Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd" Compare Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. Which is better: Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier or German Shepherd?

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

Name	Staffordshire Bull Terrier	American Staffordshire Terrier	German Shepherd
Origins	England	United States	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Hunting Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	82	83	2
Reviews	7	5	4
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Other Names	Staffy, Staff, SBT, Stafford, Staffy Bull	Amstaff, Stafford, Staffy	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1974 as a Terrier breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936 as a Terrier breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Bull type Terriers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Bull type Terriers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs 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	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 German Shepherd Dog Club Of America
Price	$1500-$2000	$800-$1000	$800-$2000

General Appearance - Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd

Size	Medium	Medium	Large
Weight	Males 25-38 pounds (11-17 kg), Female: 23-35 pounds (10-16 kg)	57-67 pounds (25-30 kg)	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)
Avg. Weight	Males 31.5 pounds (14 kg), Female: 29 pounds (13 kg)	62 pounds (27.5 kg)	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)
Height	Male: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm), Female: 13-15 inches (33-38 cm)	Male: 17-19 inches (43-48 cm), Female: 16-18 inches (41-46 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 15 inches (38.5 cm), Female: 14 inches (35.5 cm)	Male: 18 inches (45.5 cm), Female: 17 inches (43.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd

Coat	Smooth	Fine	Fuzzy
Colors	Brindle Red Blue Fawn White Black	Brown Blue White Black	Silver Tan Red Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The American Staffordshire Terrier requires minimal grooming.	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Staffordshire Bull Terriers shed none to minimal.	American Staffordshire Terriers shed none to minimal.	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.

Characteristics - Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd

Temperament	Affectionate Courageous Intelligent Bold Fearless Reliable	Attentive Devoted Loyal Intelligent Courageous Friendly Tenacious	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful
Intelligent Rank	Average: Staffordshire Bull Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.	Smart: American Staffordshire Terrier's has great intelligence.	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are quite easy to train.	American Staffordshire Terriers are easy to train.	German Shepherds are easy to train.
Playfulness	Staffordshire Bull Terriers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The American Staffordshire Terrier is a playful breed.	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	American Staffordshire Terriers 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.
Affection Level	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	American Staffordshire Terriers 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.
Social Needs	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a social breed.	American Staffordshire Terriers are a social breed.	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier barks none to minimal.	Average: The American Staffordshire Terrier barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are average watchdogs.	American Staffordshire Terriers are average watchdogs.	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are average defenders.	American Staffordshire Terriers are average defenders.	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Moderate The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The American Staffordshire Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	American Staffordshire Terriers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Wanderlust potential of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.	American Staffordshire Terriers have average wanderlust potential.	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.
Prey Drive	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	American Staffordshire 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.	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Staffordshire Bull 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.	American Staffordshire Terriers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	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.
Adaptability	Staffordshire Bull Terriers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	American Staffordshire Terriers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Staffordshire Bull 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.	American Staffordshire 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.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately 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 - Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd

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

Health Issues	The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The American Staffordshire Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Cataracts Distichiasis Mastocytoma Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous	No set	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
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	12-14 years	10-13 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	American Staffordshire Terriers 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.
Exercise Need	Staffordshire Bull Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.	American Staffordshire Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Staffordshire Bull Terriers sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	American Staffordshire Terriers 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.
Avg. daily food consumption	1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2.5 to 3 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.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Low to Average.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The American Staffordshire Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an average drooler.	The American Staffordshire Terrier is an average drooler.	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier vs German Shepherd

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	5-7 puppies	5-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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