Leonberger vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Gentle Giant or Alsatian wolf dog?
"Find similarities and differences between Leonberger vs German Shepherd"
Compare Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which is better: Leonberger or German Shepherd?
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| Name | Leonberger | German Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Germany | Germany |
| Group | Working Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 100 | 2 |
| Reviews | 4 | 21 |
| User Ratings |
| Common Names & Aliases
Compare different names used for Leonberger and German Shepherd. What other names are these breeds known by? |
Gentle Giant Gentle Lion Leonbergi Leo |
Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Classification
Compare breed classifications between a Leonberger and a German Shepherd. Learn about their genetic backgrounds. | Purebred | Purebred |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Size and Weight Comparison
| Size Classification
Which is bigger: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare size differences between these breeds. | Giant | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Statistics
Compare weight ranges between a Leonberger and a German Shepherd. Which breed is heavier? | Male: 130-170 pounds (59-77 kg), Female: 100-130 pounds (45-59 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) |
| Average Weight
Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight? | Male: 150 pounds (68 kg), Female: 115 pounds (52 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) |
| Height
Which is taller, Leonberger or German Shepherd? Is a Leonberger taller than a German Shepherd? | Male: 29-31 inches (74-80 cm), Female: 27-29 inches (61-74 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) |
| Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average height? | Male: 30 inches (77 cm), Female: 28 inches (67.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Price and Availability Comparison
| Price Range
Compare puppy prices between a Leonberger and a German Shepherd. Which breed costs more? | $1500-$2000 | $800-$2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability
Which is easier to get, Leonberger or German Shepherd? | Frequent: The Leonberger is easier than average to get. | Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Trainability and Intelligence Comparison
| Intelligence Rating
Which is smarter: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare intelligence rankings and learning abilities. | 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Training Difficulty
Which is easier to train: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare training requirements. | Leonberger dogs are quite easy to train. | German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. |
| Watchdog Rating
Which makes a better watchdog: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare alertness levels. | Leonberger dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. |
| Territorial Protection
Which is more protective: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare territorial behaviors. | Leonberger dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Personality and Temperament Comparison
| Personality Traits
Compare personalities of a Leonberger and a German Shepherd. How do their temperaments differ? |
Loving Obedient Loyal Fearless Companionable Adaptable |
Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference between Leonberger vs German Shepherd? | 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. |
| Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Leonberger vs German Shepherd? | High: Leonberger dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs
Leonberger vs German Shepherd social needs comparison: | Leonberger dogs need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? What's the difference between Leonberger vs German Shepherd? | Leonberger dogs tend to escape less than other breeds. | German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. |
| Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? What's the difference between Leonberger vs German Shepherd? Which can be better for hunting? | Leonberger dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Activity and Playfulness Comparison
| Barking Frequency
Which breed barks more: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare vocalization tendencies. | Low: The Leonberger barks none to minimal. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. |
|---|---|---|
| Playful Nature
Which breed is more playful: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare play drive and energy. | The Leonberger is a playful breed. | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Apartment Adaptability
Which is better for apartments: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare living space needs. | Not an apartment-friendly dog the Leonberger breed. | 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. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Adaptability and Independence Comparison
| Lifestyle Adaptability
Which adapts better to changes: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare adaptability levels. | Average: Leonberger dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually. | German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
|---|---|---|
| Alone Time Tolerance
Which dog can be left alone: Leonberger or German Shepherd? | Leonberger dogs 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. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Bite Characteristics Comparison
| Bite Risk Assessment
Which has lower bite risk: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare biting tendencies. | Low 🔽 The Leonberger has a low chance of biting somebody. | High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
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| Mouthing Tendency
Which is more mouthy: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare mouthing behaviors. | Leonberger dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. | German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Bite Strength Rating
Which has a stronger bite: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare bite force PSI. | Above 400 PSI 🔼 Leonberger bite force: The Strongest. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Health and Lifespan Comparison
| Average Lifespan
Which lives longer: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare average lifespans. |
8-10 years The average lifespan of Leonberger: 9 years |
9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Tolerance
Which handles weather better: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare climate tolerances. | Prefers cold weather The Leonberger 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. |
| Health Concerns
Compare common health issues between a Leonberger and a German Shepherd. Which breed is healthier? | Leonbergers tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. |
| Vet Care Frequency
Which one may need more or less veterinary visits: Leonberger vs German Shepherd? |
Frequent The Leonberger should have a complete physical check-up at least once (but preferably twice) per year. |
Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year). |
| Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Leonberger vs German Shepherd? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Leonberger vs German Shepherd health problems comparison: | Hip Dysplasia Cancer Bloat Entropion Inherited Polyneuropathy Ectropion Elbow Dysplasia Addison's Disease Eosinophilic Panosteitis |
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 |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Energy and Activity Comparison
| Energy Rating
Which breed is more energetic: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare activity levels. | Leonberger dogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Leonberger vs German Shepherd exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Leonberger or German Shepherd? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Leonberger dogs need quite a lot of exercise. | German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise. |
| Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Leonberger or German Shepherd? | Leonberger dogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend too much time with sleeping. | German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Diet and Weight Management Comparison
| Obesity Tendency
Which gains weight easier: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare obesity risks. | Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the Leonberger's weight, he can easily gain weight. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. |
|---|---|---|
| Food Consumption
Which eats more: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare daily food needs. | 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. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Allergies and Grooming Comparison
| Allergy Friendliness
Which is more hypoallergenic: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare allergy friendliness. | No See more. | No See more. |
|---|---|---|
| Coat Colors
What color variations exist for Leonberger and German Shepherd? Compare breed colors. | Red Brown Yellow Sandy Reddish Mahogany |
Black Tan Red Silver |
| Grooming Requirements
Which needs more grooming: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare maintenance needs. | Average: The Leonberger requires average grooming effort. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
| Drooling Tendency
Which drools more: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare drooling amounts. | The Leonberger is an average drooler. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. |
| Stinkiness Rating
Which has less odor: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare natural smell levels. | Medium ⏺ The Leonberger has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Coat Characteristics
How do coats differ between a Leonberger and a German Shepherd? Compare fur types. | Waterproof | Fuzzy |
| Bathing Needs
Which needs more baths: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare bathing frequencies. | 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. |
| Shedding Level
Who sheds more Leonberger or German Shepherd? Do Leonberger dogs shed more than German Shepherd dogs? | Leonberger dogs are heavy shedders. | German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Good With Comparison
| Child Compatibility
Which is better with children: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare kid-friendliness. | Leonberger dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Compatibility
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | Leonberger dogs are generally with other pets. | German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. |
| Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Leonberger or German Shepherd? Which dog is more friendly? | Leonberger dogs are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Leonberger or German Shepherd? | Leonberger dogs are average friendly towards cats. | German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Leonberger or German Shepherd? Can a Leonberger and a German Shepherd be friends? Do Leonberger dogs get along with German Shepherd dogs? | Leonberger dogs are dog-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
| Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is best for first time owners: Leonberger vs German Shepherd? |
Yes Leonberger 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. |
| Office Friendly
Which one fits better in the office? |
No Leonberger is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly
Which dog is good for elderly people? | Leonbergers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd As a Working Dog Comparison
| Service Dog Capability
Which makes a better service dog: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare service capabilities. | Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. | Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy Work Suitability
Which is better for therapy work: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare therapy capabilities. | Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
| Scent Detection Ability
Which is better at detection work: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare scenting abilities. | 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. |
| Search & Rescue Potential
Which is better for search and rescue: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare SAR abilities. | 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. |
| Maritime Work Ability
Which is better on boats: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare maritime abilities. | Not really Leonberger breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
| Draft Work Capability
Which is better at pulling: a Leonberger or a German Shepherd? Compare draft work capabilities. | 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. |
| Military Service Background
Compare military history between Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which has stronger military background? | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. | Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Reproducibility Comparison
| Puppy Litter Size
Compare litter sizes between Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which has larger litters? | 6-8 puppies | 6-10 puppies |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy Duration
Compare pregnancy duration between Leonberger and German Shepherd breeds. | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. |
| Breeding Frequency
Compare breeding frequencies between Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which needs longer recovery? | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Leonberger vs German Shepherd Recognition Comparison
| AKC Classification
Compare AKC classifications of Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which groups do they belong to? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2010 as a Working breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. |
|---|---|---|
| FCI Classification
Compare FCI classifications of Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which groups are they in? | 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. |
| Kennel Club Recognition
Compare kennel club recognition between Leonberger and German Shepherd. Which is more widely recognized? |
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. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand 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 |
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