If you’re a dog person, you’ve probably thrown around the idea of owning either a golden retriever, a German shepherd, or both. Both breeds are incredibly popular in the US. There are some distinct differences between the two dog breeds that should be considered before owning either. Today, we’re comparing the German shepherd vs golden retriever to help you decide which breed is best for you. We’ll look at maintenance, shedding, intelligence, temperament, and much more.
German Shepherd Overview
Believe it or not, the German shepherd originated in Germany. Especially in writing, they are often referred to with the acronym GSD (German shepherd dog). This breed is believed to be the 2nd most popular in the US, behind the Labrador Retriever. Originally bred as sheep dogs, adult GSDs typically weigh in between 48 and 88 pounds. Expect them to grow between 22 and 24 inches tall. German shepherds usually have tan/black or red/black color variations, with a black mask and saddle over the back.
Intelligence
German shepherds are often recognized as military or police dogs. Their intelligence is among the best of any dog breed in the world. German Shepherds have an incredible ability to learn tasks quickly, and interpret instructions accurately. Their sense of smell is very strong. Because of their trainability, GSDs often find themselves working as disability assistance dogs, police dogs, military dogs, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, and more.
Temperament
While German Shepherds can make great in-home companions, they are very protective and athletic. They are typically cautious, and may hesitate to welcome a new face. Most well-trained GSDs are eager and alert, ready to immediately obey your next command. The typical GSD will bark moderate to high amounts if allowed to bark freely. Well-socialized German Shepherds have been proven as great family pets, but it is unwise to provoke this breed to anger. They can bite down with more force than a pitbull! Friendliness with people and friendliness with dogs are two completely different aspects of a dog’s personality. German Shepherds can have difficulty socializing with other dogs in a friendly, playful manner.
Maintenance
You’ll have to get used to heavy shedding year round if you want to own a German Shepherd. Twice a year, they shed even more as they lose their undercoat. GSDs need an energy outlet. If you don’t have time and space to run and play, this isn’t a good dog breed for you. Later in life, German Shepherds may struggle with hip and elbow dysplasia, which can lead to arthritis. This breed is also somewhat prone to degenerative myopathy.
Golden Retriever Overview
While not all golden retrievers are as talented as Air Bud, they are known for their intelligence. They typically weigh between 55-75 pounds, and grow to around 20-24 inches tall. Like the name suggests, golden retrievers were bred to retrieve small game. The breed originated in Scotland in the mid 19th century. They have a long coat with a golden/ light brown color and a dense undercoat that keeps the dog warm during cold temperatures. The average lifespan of the golden retriever is around 10-12 years.
Intelligence
Golden retrievers respond incredibly well to both basic and advanced training. They are commonly employed as seeing-eye dogs, search and rescue dogs, hunting dogs, hearing dogs, and more. They typically have a strong desire to please, making obedience training relatively simple. Upbeat and high-energy training methods tend to produce the best results.
Temperament
The golden retriever will make a great family dog. They have a fun-loving, trusting personality. Despite their size, this breed is typically suitable for families with small children. For barking, golden retrievers tend to bark a moderate amount if allowed to do so freely. They have a great deal of patience, and are difficult to provoke into aggression. Don’t expect a golden retriever to chase down a trespasser in the middle of the night, unless it’s trying say hello. Golden retrievers love to work, and have a great deal of focus on the commands and tasks you assign.
Maintenance
Moderate to heavy shedding will occur, depending on the time of year. Weekly grooming is recommended. Golden retrievers require frequent exercise due to high energy levels. This breed is also at a higher risk of genetic health problems like hip dysplasia.
German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever Conclusion
When considering the German shepherd vs golden retriever, you’re comparing two incredibly intelligent breeds. While the golden retriever is the fun-loving, happy-to-see-anyone breed, the German shepherd is more protective and cautious. Both breeds are suitable as family pets when trained well, and fit best with an owner or family that is active.
Which breed would you rather own? Let us know in the comments below!
20 thoughts to “German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever – Which Dog is Best for You?”
Two of the greatest dogs of all time and either will makes a top notch pet. I have owned both. They are remarkably similar. Goldens are far less suspicious and more outgoing. But the GSD is also very sweet and less likely to hound your guests. Goldens are only good at scaring intruders with their size and bark but unlikely to do anything about it. While the GSD may actually do something about it. That’s probably the biggest difference. Both shed but in my experience goldens shed much more (contrary to what many GSD owners say). Goldens produce hair tumbleweeds weeds while GSD produce much less hair. You can actually get done brushing a GSD but you can never be done brushing a golden retriever. Pick a golden if you want a dog that will be friendly with no work. Pick a GSD if you don’t mind putting in a little work to insure they’re friendly. Be warned, both dogs will fight other dogs if you’re not careful. Love both of these breeds. Superior dogs for sure.
i’m trying to get my mom and dad let me get my own dog and i’m leaning towards Golden retriever. i just have one question, do they get along with other dogs? i have a male mutt. his dad is german shepherd, lab, rottweiler, and a little chow. while his mom was a pit. and my grandma has a male boxer. my mutt is turning 3 next year and the boxer is turning 6 in January.
i wanted a pomeranian for a couple months but my dad didn’t want one.
so now i’m trying to decide whitch one would be best for me.
a little about me:
i just turned 13.
i do online schooling and i’m not going back to public school because of health and mental issues.
i have a 9 (almost 10) year old sister, a mom, and dad. plus my mutt.
hope someone can help me.
Hey Evelyn, hope you can get your own dog!
While every dog is different, golden retrievers are typically sociable. Make sure to socialize your dog early. Early socialization is one of the best ways to create a sociable dog!
I would say that the two dogs are both really intelligent but I would rather chose the German shepherd because they are really kind and loyal. I have one of my one that is 6 months and she is already trained to sit lay down roll over play dead and stop. German shepherd is a really good dog!!!!
Hi. Golden retrievers are also very kind. My golden was trained, gives paw, sits and lies down at a very early age. Do your research. They are both adorable dogs, depending on what you are willing to put in is what you get out of it.
I have a white German Shepherd. He sheds a lot but nothing unreasonable. He’s mild mannered and so sweet. High energy and extremely playful, easy to train, but he is very suspicious of guests. He picks and chooses who he likes. I think he is particularly protective of me because I am a female, and will bark in the middle of the night if he hears a man’s voice but not another woman’s. Gets along with other dogs amazingly
Hi my name is Eric and i would like to know which dog won’t shed as much. I am looking to getting a dog in our family but dont have to deal with a lot of shedding. I understand dogs need to shed for many reasons and therefore wanting to know which is easier to clean, maintain,could decrease shedding, and could be inside my house without hair lying around the floor. I’ve had more experience with golden retriever and their fur lying around the house. The fur or hair was easily able to clean and spot which in comparison to the German Shepard is hard to clean and spot depending where the dog lays around and the color of the fur. I am just seeking into finding answers which breed I should get. I hope you guys can reach out to me and give me answers which fits more to my problem. Thank you
I’d say both shed a lot. If you want a large dog that doesn’t shed. I’d suggest a poodle. They are highly intelligent as well and easy to train. However personally I like the GSD better due to the fact that they are especially protective and makes me feel safer
i want to say that both the dogs are good at there places but what i recommend is GOLDEN RETRIEVER because i think that you can never find germans more loyal,kind,and obideant than golden retriever . More good thing about a golden is a pretty looking cute face which you will love to hugg
very joyfully
so at end i want to sujjest you to get GR TO MAKE A PERFECT FAMILY FOR YOU AND OTHERS
GSD FOR SURE playful and lovable and protects us also
I am 11 years old and our family is planning to get a pup as soon as my mom can find a job. We currently live in Wisconsin Rapids and my mom works at a school called RAMS. My mom is a reading specialist/English teacher. We are going to move to our family farm in Minnesota as soon as my mom can find a job. We have a little family, its just me, my mom, my dad, and our tuxedo kitten Oreo. We do not know if we should get a GSD or a goldie. I have a few questions;
1. Who gets along with kittens better
2. Who sheds less
3. Who loves their humans the most
4. Who would follow their humans and take a walk with them with no leash? (That’s my mom question)
If anyone knows the answers it would be great if you could reply 😉
Hey Lucia. For your first question, a Golden would probably get along better with a kitten. German Shepherds have high prey drives and may chase the kitten, but either one could get along with it if they are introduced while the dog is a puppy. Make sure to keep the puppy on a leash during their first meeting, or keep them in separate rooms with a baby gate between them so they can get used to each other with no possibility for a fight. Make sure there is room for the cat to get away from the dog just in case there ever is a fight or the dog attacks the kitten. As for the shedding, both dogs will shed a lot. I had a golden mix and her hair was everywhere. I’ve seen someone say that German Shepherds shed less, but I’ve never owned a purebred GSD so I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Between my golden mix and my GSD mix, my GSD mix sheds less. Between loving their humans the most, both dogs would be great. German Shepherds are extremely loyal and would protect their owners from anything. They will bond to the family and be suspicious of outsiders. Golden retrievers are extremely friendly. They will love the family and love other people. If you want a dog that will love you and protect, get a GSD. No-leash walking needs to be trained. Some dogs do it naturally but they need to learn not to wander and when to come back. GSDs will walk in front of you and continuously look back to make sure you’re still with them. My golden mix was also trained to walk off-leash. You can research how to train them to walk off-leash, but you MUST train them how to walk on the leash first. Waking them on the leash will teach them how close they should stay to you and teach them how to match your pace.
Hey Lucia, I already sent a reply but I don’t think it went through so I’ll type it up again. For the kitten question, a Goldie might be better. GSDs can have a high prey drive so they might chase the kitten, but a Goldie might too. You need to socialize them early. Make sure the puppy is on a leash for their first meeting, and keep them in different rooms separated by a baby gate so they can get used to each other with no possibility of a fight occurring. Shedding- both will shed. Golden’s may shed more, and between my 2 dogs, my golden retriever mix sheds more than my GSD mix. Brushing them a few times a week will help control the shedding and keep more of the fur off your floors. If you want a dog that will love their humans, either one will be perfect. However, they are still different. GSDs are extremely loyal and will bond closely with the family. They are cautious of outsiders and protective of their “pack”. They can have aggression issues but this should be no problem with proper training. Golden retrievers are extremely friendly. They love everyone. If you want a dog that will love the family AND protect them, a German Shepherd is the dog to go with. As for no-leash walking, this will be trained. My German Shepherd mix and Golden retrievers mix are both trained to walk off leash. You can look up training methods to teach this. However, you must train your dog to walk on leash FIRST. This will teach them how close they need to stay to you and not to wander or run away. Please teach them to walk on a leash first, and gradually release them for short periods of time once you are confident they will not run. I really hope this helps and you enjoy raising whichever breed you choose.
It’s The German Shepherd. GSDs are more intelligent than golden retrievers, meaning they are easier to train and excel at many jobs. GSDs are very protective of their owners. Also golden retrievers can pick up a lot of inappropriate habits when greeting visitors. GSDs are far more obedient and reliable. GSDs can be walked off leash, meanwhile anything can catch a golden’s attention, making a golden retriever uncontrolable. Both dogs are very good with children and other animals but, I would recommend the GSD because they are far more gentle and adaptable, but goldens can be a little boisterous. Goldens have high maintenance coat and shed far more than the GSDs. GSDs have medium maintenance coat, making it easier to groom.
In conclusion, both are superior and lovable companions but, the GSD (german shepherd) is easier to care for and is more capable than the golden retriever.
Thanks 🙂
Lucia (Cia) The comment above was my replie hopefully you received it
I have both! Two puppies, a 17 month old GSD and a 4 month old Golen. Great dogs! I like a lot of you am just a dog person. Stella is my 3rd GSD.I’ve had a GSD for 25 years! I want to talk about GSD’s in general. More than what dog is a better family pet I want to talk about YOU as the pack leader. If you get a GSD as a young pup and put him around pets and people you’ll have a great dog.If your not a leader a don’t get a GSD. I think a avarage trained or better GSD is the best dog ever!
BTW for ME,I like that a GSD may not be overly friendly. In no way are they agressive just ….I dont know a little stand offish.
I’m a mom of a 11 months princess. And I’m trying to get her a good protected loyal dog. But I don’t know which breed to get. If a Golden Retriever or German Shepherd? I want the dog to grow up with my little one. And to protect her n love her. Which one is the best one?
The german shepherd is far more protective than the golden retriever
thanks:)
If you want a dog that would love and play the goldie is the way to go. They are eager to please and very helpful. While they do shed quite a bit if you brush them a few times a week it wont be a big deal. They are also more likely to lick an intruder then hurt it but if you treat the dog right and it sees anyone in your house trying to harm your or your daughter you can count on it to be right there and getting that person away.
I have a 5 Year old golden it is sweet loving and intelligent i suggest a Golden Retriever
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