In the guide below, we compare the East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd dog breeds.
We outline what the main differences between them might be, and provide other important information on each breed.
(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)
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd: Differences, & Breed Comparison
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – Origin/History
German Shepherd
German Shepherds were first bred in Germany around 1899.
They were bred from different Shepherd breed dogs in Germany at the time (reportedly a sheep type dog, and also a service type dog), with the intention of having ideal working dog traits and working ability.
GSDs as a breed belong to the ‘herding dog’ category.
Today, GSD’s are used in a range of working fields, compete as show dogs, and are also pets & family dogs.
East European Shepherd
The East European Shepherd is also known as the Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka, VEO, or EES
It may have been created with specific breeding programmes between the 1930’s and the 1950’s
One report indicates that it was first bred in Ukraine, before being bred in Russia too (and other Soviet regions)
Various reports indicate that it was crossbred between German Shepherds (that were imported into Ukraine from Germany in the 1920’s), and dog breeds local to Russia, such as East Siberian Laikas, Ovcharkas, as well as other local dog breeds.
They were specifically bred for military work, police work, and protection and guard dog work
They were also bred to be able to withstand the extreme cold, and even freezing conditions in places like Russia
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the breed was named and a breed standard was developed
As of today, the dog is popular in Soviet countries, and various other kennel clubs recognize the breed
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – Size
German Shepherd
German Shepherds might be classified as a large breed of dog
Males might average 24-26 inches in height (60-65 cms), and 66-88 lbs in weight (30-40 kg)
Females might average 22-24 inches in height (55-60 cms), and 49-71 lbs in weight (22-32 kg)
East European Shepherd
East European Shepherds might be classified as a large size breed of dog, and are larger than German Shepherds
Some reports indicate they show significant sexual dimorphism, with males being significantly larger than females
Males might average 26-28 inches in height (66-71 cms), with some being up to 29 or 30 inches
Females might average 24-26 inches in height (61-66 cms)
The breed overall might range between 75-132 lbs (34-59 kg) in weight
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – Lifespan
German Shepherd
German Shepherds might have a lifespan of around 9-13 years on average
Although, some reports indicate some GSDs may even live up to 15 years of age
East European Shepherd
An estimation of the East European Shepherd’s lifespan might be between 10-14 years.
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – 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
– The East European Shepherd does not feature on the list
Of course though, this is only one rankings list, from one organisation, in one country.
Other lists in other locations may look different.
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – Appearance, Features, & Colors
German Shepherd
German Shepherds might commonly be known for the following appearance and physical features:
– Black and tan, or sometimes black and red coat color and saddle pattern (although other colors exist too)
– Erect ears/ears that stand up
– An angulated back and dropped hips (although body shape differs between the individual lines of GSDs)
– Generally medium length hair/plush coat, with a double coat (although, short and long haired GSDs exist too)
Having said that though, different German Shepherds have different physical features and appearances.
You can read about the different variations in German Shepherds, such the different lines, colors, and coat lengths/types here.
East European Shepherd
East European Shepherds might commonly be known for the following appearance and physical features:
– May be more of a black and cream color, than a black and tan, or black and gold color like German Shepherds. Also comes in solid black.
– Naturally pointed/upright ears
– A similar looking body to a GSD, but, has a thicker and bigger body overall
– Some have a straighter (less angled) back than a GSD
– Generally a medium length, thick, double coat. Part of their thick coat might be for insulation and protection from the cold
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – 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
However, a generalized description of the temperament of each dog breed, according to either parts of the standard for each breed, or, what they were originally bred to be, might be:
German Shepherd
Intelligent, obedient and easier to train, loyal, confident, protective, and may be slightly aloof (without being aggressive)
May have the general temperament of a working breed dog or herding dog
Read more about what temperament GSDs were originally bred for, and what some breed standards outline for temperament and personality in this guide
East European Shepherd
Versatile, hard working, durable and tough, confident, obedient, intelligent, and protective
May have the general temperament of a working dog
Some reports indicate their temperament may be similar to a Doberman’s
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – 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
One online ranking indicated that German Shepherds rank as the 3rd most intelligent dog breed
We could not find East European Shepherds listed on any dog breed intelligence ranking lists, and this may be because their intelligence may not have been officially measured at this point in time
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – 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, when referencing one ‘strongest dog bite force’ list, where bite force is expressed in psi (pounds of force per square inch), the bite force of each of these two breeds might be:
– German Shepherds might have a bite force of 238 psi
– The bite force of East European Shepherds is not listed
East European Shepherd vs German Shepherd – Cost/Price
The cost to buy a specific breed of dog depends on the country it’s bought from, along with a wide range of other factors.
Some general information on buying each breed though might include:
Buying From Breeders
According to different online information at the time of publishing this guide, the general cost to buy each of these breeds from breeders in the US might be:
– German Shepherd
Anywhere from $800 up to $10,000+ (for the highest quality dogs), with the average for a regular puppy potentially being around the $800 mark
– East European Shepherd
There isn’t a lot of information available online on the cost of East European Shepherds
Some reports indicate that they may range in price from around $900 to $1500
Adopting/Rescuing
Buying from a breeder may not be the only option to own each of these dog breeds.
Adopting or rescuing may be other options too.
The cost to adopt or rescue a dog can be significantly cheaper than buying from a breeder in some instances, although there’s usually still a basic cost to adopt/rescue a dog.
Rehoming
Buying a dog that is being re-homed might another option to buy a dog.
The cost for rehomed dogs can vary.
More Information On German Shepherds
It’s worth noting that some of the information in the guide above about German Shepherds comes from our ‘German Shepherd Breed Information Guide‘, which also has additional information about the German Shepherd breed.
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