Border Collie vs German Shepherd Comparison – Which dog is better Sheepdog or Alsatian wolf dog?
"Find similarities and differences between Border Collie vs German Shepherd"
Compare Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which is better: Border Collie or German Shepherd?
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| Name | Border Collie | German Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origins |  England Scotland Wales |  Germany |
| Group | Pastoral / Herding Dogs | Pastoral / Herding Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 38 | 2 |
| Reviews | 13 | 21 |
| User Ratings |
| Common Names & Aliases
Compare different names used for Border Collie and German Shepherd. What other names are these breeds known by? |
Sheepdog Scotch Sheep Dog |
Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Classification
Compare breed classifications between a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. Learn about their genetic backgrounds. | Purebred | Purebred |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Size and Weight Comparison
| Size Classification
Which is bigger: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare size differences between these breeds. | Large | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Statistics
Compare weight ranges between a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. Which breed is heavier? | Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 kg) | Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg) |
| Average Weight
Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight? | Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) |
| Height
Which is taller, Border Collie or German Shepherd? Is a Border Collie taller than a German Shepherd? | Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 cm) | Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) |
| Average Height
Which dog has a smaller / higher average height? | Male: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm) |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Price and Availability Comparison
| Price Range
Compare puppy prices between a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. Which breed costs more? | $600-$800 | $800-$2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability
Which is easier to get, Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Very frequent: The Border Collie is quite easy to get. | Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Trainability and Intelligence Comparison
| Intelligence Rating
Which is smarter: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare intelligence rankings and learning abilities. | Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
|---|---|---|
| Training Difficulty
Which is easier to train: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare training requirements. | Border Collie dogs are easy to train. | German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. |
| Watchdog Rating
Which makes a better watchdog: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare alertness levels. | Border Collie dogs are one of the best watchdogs. | German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. |
| Territorial Protection
Which is more protective: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare territorial behaviors. | Border Collie dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Personality and Temperament Comparison
| Personality Traits
Compare personalities of a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. How do their temperaments differ? |
Energetic Protective Alert Intelligent Responsive Loyal Tenacious |
Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity Level
Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Sensitive: Border Collie dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. | Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate dog breed: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | High: Border Collie dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs
Border Collie vs German Shepherd social needs comparison: | Border Collie dogs need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam
Which dog has a greater roaming instinct? What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? | Border Collie dogs have average wanderlust potential. | German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. |
| Prey Drive
Which dog has a higher prey drive? What's the difference between Border Collie vs German Shepherd? Which can be better for hunting? | Border Collie 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. | German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Activity and Playfulness Comparison
| Barking Frequency
Which breed barks more: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare vocalization tendencies. | Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. |
|---|---|---|
| Playful Nature
Which breed is more playful: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare play drive and energy. | The Border Collie is a highly playful breed. | Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Apartment Adaptability
Which is better for apartments: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare living space needs. | It is not recommended to keep the Border Collie breed in the home. | 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. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Adaptability and Independence Comparison
| Lifestyle Adaptability
Which adapts better to changes: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare adaptability levels. | Border Collie 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. |
|---|---|---|
| Alone Time Tolerance
Which dog can be left alone: Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collie 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. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Bite Characteristics Comparison
| Bite Risk Assessment
Which has lower bite risk: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare biting tendencies. | Low 🔽 The Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody. | High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
|---|---|---|
| Mouthing Tendency
Which is more mouthy: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare mouthing behaviors. | Border Collie dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Bite Strength Rating
Which has a stronger bite: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare bite force PSI. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ Border Collie bite force: Ordinary. | Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Health and Lifespan Comparison
| Average Lifespan
Which lives longer: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare average lifespans. |
11-15 years The average lifespan of Border Collie: 13 years |
9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Tolerance
Which handles weather better: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare climate tolerances. | Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Border Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. | Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. |
| Health Concerns
Compare common health issues between a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. Which breed is healthier? | The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs. |
| Vet Care Frequency
Which one may need more or less veterinary visits: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
Average The Border Collie 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). |
| Health Problems
Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? Border Collie vs German Shepherd health problems comparison: | Hip Dysplasia Allergies Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Epilepsy Collie Eye Anomaly Osteochondrosis Dissecans |
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 |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Energy and Activity Comparison
| Energy Rating
Which breed is more energetic: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare activity levels. | Border Collie dogs are high-energy dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Activity Requirement / Exercise Need
Border Collie vs German Shepherd exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest? | Border Collie dogs need a lot of exercises. | German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise. |
| Sleeping Need
Which one sleeps the least/most: Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collie dogs don't need too much sleep. | German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Diet and Weight Management Comparison
| Obesity Tendency
Which gains weight easier: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare obesity risks. | Average: The Border Collie has an average risk for obesity. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. |
|---|---|---|
| Food Consumption
Which eats more: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare daily food needs. | 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals. | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Allergies and Grooming Comparison
| Allergy Friendliness
Which is more hypoallergenic: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare allergy friendliness. | No See more. | No See more. |
|---|---|---|
| Coat Colors
What color variations exist for Border Collie and German Shepherd? Compare breed colors. |
Black Tan Red Sable Brindle Lilac Gold Seal White & Red Slate Sable Merle Black & White Tricolor Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red Merle White Ticked White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal |
Black Tan Red Silver |
| Grooming Requirements
Which needs more grooming: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare maintenance needs. | Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
| Drooling Tendency
Which drools more: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare drooling amounts. | The Border Collie is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. | The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. |
| Stinkiness Rating
Which has less odor: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare natural smell levels. | Medium ⏺ The Border Collie has an average chance of bad smell. | Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
| Coat Characteristics
How do coats differ between a Border Collie and a German Shepherd? Compare fur types. |
Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long | Fuzzy |
| Bathing Needs
Which needs more baths: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare bathing frequencies. | 6-8 weeks Rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. | 8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. |
| Shedding Level
Who sheds more Border Collie or German Shepherd? Do Border Collie dogs shed more than German Shepherd dogs? | Border Collie dogs shed moderately. | German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Good With Comparison
| Child Compatibility
Which is better with children: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare kid-friendliness. | Border Collie dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Compatibility
Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets? | Border Collie dogs are generally with other pets. | German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets. |
| Stranger Friendly
Which dog is more stranger friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? Which dog is more friendly? | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards strangers. | German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly
Which dog is more cat friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards cats. | German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly
Which dog is more dog friendly Border Collie or German Shepherd? Can a Border Collie and a German Shepherd be friends? Do Border Collie dogs get along with German Shepherd dogs? | Border Collie dogs are average friendly towards other dogs. | German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs. |
| Good For First Time Owners
Which dog is best for first time owners: Border Collie vs German Shepherd? |
Yes Border Collie 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. |
| Office Friendly
Which one fits better in the office? |
No Border Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly
Which dog is good for elderly people? | Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd As a Working Dog Comparison
| Service Dog Capability
Which makes a better service dog: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare service capabilities. | Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. | Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy Work Suitability
Which is better for therapy work: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare therapy capabilities. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. | Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
| Scent Detection Ability
Which is better at detection work: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare scenting abilities. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. | Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work. |
| Search & Rescue Potential
Which is better for search and rescue: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare SAR abilities. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. | Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog. |
| Maritime Work Ability
Which is better on boats: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare maritime abilities. | Not really Border Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. | Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
| Draft Work Capability
Which is better at pulling: a Border Collie or a German Shepherd? Compare draft work capabilities. | 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. |
| Military Service Background
Compare military history between Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which has stronger military background? | Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. | Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Reproducibility Comparison
| Puppy Litter Size
Compare litter sizes between Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which has larger litters? | 4-8 puppies | 6-10 puppies |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy Duration
Compare pregnancy duration between Border Collie and German Shepherd breeds. | 60-64 days See more. | 60-64 days See more. |
| Breeding Frequency
Compare breeding frequencies between Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which needs longer recovery? | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. | Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Border Collie vs German Shepherd Recognition Comparison
| AKC Classification
Compare AKC classifications of Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which groups do they belong to? | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. |
|---|---|---|
| FCI Classification
Compare FCI classifications of Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which groups are they in? | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. |
| Kennel Club Recognition
Compare kennel club recognition between Border Collie and German Shepherd. Which is more widely recognized? |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry 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 The American Int. Border Collie Registry The American Border Collie Association |
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 |
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Reviews
- Border collie
Dec 20, 2019, 7:59:59 PM:
Bella is extremely friendly with kids of all ages and loves to play!
- Michael
Apr 29, 2020, 1:47:50 AM:
Having both in the household, my opinion is the GSD is more inclined to do as its told, he is younger still in the puppy phase, still suffers from losing concentration and focus, but still more likely to do as he is told
- German Shepard
Apr 17, 2021, 10:17:12 PM: