The German shepherd dog, who doesn’t know this beautiful breed? Even if you are not a dog lover you are familiar with this sturdy and imposing breed. The German shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world.
Even in the media, people know that the German shepherd impresses the viewer. In many movies or TV series dogs play an important role, and regularly this role is given to a German shepherd. Just think of the popular TV series “Commissioner Rex”. In this Austrian series a shepherd played the lead role. And do you know Stefan? This German shepherd played an important role in the 70s in the TV hit “Diary of a Shepherd Dog”. Shepherd “Snuf” went one step further: First he became known through a popular book series. Later, films were made about him as well.
Choosing a German Shepherd or similar breed
So, what makes the German shepherd such a popular breed with many? Not only its tough appearance plays a role, but also the great character traits of this breed stand out. German shepherds are brave, loyal, watchful and obedient. In addition, he is social and has a great learning ability. All this makes him a beloved house and working dog.
The popularity of the German shepherd can also be seen in breeds that have many similarities. These breeds may have many external similarities or a similar character. These are often breeds that have been crossed with a German shepherd long ago in breeding.
Here we introduce you to 12 breeds that are very similar to the German shepherd in both appearance and character. Perhaps there is a breed that meets your needs when buying a shepherd. Do you read along?
The Malinois Shepherd
After the German shepherd, the Belgian Malinois may be the most well-known shepherd dog. The Malinois Shepherd shares many similarities with the German variety, yet there are differences. The construction of the Malinois Shepherd is somewhat finer. Therefore, this breed is often lighter in weight.
Malinois Shepherds have a short-haired, reddish coat. The muzzle is often black in color, this is called a mask. Both the Malinois and the German Shepherd can be trained well. The character of the Malinois Shepherd is enthusiastic and somewhat busy. This is in contrast to the usually balanced and calm German Shepherd.
The Dutch Shepherd
This type of shepherd is closely related to the German shepherd. It is therefore not surprising that these 2 dogs resemble each other. The differences are mainly recognizable in the character. The Dutch Shepherd is easy to train and socialize. This friendly breed is loyal and easily adapts to family life. The Dutch Shepherd is very energetic and enthusiastic and needs a lot of daily exercise.
The Bohemian or Czech Shepherd
The appearance of the Bohemian Shepherd is very similar to that of a German Shepherd. The black and tan coat and dark eyes of these breeds are most similar. However, the Bohemian Shepherd is a lot smaller in size. This breed is alert and possesses a lot of energy. To prevent destructive behavior, Bohemian Shepherds must be challenged with strenuous exercise and movement.
The King Shepherd
Bred on in America, the King Shepherd evolved from the German and American Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamutes, among others. The breed is considerably larger than the German shepherd. The average height of the King Shepherd is between 64 and 81 centimeters. Consequently, these powerful and muscular shepherds weigh a lot more than the German variety. The females often weigh around 40 kg, a male can weigh up to 65 kg. The King Shepherd has a long, rough and weather-resistant coat. The character is intelligent, loyal, powerful and absolutely not aggressive.
The Belarusian or East European Shepherd
Shepherd dogs of this breed are especially popular in the areas from which it originated and from which it got its name. This breed was bred to work in cold temperatures. The first Eastern European shepherd was a cross between a German shepherd, a Laika and an Owtchaka dog. This breed is slightly larger and heavier than the German shepherd. The coat is long and rough in colors of gray and black.
The American Alsatian
The American Alsatian is very similar in appearance to the German shepherd. However, in terms of build, it is larger and more powerful. This breed is mainly kept as a companion dog for families. This American dog has a very calm and quiet character and, like the German shepherd, is loyal to its owner and family members. The Alsatian goes well with children. If you have more than one pet in the house, that is not a problem either. He also feels at home in a smaller house or apartment although regular exercise remains important.
The Yakutian Laika
The Yakutian Laika is a dog of medium size and has a thick, double coat. The color of the coat is often black and white, but various other colors also occur in this breed. Originally, the Laika comes from the Northeast of Russia and was mainly used as a sled dog and hunting dog. The sense of smell, hearing and sight of this breed is excellently developed.
Nowadays the Yakutian Laika is mainly kept as a house dog. The breed is social, non-aggressive, and easy to train. The first description of a Yakutian Laika dates back to the year 1843. However, this rather unknown breed has only been recognized as a breed by the FCI since 2019.
The Carpathian or Romanian Shepherd
This breed comes from the Carpathian region of Romania, and is known by several different names. Some examples are: Carpathian Shepherd and Romanian Carpathian Shepherd. This breed is primarily bred to be used as a reliable working dog. They must be fast, strong and smart and are used in fighting wolves, lynxes and wild boars. The coat of the Romanian shepherd is rough and dense with straight hairs and they can live to be 12 to 14 years old.
The Northern Inuit Dog
The Northern Inuit Dog is a cross between a German Shepherd, Siberian Husky and Inuit dogs. It is native to the United Kingdom and most closely resembles a Husky or a wolf in appearance. The Northern Inuit is slightly larger on average than a German Shepherd, but due to its slender build, there is little to no difference in weight between these 2 breeds.
This friendly breed is not aggressive. However, it is important to train a puppy well and clearly from an early age to prevent stubbornness. This makes the breed less suitable for inexperienced dog owners.
The Belgian Tervueren
The Tervuerense herder, as this breed is also called, is a Belgian shepherd that is closely related to the Belgian Malinois. However, the characteristics with the German shepherd are also obvious. The long-haired coat of the Belgian Tervuren is light brown to gray with a black mask. Like the German shepherd, this breed is a real working dog.
This is mainly due to the beautiful character traits of this animal: social, watchful, intelligent, courageous, willing to work and active. The Tervuren is very focused on his boss, and is sometimes a little reserved towards strangers. He does not like to be left alone. A clear education and many social contacts are necessary to prevent aggressive behavior. The Tervueren Shepherd is very athletic and active and is therefore very suitable for dog sports.
The Shiloh Shepherd
The Shiloh Shepherd is a breed that is still in development. This is also the reason why it is not yet a recognized breed. Since 1991 there has been an official breed club, the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry Inc. (ISSR) As far as appearance is concerned, they look very much like German Shepherds, but they are in the bloodline of the Alaskan Malamute. The Shiloh shepherd is slightly larger in size than the German shepherd. A plus of this breed is that they have better hips than other shepherd dogs and thus are less likely to suffer from hip dysplasia.
The energetic Shiloh Shepherd needs a lot of exercise and loves to run and play. If he gets insufficient exercise there is a good chance that the Shiloh Shepherd will become aggressive and destructive.
The White Swiss Shepherd
This beautiful breed is also known by the name Berger Blanc Suiss. Especially popular in Switzerland, Canada, and the United States, this shepherd variety is a very popular one. This striking shepherd is very closely related to the German shepherd. He is descended from the White Shepherd, which is also known as the German Shepherd with white coat.
Because of its unusual appearance, it was given a different breed name. The White Shepherd and the German Shepherd share many characteristics. Nevertheless, it is claimed that the White Shepherd is generally slightly better behaved. However, they are also somewhat more sensitive than the German variant. Swearing is not well responded to by this breed.
Which shepherd suits you?
In this article we have compared several dog breeds that have much in common with the German shepherd. In general, we can conclude that all described breeds are intelligent, loyal, active and easy to train. These characteristics are fine when you like to go out in the open air and are looking for a dog as a walking buddy.
In addition, the breeds discussed are often also suitable to be used as working dogs or watchdogs. Are you seriously looking for a German Shepherd or a breed that looks like one? Then look carefully at the specific characteristics of each breed to find out which dog suits you best.
Are you already the owner of one of the above breeds? Then we would like to hear about your experiences with your buddy. This way you help new owners to make the right choice.
