Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane"
Compare Old English Sheepdog and German Shepherd. Which is better: Old English Sheepdog or German Shepherd or Great Dane?
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| Name | Old English Sheepdog | German Shepherd | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  England |  Germany | Germany |
| Group | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Working Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 70 | 2 | 14 |
| Reviews | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Bobtail, OES | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund | Dane, Gentle Giant, Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff, Apollo of Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887 as a Working breed. |
| FCI Group | 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. | Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type 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 | 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 | $1200-$1500 | $800-$2000 | $800-$1200 |
General Appearance - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| Size | Large | Large | Giant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Male: from 65 pounds (29 kg), Female: from 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) | Male: 120-200 pounds (54-90 kg), Female: 100-130 pounds (45-59 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: from 65 pounds (29 kg), Female: from 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 160 pounds (72 kg), Female: 115 pounds (52 kg) |
| Height | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61 cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) | Male: 30-34 inches (76-86 cm), Female: 28-32 inches (71-81 cm) |
| Avg. Height | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (51 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) | Male: 32 inches (81 cm), Female: 30 inches (76 cm) |
Hair & Care - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| Coat | Waterproof Shaggy Double | Fuzzy | Dense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue White Merle Grizzle Gray | Silver Tan Red Black | Blue Fawn White Brindle Merle Black |
| Grooming | Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Effortless: The Great Dane requires minimal grooming. |
| Shedding Level | Old English Sheepdogs are heavy shedders. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. | Great Danes shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| Temperament | Adaptable Intelligent Playful Protective Bubbly Loving Sociable Funny | Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful | Friendly Devoted Gentle Reserved Confident Intelligent Loving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Smart: Old English Sheepdog's has great intelligence. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Average: Great Dane's has average obedience intelligence. |
| Trainability | Old English Sheepdogs are easy to train. | German Shepherds are easy to train. | Great Danes are quite easy to train. |
| Playfulness | The Old English Sheepdog is a playful breed. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | Great Danes are not the most playful dog breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | Old English Sheepdogs 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. | Great Danes don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level | Old English Sheepdogs 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. | Great Danes are average dogs regarding their affection level. |
| Social Needs | Old English Sheepdogs need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. | Great Danes are a social breed. |
| Barking | Average: The Old English Sheepdog barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Low to Average: The Great Dane rarely barks. |
| Watchdog Ability | Old English Sheepdogs are good watchdogs. | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Great Danes are one of the best watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Old English Sheepdogs strongly protect their territory. | German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. | Great Danes are extremely protective guard dogs. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Old English Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Great Dane has a low chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Old English Sheepdogs have a higher 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. | Great Danes have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Old English Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Great Danes have average wanderlust potential. |
| Prey Drive | Old English Sheepdogs 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. | Great Danes have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen. |
| Apartment Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. | 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. | Great Danes are very apartment-friendly dogs. |
| Adaptability | Old English Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Great Danes adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Old English Sheepdogs 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. | Great Danes 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. |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Good With - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| Stranger Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. | Great Danes are average friendly towards strangers. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. | Great Danes are kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. | Great Danes are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Great Danes are average friendly towards other dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Old English Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Great Dane is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Great Danes are usually recommended for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Old English Sheepdogs are usually friendly towards other pets. | German Shepherds are generally with other pets. | Great Danes are generally with other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Old English Sheepdogs 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 Great Danes 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. |
Not really This breed generally not used 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. |
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. |
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. |
| 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. |
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 |
Not really Old English Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Great Dane 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. |
Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| Health Issues | The Old English Sheepdog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. | Great Danes are commonly healthy dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | Allergies Cataracts Deafness Diabetes Entropion Heat Intolerance Hip 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 | Bloat Cancer Dilated Cardiomyopathy Hip Dysplasia Mitral Valve Disease Patent Ductus Arteriosis Persistent Right Aortic Arch Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia |
| Life Expectancy | 10-12 years | 10-13 years | 7-10 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Old English Sheepdogs have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you. | German Shepherds are high energy dogs. | Great Danes are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Old English Sheepdogs have an average exercise need. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. | Great Danes exercise need is minimal. |
| Sleeping Need | Old English Sheepdogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. | Great Danes don't need too much sleep. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 4.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day. | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 8 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals |
| Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Low to Average. | Low to Average. |
| Weather & Climate |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Old English Sheepdog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Prefers average to warm weather conditions |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Old English Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Great Dane has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Old English Sheepdog is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Great Dane drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed. |
Reproducibility - Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd vs Great Dane
| 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 | 5-8 puppies | 6-10 puppies | 10-15 puppies |
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