In the guide below, we outline some of the dog breeds that might be most similar to German Shepherds.
We identify these dog breeds across different areas, such as appearance & physical traits, size, temperament, popularity, intelligence, bite force, and more.
(NOTE: the information in this guide is general information only. It is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. See a qualified vet or animal expert for an expert opinion in regards to your pet/s)
Dog Breeds That Are Similar To German Shepherds
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Appearance & Physical Traits
Appearance and physical traits can include things such as:
Coat color
Coat patterns and markings
Similar body features or facial features
Similar ears (i.e. upright ears that are a similar shape)
Breeds that might have a similar appearance to German Shepherds based on one or multiple of the above things might be:
– Belgian Malinois
May have a similar head and facial features to the German Shepherd, along with similar looking ears that stand up/are erect
May have a similarly athletic body too
– Dutch Shepherd
May have some similar facial features to the German Shepherd, along with similarly erect ears
May have a similarly athletic body too
– Swiss Shepherd
Even though the Swiss Shepherd is generally white, the shape and features of it’s head, face, ears, and it’s body can look very similar to that of a German Shepherd
– White Shepherd
Even though the White Shepherd is generally white, the shape and features of it’s head, face, ears, and it’s body can look very similar to that of a German Shepherd
– East European Shepherd
Head, face, ears, and body look similar to a German Shepherd
Even the coat color can look similar to some lines of German Shepherd
– Shiloh Shepherd
Looks very similar to the German Shepherd, except it’s bigger in size, and has a slightly different coat color
– King Shepherd
Looks very similar to the German Shepherd, except it’s bigger in size
– Bohemian Shepherd
Has a similar black and tan colored coat like the GSD, erect ears, and some think the facial features are somewhat similar too
*It’s worth noting that any dog breed or cross breed that involves German Shepherds as one of the base breeds may look similar in appearance to German Shepherds.
Examples include East European Shepherds, Swiss Shepherds, White Shepherds, and so on.
Dogs Breeds That Belong To A Similar Breed Category As The German Shepherd
Working & Herding Dogs
German Shepherds are working and herding dogs
Some other dog breeds that were bred for working or specifically herding include the:
– Belgian Malinois
– Belgian Shepherd (comes in 4 varieties, with the Belgian Malinois being one of the more well known varieties)
– Briard
– Australian Shepherd
Shepherd Dogs
As the name suggests, German Shepherds are part of the ‘Shepherd’ dog breed category.
Other dog breeds that are ‘Shepherds’ are the:
– Belgian Shepherd
– Australian Shepherd
– Dutch Shepherd
– Plus, other ‘Shepherd’ breeds and cross breeds
Dog Breeds That May Participate In Similar Working Dog Fields To German Shepherds
German Shepherds can be used in working fields such as police work and the military.
Belgian Malinois’ and Dutch Shepherds are examples of other dog breeds that can more commonly be used in these fields too.
Dog Breeds That Were Originally Bred In Germany Like German Shepherds
German Shepherds originated in Germany
Other dog breeds that originate from Germany like the German Shepherd might include:
– Boxers
– The Doberman
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Size
Being a similar size might include things such as:
Dogs that are large breed dogs
Dogs that range between 22 to 26 inches tall
Dogs that range between 49 to 88 lbs in weight
Based on the above measureables, dog breeds that might be a similar size to German Shepherds might be:
– Boxers
– Golden Retrievers
– Swiss Shepherds
– White Shepherds
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Temperament
Ultimately, a dog’s personality or temperament might be influenced by a range of factors, with genetics and breeding being key factors
So, this is why the temperament and personality of individual dogs don’t always match the general temperament descriptions found online
Additionally, it might be hard to match temperament exactly between different dog breeds.
But, some other dog breeds that may either have similar individual temperament traits, or a similar ability to be both a working dog and a pet or family dog, might be:
– The Belgian Malinois
Although, the Belgian Malinois may be slightly more intense compared to some German Shepherds.
– Shiloh Shepherd
Except, the Shiloh is bred to be softer and calmer than the GSD
– King Shepherd
Except the King Shephed might have a temperament that is somewhere between a GSD and a Shiloh Shepherd
– Swiss Shephed
– White Shepherd
– The Dutch Shepherd
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Popularity
Every year, the American Kennel Club publishes a list of the most popular dog breeds based on dog registration data.
The 2021 list shows German Shepherds as the 4th most popular dog breed.
Some of the dog breeds that might might be similarly popular to German Shepherds based on this ranking list might be:
– Labrador Retrievers as the most popular dog breed
– French Bulldogs as the 2nd most popular
– Golden Retriever as the 3rd most popular
– Poodles as the 5th most popular
– Bulldogs as the 6th most popular
– Beagles as the 7th most popular
Of course though, this is only one rankings list, from one organisation, in one country.
Other lists in other locations may look different.
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Intelligence
Intelligence testing for dogs can test for different things, and can also have limitations.
So, intelligence rankings for different breeds might be viewed as a guide only, and not definitive
There are however general dog breed intelligence ranking lists available online.
On one rankings list by thesmartestcanine.com, which ranks different dog breeds based on obedience related intelligence, the German Shepherd ranks as the 3rd smartest dog breed.
Some of the dog breeds that might rank as similarly intelligent to German Shepherds might include:
– Border Collies as the smartest dog breed
– Poodles as the 2nd smartest
– Golden Retrievers as the 4th smartest
– Doberman Pinschers as the 5th smartest
Dog Breeds Similar To German Shepherds In Bite Force
The bite force of different dog breeds might be a generalized measurement only, and not definitive or comprehensive.
We list some of the reasons for this in a separate guide.
However, we compiled a rankings list of some of the dogs with the strongest dog bite force, where bite force is expressed in psi (pounds of force per square inch)
On that list, German Shepherds have a bite force of 238 psi.
Some of the dog breeds that might have the most similar bite forces to German Shepherds might include:
– Dobermans at 245 to 305 psi
– Great Danes at 238 psi
– American Pit Bulls at 235 psi
– Labradors at 230 psi
– Boxers at 230 psi
German Shepherd Breed Comparison Guides
We provide German Shepherd breed comparison guides near the bottom of this separate guide.
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