Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian"
Compare Pug and German Shepherd. Which is better: Pug or German Shepherd or Pomeranian?
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| Name | Pug | German Shepherd | Pomeranian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  China |  Germany | Germany  Poland |
| Group | Companion Dogs | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Companion Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 31 | 2 | 22 |
| Reviews | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Mops, Carlin, Chinese Pug, Dutch Bulldog, Dutch Mastiff, Mini Mastiff | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund | Pom, Pom Pom, Deutsche Spitze, Zwergspitz, Spitz Nain, Spitz Enano, Zwers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Toy breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 as a Toy breed. |
| FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the Small Molossian type Dogs section. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. | Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the European Spitz 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. 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 | $300-$500 | $800-$2000 | $600-$800 |
General Appearance - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| Size | Small | Large | Small |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Male: 13-20 pounds (6-9 kg), Female: 13-18 pounds (6-8 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) | 3-7 pounds (1-3 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg), Female: 15.5 pounds (7 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | 5 pounds (2 kg) |
| Height | Male: 12-14 inches (30-36 cm), Female: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) | 7-12 inches (18-30 cm) |
| Avg. Height | Male: 13 inches (33 cm), Female: 11 inches (27.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) | 9.5 inches (24 cm) |
Hair & Care - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| Coat | Fine | Fuzzy | Fluffy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Fawn Black | Silver Tan Red Black | Blue Gray Red Tan Brown Orange White Black |
| Grooming | Effortless: The Pug requires minimal grooming. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Average: The Pomeranian requires average grooming effort. |
| Shedding Level | Pugs shed above average. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. | Pomeranians shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| Temperament | Affectionate Courageous Intelligent Going Loyal Cheerful Gentle Friendly Playful | Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful | Active Friendly Lively Sociable Extroverted Intelligent Playful Attentive Docile Trainable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Very smart: Pomeranian is an excellent dog breed. |
| Trainability | Pugs aren't famous for their trainability. | German Shepherds are easy to train. | Pomeranians are easy to train. |
| Playfulness | Pugs, like any other dog breed, like playing. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | Pomeranians, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Sensitivity Level | Pugs have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed. | German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. |
| Affection Level | Pugs 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. | Pomeranians are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs | Pugs need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. | Pomeranians need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | Average: The Pug barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Average to high: The Pomeranian is a vocal breed. |
| Watchdog Ability | Pugs are average watchdogs. | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Pomeranians are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Pugs strongly protect their territory. | German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. | Pomeranians strongly protect their territory. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Pug has a low chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Pomeranian has a low chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Pugs 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. | Pomeranians have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Pugs tend to escape less than other breeds. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Pomeranians are not the biggest explorers. |
| Prey Drive | Pugs 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. | German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Pomeranians have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. |
| Apartment Friendly | Pugs 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. | Pomeranians are very apartment-friendly dogs. |
| Adaptability | Pugs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Pomeranians adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | Pugs 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. | Pomeranians tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
| 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. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| Stranger Friendly | Pugs are very stranger friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. | Pomeranians are not the most stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Pugs are kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. | Pomeranians are not the most kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Pugs are very cat-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. | Pomeranians are very cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Pugs are very dog-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Pomeranians are average friendly towards other dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Pug is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Pomeranian is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Pugs are usually recommended for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Pomeranians are not the best breed for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Pugs are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | German Shepherds are generally with other pets. | Pomeranians are one of the friendliest dog breeds. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Pugs 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 Pomeranians 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. |
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 |
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 Pug breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Pomeranian 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 - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| Health Issues | Very healthy dog breed. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. | The Pomeranian is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | Allergies Cheyletiella Dermatitis Corneal Ulcers Demodectic Mange Distichiasis Dry Eye Entropion Epilepsy Hemi-vertebrae Hip Dysplasia Legg-perthes Disease Nerve Degeneration Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Proptosis Pug Dog Encephalitis Staphylococcus Infection Vaccination Sensitivity Yeast Infection | 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 | Allergies Cataracts Collapsed Trachea Dry Eye Epilepsy Heat Intolerance Heatstroke Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Legg-perthes Disease Patellar Luxation Patent Ductus Arteriosis Seizures |
| Life Expectancy | 12-15 years | 10-13 years | 12-16 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Pugs 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. | Pomeranians have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you. |
| Exercise Need | Pugs exercise need is minimal. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. | Pomeranians exercise need is minimal. |
| Sleeping Need | Pugs sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. | Pomeranians sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 1/2 to 1 cup dry food a day. | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | Recommended daily amount: 1/4 to 1/2 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | High: The Pug breed has a strong tendency to overweight. | Low to Average. | Average to High. |
| Weather & Climate | Prefers average to warm weather conditions | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Pomeranian can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. |
| Stinkiness |
High The Pug has a high chance of bad smell. |
Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Pomeranian has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Pug is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Pomeranian is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Pug vs German Shepherd vs Pomeranian
| 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 | 2-4 puppies | 6-10 puppies | 2-5 puppies |
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