | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) | 21.5 cm (8.5 inches) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Coat |
Dense Waterproof Hard Short | Fine | Fuzzy |
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Colors |
Yellow Chocolate Black |
Gold Blue Tan Black |
Silver Tan Red Black |
Grooming | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level | Labrador Retrievers shed moderately. | Yorkshire Terriers shed none to minimal. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. |
Characteristics - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Temperament |
Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive |
Alert Energetic Intelligent Playful Courageous Independent Loyal |
Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful |
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Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Smart: Yorkshire Terrier's has great intelligence. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
Trainability | Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train. | Yorkshire Terriers are quite easy to train. | German Shepherds are easy to train. |
Playfulness | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. | Yorkshire Terriers, like any other dog breed, like playing. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
Sensitivity Level | Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | Yorkshire Terriers 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. |
Affection Level | Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. | Yorkshire Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. | Yorkshire Terriers need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. |
Barking | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. | High: The Yorkshire Terrier is a very vocal breed. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. |
Watchdog Ability | Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are good watchdogs. | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. |
Territorial | Labrador Retrievers are average defenders. | Yorkshire Terriers strongly protect their territory. | German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. |
Biting Potential |
Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Yorkshire Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness | Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Yorkshire Terriers 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 | Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential. | Yorkshire Terriers have average wanderlust potential. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. |
Prey Drive | Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. | Yorkshire Terriers 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. |
Apartment Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | Yorkshire Terriers are very apartment-friendly dogs. | 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 | Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | German Shepherds 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. | Yorkshire Terriers 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 |
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 - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Stranger Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. |
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Child Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are not kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. |
Dog Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
Office Friendly |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Yorkshire Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Yorkshire Terriers are not recommended for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Pet Friendly | Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. | Yorkshire Terriers are usually friendly towards other pets. | German Shepherds 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 Yorkshire Terriers 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 |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good 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. |
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) |
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. |
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 |
Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Not really Yorkshire Terrier 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 |
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 - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Health Issues | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | Yorkshire Terriers are commonly healthy dogs. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. |
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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 |
Collapsed Trachea Hypoglycemia Patellar Luxation Portosystemic Liver Shunt Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Reverse Sneezing |
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 | 12-16 years | 10-13 years |
Hypoallergenic | No | Yes | No |
Energy Level | Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs. | Yorkshire Terriers are high energy dogs. | German Shepherds are high energy dogs. |
Exercise Need | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises. | Yorkshire Terriers exercise need is very minimal. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. |
Sleeping Need | Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep. | Yorkshire Terriers don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. |
Avg. daily food consumption | Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | Recommended daily amount: 1/2 to 3/4 cup 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 | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. | Low to Average. | Low to Average. |
Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Prefers average to warm weather conditions | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Stinkiness |
High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Yorkshire Terrier has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling tendency | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. | The Yorkshire Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Labrador Retriever vs Yorkshire Terrier vs German Shepherd
Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
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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 | 4-6 puppies | 6-10 puppies |
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