German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Comparison - Dog breed selector: Alsatian wolf dog or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or Alpine Mastiff? Find the right dog for you

"Find similarities and differences between German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard" Compare German Shepherd and Greater Swiss Mountain Dane. Which is better: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?

Size and Weight Price and Availability Trainability and Intelligence Personality and Temperament Activity and Playfulness Adaptability and Independence Bite Characteristics Health and Lifespan Energy and Activity Diet and Weight Management Allergies and Grooming Good With As a Working Dog Reproducibility Recognition Show differences only

Name	German Shepherd	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane	St. Bernard
Origins	Germany	Switzerland Germany	Switzerland Italy
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral / Herding Dogs	Designer Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	2	1488	48
Reviews	19	0	9
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Alsatian wolf dog Berger Allemand Deutscher Schäferhund Schäferhund Alsatian	No data available	Alpine Mastiff Bernhardiner St. Barnhardshund St. Bernard Saint
Breed Type Which dog is purebred or crossbreed? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard breed type comparison:	Purebred	Cross Breed	Purebred

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Size and Weight Comparison

Size Which is bigger, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which is the smallest dog, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	Large	Giant	Giant
Weight Which is heavier, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard weight comparison:	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)	Male: 120-200 pounds (54-90 kg), Female: 100-130 pounds (45-59 kg)	110-200 pounds (50-91 kg)
Average Weight Which dog has a smaller / higher average weight?	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)	Male: 160 pounds (72 kg), Female: 115 pounds (52 kg)	155 pounds (70.5 kg)
Height Which is taller, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard height comparison:	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)	Male: 30-34 inches (76-86 cm), Female: 28-32 inches (71-81 cm)	25.5-27.5 inches (61-70 cm)
Average Height Which dog has a smaller / higher average height?	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)	Male: 32 inches (81 cm), Female: 30 inches (76 cm)	25.5-27.5 inches (65.5 cm)

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Price and Availability Comparison

Price Which is cheaper, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which is more expensive?	$800-$2000	$800-$1200	$1500-$1800
Availability Which is easier to get, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	Very frequent: The German Shepherd is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane is quite easy to get.	Very frequent: The St.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Trainability and Intelligence Comparison

Intelligent Rank Which is the smarter dog? Which is best? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard intelligence:	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. See more.	Average: It takes patience to teach this breed any tricks or commands, but the effort is worth it. See more.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one. See more.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Trainability German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard trainability comparison.	German Shepherd dogs are easy to train. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are quite easy to train. See more.	A slightly harder to train than average. See more.
Least Obedient Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Easy To Train
Watchdog Ability Which is the better watchdog: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	German Shepherd dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are one of the best watchdogs. See more.	St. See more.
Guarding Behavior / Territorial Which is a better guard dog German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which dog is most likely to protect its owner? Which is the best dog to use for protection?	German Shepherd dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are extremely protective guard dogs. See more.	St. See more.
Guard Dog Breeds List

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Personality and Temperament Comparison

Temperament Which one has a better personality? Which is a better family dog, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard behavior/temperament comparison:	Curious Alert Courageous Intelligent Confident Obedient Loyal Watchful	Loving Protective Alert Intelligent Confident Friendly Devoted Gentle Selfish Fearless Good-natured Confidence Reserved	Independent Happy Friendly Gentle Going Social Quiet
Sensitivity Level Which dog is more sensitive? What's the difference?	Sensitive: German Shepherd dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Sensitive: Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household, and frequent guest visits. See more.	Sensitive: St. See more.
Most Sensitive Dog Breeds		Less Sensitive Dog Breeds
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate dog breed: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	High: German Shepherd dogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving, and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. See more.	Average to High: Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are highly affectionate dogs. See more.	High: St. See more.
Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
Social Needs German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard social needs comparison:	German Shepherd dogs need for social interaction is average. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are a social breed. See more.	St. See more.
Impulse to Wander or Roam Which dog has a greater roaming instinct?	German Shepherd dogs are not the biggest explorers. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs have average wanderlust potential. See more.	St. See more.
Prey Drive Which dog has a higher prey drive? Which can be better for hunting?	German Shepherd dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. See more.	Their prey drive is low. See more.
Dog Breeds With Low Prey Drive		Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Activity and Playfulness Comparison

Playfulness German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard playfulness comparison:	Average: German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	Average: Greater Swiss Mountain Danes, like any other dog breed, like playing. See more.	St. See more.
Most Playful Dog Breeds
Barking Which dog barks more/less: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. See more.	Low to Average: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane rarely barks. See more.	Low: The St. See more.
Quiet Dog Breeds That Don't Bark		Dog Breeds That Bark The Most
Apartment Friendly Which dog is more apartment friendly German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	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.	Apartment-friendly dog the Greater Swiss Mountain Dane breed.	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 St.
The Worst Dog Breeds for Apartment Living		Apartment Friendly Dogs List

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Adaptability and Independence Comparison

Adaptability Which dog has a higher adaptability potential? Which is the better dog?	German Shepherd dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Average: Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	St.
Tolerates Being Left Alone Which dog can be left alone: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs 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.	St.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Bite Characteristics Comparison

Bite Force PSI Which bite is stronger: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	Between 200 and 400 PSI ⏺ German Shepherd bite force: Ordinary.	Above 400 PSI 🔼 Greater Swiss Mountain Dane bite force: The Strongest.	Above 400 PSI 🔼 St.
Dog Breeds With The Lowest Bite Force		Dog Breeds With the Strongest Bite Force
Biting Potential Which breed of dog is most likely to bite? Biting potential comparison:	High 🔼 The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low 🔽 The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate ⏺ The St.
Mouthiness Which is the better dog? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard mouthiness comparison:	German Shepherd dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, playbite, or herd people. See more.	St. See more.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Health and Lifespan Comparison

Health Issues German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard health comparison. Which is the healthier: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.	Greater Swiss Mountain Danes are commonly healthy dogs.	Very healthy dog breed.
Healthiest Dog Breeds
Health Problems Which one has more or less genetic/health problems: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard? What are the allergies, genetic diseases and concerns for them? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard health problems comparison:	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	Hip Dysplasia Patent Ductus Arteriosis Cancer Bloat Epilepsy Distichiasis Mitral Valve Disease Digestive Problems Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Dilated Cardiomyopathy Persistent Right Aortic Arch Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Cataracts Hip Dysplasia Allergies Bloat Epilepsy Entropion Elbow Dysplasia Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Veterinarian Visits Which one may need more or less veterinary visits?	Rare The German Shepherd should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Rare The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane should have a complete physical check-up at least every 12-18 months (but preferably once per year).	Rare The St.
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Life Expectancy German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard lifespan comparison. How long do German Shepherd, Greater Swiss Mountain Dane and St. Bernard breeds live? Which one has a longer lifespan/life expectancy?	9-13 years The average lifespan of German Shepherd: 11 years	10-12 years The average lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dane: 11 years	8-10 years The average lifespan of St.
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Weather and Climate Which dog is best for hot or cold weather: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions Different dogs have different preferences when it comes to weather conditions. See more.	Tolerates warm and cold weather Dogs that tolerate hot and cold weather are typically those that have a double coat of fur. See more.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Energy and Activity Comparison

Energy Level Who has more energy a German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard energy level comparison:	German Shepherd dogs are high-energy dogs.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are high-energy dogs.	St.
Low-Energy Dog Breeds		High-Energy Dog Breeds
Activity Requirement / Exercise Need German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard exercise need comparison. Which dog needs more activity? Which dog needs the most exercise: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which dog needs the most walking? Which dog is the laziest?	German Shepherd dogs need quite a lot of exercise.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs have an average exercise need.	St.
Sleeping Need Which one sleeps the least/most: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	German Shepherd dogs don't need too much sleep.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs don't need too much sleep.	St.
Dog Breeds That Sleep A Lot

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Diet and Weight Management Comparison

Average daily food consumption Which dog eats more: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	8 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals	6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Dog Breeds That Eat A Lot
Weight Gain Potential / Prone to Obesity Which dog breed is more prone to obesity? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard weight gain potential comparison:	Low to Average: The German Shepherd has a low to the average risk for obesity. See more.	Average: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane has an average risk for obesity. See more.	Average to High: If you don't pay attention to the St. See more.
Dog Breeds Prone To Obesity

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Allergies and Grooming Comparison

Coat / Hair Types What type of coat/fur do they have? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard coat comparison:	Fuzzy	Dense	Dense Rough Smooth
Colors What are the original German Shepherd, Greater Swiss Mountain Dane and St. Bernard color?	Black Tan Red Silver	Black Red Blue White Fawn Brindle Merle	Black Red White Brown Brindle Tricolor
Grooming Which dog is easy to maintain, German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard grooming comparison:	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. See more.	Effortless: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane requires minimal grooming. See more.	Average: The St. See more.
Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds		High-Maintenance Dog Breeds
Shedding Level Who sheds more German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or {name3 shedding:	German Shepherd dogs are heavy shedders. See more.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are low shedders. See more.	St. See more.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds		Dog Breeds That Shed The Most
Bath Time / Bathing Frequency Which dog should be bathed more: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	8-12 weeks Very rarely. Bathing your dog is beneficial to them in more ways than just one. See more.	4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. See more.	4-6 weeks Average. Experts recommended at least every 4-6 weeks for this family pup. See more.
Hypoallergenic German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard hypoallergenic comparison. Which dog is hypoallergenic or not?	No See more.	No See more.	No See more.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Stinkiness Which dog breed smells the least? Which dog smells the most? Which is best, German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	Medium ⏺ The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium ⏺ The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane has an average chance of bad smell.	High 🔼 The St.
Drooling Tendency Which dog drools the most? Which dog drools the least?	The German Shepherd is a perfect example of a very low drooling tendency. See more.	The Greater Swiss Mountain Dane is an average drooler. See more.	The St. See more.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Good With Comparison

Pet Friendly Which dog breeds get along well with other animals/pets?	German Shepherd dogs are generally with other pets.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are generally with other pets.	St.
Stranger Friendly Which dog is more stranger friendly German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which dog is more friendly?	German Shepherd dogs are stranger-friendly dogs.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are average friendly towards strangers.	St.
Dog Breeds That Are Aloof With Strangers		Dog Breeds That Are Friendly To Strangers
Child Friendly Which dog is more child/kid friendly German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	German Shepherd dogs are very kid-friendly dogs.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	St.
Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds
Cat Friendly Which dog is more cat friendly German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	German Shepherd dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are average friendly towards cats.	St.
Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Cats
Dog Friendly Which dog is more dog friendly German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard?	German Shepherd dogs are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are dog-friendly dogs.	St.
Good For First Time Owners Which dog is good for the first-time owners: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	Yes German Shepherd dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Greater Swiss Mountain Dane dogs are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No St.
Office Friendly Which one fits better in the office?	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Greater Swiss Mountain Dane is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No St.
Senior Citizens Friendly Which dog is good for elderly people?	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Greater Swiss Mountain Danes are usually recommended for elderly people.	St.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard As a Working Dog Comparison

Service Dog Which one could be a service dog?	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. See more.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. See more.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. See more.
Most Popular Service Dog Breeds
Therapy Dog Which one could be a therapy dog: German Shepherd or Greater Swiss Mountain Dane or St. Bernard? Which is better for autism?	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. See more.
Therapy Dog Breeds
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog Which one could be a detection/sniffer dog?	Yes After proper training, they can excel at this kind of work.	Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases.	Not really They are not typically employed for this type of work, but there may be exceptional cases.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) Which one could be a search and rescue dog?	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.	Not really This dog breed is not typically used as a search and rescue dog.	Yes This breed would make an excellent search and rescue dog.
Boat and Sailor Dog Which one could be a boat dog: German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard?	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Not really Greater Swiss Mountain Dane breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. See more.	Not really St. See more.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog Which one could be a cart pulling or drafting dog?	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. See more.
Fighting Dog / Military Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dogs.

German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Reproducibility Comparison

Gestation Length	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.	60-64 days See more.
Litter Frequency	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. See more.
Litter Size How many puppies can German Shepherd and Greater Swiss Mountain Dane and St. Bernard have?	6-10 puppies	10-15 puppies	6-8 puppies
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German Shepherd vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dane vs St. Bernard Recognition Comparison

AKC Group Which dog is recognized by the AKC?	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Working breed.
FCI Group Which dog is recognized by the FCI?	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition What other organizations and kennel clubs recognize these dog breeds?	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	No data available	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

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