Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd: Difference between 2 breeds of dogs

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever are generally good with children and other pets. German Shepherds may have more endurance and agility than golden hounds.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever are both very loyal. GSD can protect the owner more.

They are intelligent, friendly and cute dogs suitable for all families. They are especially friendly to children, but due to their large body size, they need to be supervised when near children.

German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever are intelligent breeds, so training and socializing is very easy.

However, both these breeds are very expensive and have poor aintenance, so you need to consider raising them.

Here are detailed information about 2 breeds of Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd.

InformationGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
History/OriginThe German Shepherd originated in Germany in 1899. The breed was actually created by the cross breeding of working sheep dogs from rural Germany. They are working dogs developed originally for herding and guarding sheep.
The Golden Retriever was originally bred in Scotland in the mid-19th century by the Scotsman Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, the Lord of Tweedmouth. The breed was developed by crossing a Retriever with a Water Spaniel. This breed was developed as a hunting breed.
Popularity
The Golden Retriever is its 78th breed.The German Shepherd  is its 2th breed.
HuntingThe German Shepherd dog breed is not a gundog breed at all.
Golden retrievers are gun dogs that are excellent for hunting birds and other small prey.
Recognized by the AKCThe German Shepherd Dog is the AKC’s 60th breed and was recognized in 1908.
The Golden Retriever was recognized by the AKC in 1925.
Guide DogGerman Shepherd vs Golden Retriever are both guide dogs.
Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd

Characteristics

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Tail TypeGSD have erect ears, most are black and tan, black and red, or sable, all have long tails. The tail of a Golden Retriever is carried level with the back or is slightly upturned. The tail is curled, hairless, and measures 3.5 inches to 12 inches long.
Muzzle & noseGerman Shepherds have a better sense of smell than Golden Retriever because they have 225 million scent receptors.
Ear TypeGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd both have long and soft ears.
TongueGolden Retriever vs German Shepherds is mentioned with a long tongue. They may have pink, black-spotted tongues. Tongue color may be affected by melanin.
TeethThe German Shepherd and the Golden Hound, when grown up, have 42 teeth with 20 on the top of the jaw and 22 on the bottom.
Eyes ShapeThe eyes are moderately large, the common eye color is brown. German Shepherds are almond shaped, slightly oblique and not protruding. In contrast, Golden Retriever eyes are close, spaced and reasonably deep in the eye socket.
FootThe German Shepherd paws are rounded, short toes with thick pads, well-closed arched.
Golden retrievers do have webbed feet. The webbed feet help them swim well for hunting waterfowl like ducks.
Body LengthThe average German Shepherd has a body length of 36.0″-42.5″ (91-108 cm). The average Golden Retriever has a body length of 37.0″-42.0″ (94-107 cm).
HeightGerman Shepherd: Male: 60–65 cm, Female: 55–60 cm
Golden Retriever: Male: 22–24 in (56–61 cm), Female: 20–22 in (51–56 cm)
WeightGerman Shepherd: Male: 30–40 kg, Female: 22–32 kg
Golden Retriever:  Female: 25–32 kg, Male: 30–34 kg

Feathers and colors

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Coat ColorGerman Shepherd comes in fur colors: Black, Sable, Black & Tan, Red & Black, Grey, Black & Silver. Golden Retriever comes in fur colors: Dark Golden, Cream, Light Golden, Golden.
SheddingThe German Shepherd Dog is moderately shedding year round, especially in fall and summer.
Golden Retrievers shed profusely, Goldens shed most all year round and there are least two times a year that it is a lot(in the spring and fall)
Hair DensityGolden retriever with double coat: A silky undercoat with high hair density and An oily outer coat with relatively lesser hair volume
German Shepherds have thin, short, and soft feathers. The average length of the coat is 1 to 2 inches.
GroomingBecause Golden Retriever and German Shepherd shed a lot of hair, you need to groom them regularly. At least 2 times per week and per day for two periods of heavy shedding in spring and fall.

All Around Friendliness

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Child friendlyBoth are very kid friendly.
FriendlinessGerman shepherds may not be too friendly with strangers, but for known faces, they make an ideal companion.
Golden Retrievers are friendly dogs who get along with everyone, tolerant attitude makes them great family pets. They rarely show hostility or aggression toward other dogs or people. 
CuteBoth are very cute.
PlayfulnessBoth are very playful.
They like to cuddleMost German Shepherds and Golden retrievers love to cuddle and show affection for their owners.
Calm downBoth of them are calmer as they get older and are at their best calm level at 3 years old.

Other pet friendly

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Compatibility with other dogGerman Shepherd and Golden Retriever blends in with all other breeds including smaller dogs.
Compatibility with other petsThey’ll get along well with most other pets.
GSD and Golden usually have a high energy level
GSD vs Golden usually have a high energy level

Activities

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Energy levelGSD and Golden usually have a high energy level.
BarkingGSD and Golden Retrievers bark a lot so it needs proper training and socialization.
JumpMost German Shepherds can jump 4 to 6 feet high. If trained and excited, they can jump up to 10 feet. Golden Retriever can jump up to 4 feet high.
SwimGerman shepherd dogs can swim because they are athletic athletes and strong swimmers. However, they are not specially bred for swimming. Most Goldens like to swim because they have a dense, waterproof outer coat with a thick undercoat.
Running speedGerman Shepherds can run about 30 to 32 miles per hour(or about 48 kph). Average running speed for Golden Retrievers is about 20-30 mph.
Smelling abilityGerman Shepherd vs Golden Retriever both have good sense of smell. They can use their noses to find people, trails and even food. GSD can detect scent over a mile on land, up to 40 feet below ground and in 80 feet of water!

Habitat

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Tolerance to coldGerman Shepherd Dogs can withstand cold weather well (even as low as -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit for a short time).
Golden Retrievers are very cold resistant, they can withstand cold weather between 45 ° F and 90 ° F.
Tolerance to hotGerman Shepherd Dogs perform well in hot weather as long as there is shade and cold water. They can withstand temperatures as hot as 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Golden Retrievers can live in hot temperatures but they’re vulnerable to it.
Kennel sizeBoth need a cage size of about 42 inches. The dimensions of the barrel are the traditional 42L x 28W x 31H.
Golden retriever vs German shepherd eating
Golden retriever vs German shepherd eating

Health

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
Life SpanGerman Shepherd: 9 – 13 years
Golden retriever: 10-12 years.
Veterinarian VisitsTry to make it every 6 months, but once per year as a minimum.
Prone to ObesityGerman Shepherd Dogs rarely get obese. Opposite, Golden retriever is among the breeds most at risk of obesity.
Therapy DogThe Golden Retriever and German Shepherd can be excellent therapeutic dogs, providing joy, comfort and support during the patient’s healing at the hospital.
AllergiesGoldens and GSD are often allergic to their skin itchy. The feet, abdomen, skin folds and ears are most often affected. Allergies are often caused by food or environmental agents, including mold, pollen, and seasonal allergies..
Common diseaseSome of the more common diseases that the German Shepherd Dog is at risk of developing are hip and elbow dysplasia, polymyalgia, Epilepsy, Hemophilia, Diabetes, Cataracts and arthritis. Common health issues in Golden Retrievers is hip dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis(SAS),allergies, skin problems, cancer and hypothyroidism.

Temperament

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
TemperamentGolden retriever temperament: Kind, Intelligent, Reliable, Trustworthy, Confident, Friendly.German Shepherd temperament: Obedient, Intelligent, Curious, Loyal, Alert, Confident, Watchful, Courageous.

Behavior

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
BiteGerman shepherd’s bite is 238 PSI,  Golden Retriever’s bite is 238 PSI
DroolingGolden Retrievers and German shepherds drool like almost all other dogs. Common causes would include being too hot, anticipating food, anxiety, dental and gum problems, having something lodged in its teeth, eating or licking something poisonous and illness.
Lick a lotGerman Shepherd and Golden Retriever can lick you a lot possibly grooming, excited, stressed and affectionate.
Causes bad odorsBoth can cause bad odors. The bad smell is usually a sign of a yeast type.
NoisyTThey are usually quiet. Only make loud noises when they are excited, want to be noticed and sometimes scared or worried.
FerociousThe German Shepherd often hangs data when protecting families and their owners. Golden Retrievers can be aggressive even though they are typically one of the most gentle breeds. 
SleepGerman Shepherds can sleep from 12 to 14 hours a day.Golden retrievers can sleep from 10 to 12 hours a day.
Most Goldens like to swim because they have a dense
Most Goldens like to swim because they have a dense

Reproduction

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
MatingFemale German shepherd vs Golden should be mated after 2 years of age. After 8 years, you should not mate. They usually go into heat the first time when they are 10-14 months old, the heat cycle of the female is every 6 months and lasts from 18 to 21 days. Adult males can mate at any time and can maintain for up to 10 years.
Pregnancy periodNormally ranges from 57-65 days with an average of 63 days(or 9 weeks) from conception.
Litter SizeGSD’s usual nest size is about 8 puppies, Golden is about 4 to 6 puppies. When most German Shepherd dogs are born, the first puppy will be a male.

Trainability

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
IntelligenceThe German Shepherd is considered the third smart dog breed and the Golden retriever is the 4th most intelligent breed in the world. Because they are intelligent, training and socializing is easy
TrainingGerman Shepherds vs Golden retriever are docile, easier to train than other breeds. They perform well in training tasks, obey training.Training time takes from 8 weeks to 2 years.

Price and cost of farming

CharacteristicsGolden Retriever vs German Shepherd
PriceOn average, the cost of a German Shepherd ranges from $500-$1,500. Purebred Golden Retrievers typically cost between $500 to $3,000.
Cost of farmingThe average cost of raising a German Shepherd is 1,200 – $ 1,500 a year.The average cost of raising a Golden Retriever for the first year falls within the $1,000 to $1,500 range.

Published by

Henry Mark

Mark is Editor at dognamesbest.com covering Information about breeds, naming dogs. He's a graduate in veterinary medicine at the agricultural academy.