Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier" Compare Old German Shepherd Dog and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Which is better: Old German Shepherd Dog or Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier?

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

Name	Old German Shepherd Dog	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier	West Highland White Terrier
Origins	Germany	Ireland	Scotland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Hunting Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	282	49	42
Reviews	0	1	1
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Other Names	Langstockhaariger, Deutscher Schäferhund,	Wheaten, Wheatie, Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier	Poltalloch Terrier, Roseneath Terrier, White Roseneath Terrier, Westie (or Westy)
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973 as a Terrier breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Terrier breed.
FCI Group	Not recognized by FCI.	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Small sized Terriers section.
Breed Recognition	No set	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 Irish Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry Club Espanol De Terriers	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 Club Espanol De Terriers
Price	Unknown	$800-$1000	$900-$1200

General Appearance - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

Size	Large	Medium	Small
Weight	Male: 49-88 pounds (22-40 kg) Female: 44-83 pounds (20-37 kg)	Male: 35-45 pounds (16-20 kg), Female: 30-40 pounds (14-18 kg)	Male: 15-22 pounds (7-10 kg), Female: 13-16 pounds (6-7 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 68.5 pounds (31 kg), Female: 63.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 40 pounds (18 kg), Female: 35 pounds (16 kg)	Male: 18.5 pounds (8.5 kg), Female: 14.5 pounds (6.5 kg)
Height	Male: 22-26 inches (56-66 cm), Female: 20-24 inches (51-61 cm)	Male: 18-20 inches (46-51 cm), Female: 17-19 inches (43-48 cm)	Male: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm), Female: 9-11 inches (23-28 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 24 inches (57 cm), Female: 22 inches (56 cm)	Male: 19 inches (48.5 cm), Female: 18 inches (45.5 cm)	Male: 11 inches (27.5 cm), Female: 10 inches (25.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

Coat	Fuzzy Shaggy Smooth Wiry	Curly	Dense
Colors	Black Brown Grey Tan	Wheaten	White
Grooming	Average: The Old German Shepherd Dog requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Advanced: The West Highland White Terrier requires a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Old German Shepherd Dogs are heavy shedders.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are low shedders.	West Highland White Terriers shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

Temperament	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful	Affectionate Faithful Playful Energetic Intelligent Spirited	Affectionate Courageous Friendly Independent Alert Intelligent
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Old German Shepherd Dog is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: West Highland White Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Old German Shepherd Dogs are easy to train.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are quite easy to train.	West Highland White Terriers are easy to train.
Playfulness	Old German Shepherd Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a playful breed.	The West Highland White Terrier is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Old German Shepherd Dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Old German Shepherd Dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	West Highland White Terriers are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	Old German Shepherd Dogs need for social interaction is average.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers need a lot of social interaction.	West Highland White Terriers are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Old German Shepherd Dog rarely barks.	Average: The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier barks occasionally.	High: The West Highland White Terrier is a very vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Old German Shepherd Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are good watchdogs.	West Highland White Terriers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Old German Shepherd Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are extremely protective guard dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Old German Shepherd Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Old German Shepherd Dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	West Highland White Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Old German Shepherd Dogs tend to escape less than other breeds.	Wanderlust potential of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.	West Highland White Terriers have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Old German Shepherd Dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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.	West Highland White Terriers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are apartment-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers 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	Old German Shepherd Dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	West Highland White Terriers adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	West Highland White Terriers 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.	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.

Good With - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

Stranger Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are stranger friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are stranger friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are dog-friendly dogs.	West Highland White Terriers are dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Old German Shepherd Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No West Highland White Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.	West Highland White Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Old German Shepherd Dogs are generally with other pets.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	West Highland White Terriers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Old German Shepherd Dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No West Highland White Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used 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.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a 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.	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.	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.	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.	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 German Shepherd Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really West Highland White Terrier 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 - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

Health Issues	The Old German Shepherd Dog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Very healthy dog breed.
Health Problems	No set	Addison's Disease Allergies Cancer Renal Dysplasia	Atopic Dermatitis Cataracts Craniomandibular Osteopathy Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy Hyperplastic Dermatosis Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Legg-perthes Disease Patellar Luxation Pulmonary Fibrosis White Dog Shaker Syndrome
Life Expectancy	12-13 years	12-15 years	12-16 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	Yes	Yes
Energy Level	Old German Shepherd Dogs are high energy dogs.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	West Highland White Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Old German Shepherd Dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.	West Highland White Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Old German Shepherd Dogs don't need too much sleep.	Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	West Highland White Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	2.5 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals.	1/2 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Average.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The West Highland White Terrier can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Old German Shepherd Dog has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The West Highland White Terrier has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Old German Shepherd Dog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The West Highland White Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Old German Shepherd Dog vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier

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	6-10 puppies	5-8 puppies	2-5 puppies
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