Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Comparison - Dog breed selector: Cao De Agua or Alsatian wolf dog or Alpine Mastiff? Find the right dog for you

"Find similarities and differences between Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard" Compare Portuguese Water Dog and German Shepherd. Which is better: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?

Size and Weight Price and Availability Trainability and Intelligence Personality and Temperament Activity and Playfulness Adaptability and Independence Bite Characteristics Health and Lifespan Energy and Activity Diet and Weight Management Allergies and Grooming Good With As a Working Dog Reproducibility Recognition Show differences only

Name	Portuguese Water Dog	German Shepherd	St. Bernard
Origins	Portugal	Germany	Switzerland Italy
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Working Dogs	Pastoral / Herding Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	54	2	48
Reviews	5	19	9
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Cao De Agua Portie Water Dog	Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian	Alpine Mastiff Bernhardiner St. Barnhardshund St. Bernard Saint
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard breed type comparison:	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Size and Weight Comparison

Size Which is bigger, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which is the smallest dog, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Medium	Large	Giant
Weight Which is heavier, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or German Shepherd? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard weight comparison:	Male: 42-55 pounds (19-25 kg), Female: 35-49 pounds (16-22 kg)	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	110-200 pounds (50-91 kg)
Average Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 48.5 pounds (22 kg), Female: 42 pounds (19 kg)	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	155 pounds (70.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard height comparison:	Male: 20-22 inches (50-57 cm), Female: 17-20 inches (43-52 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	25.5-27.5 inches (61-70 cm)
Average Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 21 inches (53.5 cm), Female: 18.5 inches (47.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	25.5-27.5 inches (65.5 cm)

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Price and Availability Comparison

Price Which is cheaper, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which is more expensive?	$2500-$2800	$800-$2000	$1500-$1800
Availability Which is easier to get, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Very frequent: The Portuguese Water Dog is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The St.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Trainability and Intelligence Comparison

Intelligent Rank Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard intelligence:	Smart: The Portuguese Water Dog dogs have great intelligence. See more.	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one. See more.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Trainability Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard trainability comparison.	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are easy to train. See more.	German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. See more.	A slightly harder to train than average. See more.
Least Obedient Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Easy To Train
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are good watchdogs. See more.	German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	St. See more.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which is a better guard dog Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are average defenders. See more.	German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	St. See more.
Guard Dog Breeds List

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Personality and Temperament Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard behavior/temperament comparison:	Intelligent Docile Obedient Brave Impetuous Quarrelsome	Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful	Independent Happy Friendly Gentle Going Social Quiet
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference?	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. See more.	Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Sensitive: St. See more.
Most Sensitive Dog Breeds		Less Sensitive Dog Breeds
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	High: Portuguese Water Dog dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	High: St. See more.
Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
Social Needs Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard social needs comparison:	Portuguese Water Dog dogs need a lot of social interaction. See more.	German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. See more.	St. See more.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs have average wanderlust potential. See more.	German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. See more.	St. See more.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs 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. See more.	German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Their prey drive is low. See more.
Dog Breeds With Low Prey Drive		Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Activity and Playfulness Comparison

Playfulness Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard playfulness comparison:	The Portuguese Water Dog is a playful breed. See more.	Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	St. See more.
Most Playful Dog Breeds
Barking Which dog barks more/less: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	Low to Average: The Portuguese Water Dog rarely barks. See more.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. See more.	Low: The St. See more.
Quiet Dog Breeds That Don't Bark		Dog Breeds That Bark The Most
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Apartment-friendly dog the Portuguese Water Dog 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.	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 St.
The Worst Dog Breeds for Apartment Living		Apartment Friendly Dogs List

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Adaptability and Independence Comparison

Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	St.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog 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.	St.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Bite Characteristics Comparison

Bite Force PSI Which bite is stronger: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Portuguese Water Dog bite force: Ordinary.	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary.	Above 400 PSI 🔼 St.
Dog Breeds With The Lowest Bite Force		Dog Breeds With the Strongest Bite Force
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	Low 🔽 The Portuguese Water Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Moderate ⏺ The St.
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard mouthiness comparison:	Portuguese Water Dog dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	St. See more.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Health and Lifespan Comparison

Health Issues Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard health comparison. Which is the healthier: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	The Portuguese Water Dog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	Very healthy dog breed.
Healthiest Dog Breeds
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard health problems comparison:	Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Entropion Ectropion Distichiasis Persistent Pupillary Membranes Addison's Disease Megaesophagus Irritable Bowel Disease (ibd) Abnormally Small Eyes GM-1 Storage Disease Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy Gastrointestinal Diseases Colitis Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis Lymphangiectasia	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	Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Bloat Epilepsy Entropion Elbow Dysplasia Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits?	Average The Portuguese Water Dog should have a complete physical check-up at least once per year.	Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Rare The St.
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Life Expectancy Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard lifespan comparison. How long do Portuguese Water Dog, German Shepherd and St. Bernard breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy?	10-14 years The average lifespan of Portuguese Water Dog: 12 years	9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years	8-10 years The average lifespan of St.
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Weather and Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Portuguese Water Dog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Energy and Activity Comparison

Energy Level Who has more energy a Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard energy level comparison:	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are high-energy dogs.	German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs.	St.
Low-Energy Dog Breeds		High-Energy Dog Breeds
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	St.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs don't need too much sleep.	German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep.	St.
Dog Breeds That Sleep A Lot

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Diet and Weight Management Comparison

Average daily food consumption Which dog eats more: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	2 to 2.5 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.	6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Dog Breeds That Eat A Lot
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard weight gain potential comparison:	Average: The Portuguese Water Dog has an average risk for obesity. See more.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. See more.	Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the St. See more.
Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Allergies and Grooming Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard coat comparison:	Curly	Fuzzy	Dense Rough Smooth
Colors What are the original Portuguese Water Dog, German Shepherd and St. Bernard color?	Black White Brown	Black Tan Red Silver	Black Red White Brown Brindle Tricolor
Grooming Which dog is easy to maintain, Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard grooming comparison:	Average: The Portuguese Water Dog requires average grooming effort. See more.	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. See more.	Average: The St. See more.
Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds		High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
Shedding Level Who sheds more Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or {name3 shedding:	Portuguese Water Dog dogs shed none to minimal. See more.	German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. See more.	St. See more.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Shed The Most
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	3-4 weeks More often than average. These dog coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. See more.	8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. See more.	4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. See more.
Hypoallergenic Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	Yes See more.	No See more.	No See more.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	Low 🔽 The Portuguese Water Dog has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	High 🔼 The St.
Drooling Tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least?	The Portuguese Water Dog is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.	The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.	The St. See more.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Good With Comparison

Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are usually friendly towards other pets.	German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets.	St.
Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which dog is more friendly?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are average friendly towards strangers.	German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs.	St.
Dog Breeds That Are Aloof With Strangers		Dog Breeds That Are Friendly To Strangers
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.	St.
Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are cat-friendly dogs.	German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats.	St.
Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Cats
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard?	Portuguese Water Dog dogs are dog-friendly dogs.	German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	St.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is good for the first-time owners: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	Yes Portuguese Water Dog 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.	No St.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No Portuguese Water Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No St.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	Portuguese Water Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	St.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard As a Working Dog Comparison

Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. See more.
Most Popular Service Dog Breeds
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: Portuguese Water Dog or German Shepherd or St. Bernard? Which is better for autism?	Not really This breed is generally not used as a therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.
Therapy Dog Breeds
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog?	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.	Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	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.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.
Boat and Sailor Dog Which one could be a boat dog: Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard?	Yes Portuguese Water Dog breed usually likes being on a boat. See more.	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Not really St. See more.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a cart pulling or drafting dog?	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.
Fighting Dog / Military Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.
Litter Size How many puppies can Portuguese Water Dog and German Shepherd and St. Bernard have?	4-8 puppies	6-10 puppies	6-8 puppies
Dog Name Generator – Find A Perfect Name For Your Puppy

Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard Recognition Comparison

AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1983 as a Hound breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Working breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Water Dogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	American Kennel Club Canadian Kennel Club Federation Cynologique Internationale Australian National Kennel Council New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club The 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

Popular Dog Compares

Despite the best intentions, there may be errors. If you find one, please let us know and we will fix it as soon as possible. Contact us here.

Rate This Comparsion - Portuguese Water Dog vs German Shepherd vs St. Bernard

Reviews